(original article from http://uk.movies.yahoo.com)
We all know modern day comedy trailers show all the funny bits (just look at 'The Hangover's Mike Tyson cameo), while summer blockbuster promos are filled with all the best action sequences in the movie.
But what about those trailers that give away the ending too?
Infuriating and pointless – here are the worst offenders:
Free Willy
When you have a film that's central question is 'Can a young boy free a whale in captivity?' do you really need to see the actual rescue and money shot (Whale jumping over the young boy on his way to freedom)? The marketing team did, closing the trailer with it and plastering it on the posters.
It's not like we expected him to fail, what with it being a family film and all – but it would have been nice if we hadn't seen the ending before we watched the movie.
Watch the trailer
Carrie
There are lots of ways to get an audience interested in a film about a bullied girl with telekinesis powers who finally snaps after she is covered in pig blood at her prom. You could hint at her powers and the constant threat from both her classmates and her unhinged mother, creating an unsettling atmosphere that you know can only end one way – bad. Or you could just show pretty much all the main scenes from the move, ending the trailer with a bloodied Carrie walking out of the burning school after we see glimpses of her rampage!
At least they didn't include the film's famous shock ending though.
Watch the trailer
Termination Salvation
One of the main plot points of 'Terminator Salvation' focused on Sam Worthington's death row inmate character, who finds himself reawakened in the post apocalyptic world. Found by the human resistance, they, and he, are stunned to find that he is in fact a terminator.
It would have been a neat twist, and something different in the series.
Inexplicably, one of the film's trailers doesn't just hint at the twist, they show Worthington's entire character development during the film.
Watch the trailer
Cast Away
Until a certain point 'Cast Away's trailer is perfectly serviceable – it sets up Tom Hank's middle class character and his relationship with his wife, played by Helen Hunt. We see his plane crashing, and his subsequent escape to a desert island. We see the clumsy rotund man transform into a skinny and bearded adept hunter.
All perfectly fine. Why the marketing bods felt we also needed to see him being rescued and then meet up with his wife (it's also hinted that certain people have moved on since his disappearance), we'll never know.
While the film was still a hit, nothing would have been a surprise if you had seen the trailer.
Watch the trailer
What Lies Beneath
Robert Zemeckis shot 'What Lies Beneath' in between the filming of 'Cast Away' to give Tom Hanks enough time to lose weight for the island parts. And like 'Cast Away', the promo of 'What Lies Beneath' is incredibly spoiler heavy. The premise of Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer living in a haunted house should have been more than enough to pack in an audience. Throw in a few scares, a billowing curtain every once in a while and it should pique people's interest. But no, they had to reveal several key plot twists, including who the ghost is.
Watch the trailer
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
While there are legions of 'LOTR' fans, the first movie drew in not just avid readers of the books but a whole new audience. So why did the film's bosses decide to show a scene of Gandalf in the promo for the follow up.
Surely the return of a character previously thought dead should be saved for the actual movie?
Watch the trailer
The Negotiator
The trailer for this 1998 hostage film really did reveal every plot point in the film – including the twist that the two rival negotiators, played by Samuel L Jackson and Kevin Spacey, team up together at the end.
Watch the trailer
The Sum of All Fears
What was great about Tom Clancy's book was that the tired old plot of 'trying to stop a bomb going off in a major city' was given a fresh twist by having the actual bomb go off, resulting in the aftermath being the film's main storyline.
It was a ballsy move. Unfortunately, what could have been a great twist for cinemagoers was ruined when the entire story was mapped out in the trailer.
Watch the trailer
Monday, April 25, 2011
Top 10 craziest movie twist endings
(original article from http://uk.movies.yahoo.com)
There’s nothing like a twist at the end of a film to get people talking about it, is there? Even if it can be an all-too-familiar and often lazy device from movie-makers at times. But let’s leave all the ‘OMG! You mean it was all just a dream?!’ rubbish-ending DVDs nestling unbought in the 24 hour petrol station’s big white wire discount bin - along with the ice scrapers and shop-damaged Creme Eggs - and celebrate ten of the truly great (and truly crazy) movie endings that you never saw coming...
‘The Usual Suspects’ - 1995
The Twist: Verbal Kint’s entire story to the police was a lie and he himself is the legendary crime lord, Keyser Söze...
Why it was surprising: Limpy, weak Verbal (Kevin Spacey) is routinely bullied and barracked throughout the film and Söze’s such a petrifying criminal mastermind, he makes Blofeld look like Garfield.
‘Se7en' - 1995
The Twist: "What's in the box?! What's in the box?!" Screams Det. Mills (Brad Pitt) to serial killer John Doe (Kevin Spacey). Oh. It's Mills' pregnant wife's head (awk-ward...!). So Mills shoots him.
