No Transformers Just Transformation

It was all going to be so easy. I was planning to sit here and tell you how Transformers 2 looks just as good as you'd expect, and it does. But honestly, screw Transformers. The movie I'll spend my money on this weekend is a different brand of action-packed.



I was on the edge of my desk chair during the 2:30 trailer for Kathryn Bigelow's, The Hurt Locker. I can't really think of much to compare it with, but that's not a problem, it's a strength. Bigelow brought us the actioniers staple Point Break almost twenty years ago (that's right it came out the same year as Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey), she must have spent all that time learning.

So, why is The Hurt Locker is the best looking trailer of the year?

1. After a few seconds of the trailer, you know there are going to be great moments of high tension. The suspense and action are so obviously built into the life of the main character that the trailer doesn't have to focus on them. This leaves time for a rare sight in action trailers... character. It's obvious that Jeremy Renner, who plays Staff Sergeant Will James, is a wreckless man with a haunted past, but he's also funny, charming, a guys guy... I won't go on, but I could. And that's sort of the point, I feel like I know so much about this character already and I haven't seen more than 2 minutes of his life.

2. The trailer also does a nice job of changing tones. It hits suspense, action, comedy, and tragedy without ever seeming forced or disjointed.

3. They don't give away all their secrets. I railed on GI Joe for not using more Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but sometimes it's best to keep a cameo to yourself. Following up on a killer late apperance In Burges, Ralph Finnes will be somewhere in this picture and I can't wait to find out where.

4. David Mores... The man played George Washington, perfectly I might add. He's a fantastic actor and he should be in every war movie that needs white people. Sorry, no Letters From Iwo Jima, Ken Watanabe needs to eat too.