Curio: Alternative Moonrise Kingdom Posters

Alexa here. When JA pointed out how lovely the Moonrise Kingdom poster is it reminded me of all the indie versions materializing everywhere.  This is no surprise, since Wes Anderson films typically draw more fan art than almost every other release combined, but what does surprise is that I still prefer the lush intricacy of the studio one-sheet. Judge for yourself: here are some of the better alternative designs, many of which were solicited by ShortList Magazine.

Symmetry-inspired design by Ben Whitesell.

Sartorial emphasis by Laura Perm-Jardin.

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Curio: Overlook Ephemera

Poster design by Matt HightowerAlexa here. 32 years ago this very week, Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining opened in theaters. Kubrick's masterpiece received mixed reviews and, at least initially, the audience was similarly befuddled.  (My parents love to tell me that when they saw it opening weekend the audience frequently erupted in laughter.)  

It was nominated for two Razzies and zero Oscars.

Despite Stephen King's continued distaste towards it, the film's intrigue continues to grow (for evidence, just watch Room 237). I thought it the perfect time to mention one of my favorite Tumblrs, The Overlook Hotel, a wonderful archive of ephemera, fan art, interviews, and video related to the film.

Like this Scatman Crothers portrait "Shine Baby Shine" 

“Shine Baby Shine” by artist Quyen Dinh.

Click for more Overlook treasures including caricatures and letterhead. 

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Curio: Tim Burton Terrariums

Alexa here.  I, like the rest of the world, saw The Avengers instead of Dark Shadows last weekend. My hopes for Joss Whedon's big budget career weren't dashed, as I presume they would have been if I'd seen Dark Shadows and hoped for any of Tim Burton's glorious whimsy of yore. Speaking of, I recently became enchanted with these terrariums created by Rachel Bishop. Rachel sculpted models out of wax and used moss, roots and other natural materials to create these tiny sustainable ecosystems in tribute to Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas. They make me wonder what other film universes I'd want to see living under glass; perhaps the Wilcox family home from Howard's End? Or the shire from Lord of the Rings? You can see more of Rachel's terrariums here.

Curio: Totes, Totes

Alexa here. Lately I've been stress eating and stocking up on tote bags, which probably means I am turning into Liz Lemon, but really it's just that I am very busy and preparing for outdoor concert season. I can never own enough tote bags any time of year, but during the summer they become indispensable.  Here are some especially great ones I've spotted recently that cleverly celebrate some beloved film icons.

Handmade Bette tote, available here.

A tote for the Truffaut lover, available here.

Psychedelic Mia tote, available here.Click for more, including Woody and E.T....

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Curio: Jacks of All Trades

Alexa here. I couldn't let Jack Nicholson's 75th go by without weighing in. In the past I've spied some curios that feature moments from his long career, like an Academy's Players Directory from 1961 that featured him as a young actor, and some amazing finger puppets inspired by The Shining that are, alas, no longer available. So here are some that feature my favorites of his performances, along with a odd little item from my own collection.  

Chinatown poster by Claudia Varosio, available here.

Czech poster for Prizzi's Honor, designed by Zdeněk Ziegler, available here.

German poster for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, available here.Click for more, including Heartburn matches and an As Good As It Gets hankie...

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