On Friday night, November 22, my husband and I ventured to an AMC Theater to watch Gladiator 2. We had purchased our tickets ahead of time just in case, gotten our popcorn (we used the Cinemark colosseum popcorn bucket which I also ordered ahead of time) soda, and took our seats.
Before the film began (stay tuned for articles in the near future), we sat through several upcoming movie trailers. I'll be discussing 5 of them, and my personal thoughts as to whether I'd actually sit in a theater and watch them or pass altogether.
Let's begin!
Kraven the Hunter
The first trailer was for Kraven the Hunter, based on the Marvel comics character of the same name. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, we watched the red band trailer which delivered more blood and gore than even Gladiator II.
This was the first trailer/teaser I've ever seen for the film, and I unfortunately know absolutely nothing about the character. The trailer's violence was very reminiscent of Deadpool & Wolverine, just without the humor.
It was intense, fast-paced, and able to reveal to audiences what this movie is about without giving away any real details. What sold me more than anything was the trailer song used, Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around".
Johnny Cash is one of my favorite singers of all time, so hearing his song blend with the violent trailer was a true masterpiece in the making. Will I see this in theaters?
Maybe. It was one of the few trailers that left an impact on me after leaving the theater.
Love Hurts
I was pleasantly surprised by Love Hurts. What starts as a simple story of a man who excels at his job, in this case a real estate agent, with a heart of gold, maybe even a doormat, turns into a funny, action-packed, spy-ish film.
Mixing action with humor, the film stars Hollywood sweetheart Ke Huy Quan, who, surprise surprise, used to be a highly skilled, deadly assassin, who left the business to be a real estate agent. But alas, his brother is out to get him and somehow his old flame is involved.
As Quan throws guys through walls and windows, he apologizes before continuing to kick more butt in self-defense. But it's only a matter of time before he allows his old self to return and that is when he is no longer Mister Nice Guy.
Will I see this movie in theaters? Most likely!
Thunderbolts
While I did see this trailer already, the version we saw in theaters felt a little shortened in random places. Based on several Marvel characters that we've all seen from the films, except maybe Bob, many associate it with Marvel's answer to DC's Suicide Squad.
The trailer had its small, funny moments but was mostly portrayed as a serious, action-packed film appealing to those who enjoy the more violent and adult side of Marvel. The Thunderbolts team consists of Yelena/Black Widow, Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier, Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, John Walker, Taskmaster, and Ava Starr/Ghost.
I'm unsure when but at some point in recent years I've fallen victim to the Marvel Universe fatigue. While Loki season 2 kept me invested and interested, Deadpool & Wolverine was probably the best movie I've seen all year, other projects like Secret Invasion (major disappointment), Agatha All Along (meh, not horrible, not great) and even The Marvels (didn't even bother watching and probably never will), were less than stellar.
I'm on the fence with Thunderbolts as it's not something I am counting the days to see, unlike The Fantastic Four: First Steps. But I wouldn't be surprised that as the release date gets closer I'll be convinced to venture to the theaters to watch it.
Better Man
How do I provide my honest opinion on this...mess? Will I be seeing this film in theaters?
Two words: Absolutely not. Between the disturbing uncanny valley and far-from-creative story (seriously this is practically every story for every singer/band member in near existence), I cannot believe anyone greenlit this movie.
It's a talking monkey who becomes famous after joining a boy band... He wants to be seen, remembered, famous...
You are a talking monkey. In what world would you not become famous?
Companion
Last but not least is the creepy, horror/thriller flick Companion, which left me scratching my head as to what was really going on. Starring Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher, my best educated guess about the film's plot is that Thatcher is a robot whom Quaid becomes obsessed with.
She's cuffed to her chair while they eat dinner, she's chased, all the while Quaid is killing people left and right. Is it because he can't let anyone know he kidnapped her?
Is it because people are trying to free him from his obsession? Amongst this murderous rage, Quaid has the biggest puppy dog eyes you've ever seen for a woman who is terrified to even be in the same room as him.
Will I see this film in theaters? As much as I'm curious as to what happens, I'll most likely pass.
Horror isn't my favorite genre of media, with mild exceptions (The Walking Dead and The Last of Us). I'd rather sit down and enjoy a historical fiction story, light comedy, or a heartfelt (not cringey or overrated) romance film.
Which movie from the above movie trailer list would you see in theaters? Let us know in the comments below!