POSTER PUNDIT

The Goonies Get Hoodwinked!

2011-04-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

First of all, I've got to give a big thanks to B-Bill for sharing this one with me!

The poster for Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs Evil looks just like...

...the poster for The Goonies!

Check them out side-by-side.

I'm at seriously loss for words here, there's just nothing else to say. These are just crazy similar!

Harry Potter Gets the Finger

2011-04-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

Although I'm very excited for the final installment in the Harry Potter series, the newly released poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 leaves something to be desired.

It looks as though Warner Brothers was going for a poster that shows a classic epic showdown, which after 7 previous Potter films, this movie is surely to be.

However, it just reminds me of this...

..and this.

...or even this one!

Not like any of this really matters. They could release a blank poster and I'd still go see it.

Although I must say, whoever decided to make Voldemort give Harry the finger is my hero.

While I'm sure it was unintentenial, it's still pretty hilarious.

I wonder if he'll have two wands in his hand for the UK version?

A First Class Mess!

2011-03-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a movie poster comes along that is just so bad, there is almost nothing you can say about it. *almost

Well, congratulations X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, you have made one of the worst posters I have seen in recent years, possibly decades!

(and since movie posters have only been around for decades, that's really saying something)

First, you gave us this teaser poster, which was boring, but hey, I was willing to see what you'd come up with next and let it slide.

THEN you dropped these bombs on us.

The blue one is a little odd with it's inappropriately placed sun flair, but the real travesty here is the green one. Why does the guy in the foreground look like a bobblehead doll with an unusually large head? And what's with the creepy guy lurking in the background?

Still, these posters weren't bad enough for me to question the quality of the film. Oh no, you saved those for your next teaser poster.

ENTER THE TALKING CROTCH POSTERS!

These posters are just beyond bad!

Why would you place a face on a body that way?

Do they have talking crotches?

Are they pregnant with huge heads?

The more I stare at these, the more I laugh at how bad they are.

Who designed these?

Who approved these?

-and more importantly-

If their marketing campaign is THIS bad, how bad is the movie?

Hopefully I won't lose any sleep waiting to see what their sure to be epic final poster looks like.

If I had to guess, I'd say the final X:MEN First Class poster

will look like the first Iron Man poster:

A Whole Lotta Randomness.

What a Teaser!

2011-01-28T17:26:00.000-08:00

It's funny how a teaser poster can get you so excited for a movie,

but then how quickly all that goes away

when you see the official poster.

That's EXACTLY what happened to me when I saw the teaser poster for The Witches of Oz.

This poster really draws you in and makes you look closer to see what's inside the ball. The design is simple, and it takes a second to realize that you're looking at the infamous city of Oz.

I guess you could say I was ready to follow the yellow brick road and run out to the theatre to see this film, well, until I saw the official poster for it.

It's not that this poster is necessarily bad by any means, there is just way too much going on here. From the overly photoshop'd faces, to the flying car, and Christopher Lloyd dressed up like Sergeant Pepper, I'm just not sure where to look.

...and where is that yellow brick road anyway?

This definitely isn't the Oz that I grew up with, but I guess that is the point since it's a re-envisioned version. "It's more like the book" the studio has been saying in defense.

From the looks of this poster, I'm thinking it's going to be a little bit Stardust with a lotta bit Hocus Pocus, which might not be so bad afterall.

Fire Down Below!

2011-01-28T16:04:00.000-08:00

As I was checking out the new poster for Drive Angry,

I realized that Nic Cage really has a thing with flames.

Why is it, that his head is always above something on fire?

I mean fire is cool and all, but after a while it really starts to lose it's edge, don't you think?

Hobo with a Shotgun

2011-01-25T17:14:00.000-08:00

There is nothing better than a movie title that tells you EXACTLY what kind of movie it's going to be.

That's what I love so much about HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN.

You don't even have to see this film,

or watch the trailer to know what it's about.

However, with a title like that, who wouldn't want to see it?

I love the 50s sci-fi style poster (you may argue that it's grindhouse, but I disagree).

