Welcome to our latest roundup of recently released trailers, with thoughts and feedback from the CineChat team. As always, please let us know your thoughts regarding any of these upcoming movies/shows in the comments or on any of our social media platforms.
Scoob!
From IMDb: Scooby and the gang face their most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this dogpocalypse, the gang discovers that Scooby has an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined. Released May 2020
Clare: Ooo, this is complex for me. I adore Scooby Doo (and most Hanna-Barbera cartoons) and spend most of my childhood watching it, and Daphne is still my idol and favourite Halloween costume. I loved James Gunn’s films, and even saw the first one in the cinema 3, maybe 4 times? I don’t want another big screen adaptation, because they were perfect to me. Looking at the Scoob trailer, I was initially really unhappy with the animation style, but by the end I’d adapted. It really reminds me of the Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse style animation. Shaggy seems great, even if it isn’t Matthew Lillard, but Scooby’s voice is way too clear. He doesn’t sound like Scoob. I’m also not sold on the plot story, superheroes and aliens? That is not my Scooby Doo. But, I’m predictable, so I know I’ll see this, end up loving it, and immediately go off to cut my hair and buy a purple headband to be a Daphne shill all over again.
Lee: I also grew up watching and loving Scooby Doo, and everything Hanna-Barbera – in fact, one of my earliest memories is watching Scooby Doo repeatedly from the comfort of my hospital bed, while recovering from appendicitis aged 4. Since then though, I’ve not really followed or been interested in the new and updated styles or episodes, changes to voice actors or even the movies. I really like the style of animation in this new movie though, although they do seem to be cramming in a hell of a lot of plot – an origin story, some early mystery solving with the gang, aliens, villains, lots of chaos and even Dick Dastardly! I’m kind of interested in this, but I get the feeling that this is one aimed squarely at the kids with not much there for grumpy old adults like me, apart from a bit of nostalgia.
Mary: Bringing Scooby Doo to a whole new generation, which is good…. right? Looks like a laugh, completely of it’s time and self aware (mention of Netflix and origin story). But it’s just not the same really is it. Probably won’t go out of my way to see this one. Prefer to remember my youth.
Deb: Was never really a huge fan of Scooby Doo, this certainly looks another level. I’m with Mary as I think it’s a bit too OTT, somethings should just be left as a memory – probably a miss for me (although it may just surprise me).
Matt: The plot does seem to be a little bit ‘overkill’ (it’s also hard to tell from this trailer which storyline is meant to be the main focus), but I have to say I think the character designs look amazing. Fresh and modern without losing the classic outfits, hairstyles, personality traits etc. They’ve also never done a feature-length theatrical animated film before so I suppose they are still doing something ‘new’. Introducing some star power – Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Isaacs, etc. – doesn’t seem to be hurting either. Frank Weller has voiced every animated incarnation of Scooby-Doo since the year 2000 (before even the first live action film came out) so it’s nice they’ve kept him on. Looking down the IMDB credits, not only does Dick Dastardly feature in ‘Scoob!’, but also Captain Caveman will make an appearance …. Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe, anyone?
Antebellum
From IMDb: Successful author Veronica finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it’s too late. Released April 2020
Clare: Ooooo. I had only heard of the name and that it would star Janelle Monae, so I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this looks brilliant. I’d want to know more about the lore and the time shift, but not from the trailer. They’ve kept enough hidden to get me out to the cinema!
Matt: You have my attention.
Mary: This looks incredible, short and sweet, leaves you wanting more. Janelle Monae just has something about her, she has that star appeal. And the time travel to the American south during the slave trade era, with a black Woman who knows and has rights and is willing to fight for them. This is a big yes for me!
Lee: I agree, just enough to really grab your attention. And from the producers of Get Out and Us? I’m in.
Deb: The complete opposite for the trailer for Black Widow this gives almost nothing away. I guess it looks intriguing without being too scary.
Black Widow
From IMDb: A film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War. Released May 2020
Clare: I actually had to turn this off halfway through as it is giving SO much away. But I’m pretty damn excited. Not the biggest Black Widow fan, but she’s cool enough. Florence Pugh however? Inject her in my veins!
Lee: Recently, particularly with the Avengers movies, Marvel have been pretty good at putting out trailers which generate maximum excitement while giving away very little plot. This trailer does look like it’s giving away a lot, so I’m really hoping there’s some misdirection involved and that we’re going to get a lot more than they’ve shown us. Aside from that, this is a huge improvement over the last trailer, really focusing on the action and close combat. Not to mention the dream pairing of Florence Pugh and Scarlett Johansson.
Deb: There’s nothing not to like here – it is baffling why so much of the plot seems to be in the trailer but like Lee says perhaps there’s more to it than is being revealed. Even so if the film is filled with more of the same then I won’t be disappointed.
