Thursday, December 18, 2014

Weasley family costumes from the Harry Potter movies on display...

With J. K. Rowling entertaining fans with new stories with her 12 days of Harry Potter Christmas, I thought it was timely to share these original movie costumes worn by the 'Weasley' family in the hit movie franchise.

Original Arthur and Molly Weasley movie costumes 
from 2002's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Arthur Molly Weasley Harry Potter movie costumes
Mr Mrs Weasley Harry Potter movie costumes
First up are costumes designed by Lindy Hemming and worn by Mark Williams as Ron's Dad, 'Mr. Arthur Weasley', and Julie Walters as Ron's Mum, 'Mrs. Molly Weasley', in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie poster
Harry Potter Half-Blood Prince movie poster

Original George and Fred Weasley movie costumes 
from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
George Weasley Harry Potter Half-Blood Prince costume
George Weasley Harry Potter Half Blood Prince costume
Fred Weasley Harry Potter Half-Blood Prince costume
Next up are the dapper suits designed by Jany Temime and worn by the Weasley's mischievous identical twin sons 'George' and 'Fred', played by Oliver and James Phelps, in the sixth movie installment from 2009.

In this movie they were no longer attending Hogwarts, but had branched out as the proprietors of their own joke shop at no. 93 Diagon Alley, called Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

Original screen-used props from the Harry Potter movies
Also included in the fantastic exhibit upstairs at the Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour Museum on July 29, 2014, were a collection of props from the film franchise, including the sweets and candy enjoyed by wizarding children, like chocolate frogs and Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, plus joke products from the Weasley twins shops and even the Portkey boot used by the family to travel to the Quidditch World Cup Match campsite in 2005's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Harry, Hermione and Ron movie costumes 
from 2011's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Harry Potter Hermione Ron Deathly Hallows Part 2 movie costumes
Harry Potter Hermione Ron Deathly Hallows Part 2 costumes
And finally, also on display were the grubby movie costumes worn by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as best friends 'Harry Potter', 'Hermione Granger' and 'Ron Weasley', as they tried to evade the forces of 'Lord Voldemort' in the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Once again Jany Temime was Costume Designer on the film.

If you're a fan of the Potterverse, be sure to also check out all these other original costumes and props from the Harry Potter movies on display at exhibitions over the years.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 movie poster
Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2 Ron Weasley poster

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Original Birdman movie costume on display...

In Alejandro González Iñárritu's comic drama, Birdman, Michael Keaton plays a washed-up actor struggling with his present circumstances and his sanity after helming an iconic superhero movie franchise in his past. Now he must overcome his ego and his family traumas as he puts all his resources into staging a big Broadway stage comeback to recapture his past acting glory.

Screen-used Birdman movie costume
Original Birdman movie costume
Birdman costume cowl
Birdman movie costume detail
Birdman film costume detail
Original Birdman superhero costume
Having played Batman in Tim Burton's Bat-franchise starting 1989 feature film and 1992 sequel Batman Returns, the actor is the perfect choice for this movie about the worlds of fame, theatre and Hollywoodland.

If you're a fan of DC Comics Caped Crusader, be sure to check out Michael Keaton's Batman movie costumes on display here at Hollywood Movie Costumes and Props.

Birdman movie poster
Birdman movie poster
Being a huge comic book fan, one of my favourite things about the movie was the design of the Birdman costume (although I also loved the clever cinematography and the always wonderful Emma Stone as the aging actor's troubled daughter).

Birdman movie costume in detail
Birdman film costume
Birdman movie costume
Birdman movie costume exhibit
Birdman movie costume detail
Birdman cowl costume detail
Birdman wings costume detail
Birdman wings back costume
Actual Birdman movie costume
Legendary Oscar-winning Costume Designer Albert Wolsky (he won for 1979's All That Jazz and 1991's Bugsy) was responsible for crafting the heroic look of the faux iconic 'Birdman' and Benjamin Kanes filled out the muscle costume as a young 'Riggan Thomson'.

You really can imagine the mythology behind this cinematic superhero with that amulet on his gloved hand, his taloned-feet and that Birdman belt-buckle (which I'm sure would be top of many people's Christmas wish list).
Birdman movie costume
Birdman movie costume belt
Birdman movie costume belt buckle
Birdman movie costume glove detail
Birdman costume glove detail
Birdman movie costume glove
Birdman movie costume boots
Birdman film costume boot
Birdman film costume
Birdman film costume detail
Birdman movie costume
Original Birdman movie costume
This fantastic costume used in the movie was on display at my local Golden Apple Comics store on L.A.'s Melrose Avenue (where I've bought my comics for the last six years) on December 10, 2014, and it's also where I got to meet Jaimie Alexander who plays Sif in Marvel's Thor movies, so there's always something happening there.

I'm sure we'll be seeing many Birdman cosplayers at conventions in the future and maybe next Halloween, especially if the film wins any Academy Awards, so I make no apologies for the number of reference photos that I'm sure fans will appreciate.

