Check out these wonderful minimalistic movie posters designed by Grischa Stanjek (Atomic Popcorn reader) who so graciously shared this personal project with us and now we’re sharing it with all of you! The goal Grischa set for this project was to “reduce each movie to one single object” and I’d say Grischa achieved that goal with flying colors! Thank you Grischa for sharing these with us! Keep up the good work!

If I had to choose a favorite out of this series it might be a Clockwork Orange, captures the movies sense of humor perfectly!

Remember if you’ve got any movie related artwork whether still images or videos send them to us and we’ll share them with the extended Atomic Popcorn family! Go movies!

John Amiel’s Creation is a curious beast indeed; a film about a  great thinker struggling with dilemmas of faith and belief that ultimately strands itself by failing to properly observe its subject.

The life of Charles Darwin definitely has filmmaking potential, and personally I might have preferred to see a picture that followed his travels on the S.S. Beagle and time in the Galapagos.

Instead, Amiel and his screenwriter John Collee adapt a biography by Randall Keynes (Darwin’s great, great grandson) that focuses on his family life, his relationship with his daughter Anne and the circumstances surrounding the eventual publication of Origin of the Species, his seminal work that created a paradigm shift in modern thinking.

Casting Paul Bettany (who already played a variation on this role in the terrific Master and Commander) as Darwin is the film’s masterstroke and it isn’t just that Bettany looks near identical to photos of Darwin during that period of his life. The actor also brings a soulful contemplation to the portrait of a man struggling with the evidence before him and the spiritual idea of a higher being and a grand design. He believes in his theories and the structure that he glimpses in the natural world before him, but his doubts come in the form of worry about what impact his ideas will have not only on society at large, but also on his relationship with wife Emma (Jennifer Connelly), who is a devout believer.

 When Darwin’s young daughter Annie dies prematurely at the age of 10—the results of a fever brought on by exposure to the elements—he finds himself questioning a God he doesn’t completely believe in and considers casting off a lifetime of controversial research. Contrasting and complementing Bettany, Connelly (his real-life wife) delivers a strong supporting performance as a woman who also has her convictions but strives to care first for her family, including her complicated husband.

Creation has a beautiful serenity to its compositions and imagery, and highlighted sequences where Darwin loses himself in stories he tells Annie are engaging and evocative of his scientific studies. A passage involving his visits to see Jenny the orangutan are particularly compelling and hint at a what a film about Darwin the naturalist might have been like.

The all too brief sequences of Charles and his offspring interacting with nature are clearly the most interesting; watching the scientist come out as he tries to breed birds for variation or quizzes his daughter on what kind of starfish it is she is holding are mostly frustrating because they are narrative dead-ends.

Instead, Amiel’s film seeks solely to tell a more intimate and personal story about a family recovering from crisis and struggling when philosophical differences threaten to tear it asunder. This too could have made for a fascinating film, and at some level it does.

As a biopic offering a more introspective look at a significant historical figure, Creation works just fine and as a dramatic endeavor one could do much worse. It’s mostly pleasant to behold and even-handed; there’s nothing here edgy, controversial or even very deep. Much of that is due to the script; not the dialogue or events, but how they are pieced together.

For some reason the filmmakers have decided to tell the central story out of sequence and taking a page from the A Beautiful Mind (the last time Connelly and Bettany were onscreen together) they imagine Annie as a spectral visitation that vocalizes the doubts and fears that plague the ailing Darwin.

The problem is that the film never signals when it is jumping through time and we can never be sure when we are seeing a reminiscence of the real daughter or the apparition who serves as her father’s inquisitor. Trying to pay attention as if this were The Sixth Sense and looking for telling clues gets in the way of what we should be focusing on, the slow internal evolution of Charles Darwin.

In the end,  Creation doesn’t trust the truth it is basing itself on. A proper picture about Darwin that draws out both the intricacy of the work he was doing and the tension between his theories and the long-held beliefs of the time would be a worthwhile and complex film. Alas, what we get here is an entirely competent and by-the-numbers version of Charles Darwin in Love.

Rating: ★★½☆☆ 

This list is near and dear to my heart, as I am a true fantasy genre freak. From my childhood till now, there are a very large number of fantasy films in my top 25, even my top 10 films of all time. With that being said, below is my list of the top 10 fantasy films ever!

10 – Willow – I know I’m going to get picked on about this one, but it is what it is. Willow is still one of my favorite films. Something about Willow is charming, fun, adventurous and simple; I love it!  Maybe it’s because Ron Howard was involved, or maybe it’s just because it’s a great, yet cute story. Who knows, but this movie has a special place on my DVD shelf that will remain as a constant in my fantasy collection.

9 – The Princess Bride – The Princess Bride, what can be said about this awesomely funny fantasy movie? Anyone who knows movies can quote way too many lines from this movie. From Andre the Giant to the ever beautiful Robin Write Penn, this movie stands tall amongst the best of the genre. This movie puts together all the ridiculous clichés of the fantasy genre all the while giving you a cast containing a mixed bag of fantastic actors. Classic and timeless – can you blame me for this pick?