Why it was surprising: We knew we still had the sixth and seventh victims to go, but noone expected a beheaded Gywneth Paltrow, did they...?
‘The Mist’ - 2007
The Twist: Convinced there are no survivors of the attack by the other-worldly tentacle-y monsters and facing certain death, David Drayton (Thomas Jane) shoots his three passengers - including his eight-year-old son in a mercy killing. He gets out of the car to discover... soldiers. A rescue mission had been successful - they’d all have survived...
Why it was surprising: While it’s a very good sci-fi thriller and not the most uplifting, nothing could prepare you for an ending as bleak and jarring as this one. Shocking stuff.
[See also: Most bizarre films ever]
‘The Sixth Sense’ - 1999
The Twist: Dr. Crowe (Bruce Willis) is a ghost...!
Why it was surprising: When you watch one of director M. Night Shyamalan’s movies now you expect a twist at the end (if you can get that far - his films really are terrible nowadays). This was his breakthrough picture though and no one was expecting such a huge reveal at the end (a bit like in ‘Boogie Nights’...).
‘Fight Club’ - 1999
The Twist: Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) is the subconscious alter-ego of our nameless narrator/hero (Edward Norton)...
Why it was surprising: You’re so caught up in the stylised appearance, snappy script and visceral violence, your brain barely has room for anything else and then BAM!
‘Memento’ - 2000
The Twist: Leonard (Guy Pearce) knows that Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) didn’t kill his wife, yet he sets it up so that he’ll think he did anyway...
Why it was surprising: It was only really surprising if you could keep up with the delicately intricate plot, which was told in reverse order. A real melon-twister of a mind-bender.
‘Planet of the Apes’ - 1968
The Twist: Astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) sees a blown-up Statue of Liberty on the mystery planet run by those ‘Goddamn dirty apes’ and realises he’s actually on Earth, but in the future...
Why it was surprising: You didn’t get many endings like that back then, although it’s not that surprising now. Especially if you watched it on DVD and even briefly glanced at the cover - a cover which has a huge picture of the Statue of Liberty on it!
[See also: Apes from new 'Planet' film revealed]
‘The Crying Game’ - 1992
The Twist: She’s a man...!
Why it was surprising: Like the contents of of his underwear, Dil (Jaye Davidson)’s identity was pretty well hidden throughout the film. It was a ‘reveal’ also seen with Lt. ‘Lois’ Einhorn in ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ a few years later.
‘Chinatown’ - 1974
The Twist: Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway)’s daughter is also her sister...
Why it was surprising: Incest isn’t the kind of subject normally dealt with in Oscar-winning films, is it?
‘Psycho’ - 1960
The Twist: Murderous motelier Norman Bates’ (Anthony Perkins) over-bearing mother is long dead. He was talking to himself all along...
Why it was surprising: Director Alfred Hitchcock loved a twist ending, but even so - themes and imagery this shocking and creepy (Hello, Mother’s wig-wearing skeleton!) were pretty rare five decades ago.
There’s no surprise incest, mental illness or hidden packages ending to this feature though readers (sorry). Just a question:
What are your favourite twist endings?
There’s nothing like a twist at the end of a film to get people talking about it, is there? Even if it can be an all-too-familiar and often lazy device from movie-makers at times. But let’s leave all the ‘OMG! You mean it was all just a dream?!’ rubbish-ending DVDs nestling unbought in the 24 hour petrol station’s big white wire discount bin - along with the ice scrapers and shop-damaged Creme Eggs - and celebrate ten of the truly great (and truly crazy) movie endings that you never saw coming...
‘The Usual Suspects’ - 1995
The Twist: Verbal Kint’s entire story to the police was a lie and he himself is the legendary crime lord, Keyser Söze...
Why it was surprising: Limpy, weak Verbal (Kevin Spacey) is routinely bullied and barracked throughout the film and Söze’s such a petrifying criminal mastermind, he makes Blofeld look like Garfield.
‘Se7en' - 1995
The Twist: "What's in the box?! What's in the box?!" Screams Det. Mills (Brad Pitt) to serial killer John Doe (Kevin Spacey). Oh. It's Mills' pregnant wife's head (awk-ward...!). So Mills shoots him.
Why it was surprising: We knew we still had the sixth and seventh victims to go, but noone expected a beheaded Gywneth Paltrow, did they...?
‘The Mist’ - 2007
The Twist: Convinced there are no survivors of the attack by the other-worldly tentacle-y monsters and facing certain death, David Drayton (Thomas Jane) shoots his three passengers - including his eight-year-old son in a mercy killing. He gets out of the car to discover... soldiers. A rescue mission had been successful - they’d all have survived...
Why it was surprising: While it’s a very good sci-fi thriller and not the most uplifting, nothing could prepare you for an ending as bleak and jarring as this one. Shocking stuff.
