Not convinced yet: the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull teaser one-sheet.
By Burbanked on Dec 10, 2007 in Henry Jones Jr., Movie Marketing 101, Movies, One-Sheetery | 2,291 views |
I’m hopelessly conflicted about the new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull one-sheet (click the picture for a bigger version), which a whole mess-o-blogs are writing about today, but which I saw at the Movie Poster Addict blog where Gus is also not that crazy about it. There’s no doubt that this is a splendid looking poster and I’m a huge, HUGE fan of its artist Drew Struzan, who is deservedly well-known and tremendously respected by any fan of one-sheet movie art. To get an idea of what I mean, just take a look at all of the classic film posters Struzan has created.
But I think the problem with this sheet is the same problem that will dog IJKCS (and wow is that ponderous to write out) until it hopefully blows us all away with its triumphant return to form, its sealing of a landmark cinema dynasty, its pronounced and resounding bitch-slapping of cynical Indy fans the world over: the problem is that this movie will be consistenly and ruthlessly compared to the successes and strengths of the three that have come before it.
What’s bugging me about this is that – although Struzan’s style is immediately recognizable – the execution here is markedly different than that of his other Indiana Jones treatments. Take a look at just the way Indy’s face is rendered in Struzan’s previous works for Temple of Doom and Last Crusade as compared to Crystal Skull:
Obviously the new artwork is meant partially to reflect the character’s age, and I don’t have any problem with that. Still, there’s something inherently different and, I think, inferior to the way Ford looks in the new poster. The overall look is so much darker; the detail in his face is all but missing and I find those heavy lines around his figure really distracting, like it’s cut out and pasted from somewhere else.
And I understand how unfair it is to compare these works of art. There’s no obligation to Struzan or the movie marketers to immediately ape the look of previous materials – even though the other movies did, to wildly and massively terrific levels of success – but the part of me that fears for the reasons and the concepts and the execution of this sequel sees this and kind of flinches a little.
I am and will forever remain a champion and defender of all things Indiana Jones. But as a true fan, I also worry about what’s to come and how it will impact in my heart what has come before.
Not only did the director of Crystal Skull find Michael Bay’s movie to be “awesome”, but in Michael Bay’s opinion, Spielberg might even feel that the movie is perhaps Michael Bay’s best. Awesome news for Michael Bay fans of Michael Bay movies! (
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Ray | Dec 10, 2007 | Reply
Great post!
I am immediately struck by the blank, expressionless look on Indy’s face; the others had so much character in them by comparison.
Harrison’s face here seems to say, “Where’s my goddamn paycheck?” Apparently Struzan painted this as Ford was waiting in line at the food tent on set.
john | Dec 10, 2007 | Reply
looks like he was much bigger on those old posters so it’s not really a fair comparison…
i still like it
Burbanked | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
John: But maybe that’s partly my point. He was much bigger on those old posters, much more of the focal point. In this one he looks kind of pasted on there.
I do still like it; I’m swinging back and forth between wild enthusiasm and abject terror that an unscrewable property like Indiana Jones might get screwed up. If I didn’t have such deep affection for the character and the previous movies, I wouldn’t care so much to be concerned about it.
Burbanked | Dec 11, 2007 | Reply
Ray: – You’re right that the expression is kind of…absent or something. The other looks on his face had something going on there; you could project something that Indy might have been thinking, and the expressions work better with the copy on the poster.
Lee | Dec 12, 2007 | Reply
I’m going to say right up front that even on his worst day Struzan is a movie poster god. But I think the problem with this image of Indy is the eyes. Notice the whites of the eyes in the other posters, the light reflection caught in the middle one.
An art mentor once taught me that this is where the portrait gets its life from. I just don’t see it in the new poster (which is a teaser from what I’ve read so I’m hoping an even more awesome piece of art comes out!)
Also he’s kinda just standing there like if he was to pose it might reveal his age a little more.
But as I say even a bad Struzan is good if not excellent and I would be pretty happy to have this on my wall.
Burbanked | Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
That’s a nice point about the eyes, Lee. I’m no artist and I’ve never had an art mentor*, but the whites of Indy’s eyes in the other poster certainly do give his face more depth and emotion.
I’ll hold out hope on these marketing materials and the movie itself. Hope is a good thing.
*Of course, I’m a writer and I’ve never had a writing mentor, either, so maybe I should generally just shut up about things. Bummer.
Megan | Dec 13, 2007 | Reply
I agree – the cut/paste look of it throws me off. No life to this at all. Still hoping, though.
Mike | Jan 11, 2008 | Reply
I commented on Gus’s website as well but here’s my write-up about it. Basically all I’m saying is that this is not really a Drew Struzan poster. They’ve finally photoshopped an authentic Drew poster. If you don’t believe me ask him yourself. Sad day for illustration and film posters.
http://www.pacitto.com/blogs/?p=582
Burbanked | Jan 14, 2008 | Reply
You make some compelling points in your post, Mike, and I’m not artistically experienced enough to compare two JPGs and really be able to tell the difference in terms of pencil strokes and other details. I haven’t read any other expert opinions on this, but I’d be fascinated to do so.
On its simplest terms, this new poster just really looks like a different style than Struzan’s other work. That’s not to say that he shouldn’t be allowed to evolve and experiment; it just strikes me as a bit “off”.