Martin Ansin's "Dracula" Movie Posters

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Martin Ansin is, hands down, my favorite artist. His aesthetic choices are usually perfectly in line with my tastes and he always manages to make bridging the gap between the fantastical and the photorealistic look easy. Much to my (and probably your) relief, Ansin's previous entry in Mondo's Universal Horror series, the jaw-dropping Mummy posters, were not to be his last, as Justin revealed Martin's beautiful Dracula prints earlier today.

Dracula Movie Poster (Regular)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
$45 - Limited to 350

Dracula Movie Poster (Metallic Variant)
Martin Ansin
24" x 36" - Numbered
$85 - Limited to 100

Martin Ansin is stupefyingly great at taking a character's countenance and creating intricate, organic, complicated roadmaps. Take, for example, the mysterious visage of Bela Lugosi's Dracula. Look at the way Martin creates depth and texture with thick, wavy strokes, and carefully injects shadow to flesh out the Count's stronger facial features. I'm reminded of how Tyler Stout is able to place blocks within shaded blocks and create amazingly realistic figures, but with Ansin's art, the subjects appear even more lifelike, almost to the point where motion is discernable. I guess what I'm trying to say, albeit not very eloquently, is that on top of his already gorgeous designs, there's something lively (and clearly somewhat undefinable) about the work of Martin Ansin. With that said, you'll probably be shocked to hear that this isn't my favorite Ansin piece - that honor belongs to his Mummy posters. Still, this is another knockout print, that's both a wonderful tribute to and reflection on (insert vampire pun) a Hollywood classic. And holy crap, how about that wood coffin variant? Perfection.

Dracula Movie Poster (Wood Coffin Variant)
Martin Ansin
21" x 36" - Numbered
$135 - Limited to 75

Martin Ansin's Dracula movie posters will be available on Friday (12/30) through Mondo at a random time. Both posters measure 24" x 36" and are hand numbered. The regular red version of the print will cost $45 and is limited to 350, while the metallic ink variant is limited to 100 and will cost $85. The uber limited wood coffin variant measures 21" x 36", costs $135 and is limited to an edition of 75. To get the exact drop time be sure to follow @MondoNews on Twitter. To learn more about the talented Mr. Ansin be sure to visit his website at martinansin.com and follow him @martinansin. Good luck everyone!

Joe Wilson's "True Grit" Art Print

Joe Wilson, an artist I've recently come to adore, just released two new posters (four if you count the two Blade Runner variants), but his True Grit print may well be my favorite.

True Grit Art Print
Joe Wilson
600 mm x 410 mm (23.622" x 16.142") - Signed
£60 - Open Edition

Rightly or wrongly, I was fairly vocal about my dislike of Horkey's True Grit artwork, not because I thought Horkey did a bad job, he didn't, but because I wanted to see more of the film's characters (characters that I felt made the movie so memorable) included in the design. Well, I'm happy to report that this is the poster I'd been waiting for. Joe's finely detailed style, similar in many ways to Horkey's, lends the artwork a rugged wood-hewn look that would be perfectly at home in the story's untamed universe. Unlike his more minimal (just to be clear - I don't mean minimalist) Blade Runner print, Joe's True Grit poster has so many different things going on that it can be hard deciding where to actually focus your attention. Whether it's Rooster Cogburn pointing his Single Action Army revolver, or my personal favorite, the Bear Man and his stoic gaze, this print is able to pack pretty much every important character into its 24" x 16" confines. And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

Joe Wilson's True Grit art print is currently available through Joe Wilson's storefront for £60 (around $94). The giclée measures 600 mm x 410 mm (AKA 23.622" x 16.142") and is an open edition, meaning there's no limit to this run, or more accurately, you can order as many of these as you want until the artist decides to remove it from his website. For more Joe Wilson goodness, be sure to check out his website at joe-wilson.com, his store, and follow him on Twitter @joe_wilson. Here's hoping we see more from Joe in the near future!

Rhys Cooper's "The Scorpion and the Frogs" Art Print

I couldn't in good conscience go to bed without publishing something about this awesome Drive inspired poster. Rhys Cooper's "The Scorpion and the Frogs" art print is currently available for pre-order and will only be available for purchase till the end of Monday (12/19). The amount he sells will be used to determine the edition size.

"The Scorpion and the Frogs"
Rhys Cooper
12" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Edition Size TBD
Inspired By: Drive

It was devastating to learn that we were deprived a Drive print due to creative differences between the production company and Mondo, but thankfully several artists heard the techno-tinged synth call and unveiled their interpretations of the film to us, the hungry public. My favorites were from artists Luis Fernando Cruz, Jeff Boyes, and James White, but I think Cooper's print may be the best yet. Rhys' gonzo touches perfectly capture the intense flashes of violence that make Drive so memorable, and not since Oldboy has a hammer been this iconic. As far as I know this is the first film inspired print that Rhys has done completely on his own (i.e., not commissioned), meaning I'm both incredibly impressed and really hoping to see more projects like this come out of Studio Seppuku.

Cooper's "The Scorpion and the Frogs" art print is currently available for pre-order through Studio Seppuku for $40. On Tuesday (12/20) the print will no longer be available for purchase, so if you're planning on picking one of these up - act now. The poster measures 12" x 36" and will be signed and numbered. To learn more about Rhys Cooper be sure to visit his storefront and Facebook page.

Olly Moss' "My Neighbor Totoro" Movie Posters

UPDATE (12/16): Go figure, Olly Moss' My Neighbor Totoro prints sold out in about a minute. For the majority of people who weren't able to grab one, Olly has stated that he'll have some signed APs available through his website in 2012.

I'm exhausted and ready for bed, but I'd despise (that's right, despise!) myself if I didn't mention Olly Moss' newest creation (i.e. the biggest thing on the Internet come Friday). I'm almost positive I could hear the Internet's collective wheeze of excitement when this poster was first announced, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't one of the geeky masses praising Allah / Studio Ghibli / Olly Moss / Mondo / whatever you want to call the higher power that made this possible.

