Trailers by Brandon: It's time to return to a galaxy far, far away

This week on Trailers by Brandon we've got Solo: A Star Wars Story — a movie that's already dividing the internet in half and it hasn't even been out for 24 hours yet. This'll be fun. There's also a bunch of new trailers like The Happytime Murders and Wildlife, as well as a new rewind pick. 

Opening this week:

Solo: A Star Wars Story

You’ve heard me talk about the mixed reactions I’ve seen towards Solo: A Star Wars Story for the past four months now. At this point, I’m just ready to see the movie and form an actual opinion. My tickets are for later this afternoon — still not entirely sure what to expect, given all the problems that Solo had on set, but I’m rooting for a good, fun Star Wars movie.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

I don’t care that it’s not getting very positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes right now, I still want to see How to Talk to Girls at Parties. Will I be able to? Honestly depends on if the theaters around me pick it up, but I’m hoping they do.

Mary Shelly

I didn’t have much interest in this biopic when the trailer was initially released, and I still don’t. I’m sure that the real Mary Shelly was a very interesting and respectable person, just like I’m sure that Elle Fanning is an incredibly talented actress who gives this movie her all. Mary Shelly the film, however, doesn’t look like it’s going to capitalize on either of these things. This just looks dull.

 

Trailers:

The Happytime Murders (August 17, 2018)

Having a bunch of muppets who are cursing and doing drugs is funny enough, but the fact that it comes from Brian Henson — son of Jim Henson, who created the muppets in the first place — makes it almost too good to be true. Granted, The Happytime Murders runs the same risk that Sausage Party fell into; being too crude for its own good, where all the jokes focus on being inappropriate instead of funny, but right now I think The Happytime Murders has a shot.

The Sisters Brothers (2018)

Yes, please. I love the cast, I love the fun True Grit-like tone and I love just about everything else that The Sisters Brothers has going for it. Sign me up.

Mowgli (October 19, 2018)

I don’t like this. All due respect to Andy Serkis and the talented cast he’s brought together here, but I really don’t like this. We just had Disney’s live-action The Jungle Book in 2016 — and now we’re doing the exact same thing all over again? It’s one thing if you have a different story or angle to tell, but this literally looks the same. Yeah, they’re marketing it as a “darker angle” and all that, but unless they’re going to go right to an R-rating then it really can’t get all that dark, can it? I’m disappointed because I think Andy Serkis can do great work in Hollywood, but this looks like I movie I’ve already seen and really enjoyed so I’m failing to understand why I need to go see it again.

Wildlife (2018)

Jake Gyllenhaal is everywhere this week. I have a feeling that Wildlife won’t be a movie that you walk away from feeling all too happy or glee, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be good. I mean, I’ll watch anything with Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan.

Damsel (June 22, 2018)

I’m conflicted on this one. I like the light tone that it’s going for, as it reminds me of something like Slow West (and it’s a shame that everyone forgot about that movie), and the cast involved is a good one. Yet, I can’t help but notice that even though this is supposed to be a lighter comedy, I wasn’t actually laughing in the trailer? Maybe this will be a nice, sweet little movie, but Damsel doesn’t have my full confidence just quite yet.

Papillon (August 24, 2018)

I was actually pretty excited watching this trailer until I realized it was a remake. Now I’m not so sure. I mean, Rami Malek looks great in Papillon and continues to prove he’s an actor who deserves more credit than he gets, but we’ve seen a hundred other remakes come and fail, so who’s to say at this point?

Down a Dark Hall (August 17, 2018)

I watched this trailer two days ago and am struggling now to remember what it was actually about. I know it’s horror — which you think would attract me because I love horror movies. Yet everything they showed us all seemed so generic and dare I say young adult-ish that I have a hard time thinking Down a Dark Hall is really going to be anything special. Even the name is kind of dumb.

Rewind:

Apollo 13 (1995)

Solo: A Star Wars Story isn’t the first time that Ron Howard has ventured out into space. He made a completely different kind of space movie back in 1995 — the true story of Apollo 13. I re-watched the movie on Wednesday night to prepare for Solo and I’m pleased to say it still holds up. Howard has a very hand’s off approach; he just sits back and let’s all the real-life drama speak for itself. While we’re going to soon find out what Howard can do with a galactic space movie, it’s nice to know that he’s at least capable of making a more grounded one.