Movie Trailer Parodies: Big YouTube Fun

Megan Smith — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:24:53 -0500

Need some humor in your life? Have I got some YouTube videos for you!

Recently during one of my regular YouTube forays, I uncovered a stockpile of entertaining movie trailer parodies, or recuts as they're sometimes called. I happen to hate "Mary Poppins." What's that got to do with movie trailer parodies? Read on.

First up, a work of true genius and my favorite clip. Based on the blockbuster 1997 movie, "Titanic." It's called, "Titanic: Two The Surface," and tells the story of Jack Dawson after the sinking.

My next favorite, "Dirty Dancing," turns that harmless little movie about a family's vacation in the Catskills into something much more sinister.

Another popular parody theme is movies for children. There's nothing more fun than twisting a sweet, innocent children's movie into "Something Wicked This Way Comes." Like the original "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," starring Gene Wilder. Now, Willy never was Mr. Warm and Fuzzy, but this trailer proves just how disturbed the King of the Wonka Bar really was. Keep the children out of the room when you watch this one.

And here's where "Mary Poppins" comes in. Call me heartless---and many people have---but I don't like "Mary Poppins." Never have, never will. I don't like the film, I don't like the story, I don't like the creepy kids, I don't like that hanger on Bert, and I can't stand Mary "Spit Spot" Poppins herself. So this trailer parody just confirmed everything I ever suspected about that supercalifrigilistic nanny from hell.

For some superhero amusement, watch the trailer for Superman II, with an alternate ending.

Or "When Harry Met Sally," The Horror Remix.

Still on the topic of trailers, but the real things this time, you can find out some fun facts about movie trailers at the Alliance of Women Film Journalists website. They recently published the results of a movie trailer poll. Their survey included questions like:

Do most trailers give away too much of the movie and does that make you
(and/or audiences) less inclined to want to see that movie?

Should movie theaters charge studios/distributors for screening trailers?

Do trailers differ from commercials?

In the accompanying article you'll learn a bit about the history of movie trailers as well.

If that's not enough to whet your cinematic appetite, the Anxious Black Woman has screened several trailers of upcoming movies and shares her thoughts; likewise, Tianna at the Concrete Loop; and finally The Glitter and The Gleam reviews the trailer for the new "Sex and the City" movie.

So no time to watch a full length movie? Try a trailer or a trailer parody instead.

Megan Smith is a Blogher Contributing Editor covering TV and YouTube and she'd like you to forgive her for hating Mary Poppins. Megan's other blogs are Megan's Minute and Video Runway.

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Movie Trailer Parodies: Big YouTube Fun