Super Bowl Commercials 2012: Power Ranking This Year's Most Anticipated Spots

Even if you aren't emotionally invested in the New York Giants and New England Patriots, there are still many reasons to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday night.

The No. 1 reason to keep your television sets tuned to NBC are the commercials. It has been awhile since we have had a strong collection of spots in the Super Bowl. There have been a few great ones here and there, but overall something has been missing. 

This year is going to be different because companies are pulling out all the stops to make sure that the fans are entertained for 30 or 60 seconds when the Giants and Patriots need to take a timeout. 

There have been a lot of ads released already and plenty more to come tonight. Here are the three most anticipated ads heading into Super Bowl. 

3. WILLIAM SHATNER'S LAST STAND?

Priceline's commercials have been must-see TV ever since Shatner signed on to be the spokesman for the company. His persona always sells the company far better than any other celebrity could. 

But it appears there is a new voice coming to take over the Priceline spots, we just don't know who it will be. 

Shatner's character appears to bite the dust after saving a large group of tourists from a bus hanging on the edge. It is the rare commercial that does its job by telling us what it is advertising, and leaves us wanting to see what happens next with Captain Kirk. 

2. THE RETURN OF THE DARK SIDE

While last year's crop of commercials was lackluster, to say the least, the Volkswagen ad featuring the little kid dressed as Darth Vader who started the car using "The Force" was a standout. 

Naturally, the company wants to capitalize on that popularity this year. There is a teaser making its way around the Internet featuring dogs barking the theme song to Star Wars. 

It will be difficult for the car company to recapture the magic again, but let's hope its sequel ends up being better than The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones or Revenge of the Sith.

Fortunately, the bar is low if you are judging it against those films. 

1. FERRIS BUELLER'S SECOND DAY OFF

Perhaps I am overselling this ad, but if you were born during the 1980s. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of the seminal films of all-time.

There are so many different ways to actually interpret the characters and story that the late, great John Hughes was telling. But regardless of whether or not you are looking for the deeper meaning, or just looking for a good time, this is the perfect film. 

Honda has really outdone itself with this spot, and deserves a lot of credit for bringing this character that meant so many things to so many people a chance to live on more than 25 years after the release of the film. 

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