# Misleading trailers that ruined the movie for you **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 6, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466 "2010-08-06T23:35:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/81 "2010-08-12T18:04:44Z")
But it’s still scary for children. I saw it twice opening weekend and when the credits started to roll, I got up from my seat, and the audience in back of me was mostly children. They weren’t animated nor overly crying: they were staring in front of them totally silent. The weirdest mixture between boredom and and intenseness I’ve ever seen because I couldn’t tell which emotion they were experiencing (but I’d expect them to be louder if they were bored.) So I think it’s exactly the right intensity for children. Which is not to say that they liked it: indeed I don’t think it was a very big hit with children. Just that it was pretty scary, but not too scary, for them. I agree that I was probably more scared than some of the children, not because of some overarching theory, but because it was made more in the style of Christmas Specials than Burton movies, and I remember being scared of them, so I was sort of scared by memory. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/82 "2010-08-12T18:11:08Z")
LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN… trailer made it look like a wacky mistaken-identity story with gangsters thrown in. Roughly a dozen grisly murders later… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/83 "2010-08-12T19:26:22Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > We just watched Kick Ass tonight, and it was not at all the movie we thought we were going to see. Hubby said he didn’t enjoy it and that made me a little angry because he’s been anticipating the release. He preordered it from Amazon and it came today. I just don’t like to see him disappointed and he totally was. I managed to enjoy it after realizing it wasn’t what I was expecting. May I ask, what were you expecting with Kick Ass? Unless I saw a different set of trailers (and I watched everyone I can find), they do a good job of telling you the type of movie your going to be seeing. Best movie of the year so far for me. PS. Add another one to the list who never heard of Bridge to T. (can’t spell it) before it came out. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/84 "2010-08-12T20:48:34Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > > [@scifisam2009](#): > > > > Women don’t only like romcoms, you know. > > But videogamey action movies aren’t really at the top of their list. My vagina disagrees with you. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/85 "2010-08-12T21:35:21Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzCfRbZunqU&feature=related) is the Kick-Ass trailer I saw on television. > > Here’s a [redband Hit-Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjO7kBqTFqo&feature=related) trailer that more accurately shows film content. > > See what I mean? > > Though I gotta admit, not knowing about Hit-Girl in advance made her 10x more awesome in theater. That movie was the best surprise in a long time. It’s on my Top-Ten List. > > I also have a feeling if it were marketed properly Ebert might not have been such a giant tool about his review (he gave it bad review simply on the ‘‘won’t someone think of the children?’’ principle, refusing to even objectively consider its artistic merit because it featured kids witnessing and committing acts of violence.) > > My mother and my grandmother both went to see it. They loved it, but they didn’t like the little girl using foul language. No shit. All the people she brutally and graphically slaughtered, no problem, but they just didn’t like to hear the language coming out of that little girl’s mouth. I ended up enjoying the movie (and I’m glad Hubby bought it so I can watch it again later), but Hubby really was disappointed. Right after we watched it I remarked that I was glad I wasn’t a parent who took my kid to see it. I wouldn’t want anyone under 15 or 16 years old to watch it. The trailers for it made it seem like a juvenile comedy. While it had some really hilarious moments, it was also extremely disturbing at times. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/86 "2010-08-12T21:58:31Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > > [@Alessan](#): > > > > To be fair, she didn’t \*actually \*kill all those people. I think. > > Well, that was their argument. ‘‘The killing was just pretend, but she was _really_ swearing.’’ Okay, well, I don’t really get that bent out of shape about swearing, but I guess they have a point. I saw an interview with that actress, and she said her parents won’t let her see Kick-Ass until she’s older. You know, the movie _she was in._ ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/87 "2010-08-13T03:02:20Z")
**In Bruges** I thought it was going to be funny. Apparently not. I also agree with **Kick Ass** ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/88 "2010-08-13T04:31:16Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > **In Bruges** > > I thought it was going to be funny. Apparently not. > > I also agree with **Kick Ass** Oh yeah! I totally forgot about In Bruges. I rented it remembering that the trailers looked interesting.. I turned it off somewhere when Colin Farrell is running around getting drunk/high with the dwarf and the prostitute (I think). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/89 "2010-08-13T18:59:04Z")
_Dangerous Liaisons_ was marketed as a comedy. I went to see it because I was depressed and wanted some cheering up. My day did not end well. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/90 "2010-08-13T19:51:46Z")
