Hang onto your hats and hide the children, because today’s TDTS article may contain inappropriate language and scenes of extreme violence. So, you know…all the good stuff.
I’ve always enjoyed movie trailers. Yes, I am that insane friend who insists we arrive at the theater on time so that we don’t miss the coming attractions, and yes, I am that possibly even more insane friend who shushes people who are talking during said coming attractions. I just likes my previews, alright?
And it’s no wonder; trailers have developed over the years into two-minute works of art on their own. While the main focus is still on showing off your movie, and getting people involved in what they’re watching, it has evolved over the years from simple commercial styled advertisements, to genuinely compelling short films. If you want to find information on upcoming films, the internet will provide you with all the details you need; now it’s up to the filmmakers and editors to up their game, and make these previews exciting and engrossing. And the best way to do that?
Throw in some good old fashioned profanity and gore, of course.
Now, obviously that tactic won’t work with G-rated family films. But if you’re promoting an R-rated adult flick, whether uncouth comedy or over-the-top spectacle of violence, trailers approved for all audiences just won’t cut it. The ability to condense a two-hour movie into a minute and a half is impressive. The ability to do that with a hard R film, and edit it so that it’s acceptable for all audiences, even more impressive. But for those of use who aren’t easily offended, if you want to engage us and get us pumped for your restricted movie, you better show us the goods early, and often.
On that note, here are a few red-band trailers (trailers that are not approved for all audiences, don’t'cha know) that show off their respective films more appropriately than their PG rated counterparts. We are fucking adults, after all.
I’ll be honest; until this red-band trailer was released, I had no idea that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s “Paul” was rated R. Since Pegg and Frost’s earlier films (“Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”) were rated R, I was a little surprised. Luckily, my initial fears of taming these two were alleviated with the release of this preview, and my interest in this movie was, understandably, piqued:
While I was certainly aware of “Tropic Thunder’s” adult rating before seeing this particular red-bander, it nevertheless pleased the hell out of me. Featuring liberal uses of the word “motherfucker,” surprising moments of extreme violence, and Nick Nolte doing the best impression of Nick Nolte I’ve ever seen, the “Tropic Thunder” trailer hits all the right notes.
“The Hangover” is a prime example of a movie that relies heavily on crude, R-rated humor, and attempting to edit that into a PG rating was probably a daunting task. Comedies designed primarily with adult audiences in mind have become something of a rarity these days, but luckily we have Todd Phillips almost single-handedly specializing in the genre. While I still prefer “Old School,” “The Hangover” was one of the few movies in recent memory that genuinely lived up to it’s hype.
I don’t know why I find the idea of a fourteen-year old girl calling violent gangsters “cunts” so funny, but I fucking do. And so should you.
…I think this one sorta speaks for itself.
