Rambo

Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/rambo/

First up we have the resurrection of an 80’s screen icon with the return of the troubled Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. Sylvester Stallone’s war on cinema continues on - having brought the ‘Italian Stallion’ Rocky Balboa out of retirement and back for one last round of fisticuffs - he now revives the mullet-haired super-soldier for a fourth movie outing.

For those too young to remember, Rambo’s first appearance was in First Blood (1982), and Stallone’s portrayal of a quiet-yet-emotionally-unstable soldier who returns back to an America that isn’t as welcoming as he remembers was memorable and successful enough to lead to sequels Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), and Rambo III (1988).

The trailer for this fourth film (simply called ‘Rambo) begins by introducing John Rambo and the mythology behind this ‘Legend of War’ whilst showing images of conflict and slaughter. A group of missionary workers arrive seeking Rambo’s help (who has sworn against his violent ways and now works as a river boatman in Thailand) in travelling into Burma, to give aid in an area engulfed in civil war. Rambo refuses to help them at first but then agrees to take them over the border; not long after they are captured and Rambo learns that they never returned back and are being held hostage by Burmese soldiers. So Rambo has no option but to go behind enemy lines and do what he does best: preach pseudo-spiritual philosophy whilst killing lots and lots of bad guys.

The film is a throwback to the gritty old days of bloody action movies, and although this older and chubbier Rambo is bordering on OAP status he still looks like he can do the business.

Hancock

Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/hancock/

Hancock is a comedic superhero film starring Will Smith, and is about a washed-up alcoholic hero named ‘John Hancock’ who has gained negative publicity due to his disastrous brand of heroism. A PR consultant tries to help the hero rebuild his reputation, however things get complicated when the superhero ends up having an affair with the consultant’s wife.

The trailer starts with the tagline: ‘There are heroes, there are superheroes and then there’s Hancock’. We meet the down-and-out superhero as he awakes from a drunken haze on a bench and, after being chastised by a kid, flies off to the rescue, only to cause more harm than good. He’s not your typical costumed hero either, looking more like a homeless person than a caped crusader. Then there are the inevitable scenes of Hancock flying drunkenly, landing drunkenly, throwing cars and trying to be ‘more powerful than a locomotive’.

Romantic comedies of the superhero persuasion don’t seem to fare well or live up to their own hype in experience - eg. My Super Ex-Girlfriend - and yet we get treated to another one. Hancock does look a little more fun though, despite the obvious jokes and the whale-throwing.

The Dark Knight

Trailer: http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/videopage.html

Finally the fan-anticipated sequel to the dodgy-titled-but-rather-good Batman Begins. Having successfully rebooted the film franchise, Christopher Nolan returns with the second instalment of Batman’s on-going fight against crime. This time we get a re-interpretation of the clown prince himself, the crazed criminal mastermind known only as ‘The Joker’ - who was briefly alluded to at the end of the first film - this new breed of criminal is as a direct consequence of Bruce Wayne’s actions in creating the ‘Batman’ and becomes chief antagonist.

The trailer starts with the Joker (talking to Batman) as he discusses Batman’s effect upon the criminal element in Gotham. We glimpse Batman racing along on a motorcycle, sitting in an office contemplating, as well as landing onto the roof of a car in typical ‘Dark Knight’ fashion. A shot of the Joker standing on a deserted street and a massive explosion that leaves trademark ‘Joker’ playing cards hint at the chaotic carnage wreaked by this new type of criminal and the further devastation to come. The battle for Gotham begins as Batman faces off against the Joker.

The trailer has all the right elements, from the action, angst and drama to the realistic incarnation of the Joker (portrayed by Heath Ledger) which will no doubt be an attempt to banish memories of Jack Nicholson’s over-the-top version of the purple-clad villain.

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