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
$50 - Limited to 420

If you have any interest in the work of Hayao Miyazaki, and let's be honest, who doesn't, then this is going to be a must buy for you. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure every Miyazaki fan in the world (with an Internet connection) also knows about it. Looking at these prints, I'm hard pressed to think of a better Moss design from 2011 that even approaches how amazing his Totoro print appears to be. First and foremost, I want to mention how fun and beautiful these posters are. I love Olly Moss, as does pretty much every art fan on planet Earth, but I feel that his prints can sometimes be a bit too clever. Don't get me wrong, it almost always works either way, but My Neighbor Totoro is a property that doesn't need clever as much as it needs optimism and innocence, and I think Moss absolutely nails it here. Secondly, how amazing is that variant? I know I say this all the time, but wow, you've really got to appreciate a variant that offers more than just a smaller edition size and a different colorway. Great stuff all around. I'll definitely be trying my hand tomorrow with the rest of you. Good luck!

My Neighbor Totoro Movie Poster (Japanese Variant)
Olly Moss
20" x 36" - Numbered
$90 - Limited to 170

Olly Moss' My Neighbor Totoro posters will be available on Friday (12/16) through Mondo at a random time. Both versions of the print measure 20" x 36" and are hand numbered. The regular version will cost $50 and is limited to an edition of 420, while the variant will cost $90 and is limited to 170. To find out the exact drop time be sure to follow @MondoNews on Twitter. And to learn more about artist Olly Moss, you can follow him @ollymoss and visit his website at ollymoss.com.

Dale Peart's Turner Classic Movie Prints

If you've been collecting movie art prints for any length of time, you've probably noticed the recent trend (and by "recent" I really mean the last two years) of artists favoring minimalist film posters. It makes sense, doesn't it? Minimalist designs don't theoretically take all that long to complete or require many resources to create (again, theoretically), and can often be a great platform to exhibit one's intellectual prowess. That's not a condemnation or promotion of minimalism, that's just my way of saying it's popular - really popular. And since I've seen so many great minimalist designs already, a poster really needs to be better than great for me to take notice. In my opinion, Dale Peart's three Turner Classic Movie ("TCM") prints rise above the crowd, because not only do they beautifully celebrate some fantastic films, they also share a thoughtful design philosophy that's both clever and comments on the movies they seek to commemorate.

If you've looked at all three posters, I'm sure you immediately noticed that there were some similar visual elements repeated in each design. Here's what Dale had to say about his overarching approach to the TCM prints (every quote in this post was merrily lifted from his blog):

"I decided that each of my films must link visually, each must link with their idea, but they also must sum up the main message of the film, or what the film is about. Without these, the posters wouldn't succeed as a representation of the film or as a set.

I spent some time deliberating how to link all these posters together. I did so not only with the idea, but also visually. After analysing all three films, noting down important and iconic moments within each and what was the underlying message behind them all. It became apparent the main theme / subject of each, was about something or someone hiding, or chasing."

Color me impressed. I really like that interpretation and can honestly say I've never thought to group Alien, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, and No Country for Old Men together before.

Alien Movie Poster
Dale Peart
16.5" x 23.4" - Signed and Numbered
£16 - Limited to 15 (First Edition)

I'll start with my favorite of the set, Alien. I remember seeing this image on Tumblr a while back and really digging it, but I wasn't aware this could actually be purchased, figuring it was just concept art or something TCM had featured on their website. The following is how Mr. Peart described his inspiration:

"Ripley sets a self destruct sequence blowing up the Nostromo and seemingly wiping out the Alien in a visually spectacular explosion. Not all is as it seems though and the Alien is perfectly hidden amongst the architecture of Ripley's escape pod. Giger's design works at its finest during this scene to create one of the ultimate shock scenes in film history. I abstracted what the architecture of the pipes looked like and visually represented it using this single line, which the alien can hide within."

I remember that scene well and the idea of a predatory Alien (not the Predator) hiding in a worn, dirt-caked spaceship is wonderfully recreated here. And fear not Giger enthusiasts, even this stripped down version of the Xenomorph has retained its iconic phallic shape. Dale's Alien poster measures 16.5" x 23.4" and costs £16 (approximately $25). To purchase a print you'll need to email dale.peart@hotmail.co.uk.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Movie Poster
Dale Peart
16.5" x 23.4" - Signed and Numbered
£16 - Limited to 15 (First Edition)

I remember watching this film in theaters and being blown away by the creativity on screen, cementing in me a lifelong admiration for Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman. Dale Peart's Eternal Sunshine poster elegantly visualizes Joel's (played by Jim Carey) struggle to retain his memory and ensure he never forgets his lively Clementine (played by Kate Winslet). Dale's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind poster measures 16.5" x 23.4" and costs £16. To purchase a print you'll need to email dale.peart@hotmail.co.uk.

No Country for Old Men Movie Poster
Dale Peart
16.5" x 23.4" - Signed and Numbered
£16 - Limited to 15 (First Edition)

Finally, we arrive at No Country for Old Men. This modern-day classic brought to life one of the most frightening characters to ever grace the silver screen, Anton Chigurh. Peart's print admirably immortalizes Chigurh's ingenious and terrifyingly mundane tool of death, the cattle gun. But beyond shaping Anton's weapon of choice, the vertical lines also call to mind the suburban picket fence slats in the film's final scene and setting. Then again, I might be reaching on that one. Dale's No Country for Old Men poster measures 16.5" x 23.4" and costs £16. To purchase a print you'll need to email dale.peart@hotmail.co.uk.

To learn more about Dale Peart, be sure to visit his website at dalepeart.co.uk. And there's a very real chance that I might have some Peart prints to give away in the near future. So that's cool!

Iron Jaiden's "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" Movie Poster

This one is going to be a bit short, because I'm sure it'll sell out quickly, but I thought it was so sharp that I had to share it with as many folks as possible.

