French Trailer for 'Ironclad' -- Better Than Ours

I'm used to seeing Euro/international posters for US/Hollywood movies that are better than the domestic counterparts. That's actually more or less normal these days -- here's a good example. But now, international trailers are getting better than the domestic ones. We just got an international trailer for '30 Minutes or Less' that was cut just a bit differently than the one for US consumption, but it was enough to make it substantially better.

Now, here's this French trailer for 'Ironclad' that makes the movie look like an Oscar contender. Does not even look like the same flick advertised in domestic trailers. The edit draws you in better, tension builds better, and it moves with more energy.

Compare theirs to ours:



Theirs has an epic and historical sweep, lingers on shots of landscape, creates a better sense of medieval setting -- ours is battle-centric and treats setting in an off-hand way. Theirs is atmospheric and creates a good sense of mood -- ours is frenetic. Theirs has a grandeur -- ours has an MTV quick-cut superficiality. Theirs has a smooth edit that pulls you into the story -- ours has a much rougher edit that almost pushes the viewer away. Theirs actually trims the fat, cutting fractions of seconds where not needed, tightening the flow, producing a stronger forward motion -- ours lingers too long, even with the quick cuts, and comes off jangly. In theirs, the narrative throughline is easy to follow -- in ours it's confusing, even stagnate at times, with more than one visual non sequitur. Theirs is poetic, powerful, and deeply dramatic -- ours is muscular, tries too hard, seems stagy or histrionic by comparison, and is unconvincing.

I was planning on seeing 'Ironclad' but am more enthusiastic since seeing this (French) trailer. It's not hard to imagine there are people out there who have no intention of seeing the movie but would if they saw the French cut (in English).

What's going on? Why are Americans consistently unable (or unwilling) to put together proper promo materials for our own movies? Okay, I'll put it another way: Why are Euro/international posters and trailers so consistently better than their domestic versions?

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'Ironclad' Blood and Gore Sizzle Reel

Just love this. Destined to be a cult fave. Don't watch before a meal. Or, after a meal.

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Same Music Bad or Good Depending

When early trailers for 'Ironclad' rolled out most people liked the look of the medieval sword-slashing battle epic and it got good comments.



Sure. Why not like it? Looks like fun.

Then, when a later trailer came out featuring a throbbing rock soundtrack everyone hated the music and thought the movie might just suck.



Okay, that one's good too. The rock adds energy. I like it.

Comments ranged from concerned to negative.

Weird. Myself, I didn't even notice. Who cares what kind of music plays over a 13th century battle with swords, arrows, and trebuchets? Besides, do they expect lutes plucking and panflutes tooting? Who'd want to hear that? 'Ironclad' isn't a period drama that happens to include battle sequences, it's an action-thriller with hard-core combat scenes that takes place in the 13th century. What difference does it make that it's set before The Rolling Stones landed? Rock covers a battle sequence nicely, even one set in merry old England.

When the first 'Cowboys & Aliens' trailer hit everyone, as expected, loved it.



Sure. Why not like it? Looks like fun. Back in April, though, we got this, which isn't subtle about the rock intro:



The anachronistic soundtrack was hardly noticed. In fact, the only comment I was able to find was positive. Movieline said:

The vibe in this trailer is energetic, fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek, even - and if the rollicking music heard here is any indication of the final film, Cowboys & Aliens could have a very mainstream-friendly, Pirates of the Caribbean-type appeal.

Now, we get a new trailer with music that, if anything, is even more throbbing, hard hitting. Still no protests. Is it that rock music in a medieval battle scene is more grating, or just seems more wrong, than the same type music in a western because one takes place in the 13th century, like 700 or 800 years before the advent of rock and the other takes place in the 1700s and early 1800s, which was just a few years ago by comparison? (Sure, that makes sense). Just how is one more anachronistic than the other? Or, is it that we understand Jon Favreau loves hard-rocking soundtracks, and this is the guy that gave us all that 'Iron Man' goodness, so nobody says anything for fear of disturbing the Favreau-ness of it all?

It's a funny thing. I remember 'A Knight's Tale' got ripped for using a rock soundtrack and that's a medieval setting as well. Go figure.



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'Ironclad' Clip

Editing from hell and way play sword fighting, but I still like this movie. May have to only watch the scenes with Cox, Giamatti, and trebuchets though.

'Ironclad' Clip

Love this movie. Clips have displayed some odd technique, posters and trailers have been erratic, but I've always loved 'Ironclad'.

So fix the editing/camera as much as can be, make a good poster, and release the damn thing.

Meanwhile, here's Brian Cox and Paul Giamatti going toe to toe.

Tags: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

'Ironclad' Clip

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Saw the first trailer, what, a year ago? Could have been. Then a poster or two (that don't seem to get mentioned much). Then, silence. Campaign doesn't pick up steam it just goes away. Like there's issues with the film or no funds for marketing.

Trailers are knocking me out. Love Paul Giamatti as the bad bad king. Also with Brian Cox, James Purefoy, Charles Dance, Kate Mara, and Jason Flemyng. With that cast, and trebuchets hurling boulders, will see.

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Paul Giamatti and trebouchets -- gotta love it.