The first of the actual posters for the film attempt to sell it with the faces of its stars. However, they're in black-and-white and the annoying red lettering continues to aggravate this year.
This second poster is far more interesting, it has a lot more of a tie to the old western genre and doesn't focus overlong on its actors. It's far better accomplished.
The least they could have done was make the poster look a little more Old West. As it stands, this place-holder poster tells us nothing about the film, doesn't even remotely get the audience excited about it and provides no visual entertainment.
The preview highlights all of the conceits of the western genre while trying to entice average filmgoers in with stars Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. Most won't realize the film's a remake as it's likely to include a significant number of modernized effects; However, I'm sure there's a segment of viewers out there who will deride the film quickly and loudly for its treatment of the original.
The original film was not an Oscar favorite and while there's some love of the genre out there, it's unlikely that a Western remake is going to do well with the Academy.
I have not seen this film.
-Wesley Lovell (June 16, 2007) Original
-Wesley Lovell (July 14, 2007) New Poster; Release Date Change from 10/5/07
-Wesley Lovell (August 18, 2007) New Posters
-Wesley Lovell (September 29, 2007) Buy the Poster Enabled