Matt: Speaking as not a die-hard fan of the MCU, this looks like it could be one of the better Marvel films – or at least one I wouldn’t mind seeing (though is this not a little overdue?) It feels distant enough from The Avengers, and that you won’t need to suspend your disbelief as much, so maybe that’s the reason? Plus Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz bring a lot of appeal (more than Johansson herself, it would seem)!
Mary: Florence Pugh! I just love her! This does look ok fairly formulaic story and action sequences by the looks of things but I’ll be honest I’m seeing this for Pugh and Rachel Weisz – them in a comic book movie, I’m totally there for that.
Jungle Cruise
From IMDb: Based on Disneyland’s theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles but with a supernatural element. Released July 2020
Lee: The first trailer for Jungle Cruise featured on a TrailerChat post last year and back then I felt it didn’t really give you much idea of the story or plot at all. I think this new trailer is a huge improvement though and really gives off the kind of fun, family adventure feel that you got from watching the early Pirates of the Caribbean or Indiana Jones movies. Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are both hugely likeable and definitely make this more appealing for me
Deb: Definitely reminds me of Pirates of the Caribbean, and I just love this sort of thing. I’m a huge fan of Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt on their own and when I’ve seen some of the press bits they’ve already done for the film they have great chemistry but it seems to have gone missing in this trailer – I hope I’m wrong, think this will be a box office hit regardless.
Clare: Not my kind of thing at all, not a big live action Disney fan, avoided all the Pirates franchise and don’t particularly like the ride it’s based on. *But* I adore Emily Blunt, and love Dwayne Johnson, so they do have me intrigued. However creepy Jesse from Breaking Bad is in it too, and that guy makes me feel queasy.
Matt: Meh. It looks nice, and it’s probably funny in places. But it’s nothing new. I also imagine no one will be talking about this film a week after it comes out either!
Mary: I can’t wait to see this! I would watch Emily Blunt write out her shopping list, just love her and this looks like a successful comedy team up between her and Johnson. I hope this is a modern Disney live action harping back to the days of Swiss Family Robinson, full of adventure.
The Platform
From IMDb: A vertical prison with one cell per level. Two people per cell. One only food platform and two minutes per day to feed from up to down. An endless nightmare trapped in The Pit. Released later this month on Netflix
Lee: “A twisted social allegory about mankind at its darkest and hungriest”. Well, it certainly looks dark and it certainly looks very twisted. Kind of like a vertical Snowpiercer? If so, I’m going to enjoy this one!
Deb: Mmmm not sure about this it’s not even the twisted darkness putting me off just can’t stand watching people stuff their faces on film. This will probably pass me by.
Clare: This looks brilliant and utterly terrifying. I just wish it was a cinema release, as there is no way I’m going to choose to settle on the sofa with a drink to watch this…!!
Matt: Yes, I’m down for this. A new, imaginative concept that speaks to current social issues. Smart, subtextual, a film that’s got something to say (these are few and far between)! ‘Vertical Snowpiercer’ was also my first thought. But with ‘social experiment’ vibes of the likes of Cube (1997), Exam (2009), and The Belko Experiment (2016) too. I’m looking forward to this.
Mary: Hmmm I’m not sure about this one. Got an interesting premise and style but it might be a little too weird for my taste.
Soul
From IMDb: A musician who has lost his passion for music is transported out of his body and must find his way back with the help of an infant soul learning about herself. Released June 2020
Deb: This looks so good. I love animation that has layers and this seems to have bucket loads. A real interesting concept I’ll be sure to take plenty of hankies but certainly looking forward to it.
Clare: Oooo this gave me chills. It looks delightful, and I’m hoping for more Coco, less Inside Out. After Onward, I’m a little hesitant with Pixar, but this looks utterly charming.
Lee: Well I’m hoping for more Coco AND Inside Out as I love both of those movies, and I certainly got that kind of feeling while watching this, along with some chills too. I still haven’t seen Onward but the trailers for it never really did anything for me, whereas this one does. When I watched Coco at the cinema, I think they must have had a problem with dust or something in my screening as it was really affecting my eyes and making them water, so hopefully they’ve got that fixed by the time this one screens.
Matt: Sigh … I’m still not on board. Thematically this is great, maybe even a little groundbreaking, but I still think it’s unforgivable to AGAIN waste the potential of a realistic, real-world-based Pixar film. The detail in the human characters and real-life locations are exquisite but I know that the film is going to do another ‘Inside Out’ and spend 95% of the film in ‘dreamland’ instead… favouring formless character ‘blobs’, kiddie jokes, and merchandising opportunities – all which tend to distract from the plot and themes anyway… I’ll probably still like it, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating!
Mary: This looks really special! I think there will be some really important themes in here portrayed through Pixar’s usual genius storytelling. I’m really excited for this one now, there are some great ideas in this.
