The Greatest Commercial Ever Made

“Everything is awesome. Everything is cool when you’re part of a team. Everything is awesome, when we’re living our dream.” I am sure the Marketing Execs at Lego have been singing those lyrics every day since “The Lego Movie” was released on February 7th. My children and I went to see the film this holiday weekend and even though we all thought the movie was AWESOME I was more impressive by the movies branding message. As a content and native entertainment executive I was amazed at how organic and seamless the story incorporated the product without it feeling like an advertisement for toys. It was simply entertaining, and I would place it as the greatest branded entertainment movie of all TIME, and a model – excuse the pun- for the future.

Behind The Scenes- LEGO Movie

Advertising execs and content publishers should see this movie as a prototype of how to answer a brief or RFP for branded entertainment concepts. What makes this portrayal so effective is because it takes all of Legos brand positioning and issues and addresses them over 1 hour and 40 minutes. We can only wish that all commercials could be this entertaining while providing such organic messaging.

I am sure the meeting with the writers went down like this: sure we want a Lego Movie but you need to understand our needs and our audience. We have two types of customers we want to reach: those who build exactly what’s on the box and those who create their own projects and internal inspirations. The demographics are mainly children but we also have nostalgic adults who enjoy playing with models and toys. That group also includes fanboys who enjoy our licensed products. Our brand positioning is that we encourage creative play while installing a passion for building and architecture. Got all that? Ok writers and Warner Brothers Entertainment go make me a commercial… I mean movie!

The best part of the film is that it has an actual plot that could be followed by children and adults alike. Not once did I have to answer one of my kids usual “what’s going on?” questions. Of course that is probably due in some part that I watch PG13 superhero comic book fan boy films with them on a regular basis which perturbs their mother. The second best part is that the moral of the story coincides directly with Lego’s brand positioning centered on creative play and playing together. It took all of our strength not to travel to the late night Toys R Us in Times Square and buy a bunch of Lego build sets after the film let out. We decided to simply sing the theme song by Sarah and Tegan at the top of our lungs instead.

Is this the greatest branded entertainment movie of all time? Is this the best use of product placement that I have seen? I will expand upon that in a lengthier paper but my initial answer is yes. At $147 million in ticket receipts on a minuscule $60 million budget in 2 weeks it is on it’s way to challenging other formidable fare like Transformers, The original Pirates of the Caribbean, and the first two Toy Story movies. It has already crushed or is about to crush both GI Joe movies, Battleship, Kit Kittredge, The Watch, The Internship and the Smurf movies (can anyone explain to me how these movies are popular overseas? I don’t want to take food out of Neil Patrick Harris mouth, but these films are awful). In the end the only true competitors for G.O.A.T are the Transformers movies, The Pirates franchise and the final Toy Story installment. I’m immediately excluding The Pirates franchise because even though the first film was spectacular and it made my son obsessed with swords I don’t think he or most children ever made the direct link between Captain Jack Sparrow and a ride at Disney Land. He hasn’t asked for a trip as yet thank goodness. Next is Transformers. Ignoring the fact that the original Transformers had a decent story line while the following two were panned by critics these Michael Bay wonders have made a boatload of money and has encouraged the sales of a truckload of toys. The original Transformers film made $709 million worldwide and spawned two sequels with another one on the way with an entirely new cast as Shia LeBoef is no longer famous. What makes me lean more towards The Lego movie in this competition is that The Lego movie is loved by critics and fans alike with an 8.5 IMDB score and 96% critics score. Transformers, despite its gaggle of viewers and kids and adults rewatching them on cable and bluray the film has never been entirely loved by critics or fans even with its 57% critics rating and 7.2 IMDB score. The following two rake in more cash but the stories get worse, as do their ratings. And we will not even touch upon the hints of racist stereotypes in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. But I guess these films are not made for critics but 8-16 year old boys whose tastes for fine storytelling are suspect at best. And if Hasbro is ok with the story lines- they did green light Battleship- then who am I to judge?

