Today we have two new trailers (Centurion and Machete) and two new posters for current previews (RED and Piranha 3D). Today’s Preview Update is featured below.

CENTURION

	Plot Summary: In an assault on Britain, a regiment of Roman soldiers is nearly obliterated but for seven centurions commanded by their imprisoned general to return home by any means necessary. Release Date: August 27, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C+ Commentary: It’s a fairly typical action trailer but with some poorly chosen camera work and bland music, but plenty of suggested violence to appeal to some audiences. However, without the anchor of a major name, the film is very likely to disappear from theaters quickly.	Rating: B- Commentary: Not an utterly banal poster, but not an entirely great one either. It’s hard to get a Romanesque feeling from the poster and its pure action tilt, while appealing to some potential audiences, won’t ultimately draw in many.
	Trailer Link: Apple Trailers Oscar Chances: Unless it’s a critical favorite, the film is likely to be forgotten come Oscar time, though if anything it would only compete in the tech categories.

MACHETE

	Plot Summary: Based on one of the acclaimed trailers from Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s double feature Grindhouse, a wronged man seeks revenge against those who destroyed his life. Release Date: September 3, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Rating: C Commentary: It’s like a hyperactive ferret cut this trailer together. It’s chaotic, irrational and hard to follow. It tries extremely hard to provide glimpses of cult-style scenes and cheesy action that is likely to be the biggest selling point for the film, but with so much all over the place, it doesn’t entirely succeed.	Rating: B- Commentary: I’m writing one synopsis for all six posters as they are clearly a series designed to go together. And, for the most part, they do, though some are lighter or darker than others, which makes it hard to really see them as sequential at times, but it’s an effective choice used excessively for wannabe blockbuster ensemble pieces.
	Trailer Link: Yahoo Movies Trailers Oscar Chances: None.

RED

	Plot Summary: A retired CIA operative finds life too mundane in the real world and re-teams with his old associates for one last job to stave off the mundanity. Release Date: October 15, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Previous Preview: RED	Rating: B- Commentary: With a title like RED, I’ll forgive the overzealous use of the color in the poster. Yet the need to use black and white on the poster as well, especially in the lettering, is unnecessary. Still, it’s a sufficient effort to appeal to audiences.
	Trailer Link: See Previous Preview Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview

PIRANHA 3D

	Plot Summary: A subterranean crevice opens under Lake Victoria releasing a torrent of dangerous, murderous prehistoric piranha. Release Date: August 20, 2010
	Trailer	Poster
	Previous Preview: Piranha 3D	Rating: D+ Commentary: How much can this film steal from Jaws? I get that both films deal with underwater menaces, but must we have a poster so similar to the famed one used for that Steven Spielberg classic?
	Trailer Link: See Previous Preview Oscar Chances: See Previous Preview