Grading the Movie Studio Logos - Part II: The Minor Leagues

This is the second in a continuing series in which I analyze and grade the openers that we film fans should be intimately familiar with. After all, we see them in front of every movie, and what with co-distributions and production houses each getting to put their own in front of the credits, we're seeing more and more of them than ever (sometimes as many as four or five!).

In part I, I took a look at the "Big Six" studios - go here to see how they were judged. Here, I look at the "mini-majors," those studios that gobble up much of the remaining 15% that the six don't command. In future posts, I'll look at subsidiaries of the six (Focus, Fox Searchlight) and film production companies (Relativity Media, Legendary Pictures). But now, the mini-majors. What do these openers tell us, and how effectively do they tell it?

SUMMIT

What it says: "Get it? Summit?"

How effectively does it say it?: It sure as shit doesn't say much, but I guess it says what it says pretty well.

General comments: BOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNG.

Also, go ahead and name a Summit film, I dare you. Hard to believe they're a top 10 studio - they have no identity that I'm aware of. Come to find out, the only reason they're in that top 10 is because they nabbed the Twilight series. I guess they are/are going to be a more major player in the future.

Overall grade: D-

LIONS GATE

What it says: "We are trying our hardest to look like one of the big boys."

How effectively does it say it?: I think they are kind of succeeding in that regard. It's definitely more "epic" than their old one, which was slightly less boring than that Summit one. It's got the horns and the clouds - apparently, two items mandated by the Movie Studio Logo Intro Committee, so they're headed in the right direction on that front.

General comments: A tad overcomplicated, no?

For whatever reason, I've always liked Lions Gate, even though they tend to make a lot of genre films, which aren't typically my bag. For a while a few years back, I toyed with the idea of buying stock in them, mostly because it was (and still is) pretty cheap (~$6.00/share) and I liked the idea of owning stock in a movie studio. Of course, that's neither here nor there.

Anyway, I guess I'm glad they actually worked in a gate with lions on it. Literal as that may be, at least it makes sense. What they came up with, though, reminds me of Hellboy II or Harry Potter.

Overall grade: B-

DREAMWORKS (Note: I'm kind of cheating here; the live-action studio isn't its own company anymore, having been purchased by Paramount. The animation division is still independent, but their logo is essentially an alternate of this one, and this one is much more widely known.)

What it says: "Don't we remind you of the wonders and nostalgia of childhood?"

How effectively does it say it?: Much to the sure surprise and chagrin of some, I've never really liked DreamWorks' opener. It's too long, too homey, and the music kind of grates on me. But yes, it does, in its way, effectively get across its message, all the while subtly reminding us that Steven Spielberg was a founder, via the moon imagery that he's co-opted ever since E.T. and starting up Amblin Entertainment.

General comments: Does anyone else think "Ron Howard circa The Andy Griffith Show" every time they see that kid fishing? Cause I sure do.

Overall grade: C

THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

What it says: "We're still pissed we can't use our old company name and logo. Doesn't this one remind you of it?"

How effectively does it say it?: The color scheme is there. The "W" kind of looks like buildings if you squint just right. Additionally, the format of the "W" is a bit reminiscent of the Fox spotlights, though that's neither here nor there.

General comments: It doesn't scream "movies!," but it's kind of the antithesis of DreamWorks' opener - classy, short, and to the point. And I like the music. It's far from the best, and I did prefer the old Miramax opener, but this'll do, donkey.

Overall grade: B

OVERTURE (Note: ignore the singing; this is the best version of their logo I could get.)

What it says: "A Starz Company."

How effectively does it say it?: It even says that poorly.

General comments: I don't care if Overture is new to the game and/or affiliated with like 14 other brands (Starz, Anchor Bay), this is one weak logo and opener. It says absolutely nothing about itself or movies, aside from "we like rainbows." Ditch it...now.

Overall grade: F

MGM

What it says: "You see that shit next to the laurels? That's FILM, mothertrucker! We old school, and we ain't changin' shit anytime soon (except the lion, which we change often)."

How effectively does it say it?: MGM's financial struggles are well-known, but I don't know if there's a much more iconic opener than this one. That's not to say it's the best, but it's been around (virtually unchanged) forever and indeed screams "movies!" like no other. It also screams "We only make James Bond movies anymore," unfortunately. Hard to believe one of the bigger boys hasn't gobbled MGM up, for their name brand and recognition if nothing else.

General comments: No, I don't really know what a lion has to do with movies, either, but I'm sure there's a historical reason for it. Does it matter, though?

Overall grade: A-