The Spook Who Sat by the Door Movie Poster
Iron Jaiden (AKA Jay Shaw)
13" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$25 - Limited to 73

Any fans of Blaxploitation cinema are going to want to grab this.  The Spook Who Sat by the Door is a film (and a book) that I'm not personally familiar with, but I've heard and read about. And with what little I know about the film, I feel confident in saying this is a superb poster. I could include the plot in text form, but I think the trailer does a much better job of conveying the plot and tone of the film. Check it out below:

There are symbols aplenty in this poster, but let's start with most visible. The sheep, which represents how people view our hero Dan Freeman, the titular "Spook" (with "spook" being a word with multiple meanings in this case), is an animal that's both harmless and a follower. With that said, the trailer clearly makes the case that this couldn't be further from the truth, as we see the (literally) explosive black panther shadow (another symbol!) that the powerless farm animal casts. Add to that the brilliant retro design, along with the inclusion of the credits from the original one sheet (or at least a spot-on facsimile), and you've got yourself an awesome little print.

Iron Jaiden's The Spook Who Sat by the Door movie poster is currently available through Cinema Overdrive's online store. The print measures 13" x 24", is limited to an edition of 73 (the film was released in 1973) and costs $25. To learn more about Cinema Overdrive, check out cinemaoverdrive.net. And if you're interested in seeing more of Iron Jaiden's artwork, be sure visit kingdomofnonsense.com and follow him on Twitter @tweetofnonsense. Have a great night everyone.

Matt Verges' "Jaws" Movie Posters

Duuun dun duuun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun BOM BOM dun dun dun dun dun dun doo dedoo doo dedoo dede doo dede doo dededoo. For those unsure of what just happened, that was the text version of the Jaws theme song. And if you're still confused, I'll go ahead and direct you toward the two images below. And if you're STILL not grasping what I'm writing, you're gonna need a bigger boat. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Jaws Movie Poster
Matt Verges
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
$24 - Limited to 150

Jaws Movie Poster (Variant)
Matt Verges
24" x 36" - Signed and Numbered
Sold Out - Limited to 50

I wasn't all that familiar with Matt Verges' portfolio, but I'm really impressed with these prints. One of the first things I noticed, besides the massively terrifying shark and voluptuous skinny dipper-cum-shark chum, which are pretty hard to miss, was how perfectly the inconspicuous background scenes complement and flesh out Matt's shark-infested composition. In many ways the design reminds me of Tim Doyle's artwork with its thicker lines and comic book-like sensibility. I'd even go so far as to say that these posters would make for some utterly kickass Jaws comic covers, or a jaw-dropping (wordplay!) first page as there already appear to be several comic-friendly panels present, the majority of which are cleverly divided by the shark's body. And while I still would have appreciated this artwork if the background images were darker and more easily visible, the fact that the Verges wisely chose to not bring the smaller illustrations to the forefront shows he understands exactly why people wanted to see Jaws in the first place - a grotesquely large shark and the ominous threat of attack lurking beneath the water's placid surface.

Unfortunately, I got to this one a little late, meaning the red variant was already sold out (sorry), but the insanely affordable regular version in aqua blue is still available through the Three Barrels Store at threebarrels.bigcartel.com. The regular version measures 24" x 36", is limited to a version of 150 and only costs $24. Yes, you heard right, only $24 for a 24" x 36" screen print! It gets better! A portion of the money made from these posters goes to the Shark Trust, a group based out of the UK dedicated to shark conservation around the globe. It's a win-win folks! For more info on The Three Barrels, head over to thethreebarrels.com and follow them on Twitter @TheThreeBarrels. And to learn more about artist Matt Verges, you can visit matt-verges.com, check out his blog, and buy stuff from his store. Sweet!

Adam Fantome's Film Inspired Art Prints

I don't know too much about Adam Fantome, but I know what I like, and I really dig this guy's work. Adam manages to masterfully blend iconic bits and pieces from the films we know (and love) with his obvious passion for art and creativity itself. In the end, we're left with something that would be as comfortable in a fancy gallery, as it would be in a crowded dingy theater full of bespectacled cinephiles. And by that, I mean it's cool. Really cool. I've included my favorite pieces from Mr. Fantome's website in tonight's post for your enjoyment, but this is only a fraction of what he has in stock. As of this writing, all of these are still available for purchase.

"Max Gold Edition" Art Print
Adam Fantome
59.4 cm x 42 cm - Signed and Numbered
£75 - Limited to 25
Inspired By: Mad Max

Prior to Mel Gibson losing his marbles, the guy was in some pretty fantastic films, one of them being the incredible Ozploitation franchise-starter Mad Max. Adam's "Max Gold Edition" print uses the classic Mad Max one sheet as a jumping off point and transforms Mad Max Rockatansky from a sawed-off shotgun-toting MFP (Main Force Patrol) officer to an equally badass, but much more creative, leather-clad artiste by removing his firearm and equipping him with paint and brush. There are times when you want to see tons of color, this is not one of those times. The stark, but intricate, design of Mad Max and his golden gonzo style splatter hit all the right notes. Unfortunately this print is a bit out of my current budget, but I encourage anyone who can drop £75 (roughly $117) to pick one up, as this poster is sure to look great on any wall. The print is currently available through adamfantome.com, measures 59.4 cm x 42 cm and is limited to an edition of 25.

"Apeworld" Art Print
Adam Fantome
69 cm x 50 cm - Signed and Numbered
£50 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: Planet of the Apes and Westworld

When I first looked at this poster, I picture someone yelling, "You got your Westworld in my Planet of the Apes!" And the other person angrily responding, "You got your Planet of the Apes in my Westworld!" I never really thought of these two films as compatible, but I now see the error of my ways. The dated palette, the retro typography, the ridiculous tagline - it's all here and it's perfect! I especially love all of the pistons and cogs that you can clearly see through the ape's torn robotic skin. "Apeworld" is bit more affordable than the Mad Max inspired print at £50 (approximately $78) and is currently available through Fantome's store. The print measures 69 cm x 50 cm and is limited to an edition of 50. Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius!