The Disco Exorcist

2011-01-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

2011 has a lot to live up to after this beauty-

There is no way this movie will live up to my expectations, but that doesn't change the fact that this poster is truly amazing.

Dinner for Mr Bean?

2010-07-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

Doesn't Steve Carell look like Mr. Bean
on the Dinner for Schmucks poster?

Maybe they should have just cast Mr. Bean, instead!

Black Waters of Echo's Pond

2010-07-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, I never heard of the movie The Black Waters of Echo's Pond when it was released earlier this year (WAS it released?), but I'm really digging these throwback posters!

Europe -vs- The USA

2010-07-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

No, we're not talking about the World Cup here.

Why is it, that European posters are always WAY cooler than the American ones?!

Case in point:

The posters for Woody Allen's new film

You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger

AMERICA

-vs-

SPAIN

With this kind of creativity, I hope they DO win the 2010 World Cup!

Angel of Twilight?

2010-07-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

Do you think these look alike?

I'm not convinced, but I could see how they could remind you of one another.

Personally, I don't care for either show or movie.

The Zac Ephron Template?

2010-07-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

If this poster for Charlie St. Cloud weren't funny enough on its own

(seriously, what IS he looking at like that?!?)...

...It turns out, there was another Zac Ephron movie

that practically had the same poster only five years ago!

Just look at the resemblance!

And not only are the color schemes and layouts practically the same,

what is up with Zac Ephron's crazy eyes?!

Inceptual Relativity

2010-06-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

Although I'm practically counting down the days
until this film gets released, the new
character posters for Inception do not
have me thrilled to see this movie.

They're a bit Truman Show-ish, don't you think?

However, the one bit of advertising that DOES get me excited for this film, is this M.C. Escher inspired one sheet.

If you're lost, M.C. Escher is the guy who created

this bit of art called "Relativity."

Remeber it from grade school?

See the similarities?

I love an inspired by tale so much more than a knock-off one.

Part 3 in 3D!

2010-06-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

Pixar's Toy Story 3 is coming out in theaters today.

As luck would have it for the Pixar, it's the third installment of the series and it got the 3D treatment!

Studios LOVE when they can release Part III of a series in 3D.

Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

Jaws III (1983)

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)

Get your 3D glasses ready,

Because over the next 2 years,

there are a lot of third installments to franchises

all rumored to be released in 3D

Films such as....

Jackass 3

Alvin & The Chipmunks 3

Madagascar 3

The Chronicles of Narnia 3

Transformers 3

Let's hope the 3D phase is here to stay this time!

(remember the 80's?)

I Love You Too!

2010-06-17T17:21:00.000-07:00

News came out recently that the theatrical release date film
I Love You Phillip Morris was pushed back yet again.

...and this made me realize,

there have been a lot of I LOVE YOU

films lately!

in 2009 alone we had three

major I LOVE YOU releases

I Love You, Man

New York, I Love You

I Love You, Beth Cooper

2008 was a bit loveless majorly...

(please correct me if I'm wrong)

But we did find it in 2007

P.S. I Love You

...and in 2006.

Paris, I Love You (Paris je t'aime)

IMDB.com shows two more films coming out in

2010 with the I Love You theme..

OH, I LOVE YOU, ORIGINALITY!

Simple Jack Will Mow Your Law

2010-06-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

This is a bit random but.....

Was the Simple Jack character from Tropic Thunder
inspired by Jeff Fahey's character in The Lawnmower Man?

This is a Man's World

2010-05-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

What's with all the MAN movies?

UPCOMING IN 2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

ect... ect... ect...

Sex & The City 2: Samatha's Face Diaster!

2010-05-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've seen a photoshop diaster to this degree.

Thank you Sex & the City 2 for bringin' it back!

Women liked Sex and the City because it showed

that you can still have fun at any age.

So why, I ask, do the poster gods feel it's necessary to make their 40+ stars look like they're in their 20's?

The worst offense here is Kim Cattrall.

Here's a still from her in the movie next to her picture on the poster.

At 54, she looks phenominal, but this doesn't even appear to be the same person!

