Trailer Analysis - Men In Black 3

Men In Black 3(2012) had a budget of $215 million making a net profit of $419 million making the movie was highly successful. Being released as being the film completion of a trilogy. 

In the beginning we are introduced to the characters, although we know them from the previous two films this set Todorov’s narrative theory with an introduction. One of the actors speaking is used as a voiceover to narrate the trailer, with the audience potentially thinking why are they wearing suits, the actors puts the question into their minds by asking ‘who are we?’. From this moment the audience wants to find out and continue to watch on, followed by introduction to bizarre weapons, the narrative continues to tell us about them as the voice over states ‘we are no one’. This makes the audience think that they are secret agent which tells them it’s not only a sci-fi movie due to the bizarre guns, but also an action as they will be fighting aliens. Many short cuts are used as editing to set the tempo and mood for it, seeing different types of creatures which in fact are aliens, audience know little extract from the film and may feel hungry to watch more, easy and effective way to attract audience.

The pacing really ranges from slow or fast in the middle of the trailer, changing dramatically constantly throughout the trailer towards the end. Making a roller coaster like feel to the trailer potentially denoting the movie will be the same way. The trailer makes the audience think there are action pact scenes in the movie due to the weapons; although there are no explosions or any other real action scenes like in other trailers, yet the camera changes and non diegetic sound make it seem like an action trailer setting the tempo of it. Other action trailers control pace through explosions and so on,  a way to build enthusiasm, however with this trailer, it shows that high budgeted explosions don’t have to be the ones setting the mood for action trailers, as sound and camera angles are used effectively here.

With the main piece of action used as the main character jumped of the building with non diegetic music supporting the moment creating a fearful striking scene. A point of view shot is used really well here so the audience would get frightened by the sight the actor is seeing and so they would feel a part of his journey, as if they are with him. The audience would feel as if they were actually falling especially as it states at the end the movie will be in 3D, the audience would be deluded about the quality and spectacle of the falling and experience of it.

Followed by the title of the film, the audience thinks it’s the end of the trailer, but to make them think the producers tried to squeeze last piece of information about the movie, they added another scene after that to make the audience think that he went back in time successfully but don’t find anything else about it.

The title is presented in a very high tech modern fashion, high quality zooming out of it as if its getting further away from the viewers. Title size and bolding really makes it stands out in the middle of the screen, covering the majority of it, being the only thing we could see, gaining attention from the audience of what it is they are interested in. Having the USP of the trilogy completion, although nothing referenced back to the first two movies, like other sequels would, Men in Black really made me feel like this wasn’t a completion of a trilogy but actually its own movie, which is abnormal. The recognition of Will Smith being the main character can be argued against in this trailer as are seen putting their black glasses on and opening the door at the same time, just as if they were symmetrical implies that they are equal.  As well as the narration is agent K’s voice, we are being fed that he comes along the journey with the audience and isn’t left behind, nevertheless coming across as mysterious and unexplained in the trailer of what really happens, leaves the audience wanting to know the rest of the film by watching it. The control of pace and tempo through music and camera angels really impressed me as its not something I have seen before. Showing me that a essential soundtrack and good shot taking, can make an impressive piece of trailer look high budgeted and top quality.