Seeing a preview screening of a movie before it’s release date is one of the advantages to being a movie critic. But there can also be some disadvantages, as I experienced with the screening of “Captain America”.
At the end of the film practically everyone in the theater stayed for what they thought was going to be some kind of “easter egg” involving “The Avengers”. But…nothing. The general feeling was that the scene toward the end of the film involving Samuel L. Jackson’s character (I don’t want to give anything away in case you haven’t seen the movie yet) must have been enough for the studio. Over 200 of us moaned, booed and complained on our way out of the theater.
But it turned-out that we, and everyone else who attended early screenings of the film, were ripped-off because those who saw “Captain America” starting on Friday did get to experience a minute-long teaser for “The Avengers” when the credits were over. My guess is that Paramount didn’t want anyone to start talking about “The Avengers” until “CA” actually opened nationwide.
I didn’t write about the lack of an “easter egg” incident in my review of the film, but two other critics at the screening with did, and then regretted it when word got out that there actually was an “Avengers” preview, just that they didn’t get to see it. I think we all learned a lesson and I’m sure other studios will probably start doing the same thing, which is really unfair to critics and fans who are lucky enough to get to attend previews.
The trailer should be on-line tomorrow (Monday). In the meantime there are bootleg copies, photos and a different teaser just featuring Samuel L. Jackson’s voice online.