-And furthermore, what DID they do to her elbow?

This is clearly a thinning attempt gone wrong!

Scroll back to the side-by-side above and check out what her arm really looks like.

There's clearly been a lot of softening work done to both Sarah Jessica Parker's and Cynthia Nixon's faces.

Even Kirstin Davis got a boob job.

It's amazing what happens to already gorgeous women on movie posters.

Check out the poster from the last movie.

What a difference a few years makes!

Sunglasses Don't Always Make You Look Cool

2010-04-14T18:02:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because I don't like either of these actors, because when I saw these character posters for The Killers, I just rolled my eyes and thought YOU WISH!

These are a direct rip off of the posters for Lolita and Risky Business!

They even posed them like the posters they're ripping off.

An Affliction Poster?

2010-04-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the poster for the movie The Expendables?

It made me wonder if Afflicition Clothing is designing posters now...

If you're unfamiliar with the brand, here's a glimpse-

It's all about skulls and intensity. The brand has recently been embraced by a lot of sports stars, which is definitely the market for this film, so I'm not entirely surprised by their inspiration choice!

Dragons Like Aliens

2010-04-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

I love the How To Train Your Dragon poster!

It's a great homage to the poster for the re-release of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial.

That's copying done well, my friends!

The Nicholas Sparks Template

2010-04-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

Do Nicholas Sparks books & screenplays come with a poster template?

There's the ALMOST kiss...

..and the embrace.

Photoshop MisHIP

2010-03-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the poster for The Bounty Hunter?

Sorry Jennifer Aniston, you've got a great body, but you're not that curvy.

Here's a still of her in the movie in the same outfit she's wearing on the poster.

and a side by side comparison

(I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here, but what the hell...)

Don't worry SONY, no one will ever notice.

James Bond + Weed = Date Night

2010-03-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

DO THE MATH

add this

with this

and you will get this

I wonder if the plot follows the same pattern, because THAT would be interesting.

Comparing Apples to Cherries

2010-03-19T17:10:00.000-07:00

The Runaways looks like it might be pretty cool.

(Does it remind anyone else of the movie
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains?)

I'm really digging the poster too. The colors are super saturated like was taken on Kodachrome film.

...and I love how sexually suggestive the teaser poster is too, with that water about to drip off the cherry.

You know, if they didn't have a song called Cherry Bomb, I'd say the teaser had been inspired by that movie Teachers from the 80's.

Ap-Ap-Ap-Ap-Ap-Ap-Ap-Ap-Apple Bomb doesn't quite have the same ring to it though.

Claws are Cool

2010-02-24T18:05:00.000-08:00

A teaser poster was released for the new A Nightmare On Elm Street movie.

I mean, claws are cool and everything, but doesn't this poster remind you of another (not-so good) movie?

I hope this doesn't mean it's going to be like Wolverine, because that means, well, if you saw it, you know.

-on a similar note-

A friend of mine thought the other poster released for A Nightmare on Elm Street looked similar to another poster.

I didn't think it was blog-worthy, but I thought it was worth giving a shout-out to anyway.

This one's for you Burger!

Wall Street 2: The Devil's Advocate?

2010-02-19T17:19:00.000-08:00

The posters for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

(aka Wall Street 2) are finally out.

Unfortunately, the internet doesn't do them justice. They're made to look like oil paintings, and in real life they actually look pretty cool.

One thing I really like about this poster is that they haven't over-photoshopped Michael Douglas's face! (if they even touched it at all)

There's nothing worse than a studio over-photoshopping old actor's faces, in a lame attempt to try and make

everyone look the same age.

(like someone might have done here)

Here is the other poster out for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

Does anyone else find this version eerily reminiscent to the poster for The Devil's Advocate?

I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me that they did use this poster as inspiration.

After all, the themes are kind of the same, right?

Keanu sold his soul to win a case, and Shia will be selling his soul to save Wall Street and help Gordon Gekko.

Check out the trailer if you haven't done so already.