"Fury" Art Print (Red & Gold) Adam Fantome 59.4 cm x 42 cm - Signed and Numbered £75 - Limited to 25 Inspired By: The Warriors

"Fury" Art Print (Blue & Silver) Adam Fantome 59.4 cm x 42 cm - Signed and Numbered £75 - Limited to 25 Inspired By: The Warriors

"Warriors, come out to play-i-ay." How can you not love this movie? And perhaps more importantly, how can you not love this print? Similar to "Max Gold Edition," Fantome's "Fury" uses another iconic 1979 film, but this time transforms a menacing member of the Baseball Furies gang (alright, maybe "menacing" isn't the most appropriate word) into a somewhat comical looking painter. All of these prints are a ton of fun and speak to both the film and art lover in me. Both editions of the "Fury" print can be purchased through Adam Fantome's store for £75 (about $117), are each limited to an edition of 25 and measure 59.4 cm x 42 cm.

If any of the above piqued your interest, be sure to visit Adam's new website at adamfantome.com, follow him on Twitter @AdamFantome and join his mailing list. And if anyone is wondering what to get me this holiday season, I wouldn't mind that "Max Gold Edition" print. Just sayin'. Have a great night!

Florian Bertmer's "Cowboys & Aliens" Movie Poster

When I wrote about the previous batch of Cowboys & Aliens Mondo posters I acknowledged that, while I had heard some not-so-great things about the film, I was hoping for the best and still fairly optimistic about Favreau's latest. Well, it's four months later and I still haven't seen the film, but I think that might be a positive at this point, because I won't be influenced by my thoughts on the film, disappointed or delighted, and can appreciate Florian Bertmer's beautiful artwork for what it is. Beautiful artwork.

Cowboys & Aliens Movie Poster
Florian Bertmer
24" x 36" - Numbered
$45 - Limited to 170

Where to start? How about the seriously incredible framing of Daniel Craig's cowboy, Jake Lonergan, and the hulking mass of an alien he's facing? It's amazing how seamlessly Florian is able to to use the space creature's massive body to pierce the part bullet, part circuit board border, and I haven't even mentioned how intricate the design is yet. One thing that always blows me away when I look at a Bertmer print is how absolutely PACKED his posters are with detail. I have the distinct feeling that if Florian ever created a piece of art that was solely made up of a single black circle on a white background, that circle would be the most detail-crammed orb you'd ever seen (and he'd probably turn it into a pentagram if you let him). Bertmer's artwork is always a joy to view and while I haven't seen the film, the brilliant artwork alone justifies a purchase in my opinion.

Florian Bertmer's Cowboys & Aliens movie poster will be available tomorrow (12/6) at a random time through Mondo. The print measures 24" x 36", is limited to an edition of 170 and will cost $45. To get the exact drop time be sure to follow Mondo on Twitter @MondoNews. And if you'd like to learn more about the very talented Florian Bertmer, head over to his website at florianbertmer.blogspot.com and the Moon Editions shop.

Kevin Ang's "Seven Samurai" Movie Poster

If you've ever taken a college course on film history, or even a cursory glance at a book on the subject, there's a good chance you'll have heard of what is widely considered one of the greatest Japanese films ever made. Hell, one of the finest movies ever shot. Period. And if you read the post's title or looked at the image below, you could easily ascertain what film I'm talking about, but I like to think that even if you only had this paragraph to go by, Akira Kurosawa's wizened face would still briefly flash through your head. Yes, I'm of course talking about the exceptional samurai epic Seven Samurai.

Seven Samurai Movie Poster
Kevin Ang
12" x 18" - Numbered
$10 - Limited to 77

Just take it in for a second. Let its beauty wash over you. Kevin Ang, who had previously stunned us with his amazing Twelve Angry Men poster and Attack the Block print, has done it again. Now that I'm somewhat familiar with Kevin's work, I think I can safely assume two things: he's a hugely talented artist, and he has incredible taste in movies. For the record, I've seen several Seven Samurai concepts online, and have found them to be, more often than not, minimalist to the point of almost being nonexistant. And while I appreciate the intention behind the proliferation of cleverly sparse designs, I don't think I've ever seen one of Kurosawa's masterworks celebrated in such an obviously skillful manner. You can look at each of the seven men above and easily tell who's who, which is all the more impressive when you realize that every character also sports a somewhat indefinable quality as their outlines appear to fade in and out of the white or black background. The alternating lines of light and dark used to separate the titular feudal warriors are also inspired, as they look like they could be strokes from an antiquated calligraphy brush circa 1587 (just ballparking it). When it comes down to it, this poster is pretty much perfect in my opinion and I would gladly live in a world where Mr. Ang's artwork graced the cover of Criterion's lauded release of the film - and that's just about the highest praise I can give any work of art.

Kevin Ang's brilliant Seven Samurai print will be available later today through the Kingdom of Nonsense store for $10. Yes, you heard right. $10! The print measures 12" x 18" and is limited to an edition of 77 (I see what you did there). The poster will be available at 12 PM MST (11 AM on the West Coast and 2 PM on the East). For more information on artist Kevin Ang, be sure to checkout his website, deviantART page, or his Tumblr blog. Good luck everyone!

Alex Pearson's "A Ride Through Town" Art Print

If you're a fan of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, or even Peter Sellers' Chief Inspector Clouseau, then you'll probably enjoy the subtle slapstick of Tati's Monsieur Hulot. And whether you recognized all the names in the previous sentence or not, I'm still going to go ahead and recommend you watch the brilliant Mon Oncle.

