Hey folks, Harry here. I have not yet seen the ATTACK OF THE CLONES teaser that is supposed to be out on MONSTERS, INC. today. No, I am not against seeing it, nor am I not excited to see it, but let's face it the real trailer is coming on HARRY POTTER, so excuse me if I don't rush straight out in my imbalanced state to see a trailer that I know will inevitably find its way online in one pirated form or another very shortly. Which Lucasfilm will immediately hit with cease and desists and threats of legal actions, but inevitably the trailer will end up being hosted by some anonymous server on some island ruled by Col Kurtz in the headhunting clans of some forgotten tribe.
I will probably hold off till the insane crowds die down and I can hobble my way painlessly to a very early Monday Morning screening. Having said that, the descriptions of this first trailer have not been being felt as being a complete mind agog of coolness, nor have they been being described as something tired and trite.
The main criticism that I have heard is that the teaser is less than inspiring. However, that for anyone that loves STAR WARS, that you watch with great excitement because... well it is Star Wars. However, that is just the opinions of the folks that have written me so far. I figure you have your own opinion about this first teaser for ATTACK OF THE CLONES. I assume your legs carried you to that first screening this morning and that you are about to dish out your every reaction to having seen the second coming. I do have a warning though, I have heard from some folks that claim that their theaters got a memo asking to pull the trailer from in front of MONSTERS, INC. And I have heard that a couple of folks didn't see the trailer. As is typical, I'm sure some disappointment and removals are expected.... As heck, I'm sure the underage projectionists of the world already have the trailer available for purchase on Ebay in 35mm seeking a fortune, but not realizing that Lucasfilm inevitably has folks ready to cancel their auctions with legal actions.
So... In a nutshell, what did you think? Here's your talk back to think about it....
Now QUINT has signed in with his opinion on the trailer...
Ahoy there, squirts. 'Tis everybody's favorite crusty ol' seaman, Quint, here to give you my opinion of the Episode II trailer. I had seen Monsters, Inc twice before its release and neither time did it have the trailer attached. Being the geek I am, not to mention the Star Wars whore, I hit Monsters, Inc again this morning to see the trailer. Now, I had just seen Life As A House and had one fear alleviated. Hayden can act. Good. Great. But how was Ep. 2 going to turn out as a whole? Was Lucas going to take the fan criticism he got for Episode 1 to heart or was he going to stay the course?
Get to the point, I hear you folks saying... How was the trailer? OK, OK... jeez... The trailer, as a teaser trailer, does its job. It tells us, the audience, nothing, but shows us enough captivating images to whet our appetites a bit, get us hungry for more. I'm not going to go in and describe the trailer shot for shot. A great many people have already done so and you can just go out and see it for yourself anytime you want. I am going to tell you what I liked and didn't like about the trailer, though.
What I liked: The tone of the film. If the trailer represents the whole film tonally, then we're headed into some dark, dark territory. Nearly every shot in the trailer is darkly lit, shot at night, etc. The CG seems to be handled better. I never would have believed I would say this, but the CG Yoda looks damn impressive. Hell, it's head over heels better lookin' than the puppet used in Episode 1. Jango Fett looks badass. Obi-Wan floating in a futuristic Bacta Tank looking thing is cool as hell. The new locations. Unlike some others that have seen the trailer, I like the city in the ocean and don't think it looks overly CG. I loved the shot of R2 in a room with laser beams all over the floor. I love seeing 3PO whole again. I love the crispness of the HD 24p Camera. It didn't look pixilated or digital. It looked like super sharp film.
What I didn't like: In terms of content, I can think of nothing that rubbed me the wrong way with the trailer. That shot of all the clones marching into a spacecraft was well done, but wasn't anything we haven't seen before. My only beef with the trailer is it doesn't get the blood pumping, the adrenaline rushing. The Episode 1 teaser got all of our hearts pumping. It also gave too much away, so in effect the fact that this trailer is a real, honest to God, teaser might be a good thing. It did what it intended to do and that was show us the tone of the movie and give us a small taste of the bigger meal to come.
I, for one, am psyched about the movie. Sure, it could still suck, but the more I see and hear, the more my fears are alleviated. It isn't Lord of the Rings cool, but you have to remember that Star Wars was Lord of the Rings cool almost 25 years ago. Lord of the Rings has the whole angle of we're watching movie history unfold, that this film will be watched, the phenomenon surrounding this film studied, for many, many, many years to come. LOTR is pushing the limits of technology, of cleverness with effects and character by a young director and young, upstart effects guys. Um... Lucas and ILM anybody?
We haven't seen the definitive Lord of the Rings movie yet. We have seen the definitive Star Wars films. All in all, I just wish people would let these movies exist together without having to feel like allying with one of them. "Fellowship is going to kick Attack of the Clones' ass, man!" "No, Lucas is God! Lord of the Rings will suck!" We should be hoping for both of these films to be as good as they can be. After all, who wants to watch a shitty movie? Have a little hope, people. It looks like Lucas is taking Star Wars a bit more seriously this time out if the trailer is any indication.
-Quint