This just leaves Toy Story and it’s remarkable franchise. They basically started it all with the original film released in 1995. It landed Pixar on the entertainment map and causes a lot if Mr. Potatoes heads and Barbies to get sold. (Look up numbers). The third installment sold over $1 Billion worldwide and all three movies are loved by critics and audiences alike. So for now I am going to wait and see where Lego movie lands at the end of its run. But I think it will make a strong case as the G.O.A.T. with it’s great story, catchy tune, cheap production costs, and hypnotic messaging to make me and my kids to go directly to the store and purchase Lego. Thank goodness for all of us they waited until after Christmas to spring this on us. Or was that part of their genius plan to make us spend out of season with the DVD arriving just in time for Christmas. Yes, they are definitely awesome and my champion!

Starz New Original Content: “Black Sails” takes a boat cruise into The Trailervision

Every movie channel is getting into the original content business. HBO started it and continues with the fabulously dark “True Detective”. AMC has “The Walking Dead”, “Mad Men” and just shelved “Breaking Bad”. BBC America has “Orphan Black”. Even the Sundance Channel has pushed forward with “Rectify” and the upcoming “The Red Road”. Starz which had the critically acclaimed “Boss” and “Spartacus” is coming out with a new show “Black Sails”:

It is brought to us by Executive Producer Michael Bay, which means they might blow their entire television budget on explosions and not on writers. The trailer looks good enough, and the pirates look like they are dirty enough. The plot is about the characters of “Treasure Island” before the novel transpires. Basically a prequel. I do not have high hopes for this show, but Original Content is a hard nut to crack. With so much good television going on, I would pass on this cruise and find another boat to jump on.

Winter’s Tale: Trailervision for a Valentine’s Day Date… Is it “The Notebook?”

I like Colin Farrell as an actor. He has had some great blow-ups that was good for Entertainment News Channels and I see how he tries really hard with each of his roles. He was supposed to be a huge movie star. He was the star in Phone Booth, and The Recruit with Al Pacino. He was Bullseye in the comic book crushing Daredevil, and was a key person in the ensemble film S.W.A.T. After that he was Alexander in 2004 and Miami Vice in 2006 and that was the end of him being a movie star. Fright Night and Total Recall both flopped and he just couldn’t stick as a leading man. Now he is back in Winter’s Tale, a sappy Valentine’s Day film for those love struck, science fiction or religious fans out there.

I think Matt Damon made a film like this called “The Adjustment Bureau” about a man searching for his long lost love that outside forces don’t want him to make happen. That was not a box office bank roll making $62 Million domestically off of a $50 Million budget. Winter’s Tale is trying to boost its chances by using Russell Crowe as the bad guy. It worked for Les Miserables so maybe lightening can strike twice. The writer of the film is Akiva Goldsman who gave us “A Beautiful Mind”, “I am Legend”, “Cinderella Man”, and “I, Robot”. But he also gave us “The DaVinci Code”, “Batman Forever”, “Batman & Robin”, and “Lost In Space”. I really want to root for this film to be a good science fiction love story, but I am working hard to think of one that actually was good. Especially when there is Time Travel involved. Maybe “Back To The Future?” So I am recommending staying home for this one, and waiting until HBOGO or Netflix for this one.

Trailervison: House of Cards Season 2

If you have not been watching House of Cards, then shame on you. You should binge on this before Scandal comes back and get your Scandal fix like methadone in a heroine clinic. They are both set in Washington, they both deal with the White House and scandals surrounding politics, and they both have exciting, career minded women sleeping with powerful men for either love or power. Today, Netlflix released its official trailer for House of Cards Season 2.

House of Cards is what started it all for Netflix in the original content world. And what a great way to start. It has great actors: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright (aka Princess Buttercup all grown up as a manipulative, power hungry woman of influence), and Kate Mara as the career minded “reporter”, Zoey Barnes, who has the ear of the influential Spacey character, Francis “Frank” Underwood. She is no Kerry Washington, but she will do just fine. And there is no annoying Quinn to ruin your high and wonder how she became a gladiator. The show is about power, scandal, corruption, revenge and murder (oh yes, and the best BBQ in Washington DC). Sounds like Shonda Rhimes created it herself, but she didn’t and it is just as juicy and as good as a show can be. Season One talks about how a man rises to power, while Season Two seems to concentrate on how he keeps this power and is not destroyed by his secrets and lies.

I don’t know about you, but I know what I will be doing on Valentines Day… binging on love candy and House of Cards on Netflix. Enjoy!