"A Ride Through Town" Close-up

"A Ride Through Town" Close-up

"A Ride Through Town" Close-up

"A Ride Through Town" Art Print
Alex Pearson
$25 - 18" x 24"
Inspired By: Mon Oncle

I like to include close-ups of prints whenever they're available, because not only do I feel they provide the consumer with a better idea of what the poster will look like in-person, but it also allows you / me / whoever to absorb the image in much smaller fragments and thereby (hopefully) increase your / my / their appreciation for the art and artist. I'll follow up that point by directing you to the three close-ups I've included above. Any of these images could be beautiful art prints all by their lonesome, don't you think? My utterly engrossing philosophy on poster close-ups aside, this really is a spectacular print and a wonderful tribute to a timeless film by Jacques Tati. To provide a little background on the poster, Alex Pearson's "A Ride Through Town" was part of the Silver Screen Society's recent Mon Oncle exhibition. For those unfamiliar with the Silver Screen Society and the amazing concept posters they create, I recommend remedying that by visiting their blog immediately. In Mon Oncle, Tati whimsically compares old-fashioned individuality and technological "progress" as a personal status symbol and uses Monsieur Hulot as a child-like wrecking ball whenever he interacts with the cosmopolitan world. The film is filled with beautiful images and quietly (and sometimes not so quiet) funny moments. Among those beautiful moments we have the uncle (Tati as Hulot) and nephew tooling around on a bicycle, Hulot's antiquated residence, and, oh yeah, I almost forgot, there are adorable dogs aplenty. The artist has combined all these colorful and, at times, outré moments together and created something fantastic and worth owning for any self-respecting Tati fan. And yes, I had to look up the word "outré" to see if I was using it correctly. It just seemed appropriate given the film's Frenchness.

Alex Pearson's "A Ride Through Town" is currently available through the Familytree webstore at familytreedesign.net. The three-color screen print measures 18" x 24" and costs $25. I believe this is a sale price, so it might be back up to $35 by the time you read this. No word if it's signed and / or numbered. To learn more about the artist be sure to visit his website and follow him on Twitter @alexfamilytree.

Giveaway - "Possibly With Dynamite" Art Print by Fernando Fro Reza

UPDATE (12/17): Random.org has picked a winner and it's Gonzalo Carbajosa! Congrats Gonzalo! He'll be receiving the "Possibly With Dynamite" art print later this week. Thanks for entering everyone! I've got a lot more posters to hand out, so be on the lookout for another giveaway next week. Most importantly, thanks for reading!

It's time for another giveaway! I'm a huge fan of Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and I'm a huge fan of artist Fernando Fro Reza, so this seemed like a no brainer. If you're interested in Zissou-related free stuff look no further, as this month's giveaway is Fro Design Co's amazing "Possibly With Dynamite" art print.

"Possibly with Dynamite" Art Print
Fernando Fro Reza
11" x 17" - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 20

(1) "Possibly with Dynamite" art print by Fernando Fro Reza

Unfortunately, since I'm the one paying for shipping this contest is only open to readers in the US (sorry everyone else, international shipping can be expensive and complicated). The rules are pretty simple: the only thing you have to do to win is leave a comment on this post with your email address and name and on December 17th I will randomly pick and email the winner to get his or her shipping address. Entries are limited to one person per household. Good luck!

Fantastic Fest 2011: Day Four

It has become somewhat comical that I insist on continuing to review these films (the festival ended in September), but still I carry on. In case it's not obvious, I'll be using these posts to wax cinematic about the movies I saw at this year's Fantastic Fest and provide a brief description of each film to give my reviews some context. I plan to write-up the films in the order I watched them and in full disclosure I stole all of the synopses from a number of websites that are not Posterocalypse. By the year 2012 I just might have made it through all eight days. Day four. Go!

SNOWMAN'S LAND (2010)

SYNOPSIS: Walter is a professional killer and has messed up a job. He has to leave the city and takes an offer to protect crime boss Berger's house in a remote region of the Carpathian Mountains. At his side: Walter's old friend Mickey. What seemed to be a nice holiday trip with little work for Walter and Mickey soon becomes a fight for survival for all parties involved.

REVIEW: I almost missed this screening because I woke up late, but I'm SO glad I didn't. The reason I'm so happy about this? Well, Snowman's Land turned out to be one of my favorite films of the festival. The comedy in this thing is at times so subtle and stone-faced that you'll later be thinking to yourself: wait, was that meant to be funny? And if you're a fan of the Coen brothers' existential farces, then Snowman's Land is going to be right up your avenue. Finally, before I finish this mini review I've got to mention one more thing: the music. Holy shit, the music! There's been a lot of great soundtracks this year, but the best in my opinion, has to be Snowman's Land. If you can find the soundtrack or can point me toward the movie's songs, please send me a message or leave a comment. And if you ever get the chance to see this film, do it!

STATUS: Unfortunately, this German masterpiece doesn't look like it'll be coming stateside any time soon. I've even tried less than legal methods and have had no luck in acquiring this movie for future viewing pleasure. I might have to eventually just go the import route and buy myself a region free Blu-ray player. Fingers crossed some American company finds this diamond in the rough and brings it across the pond.

RATING: 5 out of 5

THE SKIN I LIVE IN (2011)

SYNOPSIS: A brilliant plastic surgeon, haunted by past tragedies, creates a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession.

REVIEW: This was by far the better of the two secret screenings. I don't want to ruin anything for those who haven't seen the film yet, so I'll keep my review fairly vague, but I would definitely recommend checking this film out. I chose not to see The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) during the first night, because it looked and sounded awful. By "awful" I don't mean "woah, that's some really gross stuff brah," my use of the word "awful" is more inline with descriptors like "hackneyed" and "shitty." The reason I bring up The Human Centipede is because, even without having seen it, I can unequivocally tell you that The Skin I Live In is by far the more disturbing and enjoyable film. It's also a return to form for Pedro Almodóvar, who has imbued Skin with both a classically beautiful composition (the film looks stunning), as well as batshit insane characters and a leaves-you-reeling storyline. It's a win-win in my book. Watch this movie ASAP!

STATUS: The Skin I Live In was purchased by Sony Picture Classics and is currently in theaters. DVDs and Blu-rays will be coming out at some point in 2012.

RATING: 5 out of 5

CARRÉ BLANC (2011)

SYNOPSIS: In the future, society's weak are killed and used for meat. Carré Blanc focuses on a couple's struggle to survive amidst an emotionally barren landscape.

REVIEW: This was an absolutely beautiful film. Imagine a world where the national pastime is croquet and a vast faceless totalitarian regime has so brainwashed its citizens that dying during a job interview is expected and seen as completely acceptable. Jean-Baptiste Léonetti's bleak film presents a man and wife attempting to break free of their oppressive surroundings and find the humanity that was beat out of them when they were kids. Mix one part A Clockwork Orange, one part 1984, and one part Brazil, then blend into a fine Orwellian purée and drink. Goes down smooth, doesn't it? Carré Blanc is a wonderful movie, that's gorgeously shot and carries with it some big ideas about love and independence, though at times can test your patience.

