 "Photo: Courtesy Apatow Productions")
 "Photo: Courtesy Apatow Productions")
About 10 years ago, fans laid down cold hard cash to see films such as "The Siege," only to walk out two minutes into their movie-going experience. What those die-hard film geeks paid for was the chance to see the teaser trailer for "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace." Thankfully, today there's no need to pay money in order to get high-quality movie trailers first. With the upcoming summer film season quickly approaching, studios are pushing out trailers for their big releases in order to whet the world's cinematic appetite. Here's a rundown of the best of the bunch out right now.
'Iron Man'
Director Jon Favreau is a geek at heart, and he knows what comic book fans want to see. A jokey Robert Downey Jr.? Check. An awesome rendition of Iron Man's armor? Check. Tons of explosions, bombs, flying and other special effects chicanery? Check. This is not only one of the most highly anticipated superhero films (next to July's "The Dark Knight") but also looks to be among the best. Favreau is the new king of making a movie for geeks by geeks, which is always the way it should be (unless you happen to be Mark Steven Johnson, director of "Ghost Rider").
'Pineapple Express'
Sony Pictures Studios released the red-band trailer for the latest film from producer Judd Apatow. This unrated look at the stoner action comedy, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, pretty much assures that Apatow is still Hollywood's Golden Boy. When a trailer alone features a song by M.I.A., Rosie Perez kicking Franco's ass and tons of reefer, the makings for a good movie are all on display. Director David Gordon Green, who made his mark with intimate dramas such as "George Washington" and "All the Real Girls," looks to be making a zany hybrid of "Cheech & Chong" and "Midnight Run" for the next generation.
'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'
Aside from diehard "Rambo" fans, no fans have waited longer for a sequel than "Indiana Jones" fans. The good doctor makes his return 20 years later, looking cool despite nearing hip-replacement-surgery age. Joining Indy in his search for some kind of mysterious artifact are "It Guy" Shia LaBeouf, Indy's "Raiders of the Lost Ark" squeeze Karen Allen and Beowulf himself, Ray Winstone. The trailer features some of the coolest whip action seen in the film series and snippets of what look to be amazing action sequences, such as a chase through the warehouse from the end of "Raiders." Fans don't have to wait too much longer before they can finally bust out their Short Round baseball caps and pretend to go along with the coolest archeologist ever.
'Step Brothers'
This trailer for Adam "Anchorman" McKay's latest film premiered last week at Yahoo! Movies and definitely tickles the funny bone. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly play new stepbrothers that go from hating to loving each other in the span of two and a half minutes. The trailer features some very funny moments, but surely most of the film's comedy is still hidden, thanks to its R-rating. With the duo of Ferrell and Reilly once again working the magic they did in "Talladega Nights," this should turn out to be one of the funnier movies of 2008.
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