I once made a shirt for myself with a sharpie that says, "No. I did not see that movie." There is such a rich history of cinema here in 2010 that as a Gen Y'er who never saw Pulp Fiction and knew of Citizen Cane only in legend, where do you begin? I'll tell you; with the trailer. Let me be preemptively clear: the love for movie trailers is not for substituting the viewing of the full length film. Not in the least! They began as innocent queries: Don't know what to watch tonight? Can't decide if you're in the mood for Once Upon a Time in the West or Postcards from the Edge? Try the trailer. As it is in fine restaurants, an amuse bouche opens up the palate for an array of delights to come. So it is with movie trailers before a feature presentation. And it grows from there. The trailers shown on the big screen these days are simply the periphery. I am talking about old trailers made when the rules for trailers were strange ... Read >

I once made a shirt for myself with a sharpie that says, "No. I did not see that movie." There is such a rich history of cinema here in 2010 that as a Gen Y'er who never saw Pulp Fiction and knew of Citizen Cane only in legend, where do you begin? I'll tell you; with the trailer. Let me be preemptively clear: the love for movie trailers is not for substituting the viewing of the full length film. Not in the least! They began as innocent queries: Don't know what to watch tonight? Can't decide if you're in the mood for Once Upon a Time in the West or Postcards from the Edge? Try the trailer. As it is in fine restaurants, an amuse bouche opens up the palate for an array of delights to come. So it is with movie trailers before a feature presentation. And it grows from there. The trailers shown on the big screen these days are simply the periphery. I am talking about old trailers made when the rules for trailers were strange or non existent. (Before J.J. Abrams & Michael Bay figured out how to make trailers like Coca-Cola =& Car Ads. Don't get me wrong - there are some awesome Adverts for Kia & Coca-Cola out there. Little snippets that get into your brain. Dangerously, perhaps, but goddamn entertaining nonetheless.) I am also talking about new trailers that break the rules and make them better. A Serious Man, Fight Club, District 9, Kick Ass. Trailers that were in and of themselves eliciting responses from viewers (at least this viewer). Because there are so many wonderful things being made. And to sift them out from the lack of economy of the crap that's made - an extraordinary pursuit! Movie trailers: At their best they are artful windows into an articulate artists' vision. At their worst, well, they're boring. But worse yet: they tell you the entire story. Stories are driven by keeping the viewing audience just behind the forward motion. Not knowing is what makes it fun to get to know. And when it's pitch perfect, we want to take the ride again and again and again. Movie making is such a complete art form - so many elements must interweave to make something great. Then to make a teaser-trailer that something is condensed to appeal, intrigue, and titillate. What an extraordinary form of entertainment! And anymore, anything can have a trailer. Television shows of course, bu also Stage presentations! Band tours! New records about to be released (see Grinderman 2). My hypothesis is that especially where cinema history lacks, lust for movie trailers reigns supreme. But for all trailers, all forms that induce anticipation of delight - I am obsessed. So for those of us who take a moment out of our busy day to relax into a mini-story, those who check apple trailers on their lunch break or scan netflix for trailers to watch instantly, those who enjoy enjoying a story: Salute! Show Less <