The Auteurs' Fake Criterion Covers
I just found the film to be far too cruel without having much to say to redeem its violence. I can see how someone could get something out of this film but it really just didn’t say anything to me which made the violence seem unnecessary to me. Plus I was along with this film until about the third act (I don’t want to ruin anything in case someone wants to see it) in which I think it went off the rails(which can be a good thing, just not in this case). I actually enjoyed about 2/3 of it but I felt the last section really destroyed what it had built up previously.
You’re not alone. I’ve read many, many comments to that effect. I had the opposite response—that the film actually DID have something to say, which was so out of character for films in that genre, unlike Hostel, et. al. Martyrs had a purpose beyond the gross-out. It nailed me and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Irreversible did the same thing for me, though I’m still not sure I like that film.
Updated Batman cover without the Burton credit.
Yeah, I think that’s more effective. Awesome job!
Savvy
Josh, I think you are mistaken in thinking that Hostel didn’t have anything to say. I think it’s a brilliant commentary on modern America’s obsession with and desensitization from non-stop violence. The brilliance of it is that Roth makes the audience complicit in the violence by the end because he has made them comfortable with the gore. Hostel II on the other hand is pure garbage.
I think what you’ve extrapolated from the flick is totally valid, but I’m still hesitant to say that there really is any kind of thoughtful subtext in Eli Roth’s movies. I like Hostel and Cabin Fever, but to put them in the same class as Martyrs, Inside, or even Hard Candy would be a mistake to me.
But Nathan, Haneke already made a brilliant horror film with the exact same subtext twelve years ago. And with Funny Games, I don’t have to suffer through depictions of “bros” and their life-long quest to conquer the world of “hoes”.
In response to Brandon Bedaw’s “Moby Dick” cover… You are using artwork that I created and is © Tom Neely. You didn’t ask permission. You did not give me credit. That is not cool. To all of you who are grabbing artwork off the internet, give credit where credit is due. www.iwilldestroyyou.com
Please remove my artwork from this site. Thank you.
Cool, Tom, and thanks for joining our community for this one issue. Hopefully you’ll stick around.
I had gotten that picture from a blog ephemerist.wordpress.com which made no mention of it’s origin, nor is any such thing presented on the picture itself, making it impossible for me to credit you for your work. If I could have at the time, I would have, and I do very much apologize.
I can’t go back and edit the original post, so consider this the official notification that Tom Neely created the incredibly beautiful original drawing used in that cover design. If you click here you can see the full picture, which is much more beautiful (I only used the upper third of the image, so you can imagine how great the rest looks).
How can I get one of those prints Tom? It’s awesome. I took a class on Hawthorne & Melville in college and actually got to read, finish and discuss MOBY DICK (lol). Are they for sale?
The moral is that if an image is not a still from the movie or artwork created for its publicity campaign, using it is stealing someone’s intellectual property at the very least. Use of stills or original posters probably falls under fair use …
>Cool, Tom, and thanks for joining our community for this one issue. Hopefully you’ll stick around.
Brandon – The guy feels ripped off, and you’re answering him with snark. That seems wrong.
hope you’ll see
(one of) my beloved Muratova’s masterpiece
Hey Brandon, Thanks. A friend sent me the link when he saw your post. Thanks for explaining where you got the image. And thanks for giving me credit. That’s fine. No Problem. When I first looked at the post, I wasn’t sure what this site was. I thought Brandon was trying to pass off my artwork as his own. Now I realize you’re just making fake dvd covers and there’s no harm done.
Jaspar- Yes I do have giclee prints available for purchase in the “store” section of my website: www.iwilldestroyyou.com
Hey Brandon, Thanks. A friend sent me the link when he saw your post. Thanks for explaining where you got the image. And thanks for giving me credit. That’s fine. No Problem. When I first looked at the post, I wasn’t sure what this site was. I thought Brandon was trying to pass off my artwork as his own. Now I realize you’re just making fake dvd covers and there’s no harm done.
Jaspar- Yes I do have giclee prints available for purchase in the “store” section of my website: www.iwilldestroyyou.com
Hey Brandon, Thanks. A friend sent me the link when he saw your post. Thanks for explaining where you got the image. And thanks for giving me credit. That’s fine. No Problem. When I first looked at the post, I wasn’t sure what this site was. I thought Brandon was trying to pass off my artwork as his own. Now I realize you’re just making fake dvd covers and there’s no harm done.
Jaspar- Yes I do have giclee prints available for purchase in the “store” section of my website: www.iwilldestroyyou.com
as a side-note, it would be really awesome if Criterion released Huston’s Moby Dick with my artwork on the cover.
Witaky, that wasn’t so much snark, but rather a genuine attempt to be civil, welcoming, and apologetic.
Plus, after that opening paragraph, I went on to praise and apologize further. No snark intended, be it the imaginary animal or the more recent definition of the word.
How about some Czech New Wave?
I’m not sure why, but Tom Neely’s side note made me laugh pretty hard.
That’s probably the best ‘Space Odyssey’ yet!
Beautiful, Alex K.
Thanks Owen and Josh! Like the Glengarry Glenross.
A really great film that I’ve been after Criterion to release. Anyone who’s seen it will understand the image:
http://s665.photobucket.com/albums/vv20/Chrisa1122/
Alex K, 2001 is one of the best
Brandon, The Friends of Eddie Coyle should be in the top 5, amazing cover/colors
Zachary Phillip Brailsford
Hmmm…MIke, I don’t think you should put A film By Tim Burton on there, or, at least, not right in the center of the bat. It looks a little tacky, like it takes away from the emp[hatic power of the Bat symbol. I think most people know it’s by Burton anyway. I do like the concept, though.
Savvy