IMDB Marathon Challenge #250 – Trainspotting

Still watching all 250 movies on the IMDB Top #250 over the course of 2014. The catch is that I have to work out while watching each of these movies. Can’t just chill like a slug. As a friendly reminder, I received my criteria from the great Bill Simmons from ESPN.com and Grantland fame. So my references are all in order. Today we are doing that great foreign, independent film directed by Danny Boyle, #152 – Trainspotting:

So many actors got their start in this film. It is a good ride with ups and downs, but it is very human and surprisingly still relevant.
Plot Summary: Our main character, Renton (Ewan McGregor), deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends. Very simple plot. Dude has heroine addiction, dude decides to get clean, dude has problems getting clean, and dudes friends are not helpful in getting him clean. How does dude do? Simple, but real life.

Overall Plot and Execution: A

Actors: Ewan McGregor’s first break out role. Before he took on the big shoes of Obi-Wan Kenobi and was in Black Hawk Down, he was a drug addicted heroine addict who slept with a 14 year old girl (Kelly Macdonald in her introduction before she stabs Nuki Thompson in the back in Boardwalk Empire) after a night of clubbing. Kevin McKidd as the straight laced friend who decides to try heroine just one time with disastrous consequences. Before he becomes Dr. Yang’s love doctor in ER and competes with Patrick Dempsey as the amazing groom in Maid of Honor. Jonny Lee Miller – Sick Boy- before he engages with Lucy Lui as the great Sherlock Holmes on my favorite CBS show, Elementary. And like I said earlier we have Kelly MacDonald introduced to the world before “No Country for Old Men”, “Harry Potter” and “Boardwalk Empire”. And let’s not forget “Brave”. In other words this is a great cast at its beginning. They all play off of each other in great ways, and execute the plot to a delicious simmer.

Overall Actors – A-

Chill Scenes- For a drama, their are a number of them. The death of a baby. Getting AIDS. Dudes getting cut up in a bar. Excrement flying around the room. Yes, there are plenty of chill scenes in this film. Not horror scary, but just disgusting or sad. Heroine addiction is displayed as something stronger than our cast of characters. It is better than the old this is your brain, this is your brain on drugs commercial. I am going to show this movie to my kids when they are of age so they can stay away from drugs. My son will stay away just after learning that drugs make you impotent. LOL.

Director- Danny Boyle does a nice job of weaving a story together in this film. It is utterly enjoyable. It makes sense that he is able to do this again in 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire. The dude is a genius and this movie is only the beginning.

Director- B+

Chill Scenes- A-

Unpredictability: It is about drug addiction. You expect a lot of crap to go wrong. You expect him to relapse like four or five or ten times. You expect someone to die. You expect them all to have bad lives. So there is nothing that unpredictable in this movie, but it is all realistic. And if all of these bad things did not happen then it would not be realistic. So even though the story is predictable, it is not hokey like an after school special or a Lifetime/Hallmark movie.

Unpredictability- B-

Rewatchability: High! Ha, get it, HIGH! I choose life, so I choose to watch this movie multiple times. All of the actors are spot on. The plot is realistic and understandable, and not corny. I would watch this a few times on Sundance Channel if it came on. Its also on Netflix.

Rewatchability- B+

Dated-ness: Even though this movie is from 1996 and located in Scotland. It holds up surprisingly well. Yes, the music has changed and the drugs have changed, but the central story of kicking an addiction and how impossible it is if you continue with the same friends and same routine is relevant today. Unlike Rent, which seems like it is from an entirely different era and world than the one we live in now. I can even bare to watch that movie or musical again.

Dated-ness- B+

Quotability: It’s not Coming To American, but there are some great quotes in this movie, but the best is from Renton: “It’s SHITE being Scottish! We’re the lowest of the low. The scum of the fucking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don’t. They’re just wankers. We, on the other hand, are colonized by wankers. Can’t even find a decent culture to be colonized by. We’re ruled by effete assholes.”

That quote alone is worth the price of admission.

Quotability- B-

Overall- This is a good film that starts the career of a lot of good actors. Yes, I wish Ewan did some better stuff, and sure Grey’s Anatomy is long in the tooth, and Kelly is barely seen in Boardwalk Empire anymore, but they all put in commendable performances. And I love the story line and how it is portrayed. So I am giving it a solid B for being a very good story that I enjoyed and would watch again.

