Trailer Trash Feature: 18th Feb – 2nd March

(Bi-weekly feature written for Lost In The Multiplex)

The past two weeks have been pretty great for trailers, including the long-awaited release of the trailers for The Avengers, American Reunion, Wrath of The Titans, and Frankenweenie, and the not so long-awaited trailer for Piranha 3DD. Also this week is a number of trailers for some great upcoming actions films, so there’s sure to be something that you can pick your fancy.

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Avengers Assemble

So let’s start with the biggest trailer to come from the last two weeks, The Avengers, or I guess I should say Avengers Assemble as it has now been titled in the UK. Set to be released on 27th April, The Avengers begins when Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team after an unexpected enemy threatens global safety. This team are The Avengers, formed by Captain America (Chris Evans), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth). The trailer looks much better than I thought it would, although I didn’t quite like the idea of the Michael Bay type robot at the end. Apart from that it really does look worth the wait and it’s great to see the whole team together finally.

American Reunion

Another big American release week is the trailer for the fourth instalment to the American Pie franchise, which sees the original cast from the class of 1999 who return to East Great Falls for their high school reunion. The new trailer is very nostalgic and brings back a lot of good memories, and it looks like it is set to be just as funny as the original films. I’m looking forward to the film even more after seeing the new footage, so make sure you take a look for yourself below. Starring the familiar faces of Jason Biggs, Sean William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, Eugene Levy, Jennifer Coolidge and Shannon Elizabeth, American Reunion is set to be released on 2nd May 2012.

Wrath Of The Titans

After a number of – very similar – posters over the past few months, we finally have a trailer for the Clash Of The Titans sequel, Wrath Of The Titans, this week. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman, Wrath of the Titans follows the demigod son of Zeus, Perseus (Sam Worthington), who must help the Gods restore order and supremacy as, weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, they struggle to keep control of the imprisoned Titans. It’s great to finally see what the film will look like, and to only say one thing, it looks a lot better and more action-filled than its predecessor.

Friends With Kids

One of my favourite trailers to come from the past couple of weeks is the red band trailer for Jennifer Westfeldt’s upcoming comedy, Friends With Kids, starring Adam Scott, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Edward Burns, Megan Fox, and Chris O’Dowd. The story centres on two best friends (Westfeldt and Scott) who decide to have a baby together without being in a relationship. The last two singles in their close-knot group of friends observe the effect that kids have had on their friends’ relationships as they decide to try to date other people. The new trailer mainly opens up this plotline, and, including a few jokey innuendoes to give it its red band title, really shows off the chemistry between the cast.

Piranha 3DD

Maybe not so awaited as the others, the first trailer for Piranha 3DD has also been released, even though this doesn’t have a UK or US release date any more. Going straight to DVD this sequel, and the trailer is not too shy to admit, is just another remake but with bigger boobs and more blood. Whilst it does have Doc Brown and David Hasslehoff in it, I don’t think the new trailer is enough to sway me to see this one.

Neighbourhood Watch

Starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade, Neighbourhood Watch has a brilliant new trailer. Directed by Akiva Schaffer and set to be released on 24th August, I was doubtful about this film at first as I’ve not enjoyed the film’s of Ben Stiller lately, but this new trailer has definitely changed my opinion. And then you read the synopsis… whilst at first Neighbourhood Watch seems like a typical comedy, but then its plot turns to aliens and these four characters must save the world rom total extermination. Completely on the fence.

John Carter

Science fiction action film John Carter has another new trailer too, based on the heroic protagonist of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom series. Played by Taylor Kitsch, Carter, a Civil War vet who is transplanted to Mars where he discovers a lush planet inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter a princess who is in desperate need of a saviour. The film premiered earlier this week, but unfortunately I’ve only heard bad things about it so far. It seems the CGI is the only thing going for this film, but, set to be released on 9th March, the film does look pretty exciting from this new trailer.

Battleship

Starring Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson, and, yes this is a fact, Rihanna, the international trailer for Battleship is here. Directed by Peter Berg, the film follows a fleet of ships that are forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals. Set to be released on 11th April, this trailer looks very samey to a couple that I have also mentioned in this list alone, but then it is inspired by the Hasbro board game, so it’s got to be good…. right?

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Another film based on a Hasbro toy is the prequel to the 2009 film, Rise Of The Cobra, with Jon M. Chu’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation. When Cobra spy Zartan has most of the Joes assassinated, the remaining Joes band together to strike back. Starring Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Ray Park and Bruce Willis, the film is set to be released on 22nd June. Not really my type of film, it’s got to be better than its predecessor.

The Raid

The best action, however, comes from Gareth Evans’ The Raid. The film follows a SWAT team who becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and his army of killers and thugs. You will get the jist of the plot from the trailer and, set to be release on 18th May, this looks like one to definitely look forward to. There’s nothing left to say about this but to watch the trailer, and then you will know what I mean.

Frankenweenie

And finally, Tim Burton’s 3D remake of his reanimated Frankenweenie finally has a new trailer too. Starring the voices of Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short and Charlie Tahan, the film tells the story of Victor Frankenstien, a young boy who brings his dog back to life through the magic of science. The whole premise of the film, which you will also get from the trailer, is very dark and depressing, b then that’s what we love about Burton’s films so we wouldn’t want to expect anything more. Set to be released on 5th October, this is a classic Tim Burton film, and the animation looks better than ever.