Trend Watch 2010 Part 2

2010-02-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

Stop the Presses, it's official!

The B&W poster trend spotted here last month
is still going on strong.

Here's the newest batch of Black and White
(most with a splash of red) Posters

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?

(Opening in April 2010)

Remember Me

(Opening in March 2010)

The Expendables

(Opening in August 2010)

Shelter

(Opening in 2010)

Repo Men

(Opening in April 2010)

Brooklyn's Finest

(Opening in March 2010)

The Ghost Writer

(Opening in February 2010 in NY & LA)

Admittingly, the last two posters (Brooklyn's Finest &The Ghost Writer) have other colors in them and are not true black and white photos. However, the color palettes are both so muted, that I figured it fit well enough into the B&W trend.

Stay tuned for more TREND WATCH 2010!

Ricky Gervais or Fred Flintstone?

2010-02-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

This isn't a movie poster, but it is poster for a movie star, so it seems worth mentioning anyway.

The advertisements for The Ricky Gervais Show
(which is an animated show premiering on HBO later this month)
look incredibly familiar.

I just know I've seen these characters somewhere before....

Oh, I know where!!

Look! It's the original Steven Merchant & Ricky Gervais.

And I've even found an original Karl Pilkington!

(They even got the color right!)

Here's a side-by-side comparison for anyone still skeptical.

TRON Legacy

2010-02-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

The new poster for the TRON sequel TRON LEGACY is really nice.

This poster is visually interesting and it really draws you in right away. There's a great moodiness to it and the action tells a story and dares you not to want to learn more.

Disney has done a fantastic job updating and embracing the spirit of the first Tron in creating the ad campaign for the new film. Here's the original poster from 1982.

If you haven't done so already, there is a VFX Concept Test (aka a clip from the film) which you can watch here on Apple's website. I suggest digging out your headphones if you're going to watch, to take full advantage of the sounds.

Speaking of sounds, Daft Punk is in charge of scoring the new film, which is just perfect on so many levels. You can check out on of the tracks here.

TRON LEGACY will be released in 3D this December. With all these elements in place, I think it will definitely be worth the wait.

Good Super Heroes Are Not Afraid of Heights

2010-02-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the character posters for Kick Ass?

While there is nothing new or truly awesome about these posters (wow, another hero/villian looking over the city from a very tall building picture), they did make me realize something. This movie is almost 100% likely to live up to its name and actually be good because of one small thing.

What detail?

The characters in these posters are not afraid of heights.

If there is one thing I've learned from Super Hero movies of the past decade, it's that all the really good ones love posing for their movie posters from some place really high up, and the higher they are, the better their movie tends to be.

-case in point-

These guys aren't afraid of heights.

Not convinced yet?

Well, you'll notice the Super Heroes & Villians that aren't so good, usually prefer to stick closer to the ground.

If only I had figured this out years ago!

The Art of the Steal

2010-02-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

IFC makes some of the best posters around.

This one for the new documentary The Art of the Steal is easily one of the best ones I've seen so far this year.

Now, I must admit that I am more than a little biased when it comes to any Russian Industrialist type artwork, especially when used on a movie poster. However, this poster not only looks cool, it is also subtly clever. Look again-
The "thief" is actually stealing the word ART.

One + One + One

2010-02-04T16:11:00.000-08:00

A teaser poster for the first part of the final installment in the Harry Potter series came out a while ago. It's a nice little poster, but something is wrong with the math.

Since when does ONE (way) + ONE (fate) + ONE (hero) =
TWO (movies)?

When in Rome

2010-02-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

At first, this was the only poster I saw around town for When in Rome.

It's nothing special and has weird tones (what is wrong with the color of her eyes and lips?) but who cares...

It wasn't too long before Josh Duhamel's people must have seen these Kirsten Bell only posters around, got pissed and demanded he be added to the poster (at least that is how I picture it) because after about a week, these posters replaced the other ones around town.

And that's all fine and dandy, but where exactly is Josh Duhamel looking?!

It's as if he's starring behind and beyond Kirsten Bell's head....

