
Tag: totally completely real
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Movie Pass Adventures: Secret Mall Apartment and A Minecraft Movie.
Secret Mall Apartment


Secret Mall Apartment starts out looking like it’s documenting an art prank, but it builds into discussions of gentrification, creativity, relationships, and why people make art. They definitely gloss over some rough patches; all the participants are still alive and get interviewed, but they never get any of them in the same space at the same time (or even on the phone), which makes it feel like there was some tension that split them apart. No surprise there- Some of them have the big energy you’d expect from a group of artistic folks, and big energies cause disruptions of relationships.
I tried a few different ideas for fake posters, but finally gave in to the inevitable Blartiness.

A Minecraft Movie


This was a “I don’t really care about this but my students want me to see it” movie. How bored was I? Well, I went in the late morning after a full night’s sleep, and still ended up dozing for a bit in the middle. I didn’t feel like I missed anything, even though they were talking about a character dying during my nap. I just thought “That guy’s not really dead; he’ll pop up at a crucial moment and save someone.” Maybe I would have been more amused if I played the game, but a movie that only works if you know the references is a movie that doesn’t work. My favorite scenes:Jennifer Coolidge’s romance b-plot.
This poster is really just me slapping images on top of the original, but it works for me!

I should have given them feet. Oh, well. -
Retro Movie Adventures: Dick Tracy (1990)


I saw two reviews for Dick Tracy in one day. One loved it, and one said “this movie and Batman & Robin should have to fight, and the loser disappears forever.”
So I watched it.
Visually, it’s a masterpiece. The rest of it is kind of a mess, but it looks like everyone’s having fun. And who would have thought that the weakest part of a Madonna performance would be her singing?
Today’s parody poster is brought to you by K-Billy’s Super Sounds of the 70s.

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Movie (no) Pass Adventures: Freaky Tales


This movie made me wish I’d grown up in Oakland.
I actually happened to see it in Oakland at the Grand Lake Theatre, which was funny because I didn’t know the first scene actually takes place at that very theater.
It’s a little rough around the edges, but in a good, semi-magic, sort-of Pulp Fiction way. This pictures I chose make it look like it’s mainly about Pedro Pascal’s character and Sleepy Floyd, but there are four interconnected stories, and most of them aren’t represented here.
This isn’t a terrible idea for a poster, and it would work better with a little more focus, but I flew home two hours ago and I’m too tired to give it a proper polish.

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Half-Retro Streaming Movie Adventures: The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
These were both spur-of-the moment choices. One choice was better than the other.
The Kentucky Fried Movie


I was looking through free stuff and this popped up. I thought “Hey, I remember that being funny- I’ll watch it!” It does not hold up. Most of the jokes are only funny if you don’t already know them, and there was so much cheeseball nudity that I kept hiding my screen in case my spouse woke up and thought I was watching seventies porn.
It’s also very much made for people who watched movies and TV in the seventies. I’m guessing most people under thirty would have no idea that a huge chunk of the movie is a direct parody of Enter the Dragon.
This is not a great parody poster, but it’s a better parody poster than this movie deserves.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse


My students finished testing early, so we had an hour and a half to fill. I pulled up the first age-appropriate movie I thought might interest them that I could find.
This movie is so damn good. I hope the final part eventually gets made, but it doesn’t feel very promising. It’s currently scheduled to come out on my birthday… two years from now.
This parody poster isn’t terrible, but this movie deserves a better one.

But that costume sure looks cool in shades of blue! -
Retro Movie Adventures: Chan is Missing (1982)


Sometimes when I’m watching ultra-low budget movies like this it’s hard to see past the amateur acting and appreciate what the filmmakers managed to capture with pretty much nothing. The acting in this can be pretty rough, but it really captures the feel of San Francisco’s Chinatown.
It took a while to come p with something for this parody poster. I ended up going with a lost and found link.

…and yes, Wayne Wang really did direct Maid in Manhattan. -
Not-Quite-Retro Streaming Movie Adventures: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)


Two not-creepy, uplifting movies in a row? It’s a movie miracle! Now I need to find a bar that only serves beer in glass boots.
I had a good idea for the parody poster, but I didn’t give myself enough time to get the lettering right. This might be the first poster to get a remastered edition.

I can do Saul Bass Lettering if I take my time, honest. Look: Proof!



