New 'Cowboys & Aliens' trailer is out of this world

Posted Friday, April 15, 2011 at 10:30 AM Central
Last updated Friday, April 15, 2011 at 10:47 AM Central

by John Couture

When I made my pick naming Cowboys & Aliens the top movie in 2011, I thought that maybe I was taking a bit of a risk on the Jon Favreau directed movie. Tim was a bit more practical when he placed it in 10th on his list.

With a cast that includes Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell, you can see where I got my zeal for this project. You throw in an alien attack smack dab in the middle of the Old West and you can see how it was easy to get giddy over this movie.

While I'm still pretty bullish about it nabbing the top spot, I understand that $400 million is going to be a tough number to hit for an unestablished property. That being said, the latest trailer (below) has me once again proclaiming that Cowboys & Aliens will be the top grossing movie this year.

This trailer focuses more on the reasons behind the conflict and gets more to the heart of the plot. It's not surprising to learn that, on the surface, Cowboys & Aliens seems like a standard Western or Sci Fi movie (these two genres actually share more in common that one might think, thanks mostly to George Lucas), but I can't help feeling that there's a clever twist in there somewhere.

Clearly the title, which is obviously a play on the phrase "Cowboys and Indians," is dripping with sarcasm. Just as the cowboys were the invading "aliens" who stormed westward seeking their fortune and leaving a path of destruction in their wake, now the roles are reversed as the aliens take the traditional "cowboy" stance.

Interestingly, Favreau might even strain so far as to make some people go back and realize that perhaps they should have been pulling for the Indians all along. Of course, I may just be over-thinking what is sure to be one of the best popcorn flicks of the Summer.

We will all find out on July 29, when Cowboys & Aliens hits cinemas across the country. Until then, we have this kick ass trailer to help satiate our curiosity. Let us know what you think of it.