Of course, a classic depiction of the Great Depression, made right about the same time. Both the dominating yellow and the dour expressions on the characters' faces in the poster give a sense that the movie will not be a happy one. I suppose the title contributes as well.
I kind of cheated on this one, considering the movie was made about 20-30 years after the events it depicts, but I think it aptly portrays society's changing perception (and the battle that waged) regarding African-American civil rights. The tone of the poster is obviously serious, with the courtroom scene and Atticus's facial expression. The image of Boo carrying a lifeless Jem adds a sense of foreboding.
Labyrinth may not be a prime example of what life was like in the 80s, but I think that in style and content, it is (at least for me) a quintessentially 80s movie. The different tones of the posters above interested me. The uppermost conveys a greater sense of menace, I think, with the cool colors, the dominating images of Bowie, and the expression/body position of the girl in the labyrinth. The second seems a little lighter and more fantasy-based, more like an adventure than a suspense thriller.
King Kong definitely doesn't "realistically" portray the time it was made in (either version), but the top poster demonstrates the technological advancements of the new millennium, which has changed the realism of our time. And I think that technological advancement is a core value of our society. The same holds for the following movie:
For not being a movie person, you made some great choices on posters! I think it's interesting that the King Kong posters (and the two movies as well) are so different. The classic really portrays the ape as a violent, angry creature and the woman--and biplane--are hapless in his grasp. The more modern take shows the ape in his natural environment; still looking hostile but perhaps with a bit more of a defensive rather than offensive posture. The woman is standing on her own, feet firmly planted, and still seems in control of her situation to some degree...as much as one could be with a 50 ton, defensive gorilla standing nearby, haha! The two approaches highlight the two thought approaches of the two eras in which these were created. "Ooo, scary monster ape", versus, "The ape is a natural creature we've learned much more about over time. He is defending his natural habitat and has every 'right' to do so--the humans are the intruders."
ReplyDeleteNice work--good post!
Thanks, Tina. You bring up good points about the King Kong posters. There is definitely a greater psychology to the contemporary version, portraying the gorilla as a much more complicated character, not simply a large beast. Hopefully this means we, the viewers, have become more psychologically complex, ourselves ;o)
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