Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

http://moviespics.wcgame.ru/data/2011-07-12/star-wars-movie-poster.jpg

This one has a lot going on, but it avoids, I think, feeling too busy. While the original poster, with Luke's saber raised high and Leia leaning against him, is more iconic, it really doesn't capture the feel of the film—Luke isn't a god, and Leia isn't his loyal lover. This one captures all of the characters in all of their glory, looking like they do in the movie, and the action pose Luke is in somehow avoids looking cheesy and instead seems thrilling. It almost feels like the poster's in motion.

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

other than the lord of the rings posters that have been mentioned and much of drew struzan's work, this is one of the posters that stands out to me:

http://www.shockya.com/news/wp-content/uploads/district_9_movie_poster3a.jpg

It tells you pretty much what the movie is about. "The humans don't want the aliens here anymore." was what came to mind from that poster.  And that's one of the ideas in the movie.

As an artist, I'm curious as to what you believe is good poster design.  While it's true that many posters are too busy and I agree with Michael that many lack good flow, I've never heard of any "rules of design" when it comes to poster design.

Last edited by switch (2013-06-14 17:27:16)

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Man, that Episode I poster is tasteful. The entire time surrounding that ad campaign...magical.

Ugh.

While we're on the Star Wars theme, though...I love this Polish Return of the Jedi poster.

http://i.imgur.com/J6bOB.jpg

And this Children of Men poster was just fantastic.

http://www.impawards.com/2006/posters/children_of_men_ver2.jpg

Last edited by Alex (2013-06-14 17:54:51)

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

I'm not an artist and have positively no sense of design, but Silence of the Lambs and Jaws seem to me to be downright outstanding, each for different reasons. (Many editions of Benchley's book use the same basic image  on the cover; not sure whether it was used on the book first or was created for the film.)

I always admired The Exorcist's original poster:

http://www.impawards.com/1973/posters/exorcist.jpg

It seems like it just takes a still from the film, but it's one of the prettiest shots. In Friedkin's recent book, I believe I recall him saying that he blocked off a whole day (well, a whole night anyway) of shooting so they could get that shot; there's more to it than meets the eye, and he felt it was important.

It occurs to me that I actually don't know a lot about the approach to poster design. It seems like these days the ones that are really good are really good, and the ones that are clunkers almost make me think I could have done better. (The poster for a horrible recent film called One for the Money is simply Katie Heigl wearing tight jeans. It's not a movie poster. It's a poster for how taut her ass is. Wait, actually, I'm okay with that poster. Carry on.)

Seems like good posters tend to stick in the mind. I'm not sure how that effect gets achieved, actually, but I can tell you that I don't know what the poster looks like for some of my favorite movies ever, whereas I'll never forget ones from movies that were horrible-but-nonetheless-had-cool-posters. Also it's cool when a poster can be evocative before you've seen the film, and then take on a whole new resonance or meaning after you've seen the film. (Silence of the Lambs and Cabin in the Woods are like that.)

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Speaking of Friedkin and movie stills:

http://www.pinkfive.com/images/sorcerer.jpg

I saw this poster at the record store (off my lawn, all of you) and bought it before I even knew what this movie was about.

Contrary to most poster concepts, it doesn't say anything useful about what the hell this movie is.   But it sure made me want to find out. 

btw, the history of Sorcerer is one of those bizarro Hollywood stories that's still ongoing today - it tanked at the time (came out at the same time as Star Wars - oops) and Friedkin's been in legal battles over rights and royalties ever since - which weren't resolved until just now.    He's been doing personal appearances and screenings lately with a restored print, and some folks are calling it an "overlooked masterpiece".

I dunno if I'd go that far, but the bridge scene in that poster is pretty damn awesome.

Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

I've never heard of that movie, and yet that poster really makes me want to see it. Completely understand how you felt the same way when you saw it.

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere. - Carl Sagan

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Unfortunately due to the messy rights issues, there's apparently only been one pan-and-scan DVD release, based off a muddy print.   That's pretty much the only way to see it right now - that's better than nothing, I guess.

I do hope the end result of this new restoration will be a proper widescreen restored video release as well.

Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Actually I'm pretty sure they've announced a blu-ray restoration/release about a month ago, based on the original negative: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1464686/sorce … to-blu-ray

Should be out this fall, so if you haven't seen it yet, might want to wait for that, the movie is gorgeous (and indeed outstanding).

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

[zoidberg.jpg]  smile

if so, I will be pre-ordering that mofo the instant it's announced.

Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

In 1989, Clive Barker made an epic fantasy-horror movie packed with all kinds of different monsters. It got one of the laziest and most clueless posters of all time:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e3t0hXpJ700/ThDnB10w6JI/AAAAAAAAAaM/K4XUfLrdJQs/s1600/Nightbreed.jpg

Clive hated it and got artist Les Edwards to make a far more awesome poster for Europe, which I have on my wall...

http://www.lesedwards.com/imagebank/9/7/4/974899.jpg

Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

See, those NIGHT BREED posters are a great and telling example of the importance of a good poster. As someone who knows nothing about and has never seen the film, my eyes just slide over that first one. Lazy, generic, indistinguishable from any number of crummy VHS covers I used to see in rental stores and would never give a thought to.

The second one I go "Oh shit, I have to see this movie."

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

I always loved this one - its simplicity, mystery and terror - plus one of the very best tag lines.

http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/barryingram/alien.jpg

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Its rare that a comedy poster sticks with people the way a drama/action/adventure/thiller does.... and there hasn't been a comedy represented here yet (sans Phantom Menace ((rimshot)))... So here's one of my favorite posters ever.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/43/40-Year-OldVirginMoviePoster.jpg/220px-40-Year-OldVirginMoviePoster.jpg

Its everything you need to know in a perfectly posed and color image, and it makes you laugh. When does a poster ever make you laugh?  Google "comedy film posters" and see how AWFUL they are.

Last edited by Jake Lloyd (2013-07-03 20:29:19)

Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

One of my favourite posters is from a comedy film, too-

http://youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Shaun-of-the-Dead-poster.jpg

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Doesn't it bother you that they never go on the tube in the film though?  big_smile

Extended Edition - 146 - The Rise Of Skywalker
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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

http://www.joblo.com/posters/images/full/1984-ghostbusters-poster1.jpg

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

http://i.imgur.com/wMtVZ0C.jpg

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Faldor wrote:

Doesn't it bother you that they never go on the tube in the film though?  big_smile

Nah, not really. I've never been on the tube either, so.... big_smile

Oh, and-

http://www.sweetdreamscakeapp.com/wp-content/uploads/back-future-1.jpg

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Don't know if they are Great but they are Fucking Movie Posters

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/01-HnS3GIc.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/02-yS776eC.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/03-CL3sRea.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/04-l6S4ohV.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/05-xoFbol2.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/06-sdFZOG2.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/07-5Rj1vz2.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/08-4L91yhL.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/09-pQjfXqp.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/10-ABGJu25.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/11-1SI4LoY.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/12-oHmYXVH.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/13-jTb9mCg.jpg

http://ashdigital.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/14-q5D2NNT.jpg

---------------------------------------------
I would never lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation.

Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Well, I'm at least curious about what the movie is about... hmm

Not exactly a movie poster, but Rooster Teeth's new show's original poster was appropriately mysterious and provoking in its simplicity

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0228/9021/products/product_1374165421d_large.jpeg?16166

God loves you!

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

I love how those posters each give away a little bit of who each character is. I assume that the theme of the film is "during sex we reveal who we really are" or something like that.

That Shia one is ridiculous. I'm still laughing.

"The Doctor is Submarining through our brains." --Teague

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

While I understand this is not the only poster to use this format, it's one of the best:
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue336/iron_man_poster1.jpg

I love stuff like this. The original Star Wars poster is another good example, then things like Wing Commander, Lost in Space and the Star Trek reboot come to mind. Even the new Thor film did one.

Last edited by Vapes (2013-10-17 05:06:45)

"Defending bad movies is VaporTrail's religion."
-DorkmanScott

Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

My favorite movie poster of all time is a logo. My second favorite movie poster of all time is a logo. I'm consistent. Neither tells you a damn thing about the movie but both raise curiosity.


http://whatculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ghostbusters_ver2.jpg

http://s12.postimg.org/rmk5ds7i5/jurassic_park_ver1.jpg
Both are hanging in my living room.

Last edited by oTom (2013-10-17 17:33:42)

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

This was always my favorite. 

http://images.moviepostershop.com/death-to-smoochy-movie-poster-2002-1020205522.jpg'

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Re: Great Fucking Movie Posters

Olly Moss has to be my favorite movie poster artist. I'm not sure if he's made any 'official' ones, but he's fairly well known for his alternative posters. I think the Alamo Draft House may have commissioned a series from him.

It's really difficult for me to choose one, he has so many brilliant, minimalistic designs.
I might have to go with his take on Dirty Harry:

http://i.imgur.com/mn1DKQ9.jpg


His There Will Be Blood, American Werewolf in London, Four Lions, Star Wars Trilogy, and Studio Ghibli pieces are also excellent.

http://ollymoss.com/

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