The Posters For 'Muppets Most Wanted' Are Channeling Some Action Classics In Their Latest Round Of One Sheets...

Muppets Most Wanted may very well be one of the most anticipated movies of the spring that nobody even knows is coming out. It is a huge property, they got a huge Toyota crossover commercial campaign, and the first one a few years ago did extremely well... but for some reason, I haven't heard much about it. I'm not seeing a lot of promotion, and for a possible big money making movie I haven't seen much buzz about it at all. But as we approach the March 21st release date they are starting to ramp up the publicity, and they are doing so in a very clever way. They decided to put Kermit and Miss Piggy in a few action movie themed posters that will get people thinking about some classic flicks. You gotta love the tagline they sport too: "Taking The World By Farce". Genius. I would watch the shit out of a James Bond/Muppets movie, and I would especially watch a Face/Off remake featuring Jim Henson's creations. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy also gets a poster... really clever cross promotion. I will be lining up to see Muppets Most Wanted when it comes out, will you? Check out the four posters after the jump...

 

Just Another Reason Why I Love The Henson Company

Chick-A-Fil is a restaurant chain that I have frequented in the past. I understand that big corporations have to play the politics game, but one thing I will never understand is why a public serving company with a wide array of customers feels the need to support something so biased as opposing same sex marriage. I can understand backing democrats or republicans for various business reasosn, or getting involved in issues that effect your business directly. But same sex marriage? Doesn't really seem like the domain of a chicken restaurant, does it? Well The Henson Company is not dealing with these bigots anymore... and have issued a public statement to the public via their Facebook page disavowing any connection to the restaurant chain. Good for them. Check out the cool pic that is being circulated around Facebook after the jump... 

Jim Henson's Long Lost Short "Robot" Finally Available For Public Consumption!!!

Who doesn't love Jim Henson? Seriously... not everybody may be crazy over the Muppets, but does anybody really hate them? Henson's characters have provided smiles to the faces of adults and children for over 40 years and there contribution to entertainment is past the part of quantification. Yet everybody has got to start somewhere, right? Well, here is Henson's first foray into live action short films featuring non human characters. It is called "Robot", and was made for Bell Systems to show at a conference back in the late 60s. It is only 3 minutes long and features basic techniques and actions, yet it is hard to deny some of the Henson magic that was present in bringing inanimate objects to life. Enjoy the clip as well as a detailed explanation for it after the jump...






Here is the explanation via the Youtube page:

Jim Henson made this film in 1963 for The Bell System. Specifically, it was made for an elite seminar given for business owners, on the then-brand-new topic — Data Communications. The seminar itself involved a lot of films and multimedia presentations, and took place in Chicago. A lengthy description of the planning of the Bell Data Communications Seminar — sans a mention of the Henson involvement — is on the blog of Inpro co-founder Jack Byrne. It later was renamed the Bell Business Communications Seminar. 

The organizers of the seminar, Inpro, actually set the tone for the film in a three-page memo from one of Inpro’s principals, Ted Mills to Henson. Mills outlined the nascent, but growing relationship between man and machine: a relationship not without tension and resentment: “He [the robot] is sure that All Men Basically Want to Play Golf, and not run businesses — if he can do it better.” (Mills also later designed the ride for the Bell System at the 1964 World’s Fair.) Henson’s execution is not only true to Mills’ vision, but he also puts his own unique, irreverent spin on the material.

The robot narrator used in this film had previously starred in a skit for a food fair in Germany (video is silent), in 1961. It also may be the same robot that appeared on the Mike Douglas Show in 1966. Henson created a different — but similar — robot for the SKF Industries pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair. This film was found in the AT&T Archives. Thanks go to Karen Falk of the Henson Archives for providing help and supporting documentation to prove that it was, indeed, a Henson production.