It really makes you wonder what could possibly be out of frame that would hold his attention so...

He looks like he's staring at a really cute puppy (or Fergie, your pick).

Corny, I know...

Seriously though, at least tell your actor where to look when you're taking the photo if you plan on layering it.

There is no chemistry in this poster between the actors and that's really sad because it's advertising a romantic comedy.

What a Twist!

2010-01-26T14:25:00.000-08:00

The poster for The Last Airbender looks oddly familiar...

(Thanks SKX!)

If you're still not convinced, check out the other poster released for The Last Airbender, as it also has that xXx feel.

The guy really looks like Vin Diesel on this one!

While I'm sure this is purely coincidental, it's still kind of funny.

And to quote my friend Mike regarding The Last Airbender:

Director M. Night Shyamalan is readying a new children's film

for release sometime next year. Sources say the film,

Shyamalan's first to be based on someone else's story,

ironically features his biggest surprise twist to date:

It'll actually be good.

Be sure to check out more of Mike's work here on his blog.

Transporting Back in Time

2010-01-26T10:07:00.000-08:00

Since it's a slow news day, I thought I'd take a moment to go

back revisit the posters for The Transporter series.

I love the honesty of it all. It's as if they're saying,

"Yeah, we know it's the same movie, why try and hide it?"

The Invention of Lying's Photoshop Mishap

2010-01-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

Since The Invention of Lying was released on DVD this week, I thought it would be fun to revisit the poster.

When it was released, Ricky Gervias made a big deal about how much the studio had airbrushed his face. He not only talked about it on Conan, he also brought it up on his blog by saying "Yes of course they've airbrushed it. That's why I look like some sort of facelifted old queen."

Here are a few stills from The Invention of Lying put alongside the image used on the poster.

As you can see, it doesn't even look like the same person!

They should have just stuck with this poster.

...and is it just me, or does this picture of Rob Lowe make him look like This American Life's Ira Glass?

Bio-Pic anyone?

TREND WATCH 2010?

2010-01-19T11:43:00.000-08:00

What's with all the black and white posters these days?

Going B&W and adding a surprise splash of red (or sometimes gold or green) is so in right now. Just look at these posters for movies coming out over the next few months.

...and that's just a sampling. Look around you the next time you're at the theatre, or as you drive down the street. B&W posters are everywhere!

And I'm not the only one who has noticed this trend. My local cinema (seen below) just put up a poster display of black and white posters. (which includes about every Woody Allen poster ever released!)

I guess marketing execs are really taking the "Advertising is so black and white" thing literally these days...

Thirst Did it First

2010-01-12T17:18:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or does anyone else see the similarities between these two posters?

Call it a stretch if you want, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that the first time I saw this poster for Daybreakers, I instantly thought of the one for Thirst. (which is my Favorite poster from 2009)

And not only are their posters similar to one another, they're both vampire movies as well!

Coincidence? You decide.

Transylmania

2010-01-11T17:18:00.000-08:00

Doesn't this look like a movie poster for a gay porn?
I'm confused..

The Best Movie Posters of 2009

2010-01-06T14:09:00.000-08:00

#10

In a time where most posters are floating heads in space to showcase the stars, it was quite refreshing to see that the poster for Up In the Air did not whore the hell out of George Clooney. In fact, it only shows him in silhouette with his back to the camera, in what is a gorgeous still from the movie. The tagline is perfect, as well.

Simplicity was what worked well for the Up campaign. The posters are exciting and managed to capture the spirit of the movie.

This poster for Taking Woodstock is great for so many reasons. Not only does it look authenticly vintage with it's style, color and font, the designers went that extra step and added folds! The beauty is in the details.

Although the entire television advertising campaign was heavily misleading for Precious, the posters do a decent job letting you know what you're in for. They're simple, a little scary and offputting...

That simple 60's modern advertising style is "in" right now, and being that the film In The Loop is a lovesong for Dr. Strangelove, it was not only perfect, but timely as well.

Both of the posters for The Informant are playful and fun. The goofy snapshot of Matt Damon smiling like an gigantic idiot fits the movie perfectly.