Workout regiment: 2.3 miles on elliptical machine, 90 jumping jacks, 40 leg lifts, horizontal and vertical presses, and back latdowns

IMDB Marathon Challenge – The Big Lebowski

Yes, I am going to watch all 250 movies on the IMDB Top #250 list over the course of 2014. The rub is that I have to exercise while watching them so I can’t just sit there like a slug. As a friendly reminder I received my criteria from the great Bill Simmons from ESPN.com and Grantland fame, so do not send any cease and desist letters to my email account. Today is The Big Lebowski at #134. 

I am just going to say that the trailer is just as fun as the movie and captures it so perfectly. This movie by the Coen Brothers is absolute fun and I feel bad it took me so long to see it. I love their other films like True Grit, O Brother Where Art Though, Raising Arizona, No Country for Old Men, Fargo, The Hudsucker Proxy, shoot I even liked The Ladykillers, but I had not seen The Big Lebowski. Now that I have, I am happy I have it as a DVD to watch at my leisure. 

Plot Summary

“Dude” Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it. That’s it. That’s the plot. Sure There are some twists and turns, and it is a mixture of comedy and crime drama, but that is the plot in a nutshell. It is the characters and their reactions to getting that restitution hat make this such a great film.

Overall Plot and Execution: A-

Actors

Jeff Bridges as “The Dude not Mr. Lebowski” is awesome. I loved him in Starman and Tucker as well. He provided a great performance in The Fisher King and another Coen brothers film, True Grit, but truly this is his finest work. Yes, kids he did do stuff before Iron Man and Tron Legacy. We will forget that he took a paycheck for R.I.P.D. His incorporation of a true non-working pacifist hippy who just loves to bowl and wants restitution for his carpet being peed on is fabulous. 

John Goodman is one of my favorite actors of all time. I watched the first season of Treme because he was in it, and have not forgiven them since his character was eliminated. This isn’t Game of Thrones or The Wire, you don’t have to get rid of the actors I care about in every HBO show! But his portrayal of Walter Sobchak as a highly strung Vietnam Vet with a plan to make money off the rich Mr. Lebwoski is pitch perfect. The rest of the cast, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Huddleston, and John Turturro as Jesus Quintana as a rival bowler who loves outrageous and tight fitting clothing is fabulous. I mean they even have Flea as a Nihilist after the Big Lebowski’s money – and who doesn’t love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He is a fan of Jimi Hendrix for all that is holy! Great cast!

Overall Actors- A

Chill Scenes- There are no chill scenes in this film, even though it is part drama. I guess the chilliest scene is the battle against the Nihilist and the death of one of the characters (no spoilers in this review). But overall it is just fun scene after fun scene after fun scene.

Chill Scenes – NA

Unpredictability: The plot goes all over the place as The Dude is trying to find “Bunny Lebowski” who he believes might have faked her own kidnapping. There is some great stuff from Julianne Moore who wants a baby from a man who has no ties to her elite world. And an insertion of a bowling league tournament that has Walter pulling out a gun against his competition. Like any good Coen brothers movie, you just have to go along with the ride and enjoy the scenery as you might not fully get the plot.

Unpredictability: A-

Rewatchability: LIke I said. I own the DVD and I will watch this movie multiple times. It has so many great quotes in the film, and the characters of The Dude and Walter Sobchak are good enough to watch over and over again. I actually feel bad that a former tenant lent me the movie and I never returned it, but him and his friends trashed my house, so it is a small price to pay.

Rewatchability- A-

Dated-ness: This movie, even though released in 1998 I think it should hold up. It is a nice slice of life when bowling was king and hippies still roamed the earth. I think the comedy is timeless because the characters are so well drawn out.

Dated-ness: A

Overall Implausibility: This could happen. Someone could mistake another person’s identity looking for money, and then that other person could ask you to save their really young wife in order to potentially swindle money out of their trust fund while being chased by Nihilists. This could happen!

Overall Implausibility: B+

Overall: I loved this movie. It definitely belongs on the Top 250 list. It is fun and exciting, and the characters are people I would want to hang out with. For that reason I would watch it over and over again with friends. So enjoy The Big Lebowski if you have not already seen it. It is worth the watch.   

 

Quotability- This movie has a lot of great quotes, but more so philosophies that people should live by. “The Dude abides”. And to have Sam Elliot as “The Stranger” just added to the magnitude of the philosophy and quotable moments.

Work Out Regiment: 30 minutes on the elliptical machine

Trailervision: True Detective… HBO is BACK!