Draw2D2 Takes On The Muppets & The Lord Of The Rings In This Epic Mash-up Series

We are big fans of the gang over at Draw2D2, and this time they have outdone themselves. In celebration of the upcoming Muppet movie, these artists decided to plunge the characters of Jim Henson into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien... I present to you the epic Muppets/Lord Of The Rings Mash-ups!!! Click here to cast your vote for your fave over at Draw2D2 and after the jump to see  all the pieces right here on CCD!!!

Game Of Thrones Of Muppets by Yehudi Mercado

I never get tired of mashups, especially good ones. This is Yehudi Mercado's take on A Game Of Thrones featuring every bodies favorite puppets, The Muppets.  These really are spot on. One question: Where is my Tyrion Lannister/Pepe the Prawn? That's what I want... with hookers and wine, of course!!! Get on that Yehudi!!!

Jim Henson's 'The Storyteller' by Tom Fowler

I was a huge fan of Jim Henson's show 'The Storyteller'. It was a cool as show that re-told awesome tall tales and stories that you had probably heard before in a new way. The show was a mix of live action and puppets and featured some future stars like Miranda Richardson & Gabrielle Anwar long before they had reached their prime. It is really cool.

The stories were relayed to the audience by an old man in a rocking chair, the 'Storyteller'. He was accompanied by his puppet dog. They sat by the fire and spun the yarns for the audience to appreciate. The role of the 'Storyteller' was originally occupied by the legendary John Hurt (Alien, Hellboy). He was later replaced by Michael Gambon (Layer Cake, Gosford Park) in the role of narrator. These two guys are some of my all time faves, and they would both go on to play intricate parts in the wildly successful 'Harry Potter' franchise. This show is amazing.

Anyways, here is one of CCD's favorite artists, Tom Fowler, taking on the legendary old man and his dog from the Henson classic. This is hopefully the first step on the journey of a 'Storyteller' graphic novel. Here you go:

'The Storyteller' by Tom Fowler

Both seasons of this excellent show are available via Netflix Instant Streaming, so make sure you cue them up. Great work Tom!!!

What The World Needs Now...

... is another Muppet movie. ASAP. And thanks to Mr. Forgetting Sarah Marshall himself (Jason Segal), we are slowly moving towards that goal. The new Muppet movie is going to be epic, and it couldn't come at a better time. Children's movies have moved into an era where they serve a dual purpose: 1) Entertain the kiddies & 2) Keep the parents entertained. Parents buy tickets, and Pixar has proven that if they are done correctly kiddie flicks can get the adults to laugh and cry as well (watch the last 20 minutes of Toy Story 3 or the first 20 minutes of Up and tell me you weren't bawling like a baby... if you didn't cry you are heartless!!!). Megamind just completed its second week on top of the charts, beating out new movies by Denzel & Harrison Ford. Family fare is better then ever, and we owe it to....

*****Please click Read more below for more on the upcoming Muppet movie*****

.... the Muppets!!! The Muppets were one of the first times that children type characters (in this case the puppets) were interwoven with adult themes (crime in The Great Muppet Caper, space travel in Muppets In Space, etc) and prominent actors and actresses shared the screen with them in some adult type situations. The Muppet Show was a prime time hit that appealed to adults and kids alike and holds a special place near and dear in my childhood memories. Maybe that's why I am looking so forward to self proclaimed "Muppet freak" himself Segal to take a shot at making this new film. It takes place in the current setting where the puppets like the Muppets are forgotten and computer animation is on the rise. They live and operate a studio, Muppet Studio, that is a throwback to a time when the Muppets were the biggest show on earth. Now they have fallen on hard times (as you can see in the pics) and a little boy/puppet named Walter (Paul Rudd) wants to bring back the good old days of Muppets riding high. There will be Segal, Rudd, Amy Adams, and a host of celebrity cameos filling up the 90 minutes of sure to be hilarious hi-jinx. The exterior shots were taken at the La Brea based Henson Studios, which has been turned into the downtrodden Muppet Studios. Check out these first set photos and see if you start to get that tingle like I did. I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS ONE!!! The movie will be out Christmas 2011. Are you excited? Tell us in the comment section below. Thanks to /Film for the pics.