It would be nice to stick to US released posters only for the best of list, but there is no denying that the UK poster for The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus is one of the best I've seen all year. It has a great Art Nouveau look to it, and it manages to capture that trademark Terry Gilliam imagination quite well.

US Release

UK Release

This poster for Cold Souls does a great job of telling you a bit of the plot while being creative and fun at the same time.

This poster is just awesome.

The other one they released isn't so bad either...

The original poster released for Thirst was banned for being too provocative. However, the American release, although heavily photoshopped, was still pretty awesome. (I happen to have it hanging in my house, so that says something..) If you compare the two below, you'll see quite a few differences between them, other than the leg removal (including giving her less cleavage on the US poster!).

Hands down, this was the best poster that I saw this year.

US Release

Banned International Version

Black and Blue

2009-12-15T17:58:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the poster for the new movie INCEPTION?

This is the new movie from Christopher Nolan,

director of The Dark Knight

I think he REALLY likes this street, because this was "shot" there too-

At least his posters are getting more creative as time goes on. That whole black and blue faces look was a little tired..

EXTRADORDINARY photoshoppin' MEASURES were taken

2009-12-14T15:44:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the poster for the new Brendan Fraser/Harrison Ford movie

"Extraordinary Measures"?

(seen on left)

CBS, who are you kidding?

It's been a looooong time since Harrison Ford looked like this!

Are you re-using promotional photos left-over from

K-19: The Widowmaker?

Indiana Jones?

Star Wars?

All one needs to do is an image search for recent photos of Harrison Ford to see that he looks nothing like he does on that poster anymore. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy, but he's definitely no spring chicken.

It just drives me crazy to see someone attempt to make Brendan Fraser who is 41 and Harrison Ford who is 67 look the same age!

This is Photoshop 101 people! You don't completely take away wrinkles, you merely fade them a bit (um, how about an adjustment layer perhaps)!

What Do You Give the Spoiled Rich White Lady Who Has Everything? Why, A Black Man Of Course!

2009-11-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

I must start off by saying that I think the movie The Blind Side looks beyond terrible, which makes me completely biased in my review of anything relating to it.

The first time I saw the trailer I let out a gigantic laugh when I heard the lines

RANDOM LADY

"Hey, you're changin' that boy's life."

SANDRA BULLOCK

"No (dramatic pause), he's changin' mine."

I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one in the theatre laughing. This film looks like a MOW at best. (My apologies to anyone who wants to go see it; I understand we all have soft spots and guilty pleasures) Since I didn't plan on seeing the movie (ever) its existence slipped from my thoughts.....

....That is, until I ran into this invite (shown on the left) in the LA Times today asking me to "Experience" The Blind Side" a full 3 days before it's officially released.

The first thing I noticed about this poster for The Blind Side (shown on the left) is that it reminds me a lot of the poster for the movie My Giant (shown below on the right).

Honestly, there's not much you can do when you want to show how truly massive someone is over someone else. Their plots aren't similar at all though...

However there is a plot that is sort of similar.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that this movie The Blind Side sounds a lot like a grown-up drama version of The Toy? (if you're not familiar with that movie, you can watch the trailer here) I see it is "based on an extraordinary true story" but come on, who are you kidding.... What do you give the spoiled white lady who has everything? A black kid/man? Yeah... that'll teach 'em!

This has got to be one of the most un-extraordinary plot lines of the century. If you're interested in this sort of black society -vs- white society thing, I suggest you go watch Carl Reiner's The Jerk or Melvin Van Peeble's The Watermelon Man which I'm sure have more substance than this. (granted, I haven't seen The Blind Side, but do I really need to?)

Lastly, did anyone else notice the awful Photoshop job of Sandra Bullock's hand is on the poster? This can NOT be real. Just look at how unnatural it's bending and how it is oddly shaped. Did someone honestly pass this?

You know, if you're trying to sell a heartfelt moving drama, at least do a better job making it look like your "changed for the better" lead character actually cares about her newly "adopted" son. This looks like she's hired another arm to touch the boy with so she doesn't have to do it herself. (what a rich spoiled bitch! She didn't change at all -Ugh!)

