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2014 Summer Movie Trailer Roundup

Michelle Man |
April 19, 2014 | 12:07 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Angelina Jolie as Maleficent (ohh-death/tumblr)
Angelina Jolie as Maleficent (ohh-death/tumblr)
What to see and what not to see? Other than "The Amazing Spider-Man 2", "X-Men: Days of Future Past," "Transformers: Age of Extinction," and "22 Jump Street" which we've talked about before, we've picked out 5 trailers from the pool of summer blockbusters for you to decide. 

"Godzilla" 

I personally prefer the official teaser trailer to the latest full trailer. "Godzilla" from 1985 has made the monster an icon in horror films, however it was considered a blockbuster flop at the time. It did, however, cumulate a large cult following around the world and even younger generations these days know what Godzilla is. Sony tried to conceal the monster in the trailers in 1985, just as Warner Bros. did with this teaser. The difference is that in those days we didn't have films like "Pacific Rim" or "Transformers". Audiences know what monsters look like, and they certainly have an idea of what Godzilla looked like. This teaser showcased the fear of the unknown that people felt, rather than highlighting the monster itself. However, with the latest trailer revealing the actual Godzilla, will it break away from the rest of the monster movies? "Godzilla" is bursting into theaters on May 2. 

"Maleficent" 

Disney takes one of the most classic villains, Maleficent, and gives her a chance to tell her side of "Sleeping Beauty." Seeing the trailer, it seems like "Maleficent" will have the same twist as "Wicked" did with "the Wizard of Oz," which proves to work very well with audiences. And of course, Angelina Jolie playing Maleficent is a plus. The idea seems fresh and original, showing a softer side of the supposedly evil Disney villain. Will the back story be believable enough for audiences to feel for the classic villain? We'll have to see. The film will come out on May 30. 

"The Fault in Our Stars"

"The Fault in Our Stars" was well received among book critics and gained popularity by topping several bestseller list such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. With rising star Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort playing a pair of star-crossed lovers, it is no doubt that audiences will be tearing up in theaters. John Green first gained popularity on Youtube with his brother Hank Green and soon gained a growing fanbase who called themselves "nerdfighters." But this is not just a coming-of-age film for fans and teenagers, the story deals with more mature issues of life and death that anyone can relate to. MTV Movie Awards debuted a sneak peek of the film with a clip named "It's a Metaphor."  The clip and the trailer shows just how witty yet tear-jerking the film will be and viewers will still want to go in and see the story of Hazel and Gus. The stars will align on June 6. 

"Hercules"

What happened to Hercules singing "I Can Go The Distance"? What happened to the sassy muses telling the story? Rather than a half-god, half-man Hercules, director Brett Ratner decided to make Hercules a man that became a legend. He was never the son of Zeus, nor were there any supernatural beasts. Yet seeing the trailer, which has supernatural beasts, it is confusing as to who Hercules really was. For Disney fans who grew up seeing the "Hercules" in 1997, it is easy to be biased and to think that there will be Zeus and Pegasus in the film. However, this is no doubt a bold take on the classical myth. See what you think on July 25. 

"Guardians of the Galaxy"

I heard about this film because of "Doctor Who's" Karen Gillan. Having seen the past Marvel films like "The Avengers" and "Iron Man" series, I had high expectations about "Guardians of the Galaxy." Yet, seeing the trailer, it seems like the film may be lacking the vibe that the other Marvel movies had. The trailer introduced the team of "Guardians of the Galaxy," including a raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper. The cast of the film seems promising yet the trailer didn't do much to tease audiences just what exactly they could expect from the film. "Guardians of the Galaxy" will be out August 1. 

Reach Staff Reporter Michelle Man here



 

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