They seem to do that all the time: market a drama as a comedy, using the four amusing scenes set to bouncy music. See, my thought when seeing this thread was [Le Divorce](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn06ONgPu6M). Watch that trailer. Now, my memory of the movie is it’s largely about an isolated, suicidal pregnant woman whose husband is cheating on her. Hahahaha - fun! I totally agree re: [In Bruges](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE9edjEDCI) as well. The trailer makes it look violent, sure, but in a madcap way, like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. In reality it’s depressing as shit. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/91 "2010-08-13T22:10:12Z")
Agreed about In Bruges and Dangerous Liaisons. I liked both, but they really weren’t what I was expecting. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/92 "2010-08-13T22:41:03Z")
> [@Batsinma\_Belfry](#): > > _The Book of Eli_ > > The revelation of his blindness was supposed to be a huge twist. But from the trailers, I thought it was about some kick ass blind guy, because he was the only one (in the trailers) wearing dark glasses. Also, I hate movies with a message especially religious messages. I don’t mind that it was a Bible, but the whole thing about the Bible being the reason he was a kick ass blind guy was a little too much. Off Topic, somewhat… I don’t think he was blind. It was supposed to be up to the viewer’s interpretation, according to what I’ve read. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/93 "2010-08-14T01:50:37Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > Marley and Me: > > Trailer: Happyfun Doggie Movie! Woohoo!! Me too, I was expecting “Beethoven”, not “Ol’ Yeller”. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/94 "2010-08-14T01:58:42Z")
I wanted to see this [emotional thriller](http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1739679), but it turned out to be a frikkin’ romantic comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/95 "2010-08-14T03:29:01Z")
My wife and I haven’t read “Revolutionary Road,” and apparently heard nothing about the movie when it came out. But when she was at the library picking out a DVD a few nights ago, she saw the [box cover](http://movieblaze.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/revolutionary_road.jpg)for this DiCapprio-Winslet movie and thought we were in for romantic love story. Not even close. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/96 "2010-08-14T03:44:53Z")
The trailer for Killers indicated that it might only be 90% suck. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/97 "2010-08-14T13:33:26Z")
I didn’t watch The Sopranos when its first season aired because all of HBO’s advertisements talked about how funny it was. They marketed it as a comedy so I thought it was basically a series version of Analyze This. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/98 "2010-08-14T16:14:25Z")
Bridge to Terebithia is better than the trailers made it out to be don’t see how people are dissappointed by this ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/99 "2010-08-14T16:32:46Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Bridge to Terebithia is better than the trailers made it out to be > > don’t see how people are dissappointed by this I’m sure it was an excellent movie, in your eyes. Heck, maybe even mine… if I had known what movie it was going to be. However, I- and several others in this thread, you might’ve noticed- feel that the trailer was \*completely \*different from the actual movie. And that’s the problem- the trailer was completely misleading. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466/100 "2010-08-15T02:03:16Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > > [@RikWriter](#): > > > > The Bridge to Terabithia. > > I opened the thread to say this. It was marketed as a family movie where two kids enter a fantasy world. They didn’t tell us about the twist halfway through that made the three children (and at least 3 of the 4 adults) we were seeing it with break down in tears. My son still refers to it as “that evil movie” I agree! This was a total bait and switch in my opinion. It completely ruined the movie and there was no reason, plot-wise, that made sense for them to kill off the girl character. Horrible movie…errr half movie..whatever. Same with “Happy Feet”. Typical Disney-ish/Pixar-ish fun type animated movie but halfway through the movie it turns into this dark, sordid, bizarre lecture on global warming. Love the scene that starts out the “beginning of the end” of the good part of the movie, with the lead penguin character cracking up a la “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” after he’s captured and placed into the sea world exhibit. GREAT image for little kids. Not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misleading-trailers-that-ruined-the-movie-for-you/549466.md?page=6)