So I was all ready to give up my premium cable for the new year and then this happened:

Yes. Woody Harrelson and a super invigorated Matthew McConaughey (if he was a baseball player I would say he was using PEDs because his acting has gotten ridiculously better in the past 2 years) are in a television series together on HBO starting January 12th! Damn you HBO. Just when I think I am going to get out, you pull me back in. It is eight episodes, so it is tight… not as tight as a BBC television series, but they cheat and make each show 90 minutes so their four episodes is really like six or seven in US time. 

In 2009 McConaughey did “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” and something must have happened. because he realized he could no longer get away with doing such shit. No more “Failure to Launch” or “How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days” or “The Wedding Planner”. Someone or something hit him on his head and said you are not an action star (remember “Sahara” or “Reign of Fire”?), but if you truly try to act (“We Are Marshall”, “U571”) then you might have a future, because you are getting old. And first came “Lincoln Lawyer”- not great, but good and a noble effort. Then came “Mud” and “Magic Mike” – where he gave a very good sleazy performance. But he topped it all off in 2013 with “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Wolf of Wall Street”. He is on fire right now and he is starring in a series with the always amazing Woody Harrelson. 

It’s a crime drama that cuts back in forth between 1995 and 2012. We can see in the trailer that the years have not been kind to Matthew and that Woody seems to have landed on his feet professionally. But something bad happened in 1995 and these two were assigned to find it and stop it. Did they? I don’t think so, but has it returned, and if so, can they stop it now? I don’t know, but I do know that I will be watching every week starting January 12th until it is over. There will be no sequel, there will be no rematch, but there will be eight episodes of awesomeness. 

PS There are other actors in this drama, but does anyone really care? Maybe because Michelle Monaghan looks hot, but this is all about Woody and Matthew, Matthew and Woody. Mr. Hemp with Mr. Longhorn doing what we like to see great actors do when they get together. That is… raise the bar. 

IMDB Marathon Challenge- Prisoners

So I decided I was going to sit and watch all 250 movies on the IMDB Top 250 list through out the year. The rub is that I have to exercise while watching each of these films. I can’t just sit there like a slug. So the elliptical machine is at the ready. So it is pleasure/reward. Just so I don’t get into Shia LaBoeuf type of trouble, I am admitting in advance that I stole my criteria straight from Bill Simmons when he was writing for Page 2. I consider it a homage, as opposed to straight plagiarizing. LOL

 

Today I watched Prisoners, which is currently ranked at #233. I was reminded about the movie during an interview I had and I couldn’t remember why I didn’t see it when it came out in the theatre. And then it hit me, its because its about two missing girls. As a father of an eight year old, I was like no way am I watching this, but damn it it ended up on the list. Two hours and 23 minutes of heart break and suspense. If your daughter was taken, what lengths would you go through? What would you do?

Plot Summary from Warner Bros. Pictures:

How far would you go to protect your family? Keller Dover is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki arrests its driver, Alex Jones, but a lack of evidence forces his release. As the police pursue multiple leads and pressure mounts, knowing his child’s life is at stake the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family? 

This is a nice summary, but it doesn’t even touch the psychological pain and anguish Hugh Jackman brings to his role of Keller Dover, the father of one of the little girls. He makes the film almost a vigilante movie, as he tracks down leads that the police do not fully engage in. Leads that turn out to be critical, but not in the way we first thought.

Overall Plot and Execution: B+

Actors:

The group assembled for this film are incredible. Hugh Jackman plays the everyman father who is willing to do anything for his family. Jake Gyllenhaal is his usually great self as Detective Loki. Yes, I liked him in End of Watch, and Brokeback Mountain and even in The Day After Tomorrow. And let us not forget Donnie Darko. I don’t know if he is a real human being because he constantly brings a commanding performance to all his roles, which are all very different. Viola Davis does a great job as the mother who finds out the evil that Keller is doing in order to find their daughters and is ok with it. Terrence Howard’s finest acting role in a long time as the father who wonders if they crossed the line and Maria Bello who I rooted for in her series Prime Suspect as the mother who just loses it into a depression coma when her daughter is taken. Paul Dano is quietly good as the main suspect in the kidnapping.