STATUS: Carré Blanc has been playing at film festivals around the world. As far as I know, this film has yet to receive distribution in the US.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

PENUMBRA (2011)

SYNOPSIS: A woman hesitantly rents an apartment to an eerie man who she soon realizes has a part in the solar eclipse that is taking place.

REVIEW: I enjoyed Penumbra, but it's also a film that I feel had a lot of weaknesses. I appreciate what the Bogliano brothers attempted to do, and to a large degree it worked, but ultimately the movie fell flat for much of its second half. They successfully created an uber tense film where every stare and pregnant pause took on multiple meanings and implied grave threats, but when it came down to it, I just didn't care what was going to happen to our protagonist, who, by the way, will forever in my mind be the Argentinian Sarah Michelle Gellar. The film also features a really interesting bit of supernatural backstory that's teased throughout Penumbra's run time, but in my opinion, the story would have been much more interesting if they would have dug deeper into the mythology the film sets up. While I wouldn't recommend rushing to see this film if and when it comes to theaters, I would recommend a rental, because despite the problems I had with Penumbra, it's still very impressive given what had to be a fairly small budget.

STATUS: IFC Midnight has grabbed the rights to Penumbra for US distribution. I don't believe any release details have been officially announced yet.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

PICK(S) OF THE DAY: Snowman's Land, The Skin I Live In

Mike Mitchell's "Adventure Time" Posters

I've been a huge fan of Adventure Time since day one. Now, I'm not saying that to brag, rather, I'm hoping you'll use my admission as a catalyst to watch as much of the series as you possibly can. It's really amazing. And it seems I'm not the only one who thinks so, as Mondo will be releasing a stunning set of Adventure Time prints by artist Mike Mitchell later today (11/25).

Adventure Time Poster (Regular)
Mike Mitchell
18" x 36" - Numbered
$40 - Limited to 220

Mike Mitchell absolutely nailed the look and feel of the series. His posters present Jake the dog and Finn the human in exactly the way you would have imagined. He's even seen fit to add some of the show's hilarious side characters, like Lumpy Space Princess, the staring horse (which is actually a costume housing the Ice King), and Beemo! By the way, if that previous sentence made zero sense, I, again, highly recommend checking out the series. I'm not really sure what else to say. I love this print, it's pretty much perfect, and I can't imagine any fans of the show being disappointed by it. I think I prefer the variant, if only because it's a bit more colorful, and Adventure Time is such a colorful show, but the regular version is still fairly algebraic in every conceivable way. Bottom line: if you love the series, you'll need to be putting that F5 button to work come sale time.

Adventure Time Poster (Variant)
Mike Mitchell
18" x 36" - Numbered
$65 - Limited to 90

Mike Mitchell's Adventure Time prints will be available later today (11/25) through the Mondo website. Both versions of the poster measures 18" x 36" and are hand numbered. The regular edition will cost $40 and is limited to 220, while the variant is limited to a much smaller edition of 90 and will cost $65. As is usually the case when it comes to Mondo prints, you'll need to follow @MondoNews for the exact drop details. To learn more about Mike Mitchell you've got a few options, including: his website at sirmikeofmitchell.com, his store, his Tumblr blog, and following him on Twitter @sirmitchell.

Kevin Ang's & Alex Pardee's "Attack the Block" Prints

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my US readers, and a happy Thursday night to everyone else! I've haven't been able to write nearly as much as I wanted to this past week, but I'm hoping tonight I can right that wrong. You may not be aware of this, but I really, really enjoy movies. I like funny movies, sad movies, fantastical movies, action packed movies, adorable movies, and I really appreciate any movie that can effortlessly combine all of those elements in a single package. Which is why, for my money, Attack the Block was one of the few films this year that pretty much worked on every level, and it's for this reason that I'm really pleased to talk about both Kevin Ang's amazing Attack the Block movie poster and Alex Pardee's beautiful Attack art print.

Attack the Block Movie Poster (Glow-in-the-dark Ink)
Kevin Ang
18" x 24" - Numbered
$30 - Limited to 60

If your ears perked up when you heard the name Kevin Ang, you might be remembering his amazing 12 Angry Men print (somehow still available for purchase) from the Kingdom of Nonsense curated "The Machines Are Winning" show. Well, Kevin has done it again, although this time with a slightly more contemporary and out-of-this-world movie. I was really excited when I found out about this print because even though I feel like the entirety of the Internet got behind Attack the Block, there were very few artists who actually attempted to create something inspired by the film. Kevin's poster features the majority of the cast, as well as the amazing and downright ferocious alien creatures complete with glow-in-the-dark fangs printed with glow-in-the-dark ink. What I love most about this print is Mr. Ang's depiction of the alien infested building and, more specifically, his inclusion of the black-as-midnight monstrosities scaling the Block. I'm also a huge fan of his lettering. I'll admit, it took me a while to get behind the cartoonish looking font he chose to go with, but now that I think of it, Kevin's comic book-esque style really captures the intense and unbelievable situation these kids find themselves in. I imagine this poster would be the cover for an Attack the Block graphic novel. The only complaint I have, and it's by no means a deal breaker, is that Nick Frost's character portrait (above the title between Jodie Whittaker and Hi-Hatz) is just a little too feminine for my taste - it took me a second to figure out who it was supposed to be. That minor criticism aside, I'm a huge fan of this print and will definitely try to grab one of these poster tomorrow (11/25). Kevin Ang's Attack the Block poster will go on sale through the Kingdom of Nonsense storefront on Friday (11/25) at 10 PM MST (that's 9 PM PST for us West Coasters and midnight for the East Coast). The poster will cost $30, measures 18" x 24" and is limited to an edition of 60. I couldn't find any sort of Twitter or blog affiliated with Kevin, so I'll instead direct you to follow @tweetofnonsense for future releases and to visit the Kingdom of Nonsense website and storefront for more info. Believe, bruv.