8 – E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial – Spielberg. I could stop there but I am not that big of a Spielberg fanboy! This simple story of the bond between an average kid and a very lost (and ugly) alien wowed us all.  The storytelling is both personal and heartbreaking, to this day it can make me cry at the end. Spielberg takes a simple storyline, one created in his mind after his parents broke up, into one of the best movies of all time. Period.

7 – The Wizard of Oz – It’s the original. A wizard, a couple of witches, lots of freaky flying monkeys, what more do you want in a movie? A classic story and a classic film, this movie is beyond classic, it’s part of us all. Growing up close to where Frank Oz grew up, I have been on the actual yellow brick road! This is a must for all collections not matter what format!

6 – Pan’s Labyrinth – This film was such a surprise for me. The idea that this was more along the lines of an adult fantasy world really peaked my interest. The extreme violence I must say I was not expecting from the movie; it may of swayed people in the opposite direction but I truly enjoy this movie, rewatch after rewatch.

5 – The Labyrinth – This great film from the 80′s has a strong cult following, and I am glad to say I am part of that following. David Bowie as the villain, strange puppets, a gorgeous world, an interesting plot, and a very young Jennifer Connelly. Do you ask for more? I also will drop the ever awesome name of Jim Henson, what a master in all he did.

4 – Legend – Ridley Scott, yes that Ridley Scott, created such an enormous universe for this film that it surprises me how long ago it was made. He was able to bring to the screen something huge.  This is a film that many people have forgotten but if it’s on TV or if I am in the mood – I watch it. Such a great tale of deception, love and much more.  It’s an adventure/fantasy that will linger with you long after the film has ended. Enjoy it!

3 – The Dark Crystal – A lot of people know that I love this movie, and I am sad that there is an even larger number of people who have never heard of this film. This film stars lots and lots of Muppets and is actually a really incredible fantasy story that will draw you in as you watch it. If you liked Labyrinth but missed this one, then you need to watch it right away! It’s the classic hero trying to save a nearly doomed world, and you’ll be surprised by how good it is. The Muppets, the man behind them, Jim Henson, and the team bring such a gorgeous story to life in a world that is all too familiar. GRAB this one now!

2 – The LOTR trilogy – You could argue how I could put three movies into one spot on the top ten list, I honestly don’t care. These movies are separate for one reason: the length, and that only. These movies are one very large story and an amazing one at that. Sit down and watch these amazing stories unfold before your eyes and allow yourself to be drawn into the world that has been built before you.  These movies are gorgeous interpretations drawn from the pages of books that are world renown, and bring you into the world of Middle Earth. The acting, the story, the effects all bring so much to the screen, it is hard to doubt anything about these movies. They are second for a reason. Below is that reason!

1 – The Neverending Story – This is one of my top 5 films of all time. A true classic in the realm of fantasy. The story of a boy locked in a room in his school reading a book that he shouldn’t be reading. So simple, yet an awesome starting point for something that is amazing. He controls the fate of a far away world all along finding himself. I remember as a kid (and an adult) watching this over and over again, following Atreyu, along with Falkor, one of my favorite creatures ever, through their journeys. I never get sick of this movie, and it’s one of those rare gems that is worth watching again and again.

That is my list – hope you enjoyed it. Please leave some comments on movies I may of left out or any issues or questions you may have. I do own all of these in one format or another, as should you!

Creation, the Charles Darwin biopic starring A Beautiful Mind stars Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly, has been in release limbo for a while due to the fact that no distributor — for whatever reason — wanted to touch it. Directed by The Core helmer Jon Amiel, Creation stars Bettany and Connelly as Darwin and wife Emma in a movie that met bland to negative reactions from the Toronto International Film Festival.

Now, according to Variety, Newmarket Films, the distributor of Passion of the Christ, has picked up the film and slotted it for a December release. Thus, sooner rather than later we’ll be able to see if the film, scripted by John Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) is any good.

Little known fact: Connelly and Bettany are real life husband and wife. That, and between Creation, Legion and Priest, every film Bettany is involved with at the time being — with the exception of Iron Man 2 — has religious connotations.

How does one begin to approach a film they wanted to like?

Before viewing 9, the film had a lot of things in its favor, the first being absolutely stunning visuals. That looked to be aided by a strong, possibly original premise about a stitchpunk (my gamer side tells me to stick to “Sackboy”) being the key to humanity’s salvation. Factor in that Tim Burton’s producing, as well as Timur Bekmambetov who dazzled screens with Wanted, and you have what should be a pretty decent animated film.

9 makes sure you know it’s not going to be decent midway through. The plot borrows from every story ever written or filmed about the unlikely hero who is the savior of the universe. Understandably, the trailers did hint that this would be the central driving force but they also pretended that 9 was going to do something interesting with it. It doesn’t, and borrows very, very heavily from The Lord of the Rings and Burton’s own Edward Scissorhands. The filmmakers even go so far as to rip off the ending to the Mortal Kombat film (for the record, if you have to borrow from Paul W.S. Anderson of all people, you need your filmmaking privileges revoked.) Bottom line, Pamela Pettler and Ben Gluck’s screenplay plays it too safe and is definitely relying more on the looks of the characters to make audiences forget they didn’t bring it with a story. The pacing is also off for a film that runs under an hour and a half. Quite honestly, it feels longer than some other three hour films I’ve seen this year that moved along briskly.

