jux·ta·po·sit·ion [juhk-stuh-puh-zish-uhn] Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
–noun

1. an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast. 

2. the state of being close together or side by side. 

3. the new Gears of War trailer

Microsoft’s put out one of the most provoking game trailers ever. If you haven’t yet seen the latest Gears of War trailer, check it out here.

You can also find the trailer on Xbox Live, your local TV station, or if you prefer to see it on the biggest screen, it’s supposedly running before Saw III.

It’s not like anything else you’ve seen before. It’s both stimulating and soothing at the same time, but all in a slightly unsettling manner. All of that can be attributed to the strange juxtaposition of the scene from the game and Gary Jules’ rendition of Mad World.

If the music sounds familiar to you, then it’s either you caught it when it was used with comparable expertise in the movie Donnie Darko, or you’re a product of the 80s and you’re familiar with the original version by Tears of Fears. (I happen to qualify for both.)

The odd thing about this commercial is that it does nothing to promote the game, at least in conventional terms. The common trailer format, regardless if it’s for games or movies, is to cram as many marketing bullet points into as little time as possible. That usually involves introducing a star-studded cast, giving away too much of the plot, and mixing in with some fluffy, overly positive critic quotes some of the best (and sometimes the only worthwhile) scenes.

But the Gears of War trailer does none of that. What it does, however, is make you want the game in your hands yesterday. It captures your intrigue with its ingeniusly chosen soundtrack, giving you a completely new perspective on the world in which Gears is set. It’s a trailer that’s made for those who already know and understand what Gears of War is about.

If for some reason you remain unconvinced at the powerful effect Mad World has on the trailer, then this should make my point crystal clear.

Most of those who appreciate it already plan to buy the game, so why would Microsoft produce a commercial that preaches to the choir? Without a Halo game for Microsoft to lean on this holiday season, Gears of War will be the reason for consumers to buy an Xbox 360 this year. We have little doubt that there will be an even greater mainstream push for the title once it releases.

What this trailer does accomplish is that it gets the community excited about Gears of War again. It stirs our emotions and gets us talking about the game. Microsoft hopes that its dedicated enthusiasts (read: fanboys) will help with the preaching, hoping to convert those who are unable to snag a PlayStation 3 to see the beauty that is Gears.

While it may not be enough to completely wipe the notions of Wii and PS3 from our minds, we’ve already highlighted our calendars and cleared our week following the release just for Gears of War.