[See also: Most bizarre films ever]
‘The Sixth Sense’ - 1999
The Twist: Dr. Crowe (Bruce Willis) is a ghost...!
Why it was surprising: When you watch one of director M. Night Shyamalan’s movies now you expect a twist at the end (if you can get that far - his films really are terrible nowadays). This was his breakthrough picture though and no one was expecting such a huge reveal at the end (a bit like in ‘Boogie Nights’...).
‘Fight Club’ - 1999
The Twist: Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) is the subconscious alter-ego of our nameless narrator/hero (Edward Norton)...
Why it was surprising: You’re so caught up in the stylised appearance, snappy script and visceral violence, your brain barely has room for anything else and then BAM!
‘Memento’ - 2000
The Twist: Leonard (Guy Pearce) knows that Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) didn’t kill his wife, yet he sets it up so that he’ll think he did anyway...
Why it was surprising: It was only really surprising if you could keep up with the delicately intricate plot, which was told in reverse order. A real melon-twister of a mind-bender.
‘Planet of the Apes’ - 1968
The Twist: Astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) sees a blown-up Statue of Liberty on the mystery planet run by those ‘Goddamn dirty apes’ and realises he’s actually on Earth, but in the future...
Why it was surprising: You didn’t get many endings like that back then, although it’s not that surprising now. Especially if you watched it on DVD and even briefly glanced at the cover - a cover which has a huge picture of the Statue of Liberty on it!
[See also: Apes from new 'Planet' film revealed]
‘The Crying Game’ - 1992
The Twist: She’s a man...!
Why it was surprising: Like the contents of of his underwear, Dil (Jaye Davidson)’s identity was pretty well hidden throughout the film. It was a ‘reveal’ also seen with Lt. ‘Lois’ Einhorn in ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ a few years later.
‘Chinatown’ - 1974
The Twist: Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway)’s daughter is also her sister...
Why it was surprising: Incest isn’t the kind of subject normally dealt with in Oscar-winning films, is it?
‘Psycho’ - 1960
The Twist: Murderous motelier Norman Bates’ (Anthony Perkins) over-bearing mother is long dead. He was talking to himself all along...
Why it was surprising: Director Alfred Hitchcock loved a twist ending, but even so - themes and imagery this shocking and creepy (Hello, Mother’s wig-wearing skeleton!) were pretty rare five decades ago.
There’s no surprise incest, mental illness or hidden packages ending to this feature though readers (sorry). Just a question:
What are your favourite twist endings?
Friday, March 25, 2011
Miramax in talks with Netflix, Google, Hulu, others for digital distribution deal
(ORIGINAL ARTICLE FROM http://latimesblogs.latimes.com)
March 25, 2011 | 6:07 pm
Independent film studio Miramax is in licensing talks with Netflix and other video services -- including Amazon, Hulu and Google -- to distribute its 700-film library online, according to a person familiar with the matter.
No agreement has been reached, however the terms for any deal would likely exceed $100 million, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about negotiations.
As the rivalry among online video services grows more intense, competitors are vying with one another to secure valuable content. The Miramax library is an obvious plum, with such recognizable titles as "Pulp Fiction," "Chicago" and "Good Will Hunting."
When he took the post running the independent studio in December, Miramax Chief Executive Mike Lang said signing a digital distribution agreement was a top priority.
Spokeswomen for Miramax, Hulu and Amazon declined to comment, as did a spokesman for Google Inc. Officials for Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Miramax is owned by a consortium of private investors led by construction magnate Ron Tutor and private equity firm Colony Capital, which last year paid $660 million to acquire the company and its library from Walt Disney Co.
The Netflix talks were originaly reported Friday by the Wall Street Journal.
-- Dawn C. Chmielewski and Ben Fritz
March 25, 2011 | 6:07 pm
Independent film studio Miramax is in licensing talks with Netflix and other video services -- including Amazon, Hulu and Google -- to distribute its 700-film library online, according to a person familiar with the matter.
No agreement has been reached, however the terms for any deal would likely exceed $100 million, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about negotiations.
As the rivalry among online video services grows more intense, competitors are vying with one another to secure valuable content. The Miramax library is an obvious plum, with such recognizable titles as "Pulp Fiction," "Chicago" and "Good Will Hunting."
When he took the post running the independent studio in December, Miramax Chief Executive Mike Lang said signing a digital distribution agreement was a top priority.
Spokeswomen for Miramax, Hulu and Amazon declined to comment, as did a spokesman for Google Inc. Officials for Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Miramax is owned by a consortium of private investors led by construction magnate Ron Tutor and private equity firm Colony Capital, which last year paid $660 million to acquire the company and its library from Walt Disney Co.
The Netflix talks were originaly reported Friday by the Wall Street Journal.
-- Dawn C. Chmielewski and Ben Fritz
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