"Attack the Block" Art Print
Alex Pardee
17" x 22" - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 100
Inspired By: Attack the Block

I remember when Alex Pardee saw Attack the Block in theaters and was so blown away*, that he not only designed a "My Favorite Monsters" print depicting the movie's relentless alien attackers, he also created the above image in tribute to what remains one of my favorite films of 2011. With that said, I had no idea that his Attack the Block art print was actually something I could own until this morning, and I couldn't be more pleased. Pardee's print really highlights how perfectly the creature design in the film is executed and how dark Attack the Block was, both in set design and lighting. As a fan of Pardee's work, I know this print will be absolutely mind blowing up close and the detail is sure to delight. I'm also really digging this print because it highlights one of the coolest movie characters seen this year, and by that I mean, John Boyega's sword-toting hoodlum Moses. It's a beautiful print and I'm through the roof excited now that I can purchase one of these for myself and as a gift for the alien-obsessed loved ones in my life. Alex Pardee's Attack the Block art print is currently available for purchase through Pardee's Zerofriends store. The print measures 17" x 22", costs $50 and is limited to an edition of 100. For more info about the artist and his future releases be sure to follow @alexpardee on Twitter and visit his website at eyesuckink.com.

* Note: I wasn't stalking Mr. Pardee or anything (I've stopped doing that), I just follow him on the Twitter...is what I'll tell the jury.

Ghoulish Gary Pullin and Phantom City Creative's "Fright Nights" Gig Posters

It's become quite clear that those of us who don't live in or around Toronto are missing out on some pretty cool going-ons. Take, for example, "Fright Nights," an event co-sponsored by Rue Morgue and TIFF, but most importantly, headlined by Guillermo del Toro. Just imagine, five nights and five screenings of some of Guillermo's favorite horror films along with an introduction by the man himself. Sounds like a pretty great idea, right? It gets better. There's not one, but two different gig posters for the event, and they're available to everyone (for a price, of course)!

"Fright Nights" Gig Poster (Regular) Ghoulish Gary Pullin Phantom City Creative 12" x 36" - Signed and Numbered $40 - Limited to 100

"Fright Nights" Gig Poster (Variant) Ghoulish Gary Pullin Phantom City Creative 12" x 36" - Signed and Numbered $65 - Limited to 30

If you're a fan of del Toro, then this is simply a must own. The artists have not only managed to lovingly craft a wonderful portrait of one of the film world's most creative minds, but were also able to pay tribute to the five movies that played during the "Fright Nights" program. And for those wondering, the five films in question are: L'arcano incantatore, Black Sabbath, The Innocents, Cronos, and The Devil's Backbone. There are many, many things to like about these prints, but I think my favorite two elements are the cathedral setting and the incredibly detailed Cronos device. First, the setting. I love how these posters were designed as if the image was going to be immortalized in stained glass. The backdrop takes the idea of Guillermo del Toro as the patron saint of fantastical horror and movie loving, and really runs with it. Finally, we come to the incredibly detailed Cronos device, which in all honesty, is so beautiful, it could've had its own poster. Seriously, look at it!

The "Fright Nights" gig posters are currently available from Phantom City Creative AND Ghoulish Gary Pullin, through their respective storefronts. Both posters measure 12" x 36" and are signed and numbered. The regular edition costs $40 and is limited to 100, while the variant is limited to an edition of 30 and costs $65. To learn more about Phantom City Creative, be sure to checkout their website at phantomcitycreative.com, their previously mentioned store, and follow them @PhantomCityCrtv. And for those wanting to find out more about the incredibly talented Ghoulish Gary Pullin, head over to ghoulishgary.com, visit his storefront, his Tumblr blog, and follow him on Twitter @ghoulishgary.

Art Appreciation - November Edition

If you've been coming to Posterocalypse for any length of time, you've probably noticed that I review posters, sometimes at great length, in addition to providing their corresponding pricing, availability and edition info; this is both good and bad. On the one hand, this gives me time to wax philosophic about my love of poster design and steadily increase my dependence on sites like thesaurus.com and IMDb. On the other hand, I spend so much time writing my posts (keep in mind I have a full-time job outside of Posterocalypse) that I often don't have time to promote other prints or posters that I feel deserve the same level of love and affection - and that's exactly what I plan on remedying with my "Art Appreciation" column.

"The Many Faces of Patrick Stewart" Away Mission: Orlando Gig Poster
Tom Whalen - 18" x 24" - Limited to 125
$50 - Signed (by Tom Whalen) and Numbered
$195 - Signed (by Tom Whalen & Patrick Stewart) and Numbered

This awesome Tom Whalen created poster featuring "The Many Faces of Patrick Stewart" is currently available through the Vulcan Events storefront and comes in a non-Patrick Stewart signed version for $50 and, that's right, a Patrick Stewart signed edition for $195. If, like me, you're a fan of Patrick Stewart / Captain Picard / Captain Ahab / Professor Xavier / any of the other characters he's played, then this is a no-brainer. To see more of Whalen's work, visit strongstuff.net and follow him @strongstufftom. Make it so, Number One.

"The Moment Before" Art Print
Anthony Cozzi
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 30

Anthony Cozzi's beautiful "The Moment Before" screen print makes me think of the movie Bambi, or more specifically, Bambi's mother, and that makes me a bit sad. Nostalgic anguish aside, Cozzi's print is gorgeous in an eerie nature documentary-meets-art house cinema kind of way, and I'm positive it'll look incredible in person. The extremely limited emerald colored 18" x 24" print is currently available through the Street Anatomy storefront for $40. To learn more about Anthony Cozzi be sure to visit snowblinded.com and follow him on Twitter @Snowblinded303.

