Oversimplified, Too Pretty

Usually, Mondo movie posters work because they boil graphics down to a fundamental level, then boost the contrast, saturate the colors, and hopefully (if it's possible) throw in visuals that represent thematic material from the plot. What we end up with is a dramatic, sharply cut poster that sells the movie well.

Mondo's designers did the same with the poster for 'Godzilla' but the result just doesn't work. Why is hard to say but, clearly, Zilla does not take well to being reduced to graphic elements.

It is pretty, though, to be sure, however 'pretty' doesn't fit with this monster. He's craggy, a tad ugly, and not that symmetrical. This is too balanced, too centered. I especially find the teeth and mouth to be too simplified. And, the total lack of an arm and hand with talons denies the lizard of threatening vibe -- a criminal thing. This guy reaches out and grabs things and this poster skips that aspect of his identity.

The base of flame doesn't click somehow. It's floral in a way, feminine too. It's like a painting by Georgia O'Keeffe. Like this flower. (I looked on two art websites but neither included the name of this painting so I gave up).

Here's the poster we got a few days back. It has much more sense of being there, a grittiness. I like the lack of symmetry, the messiness of it. There's also a feeling of movement, of catching Zilla mid-stride and the HALO jumpers in action. This is scarier, more dynamic and, yes, more conventional than Mondo's execution.