Too bad 9 isn’t a very likable being. He’s described as “always willing to risk his life for others” and without giving too much away, the opposite is always happening to him and the others(there’s even a scene that explicitly shows this.) In fact I can’t recall a scene where the title character ever risks his life to save another, as everyone is always bailing him out when he’s not putting their lives at stake. Even if he’s voiced by Elijah Wood, it’s still tough to find things to like about him. Nine times out of ten he’s getting bailed out by 7, voiced by Jennifer Connelly. Who is she? The movie doesn’t explain, but she sure can take down metallic beasts stylistically. Connelly doesn’t know with the role, and comes off unnatural.

Only two of the sackpersons…I mean stitchpunks have any sort of backbone to them; Crispin Glover’s not-so-subtle Holocaust victim 6 and an ‘evil’ dictator 1 portrayed by Christopher Plummer. First Glover, who is the most likable of the bunch. He might be crazy, sure, but Glover handles the part exceptionally and who better than George McFly to play the part. Plummer’s a different matter as he’s sort of accustomed to playing the villain in animation films this year. While Charles Muntz had considerably more development, Plummer does his best to make 1 three-dimensional and succeeds with grace.

9 isn’t a complete bust though, as Acker does succeed at creating absolutely gorgeous visuals. Often times one will get so lost in the visuals and assume they’re looking at an actual landscape instead of computer generated images. Even the cartoonish designs of the humans look like physically deformed individuals. Every little stitch is detailed on the characters, as is every spec of dirt and rust on the items left behind comes in crystal clear. Praise should also be given to the designs of the the machines that inhabit this world. The Burton influence is definitely felt, but these machines are particularly terrifying in the way they look and operate. The Seamstress sticks out the most, as she toys with her prey before snatching them up. From the doll head to her snake like movements, she’ll likely crawl into children’s minds and scare them.

Of course that’s assuming children want to see the film. Where Burton’s other animated ventures has a certain charm to them, 9 alienates itself by being overly dark. Again, that’s also fine provided you have a solid story and relatable characters (see: Coraline.) While the visuals are certainly pristine in 9, it severely lacks everything required to make a solid film. The story is bland, an unlikable lead, pretty visuals and meh characters do not a good film make. Yet, this movie’s biggest problem is who will it be marketed for? It can’t marketed for kids as it’s too dark with no charm, and adults will likely lose interest quick due to the awkward pacing. Maybe that’s a blessing in  disguise, as this film doesn’t really deserve Up numbers.

Do make sure you check out our 9 giveaway while you are here!

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ 

Still being active with boosting up Shane Acker’s 9, an upcoming film from Focus Features starring the voice talents of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Chrisopher Plummer among many others, here is another contest for you to go after!

A few weeks back, the Scientist was forcibly removed from his laboratory and interrogated. Upon returning to his lab, the Scientist realized that the Chancellor’s men had seized a collection of designs vital to his research. One of these designs holds the key to his next phase of development.

The designs have been shredded… torn into 9 pieces, scattered in 9 secret locations. We must find all 9 pieces and put them back together to reveal a secret alchemical code. Only the typewriter on www.9experiment.com can help decode the hidden message from the designs. Those who find all 9 hidden pieces and use the typewriter to decipher the code will be treated to another fantastic piece of 9” movie art, and can enter for a chance to win a pair of the Limited Edition 9” Shoes from Pony, as well as other great 9” movie prizes. If you need any additional help, look at the webpage from Facebook that will help give you clues on the search for all the pieces.

Well, what are you waiting for? Get to work on it before I do and take the prizes (ha-ha!).

While we wait for the release of Shane Acker’s post-apocalyptic animated tale of sentient rag dolls in 9, we could do any number of activities. We could try and cut our grocery bill. We could wash the car and cash in the sticky loose change or we could just ogle the new one-sheet poster.

Even though to some people this might not be a suitable Under the Radar, there are still a fair amount of people (even among my peers) who have no idea what it is when someone mentions Shane Acker’s 9. Being pumped up by Focus Features, 9 is a cgi animated movie that seems, to this reporter, to hold a mix of Coraline and a sprinkle of Tim Burton within the layers of this post apocalyptic feature. Originally coming from the short animated film of the same titling that was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005, the creation coming from up and comer director and writer Shane Acker will be storming into theaters.

9 takes place in a world parallel to our own, in which the very legacy of humanity is threatened. A group of sapient rag dolls, living a post-apocalyptic existence find one of their own, 9 (Elijah Wood), who displays leadership qualities that may help them to survive. The conflicted but resilient group includes 1 (Christopher Plummer), a domineering war veteran; 2 (Martin Landau), an aged inventor; 5 (John C. Reilly), a stalwart mechanic; 6 (Crispin Glover), a visionary and artist; and 7 (Jennifer Connelly), a brave warrior.

9 will be released in theaters everywhere on September 9th, so show your love for Under the Radar and see it when it comes out.