poster convergence: ‘Inception’ and ‘The Scorcerer’s Apprentice’ vs. ‘The Matrix’

Everybody wants to be like Neo:


That Inception poster is reminding me of another film: it’s on the tip of my mind, but I can’t quite grasp it. And at least that Matrix poster that it’s aping isn’t one of the really iconic ones. Disney seems to really, really hope you’ll think of Neo’s quest when you think about Nicolas Cage as a sorcerer…

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Drave
Drave
Wed, Jun 16, 2010 4:15pm

I’ve got that Inception poster as my work desktop. The great thing about that image is that it works equally well in portrait or landscape orientation.

Lisa
Lisa
Wed, Jun 16, 2010 4:30pm

It remins me of the end of Labyrinth which is probably based on a poster or painting.

JosephFM
JosephFM
Wed, Jun 16, 2010 4:31pm

I think it’s just trying to evoke M.C. Escher’s famous staircases. At least in Inception’s case that makes sense.

JosephFM
JosephFM
Wed, Jun 16, 2010 4:33pm

For comparison:
http://hightouchconcept.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/mc_escher_relativity_623x600.jpg

Though I’m sure you’ve all seen prints/posters of it before.

Michael
Michael
Wed, Jun 16, 2010 5:28pm

I’m not sure it’s legit to claim that a poster is aping the Matrix because it’s got a main character on it with the movie’s title and release date. Isn’t that somewhat akin to saying one movie apes another because it begins with opening credits and music? :)

By the way, MAJ, where’d your bias meter explanation link go?

Tonio Kruger
Wed, Jun 16, 2010 8:43pm

Actually the trailer for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice–as I noted before–reminded me of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden books–only with all the wit and imagination removed.

You really need to go to the library, MaryAnn, and check out one of those books. They’re good reads and I suspect they’ll be way more interesting than the Nicholas Cage movie. Perhaps you can go to the branch where Bluejay’s wife works. ;-)

MaryAnn
MaryAnn
Wed, Jun 16, 2010 10:26pm

I think it’s just trying to evoke M.C. Escher’s famous staircases. At least in Inception’s case that makes sense.

Yes, perhaps that’s it (and not a movie poster after all), which is explictly referenced in the classic Doctor Who episode “Castrovalva,” which I just blogged about. So perhaps that’s why it’s on my mind.

I’m not sure it’s legit to claim that a poster is aping the Matrix because it’s got a main character on it with the movie’s title and release date.

Are you kidding? I can’t tell.

By the way, MAJ, where’d your bias meter explanation link go?

I don’t think it’s really needed. Did you need it?

reminded me of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden books

More than the Harry Dresden TV show from a few years back?

MaryAnn
MaryAnn
Thu, Jun 17, 2010 9:58am

Okay, you’re not kidding.

And you don’t see *any* other similarities between the *Matrix* and *Sorcerer’s Apprentice* posters? Tone, mood, attitude, pose? You think they’re all pretty much like the posters you linked to?

Daniel
Daniel
Thu, Jun 17, 2010 11:14am

And you don’t see *any* other similarities between the *Matrix* and *Sorcerer’s Apprentice* posters? Tone, mood, attitude, pose? You think they’re all pretty much like the posters you linked to?

On the other hand, I would say that the Inception poster shares tone, mood, and attitude with the Matrix films in general, but when it comes to the particular poster you referenced, the two images don’t look very much alike. The composition and the style of photography are totally different.

So I think Michael made the right point but about the wrong poster.