There are many components that contribute to the success of a movie. Of course, there are the obvious things: strong plot, relatable/believable characters, great actors, sharp editing, stimulating music, and stunning visuals (be they special effects or just great cinematography). However, there are things you need to do before people even see the movie, which includes all forms of marketing, and movie trailers are the most important of all the marketing techniques.

I love movie trailers. In fact, I’m a self-professed Movie Trailer Whore. If they hadn’t been eating up so much of my computer’s memory, I would have upwards of 1000 trailers right now, though I’ve sadly had to delete the majority of them. Thankfully, they will live on throughout the internet for all time.

What makes a good trailer? Much the same things that make a good movie, in fact. Yet, it’s much harder to do. In a movie, you get hundreds of minutes to go through your plot and such, but with trailers you only get a couple. In those few minutes, a lot of things need to be accomplished: explain the story, create an emotional connection with the viewer, plant the seed for wanting to see the movie when it comes out, and hold on tight!

Below, I have collected twelve of my favorite movie trailers from the past five years. Why are there twelve and not ten? Because I can’t choose between them! They span a broad range of movie genres, but they all have one thing in common: they made me want to see the movie REAL effing bad! And, they worked. I’ve seen all of these movies. Most of them were great, but some of them didn’t live up to the trailer, which can completely set the tone for the movie (rightly, or wrongly, it would seem!).

They’re in alphabetical order, since I couldn’t possibly choose a favorite!

What about you? You seen any trailers in the past few years that sent shivers of excitement up your spine? List them below with a link (not code) so everyone else can see them, too!

Enjoy!

300

There are a number of things I like about this trailer. It starts out with very simple music and slow moving scenes, and progresses nicely into electronic guitar riffs and hardcore action sequences. It also showcases the stunning special effects job done on the film. One of the best parts are all of the great one-liners that are spattered throughout, giving lots of quotables for around the office water-cooler.

Music: Just Like You Imagined - Nine Inch Nails (iTunes : Amazon)

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The new trailer for upcoming Shia LaBeouf lead, Steven Spielberg produced, super thriller Eagle Eye sheds some new light on the plotline and gives a LOT more than the teaser (which is why it was a teaser, I guess!).

I’m actually REALLY excited about this movie! Shia may not have the best reputation as a person, but I really like him as an actor. Plus, with Spielberg running the show, what have we got to lose?

We got a teaser poster for Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins last week at a New York convention, and now we have a new one thanks to a convention in Amsterdam.

Some people are saying that the font looks fake as it is the same font that is used for The Sarah Connor Chronicles posters, so it could have been edited, however it looks rather real to me.

Update: Apparently it is fake. Damn Photoshoppers!

In other Terminator news, Christian Bale spoke to Parade about why he took on the role of John Conner.

Tell me about agreeing to do the next Terminator.

“I’ve always had two varying degrees of success, and I’m not talking about anything to do with box office. I’m talking about my own parameters. You know, an interest in attempting in a wide variety of stories. I never desired to be a big studio movie actor, action actor. I’ve never desired to be a serious independent movie actor. I enjoy all of those. It depends on what mood I’m in. And therefore, I will try to bend those stories into becoming something that I can enjoy myself, varying degrees of success with that. We have an opportunity with it for a continuation, but also a reinvention, and I have to say, much the same way in my mind as we have with Batman. And beyond that I won’t say anymore because we’re just starting.”

An excellent new TV spot for The Dark Knight has appeared online. I have no idea what’s happening with the Joker at the 14 second mark but it looks freaky and I demand to see this movie now! NOW!

Film1.nl got the first poster for The Day The Earth Stood Still, staring Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly and John Cleese.

Then over at DBthemovie they have a poster for the upcoming Dragonball movie.

It’s about time we got a teaser trailer for this Dragonball movie…I need a good laugh!

USA Today has the first three official images from the currently filming Fast and Furious movie!

The movie is a sign of the strength of “quiet giants,” franchises that “might not be James Bond or Indiana Jones but still have a rabid following, especially overseas or on DVD,” says Paul Dergarabedian of Media by Numbers.

Even Justin Lin, who directed 2006’s Tokyo Drift, has been surprised by the franchise’s reach.

“I was in Barcelona, and a kid from Spain comes up and just says ‘Fast and Furious,’ ” Lin says. “It’s amazing how many kids know it.”

Indeed, the series has made $600 million worldwide and is one of Universal Studios’ best-selling DVD titles.

“We were doing a movie about illegal racing before most people even knew how popular it was,” Diesel says. “How many franchises are that based on the real world?”

But it’s not all current events, Walker says. “Who doesn’t like fast cars and hot women?”

Erm… indeed?

F&F rolls its way into theaters June 9, 2009.

These images of Gerard Butler looking badass in Game have been floating around the internet for a a couple of days now, however I’ve waited until the images popped up in better quality, because that’s how I roll.

Butler has become a little bit famous after a small movie named 300 was released in 2007. However, since then he has appeared in romantic comedy P.S. I Love You (vomits) and family film Nim’s Island (trips over own vomit and falls out of nearby window). Thankfully, Bulter is returning to what he does best…kicking ass! (celebrates furiously)

In the not too distant future, Kabel (Gerard Butler), a death row inmate, has unwittingly become a pop culture hero. Every week, millions worldwide tune in online to watch him and hundreds of other convicts battle in Slayers, an ultra-violent multi-player online game invented by technological genius Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall). To the wealthy young gamer who controls his every move, Kable is just a sim character. To the resistance group that opposes Castle’s games as high-tech slavery, he is a critical element in their battle to take down the inventor. Caught in the crosshairs of two opposing forces and under the command of a teenager’s remote device, Kable must use his extraordinary fighting skills to escape the game, bring down Castle and overthrow the system.