Needless to say, I could easily have walked away with this costume as well as my weekly Marvel comic books. I love my life at times.

Birdman movie poster
Birdman film poster

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Screen-used props from Wild on display...

Not every movie exhibit you come across contains fabulous elaborate costumes to gawk at, but that doesn't mean it's not cool to see screen-used film props on display too, like these original items used in Reese Witherspoon's new movie, Wild.

Original film props featured in Wild
Screen-used Wild movie props
Wild movie prop exhibit
Wild film props
Screen-used Wild film props
Wild backpack and trail sign props
Wild movie prop display
This compelling movie directed by Dallas Buyers Club's Jean-Marc Vallée is based on the New York Times best-seller and true story by Cheryl Strayed.

Reese Witherspoon plays 'Cheryl', who at 22-years-old following the death of her mother and failure of her marriage decides to hike the 1,100 mile Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State with no training or prior experience, on a revelationary   journey that maddened, strengthened and ultimately healed her.

This exhibit of props from the movie, including Reese Witherspoon's backpack and signage from the Pacific Crest Trail, were photographed on display at ArcLight Sherman Oaks cinema on December 5, 2014.

If you like these props, be sure to also check out these movie costumes from Dallas Buyers Club, the director's Oscar-nominated last film.

Wild movie poster
Wild movie poster

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Meryl Streep's Witch costumes from Disney's Into the Woods on display...

This holiday season Stephen Sondheim's dark and twisted fairytale musical, Into the Woods, gets the big screen treatment courtesy of Disney and director Rob Marshall. Playing the 'Witch' in this movie musical is Meryl Streep, and these two spectacular costumes worn by the actress in the film were photographed on display at ArcLight Sherman Oaks cinema on December 5, 2014.

Original Into the Woods Witch costume exhibit
Into the Woods Witch movie costume exhibit
Meryl Streep Into the Woods blue Witch costume
Meryl Streep Into the Woods black Witch costume
Meryl Streep Into the Woods Witch movie costumes
These amazing Witch costumes, along with all the others in the film were designed by Oscar-winner Colleen Atwood, who has received three Academy Awards to date for her work on Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha and Alice in Wonderland, plus she has been nominated many more times. Be sure to check out these costumes from 2010's Alice in Wonderland, costumes from 2009's Nine movie musical and 2009's Public Enemies movie costumes.

Into the Woods movie poster
Into the Woods movie poster
In this adaptation of the famous 80's Broadway musical which cleverly mashes together many of the Brothers Grimm fairytales like Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack and the Beanstalk, Meryl Streep plays the 'Witch' who tasks a childless Baker and his Wife to obtain iconic magical items from these classic fairytale characters to reverse the curse on their family tree.

Post-transformation costume worn by Meryl Streep 
as the Witch in Into the Woods
Meryl Streep Into the Woods blue witch costume
Into the Woods blue Witch costume detail
Into the Woods blue Witch costume
Into the Woods blue Witch costume
Into the Woods blue witch costume detail
Into the Woods blue Witch dress detail
Into the Woods blue Witch dress side detail
Into the Woods blue Witch dress side detail
Into the Woods blue Witch dress shoulder detail
Into the Woods blue Witch dress detail
Into the Woods blue Witch gown shoulder pads
Into the Woods blue Witch gown
Meryl Streep blue Witch gown Into the Woods
I know all the costumers out there will go crazy for these detail pictures of these amazing gowns and these photos don't do justice to the colour of the costumes, plus you can't really appreciate the volume of the dresses either, squeezed into these display cases.

Witch costume worn by Meryl Streep in Into the Woods
Meryl Streep Witch costume Into the Woods
Witch movie costume Into the Woods
Witch costume detail Into the Woods
Into the Woods Witch movie costume detail
Into the Woods Witch costume sleeve
Into the Woods Witch costume detail
Into the Woods Witch movie costume detail
Into the Woods Witch film costume
Into the Woods Witch film costume
Into the Woods Witch film costume
Into the Woods Witch movie costume
Into the Woods Witch dress hem
Meryl Streep Witch movie costume Into the Woods
Even though this ornate outfit is mostly black and dark blues, you can also see the silvery detail catching the light, and the animal print/snake skin design inspiration.

It's almost impossible to photograph mostly black costumes in reflective cases, by day or night. The El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood will also have costumes on display from the movie when the Disney film goes on general release on Christmas Day, so hopefully I'll be able to see more costumes and maybe get some better shots there.

If you're a fan of Meryl Streep, be sure to also check out these original costumes from Mamma Mia: The Movie, Margaret Thatcher costumes from The Iron Lady and her Julia Child costume from Julie & Julia.

Entertainment Weekly Into the Woods 
Rapunzel and Witch cover
Entertainment Weekly Into the Woods Rapunzel Witch cover