Trailer Deconstruction

I've realised that I would only be able to do a proper deconstruction of a trailer that has an emotional connection to me; something that I would enjoy doing...

Star Trek.

One of the most successful science fiction franchises in history. The roots of this franchise began growing way back in 1966 with the television airing of Gene Roddenberry's visionary ideals.


However, most sadly, in recent times, this franchise was seen as a dying one by the general public and by  Paramount studios. Paramount was desperate to reinvigorate the franchise and they did so by making a very bold move by introducing J.J. Abrams to reboot the franchise.

The following is quite possibly my favourite teaser trailer of all time.


I remember the very first time I saw this trailer.
I was screaming in ecstasy when I saw the hull markings spell out 'U.S.S. Enterprise'.


This trailer was very, very well designed.


What made this trailer so fantastic in achieving a resounding effect on me is the element of surprise.

I could only imagine how those lucky patrons felt when this trailer played before Cloverfield on the grand silver screen... Oh how I wish I was there.


SURPRISE

The trailer begins with a very 20th century image of a welder, toiling hard at his task in a very dark atmosphere. This looks like a movie set in our normal timeline of Hollywood movies, nothing too interesting looking at first, right?

Then we see that J.J. Abrams is directing.

We hear iconic words from the 1960s.

Words, quotes, emotions pouring out of those witnessing the life of the space race of the 1960s.
We hear former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his words to the world...

This movie is definitely a space movie.

Well then, this seems a lot more interesting now!

Who expected what we would see next?


TACT AND STRATEGY

The brilliance of this trailer also lies in the execution of  the revelation of this grand, elaborate scheme to the regular moviegoers WHILE still appealing to existing fans of the franchise like me.

The use of welding does quite a lot to cement the fact that this is not science fantasy, but science fiction.

In English, that statement simply means that the gritty, sweaty, MANUAL atmosphere we get from assembling something via welding makes us remember that this is not a ridiculously happy fantasy world where only stark contrasts exist.

The intertwining of quotes from the space age create a sense of destiny; a feeling that this is not simply ridiculous science fiction that can just be forgotten after seeing it.

This trailer makes us feel that this movie may just be a prediction of the future rather than a simple fantasy.
The pulsating beat and rhythmic fade transitions conjure a sense of suspense and grandeur as the camera pans over the starship under construction.

The strategic panning over the ship reveals very little until everything is dropped on us at the end.

At 0:46, the rising crescendo masks the subtle emergence of the bells and chimes used in the title sequence of the original Star Trek series as well as that of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' tv series.


And then It happens...

"Space, the final frontier..." 

At this point, my jaw had hit the floor and my cardiac muscles were ready to burst through my chest cavity in pure excitement.Those legendary words were mouthed by Leonard Nimoy himself...

This is Trek.

And even better...
They played the original theme during the Enterprise's reveal...

When my eyes and ears encompassed the next sight, adrenal pleasure surged through my body. I still get chills watching this trailer...

Instead of using the words 'Star Trek' to represent the movie, they did something very different.
A gleaming Starfleet emblem shone out of the darkness as a beam of light illuminated its contours and then enveloped the entire symbol.
The timeless icon of the Star Trek franchise.

The modernization of the old sound effects from the 1960s TV show, and the redesigned Federation flagship U.S.S. Enterprise, breathe new life into classic material and creates a new opportunty for the franchise "to boldly go where no one has gone before". 



This is, in my opinion, a masterpiece of a teaser trailer despite what anyone might think of the movie itself or the franchise it belongs to.

Something new...

The date for our exhibition is currently in a state of flux and as such, I definitely will NOT release any snippets of my work regarding the exhibition until the opening night has passed...

This is a matter very sensitive to me because any 'leaked' pieces of work will spoil the large build up towards exhibiting our own pieces at a show.


As such, I've decided to try something new...


I've neglected graphic design recently as an artist and I think I have also been neglecting the element of my blog which tries to expose the subliminal elements of art and graphic design.

As such, I will create a new poll for the viewers to vote on a weekly basis for a new trailer, poster or famous advertisement for me to 'deconstruct' graphically and review the power of the subliminal artistic ventures used to seduce your attention.


Please leave some suggestions for me in the comments section below.

The first one to be deconstructed will be the international trailer for the highest rated Marvel movie of Summer 2011 on Rottentomatoes.com .

The Game Has Changed

Rotten Tomatoes.com says:

"Tron Legacy boasts dazzling visuals, but its human characters and story get lost amidst its state-of-the-art production design."

I BEG TO DIFFER....

On Saturday 7th January, 2011,  I had the pleasure of viewing TRON: Legacy in 3-D at Caribbean Cinemas 8.

As with most action-oriented 3-D movies, the graphics were astounding and the depth of three dimensions was very present. However, there were not many, "RUN!!!,that thing is coming to kill me!!!!!" 3D moments in the film as can be easily seen in 3D animated features.

In my personal opinion, Rotten Tomatoes was a bit harsh on the movie. The plot was not mind-blowing, it was quite 2-dimensional, but it was stable and thrilling as there were few moments of boredom within the film. Suspense was high and there were some 'bad guy wins' parts of the plot to balance the power of the characters.

The riveting film score by Daft Punk fused my gluteus maximus and minimus to the flimsy theatre seats as the booming crescendos enhanced the blazing action coming through the screen at me. I must commend them for a giant leap into the the realm of film score. A highly successful leap might I add.

I will even go the extent of saying that the movie would be nothing without this resounding score.

But the one thing that resonated through my cranium after the show, and still continues to ring, is the MASSIVE jump for the CGI industry with this film. 

Designs in this show will become a lasting phenomenon which I can personally attest to with this watch I am drooling for...

And this iPod dock.....

Language is a more powerful plot tool than fists or tears to captivate an attentive audience.

TRON: Legacy had a quite flimsy plot on the surface of the movie, but the sub-plot was quite a jump for a studio like Disney (pretty much like Avatar and the sub-plot of destroying our world through greed). TRON: Legacy conveys some very powerful messages about creation, the human spirit and our lack of faith in today's society. What if there was somewhere we go after our life ends in this reality? All of our scientific and philosophical beliefs would lead us nowhere.

Our innate faith would be the only thing left.

The one thing we neglect most. 

I leave you now to visit the Cinema and view this digital masterpiece, TRON: Legacy. I guarantee that you will leave the cinema fulfilled.