Maybe I'm being too harsh on this movie.... (I have had a few drinks and I have no sensor "button" anymore) I guess we'll find out if the rest of America feels the same way next week when The Blind Side opens wide on November 20th.

Going Green

2009-11-09T11:43:00.000-08:00

NEW! From the writer of Shrek and Shrek 2 comes Planet 51!

How do you make 2 Green CGI characters fresh after you've exhausted them in 3+ movies? (and I hear a new one is on the way)

You re-vamp the series by making a whole planet out of them!

(Come on, Ogres/Aliens- same thing!)

...and just in case you're living on Planet 51, here is a picture of Shrek for reference-

The Poster Thief strikes again!

2009-11-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

One thing I love to do is to call out copycats.
(I calls 'em like I sees 'em)
You might be surprised to know that we seem to have a lot of those out here in Hollywood.

I mean, is it just me, or does anyone else think that the new Wolfman poster looks oddly familiar?

You know, perhaps like this?

They even used the same color schemes. Don't get me wrong, this is a great design, but by no means original.

(Thanks SKX!)

Did you hear that G.I. Joe just got released this week?

What did their posters look like again? Oh wait, I remember those were vaguely familiar too.

Like, this one-

...and this one

(for your sake, I won't keep going as I assume you get the idea by now)

My Parting Words of Wisdom

If you're thinking about moving to Hollywood to share your original idea with the world, I think its best you just stay home. We're going to go with last year's...

Cirque du Freaky Head

2009-10-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

It Had To Begin Somewhere..
Getting a copy of the Los Angeles Times is a weekly treat for me. My subscription is for Thursday through Sunday only, which means on two weekday mornings, I open the door and see the paper teetering on the stairs of my second floor apartment. I love being up-to-date on what's happening around my city and the world, but that's not the best part of the LA Times for me. No, the best part about seeing that paper at my feet is that it means that the weekend is VERY near.

On the two week days that I get the paper, I like to take it with me to work and flip through the pages of the Calendar section while I check my emails. Like clockwork, you can bet that on one of those days, I will find a new full page ad (usually for a movie) that shows someone's face rendered weird by Photoshop. I run around the office, paper in hand, pointing it out to my coworkers. Those I show usually all agree (maybe just to humor me) that something, has most definitely gone wrong during the editing process. Since these outbursts are probably growing tiresome to those who work closest to me, I thought I'd share it with a new audience.

The First Offense
As per usual, this morning I brought my paper with me to work. I sat down at my desk with a cup of wild sweet orange Tazo tea (one of my newest obsessions) and began flipping through the Calendar section when I happened upon this-

A full page ad for the film The Vampire's Assistant (which you can see up close here). Right away it's obvious that something has gone wrong with this "victim's" head. His eyes are really oddly shaped and oversized. It looks like someone made the top of his head way larger than the bottom half. Just to make sure I wasn't crazy, I found a still from the movie to compare. The difference here is obvious.

The victim with the big funky alien-like head is named Chris Massoglia. You might argue that they altered Chris's head for effect and you know, you may be right. However, I don't see the appeal of making one character's head on a poster look like a bratz doll while leaving all the other people on the poster's body parts normal. John C. Reilly's head is normal, Salma Hayek's boobs look big as usual and even the boy (who looks like he's part of a domestic abuse case- what's up with that?) who is standing in the background looks symmetrical and human like.

Who knows what went wrong here. It's just....bizarre.
It's definitely not one of the worst Photoshop massacres I've seen and will only receive a one star offense rating.
______________________________
Rating System
* Photoshop Purgatory- ever heard of an adjustment layer?
** The Gates of Photoshop Hell- it's almost too late for you
*** Photoshop as a form of torture-we're all suffering from your art
**** There are no words that can describe the atrocity you've just commited. Do us all a favor and slit your wrists with those Photoshop installation discs.

Death by Photoshop

2009-10-23T11:21:00.000-07:00