'Skyfall' teaser poster unveiled

Poster's fine by me ... was actually pleasantly surprised to come on here and see that it hasn't been greeted with a tidal wave of vitriol.

Makeshift Python wrote:

I swear this must be the only place where fans complain about his Craig's fitting suit.

Fact

Stamper wrote:

What I love is what it implies. It's a more smart poster than at first sight.

I agree that there seems to be more to the poster than one would expect at first glance. I think it's making a statement, but I'm not sure wha that statement is (and don't anyone say it's making a statement that Bond is back ).

There is a defined path that leads through the gun barrel. Is that path specific to SKYFALL or just the 50th anniversay of Bond? Does the fact that Bond is coming out of the light, through the gun barrel, and into the darkness represent anything? Where is that place behind Bond that he's come from?

As teaser posters go I think this one is one of the better ones of recent memory. I think it's actually challenging the viewer to think about it. It's not just a silhouette of a woman with flames, or a smoking gun on a block of ice...it might actually have a literal and an allegorical meaning.

Jack Wade wrote:

Cool to see the gunbarrel. What's with the black space at the bottom?

I think it's supposed to have an effect of Bond stepping out of a tunnel (possibly a subway tunnel).

Napoleon Solo wrote:

Jack Wade wrote:

Cool to see the gunbarrel. What's with the black space at the bottom?

I think it's supposed to have an effect of Bond stepping out of a tunnel (possibly a subway tunnel).

No, I disagree. I think he's stepping INTO A TUNNEL. That could be a reference, somehow, to the action sequence/explosion in the Tube. It could reference the underground offices of MI6. Or it could simply be allegorical: the deeper Bond gets into his mission the darker it gets, the less illuminated his path, the murkier the loyalties get, etc...

No metaphor in a Bond movie poster, please. Just give me something cool to catch my attention.

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

Stamper wrote:

What I love is what it implies. It's a more smart poster than at first sight.

I agree that there seems to be more to the poster than one would expect at first glance. I think it's making a statement, but I'm not sure what that statement is (and don't anyone say it's making a statement that Bond is back ).

There is a defined path that leads through the gun barrel. Is that path specific to SKYFALL or just the 50th anniversary of Bond? Does the fact that Bond is coming out of the light, through the gun barrel, and into the darkness represent anything? Where is that place behind Bond that he's come from?

As teaser posters go I think this one is one of the better ones of recent memory. I think it's actually challenging the viewer to think about it. It's not just a silhouette of a woman with flames, or a smoking gun on a block of ice...it might actually have a literal and an allegorical meaning.

You're onto something here. There's two things that point me in the direction of the meaning behind it. The first is the what likes look a gravel path superimposed onto the barrel, and the other's the stone texture effect on the title itself. The gravel path of the Skyfall Estate? Bond is coming home? Facing up to the past? I think that combined with the tube tunnel (Bond/St. George going into the dragon's den to meet his nemesis - Silva) allegory disguised as the iconic gunbarrel imagery is what the poster's all about.

Sharky wrote:

You're onto something here. There's two things that point me in the direction of the meaning behind it. The first is the what likes look a gravel path superimposed onto the barrel, and the other's the stone texture effect on the title itself. The gravel path of the Skyfall Estate? Bond is coming home? Facing up to the past? I think that combined with the tube tunnel (Bond/St. George going into the dragon's den to meet his nemesis - Silva) allegory disguised as the iconic gunbarrel imagery is what the poster's all about.

Agreed. It works on two levels: Obviously on the first level it's just the gun barrel being a gun barrel, but on a metaphorical level, it's saying something about Bond's "journey". Remember earlier Mendes or Babs talked about exploring Bond's journey in SKYFALL? I think that the "journey" is all there on the teaser poster; you see it in the walk path that is clearly defined (and that Bond is walking on). You can also see it in the transition from where he came from (the light) to where he's going (the dark, the mysterious, the unknown).

I think the poster could have used an extra color or two, but I'm happy with it overall. It's almost like a Rorschach test. It works on different levels, and allows the viewer to draw out what's on their mind by suggesting what they think the poster is really trying to say. Nice job by EON.

No Berenice?

Oh well, it's okay.

It's moody, and yes, it says something about Bond's journey.

I do think EON/Sony/MGM missed an opportunity here, though, to give SKYFALL an instant, unforgettable iconic image that would send the world a-buzzin'. If they want to beat the $200 million barrier in US box office, they're going to have to give the US a marketing campaign to remember.

I think colour will be a good start, maybe featuring the union jack.

Something like this:

Makeshift Python wrote:

I swear this must be the only place where fans complain about his Craig's fitting suit.

Can be a bit much sometimes, can't it?

These complaints should be catalogued and made into drinking game, no?

Hilly wrote:

These complaints should be catalogued and made into drinking game, no?

It would make them more bearable, that's for sure.

Harmsway wrote:

Hilly wrote:

These complaints should be catalogued and made into drinking game, no?

It would make them more bearable, that's for sure.

Anything to take the edge off, I say.

Sharky wrote:

I think colour will be a good start, maybe featuring the union jack.

That's a start. I saw some fan art with Big Ben upside down; that might be a good point of reference; the fact that London is in trouble.

I want sharky's silkscreen for a t-shirt, but not for a poster.

As for the subliminal meaning of the gunbarrel/path/tunnel, to me it says "out of the past and once more into the breech."

What I like:

The Gunbarrel. When I had ideas floating through my head about what a good teaser could be, I always had the GB in mind, so I'm very glad they incorporated it into the design. It's also a retro looking one, which gives me hope that SF's opening will have the old school GB and not the cartoonish efforts from the last two Craig films.

What I don't like:

Lack of colour. Again we're treated to something dark n' gritty. I hope the theatrical poster is a bit more jovial.

And of course, as others have opined, whoever came up with Craig's look for the film should be sacked. The tight, boyish suit and damn-near-cueball haircut do Craig no favours. He's 45 years old for gawdsake. Bond should look like a conservative businessman - as Brosnan did throughout his tenure (sans Goldeneye hair) - rather than a GQ-reading trend merchant. When Bond deviates from this we get Grampa Moore Goes To Disco and now this (which looks purdy now, but won't have the timeless style of Connery and Brosnan's threads).

Overall, it's decent and I like the concept. Hopefully a bit more colour in the next one.

I didn't expect anything good, especially for a teaser. I'm surprised they provided something half-way decent.

I don't mind the suit, either. My biggest issue, I guess, is the hand holding the gun. It looks very photoshop-ish and artificial. Bond's New York State Trooper haircut is shit, too, but there's nothing we can do about that now.

If SKYFALL is decent, I'll let the bad hair pass (this one time).

AgentJamesBond007 on MI6book has done a pretty decent revamp:

Yeah, a bit of color, like that fan variation, would really have spiced it up.

Marketto also did a "tuxedo" variation:

I'm glad they mostly promote Craig in business suits rather than tuxedos.

Makeshift Python wrote:

I'm glad they mostly promote Craig in business suits rather than tuxedos.

Why?

Personally, I think all the best Craig-as-Bond promo shots feature him in a tux. They did a whole slew of really good ones for CASINO ROYALE, but none of them ended up on the posters.

Of course, Marketto slapping a tux on him for the teaser doesn't quite work; something about it just doesn't seem right. But it's a nice try.

Agreed. Tom Ford's business suits are a bit dull.

I always preferred Bond in a business suit. Like how the gunbarrels featured the actors in business suits before changing them to tuxedos starting with THE SPY WHO LOVED ME.