"Ringu v Poltergeist" Design Mark Mitchell T-Shirt - £18 (around $28) Limited to 30 Inspired By: Ringu and Poltergeist

"Ringu v Poltergeist" T-Shirt Mark Mitchell £18 (around $28) Limited to 30 Inspired By: Ringu and Poltergeist

"Shogun Assassin" Design Mark Mitchell £18 (around $28) Limited to 30 Inspired By: Shogun Assassin

"Shogun Assassin" T-Shirt Mark Mitchell £18 (around $28) Limited to 30 Inspired By: Shogun Assassin

"The Beyond" Design Mark Mitchell £18 (around $28) Limited to 30 Inspired By: The Beyond

"The Beyond" T-Shirt Mark Mitchell £18 (around $28) Limited to 30 Inspired By: The Beyond

I learned about Cigarette Burns Cinema from a reader not too long and was really impressed with what I found. Not only do they screen obscure cult classics in London, they've also got a really great shop that features some fantastic film-inspired limited edition shirts. All of the shirts were designed by artist Mark Mitchell and are limited to runs of 30 (i.e., tiny runs). Check out the shop, buy a shirt, visit the blog, and follow them on Twitter!

"Dead Beatles" Art Print
Brent Cheshire
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 100

"Reservoir Dogs / Star Trek Mash Up" Art Print
Brent Cheshire
18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered
$30 - Limited to 100
Inspired By: Reservoir Dogs and Star Trek

These prints probably shouldn't entertain me as much as they do, but I just can't resist the inherent ridiculousness they both exude so proudly. Out of the two posters above, I probably prefer the crass "Dead Beatles" over the mash-up, though they're both great. Quick tangent - is it just me or does George Harrison kind of look like Tarman from The Return of the Living Dead? Both of these prints are currently available through Brent Cheshire's Etsy storefront for some pretty affordable prices. The "Dead Beatles" print costs $40 and the Reservoir Dogs / Star Trek print costs $30.

"Fear & Loathing" Art Print
Disturbia Clothing
16" x 23" - Open Edition
£15 (approximately $24)
Inspired By: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

"Fallout" Art Print
Drew Millward
18" x 23" - Numbered
£15 (approximately $24)

I'm fairly certain these two prints are by different artists (I couldn't find any information about who did the first one), but since they were both commissioned by and designed for Disturbia Clothing I decided to group them together. I tend to lean toward the film / book inspired artworks, hence the inclusion of the Fear and Loathing inspired poster, but I'm head over heels for Millward's insane "Fallout" screen print. Both of these prints are currently available through the Disturbia Clothing store. To learn more Drew Millward you can visit his website, his store and / or follow him on Twitter @DrewMillward. You can also follow Disturbia Clothing @disturbiatees and check out their website at disturbia.co.uk.

Aliens Movie Poster
Samuel Ho (AKA No Small Victories)
Multiple sizes - Open Edition
Priced depending on size

It's impossible not to absolutely love this print. I'm sorry, but it's true. Samuel Ho's amazing Aliens poster was originally part of the "Sci Fi Lullabies" art show, which I couldn't find a lick of information on. That's rather beside the point though, because this print is currently available through Samuel's Society6 store! To learn more about the Samuel Ho, visit his website at nosmallvictories.com and follow him on Twitter @samuelho.

They Live Movie Poster
Matt Needle
420mm x 297mm (around 16.54" x 11.69") - Open Edition
£25 (approximately $40)

I really dig Matt Needle's They Live print. I love the grinning skull (though I guess all skulls are technically grinning) and I think his use of red really makes of image jump off the page. I'm probably alone in thinking this, but doesn't this design look like it would make for a killer Captain America: The First Avenger poster? Needle's They Live movie poster is currently available through the Needle Design storefront for £25 (around $40). For more of Matt Needle artwork, head over to mattneedle.co.uk and follow Matt @needledesign.

"Anatomy of a Zombie" Art Print Doe-Eyed 18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered $20 - Limited to 60

"Choose Wisely" Art Print Jason Liwag 18" x 24" - Signed and Numbered $30 - Limited to 10

Both of these prints were released during the recent Zombie Art Show co-curated by Phone Booth Gallery and Jason Liwag of e•phem•er•al. The above prints are my favorite of the bunch, but there's a lot of great stuff that still happens to be available through the Zombie Art Show storefront. I believe this is going to be an annual thing, but I'm not 100% sure. For more info on design studio Doe-Eyed, head over to doe-eyed.com, and to learn more about Jason Liwag, visit jasonliwag.com.

"Brandt, The Big Lebowski & Bunny" Art Print
Joshua Budich
18" x 24" - Numbered
$35 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: The Big Lebowski

Joshua Budich has already released some amazing Big Lebowski themed triptychs, and with "Brandt, The Big Lebowski & Bunny" I think he's officially depicted all of the main players. If you already own Joshua's "Dude, Donny & Maude" and "The Stranger, The Jesus & Walter" posters, then I'm almost certain you have to buy this incredible print by law. "Brandt, The Big Lebowski & Bunny" is currently available through Budich's storefront through joshuabudich.com. There's only a few of these left, so I'd recommend buying now. In addition to visiting his website, you can follow Mr. Budich on Twitter @jbudich.

"Lotus War Pyramid" Art Print
James Jean
26" x 30" - Signed and Numbered
$40 - Limited to 555

A lot of James Jean's artwork is what I imagine the world would look like if I had just taken a copious amount of hallucinogens, read a little bit of Hunter S. Thompson, and then turned on the Discovery Channel - and that's why I love his stuff. James recently released another example of his otherworldly artwork in the form of the "Lotus War Pyramid" print. James' print is currently available through jamesjean.com and costs $40, which isn't bad for a 26" x 30" print.

Night of the Treeple Movie Poster Alex Pardee 17" x 22" - Signed and Numbered $50 - Limited to 100

"Business Time" Art Print Alex Pardee 17" x 22" - Signed and Numbered $50 - Limited to 100

"Stop Lion" Art Print
Alex Pardee
17" x 22" - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 100

What can I say? Alex Pardee's Treeple prints are just bizarre and fantastic. He's created this crazy world that's at once horrifying, beautiful and kind of hilarious. These are all available right now through Pardee's ZeroFriends storefront. All of the prints cost $50 and measure 17" x 22". To learn more about Alex Pardee, head over to eyesuckink.com and follow him @alexpardee. Do it!

And that completes November's "Art Appreciation." Did I miss anything?