Overall Actors Score: A-

Chill Scenes:

From the moment the movie starts you know something bad is going to happen. It is not your usual holiday movie surprise. Its set around Thanksgiving, but they start the film with the girls trying to go out by themselves and then running into a creepy RV while out with their older siblings. Once they disappear, it starts to rain in a downpour which makes it dark and gloomy and hard to find the girls. The scenes with Keller Dover “interrogating” the prime suspect Alex Jones is deep and disturbing. You also wonder if they are ever going to see their kids again. Like Gone, Baby, Gone, it is all very heavy.

Overall Chill Scenes: A-

Unpredictability:

Is this a connect the dots type of thriller? There are a few Red Herrings that are meant to throw you off the scent, but if I had truly paid attention and wasnt worried about my elliptical time and distance I probably could have figured out the kidnapper sooner. Still was a good film, it just didn’t have an ultimate twist at the end. 

Unpredictability: B

Rewatchability: I am never going to watch this film again. I enjoyed it the first and only time I need to see it. There is enough closer in the movie that I don’t need to relive it, and even though the actors are great in their roles, its a bit heavy for me. Now I could say the same thing about Seven, but I know I will watch that movie over and over again, but not Prisoners.

Rewatchability: C

Dated-ness: I think this movie can stand the test of time. It has the basic premise of what would you do if someone harmed or affected your family? That is never going to change, and as a thriller in that regard, it is absolutely timeless. The movie is less a detective film, but more a psychological dig into a man’s obsession to find his daughter. Much better than Ransom, with Mel Gibson in that regard.

Dated-ness: A-

Overall Implausibility: This movie could happen. Shoot, it happens every day because there are some sick psychos out there taking children. Sends shivers up my spine.  For that, it stands the test of reality. Not all movies need that, but to make a true thriller, it is a must, and this is definitely plausible.

Overall Implausibility: A

Overall:

The movie is very good, and worth a watch. Just don’t allow your kids outside, alone, or without your supervision for like a month after watching it. If you are looking for a happy film to cuddle up to, this is not that film. YOu should also not already be in a dark place or getting over a family crisis while watching it. Besides that, go for it. Rent it, though, do not buy it, because the chances you may want to watch it over and over again are slim to none. Unless you are into that kind of thing.

Work Our Regiment: One hour on the elliptical machine

Trailervision: Jack Ryan- Are we Pining for a Major Reboot?

I like Jack Ryan. My favorite Jack Ryan was Alec Baldwin, the silly fool who decided to do a comic movie – The Shadow- instead of doing a sequel to The Hunt for Red October. I thought he was intelligent and a little green, but man enough to hold his own on a sub. Shoot he held his own acting against the great Sean Connery who does great in this role. After Mr. Baldwin then came Harrison Ford who was much older and then the franchise killer– Ben Affleck. Since his turn as the CIA agent who has a PhD the movie franchise has lay dormant… Just like Daredevil and Kevin Smith movies, and I’m a fan of both. Now comes Captain Kirk, I mean Chris Pine, to breath new life into it. Sort of like Daniel Craig after too much Pierce Brosnan, we will try and lift it back from the dead.

But when they rebooted Star Trek they had a team that blended well. It wasn’t just Chris Pine as Kirk that made this a hit, but Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban and Zoey Saldana that worked together against a good – not great villain in Eric Bana’s Nero- that was entertaining. Throw in a cameo by Leanord Nimoy and you have a film worth watching and a rebooted franchise.

The good news for Jack Ryan is that yes it has Chris Pine as the lead character but also Keira Knightly as his shady wife and Kenneth Branagh not only as his Shakespearean trained Russian bad guy but also as the director. Rumor has it that Knightly beat out Kate Beckinsale for this role. That is a different movie indeed. As for Branagh he did direct Thor and Much Ado about nothing but he also did Iron Man 2… He also played the villain in Wild Wild West which we all know was a debacle. But the biggest negative factor is the movie killer himself, Kevin Costner. He may have single handily canceled out all the good in this movie. I had a hard time watching the trailer because he was in it. And it’s not a small role, he is Jack’s handler. So I don’t know if this movie can be saved.

The trailer looks like the film has a meaningful not by the numbers plot with plenty of action and Chris Pine can do well with a good plot (same with Keira Knightly). But Kevin Costner? I’m just going to put even money on this and say it can go either way. The trailer doesn’t do enough to persuade or dissuade me. This movie trailer is an enigma.