Grading the Super Bowl Trailers

Ah, the Super Bowl. Where advertisements cost millions per second, yet studios don't mind because their film is getting a hefty amount of viewers. So with the movies that are showing their trailers this evening, they certainly better bring their "A" game, because the world is most certainly watching. Here are some of my grades for the trailers shown during tonight's game.

1. Muppets Most Wanted: A-
Though I'm not the biggest fan of the Muppets, I've gotta say that this trailer rocked in so many ways. Instead of taking itself too seriously or dumbing it down to fit a typical children's movie, the trailer blends hilarity of the real world with the zaniness of the Muppets themselves. It's funny and is definitely memorable, which is what these trailers really should be aiming for. And even though I'm not the biggest fan, the trailer even persuaded me. Yet I don't think it did as good as it could've done, because it didn't really show too much of the plot. But all of that aside, it definitely worked, especially on the older generation (which is smart, because their the ones who are paying for all the tickets.)

2. Need for Speed: B-
With basically no dialogue except maybe two or three lines, this trailer is very plainly cars racing around with random explosions and gunfire. There's nothing that shows what it'll actually about (unless of course it literally is just driving and random explosions.) Though I will say the racing scenes seem to be really well made and they definitely intrigued me. But I really think it's just another forgettable car racing movie that'll try to be the next Fast and Furious. 

3. Transformers: Age of Extinction: B-
A fourth one? Huh? Again with hardly any dialogue too. Unless you count the typical girl getting kidnapped and her yelling "Dad!" as he chases after her. It seems like yet another unnecessary film that should just end it where it is. I have to admit, though, that the effects and robot designs seem pretty awesome.

4. The Amazing Spider-Man 2: A
Finally, here's a trailer that's both visually incredible and shows us some of the characters (and villains) that we love. The plot seems to be thickening and the trailer sets the tone fairly well on what we can expect. There's an awesome opening shot of Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) falling high from the sky while trying to grasp our hero (Andrew Garfield) as they smash through a glass ceiling and Stacy only barely survives. The risks are higher and the trailer has definitely shown us that.

It's not all of the trailers, but that gives a pretty good view of what happened this evening. It was overall a kind of disappointing night because not a lot of studios bought time slots for their trailers. Perhaps because their budgets aren't huge and they can't afford the ad costs. But I just hope it isn't because a lot of the big movies this year aren't up to par with what viewers want. But we'll have to see.