New Line Cinema
Written and Compiled by Matt Williams & Eric Hartman
New Line was started in 1967; however, they did not use a logo until 1983.
1st Logo
(1983-1987)
Nickname: "The (Creepy) Red Line"
Logo: On a black background, a red line stretches out across the screen. It then "flashes" many times, seeming to vibrate and form more lines above. The lines eventually form the words "NEW LINE CINEMA", and when the word is completed the screen begins to flash red. When the flashing is finished, the logo is now red with black segmenting (think the CBS/Fox logo), and the word "FROM" can be seen above and to the left of the logo. The logo is "wiped" away at the end.
Print Logo: New Line used a different logo in print and at the end of trailers and movies-- it is the letters "NL" connected together. As far as we know, this was never used as an actual New Line logo.
SFX: The "flashing", the line effects
Cheesy Factor: The logo looks butt ugly, first off. Secondly, the vibration and flashing effects are not well done.
Music: None, and this increases this logo's scare factor.
Availability: Can be seen on the first two Nightmare on Elm Street movies and the Critters movies, as well as a few more, maybe... anything more?
Scare Factor: High, the ugliness of the logo and the black and blood red color scheme is hard to swallow.
2nd Logo
(1987-1995)
Nicknames: "Box and Filmstrips I", "The Ladder"
Logo: On a blue/white ethereal background, a black box zooms and twirls from the screen. In the background, several filmstrips float by, as the box is joined by two filmstrips. One of the filmstrips attaches itself to the side of the box, and the other filmstrip tilts to a 45 degree angle and attaches itself to the top right of the box. The background fades to black, with the box/ladder "glowing" blue at the end. The words "NEW LINE CINEMA" fade under the logo.
Variation: In 1989 or 1990, New Line established its own video label, New Line Home Video, which distributed its offerings through RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video, and later Columbia TriStar Home Video. The logo is exactly the same as the movie version, but "NEW LINE HOME VIDEO" fades in under the ladder.
SFX: The spinning box and filmstrip animation, excellent 2D animation
Music: No music, though it has been rumored that logo 3's music has been used on the Home Video logo late in its life...
Availability: Still saved on most 1987-1995 New Line releases, but it isn't as widely seen as its successor. Some of these titles include the Nightmare on Elm Street films (3rd installment on), and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles flicks. :)
Scare Factor: None, this is a harmless logo.
3rd Logo
(1995-)
Nicknames: "Box and Filmstrips II", "The Ladder"
Logo: A black box rotates out from an extreme close-up, with a blue light in the background. Various filmstrips zooms past the box as two more filmstrips rotate in, one attaching itself to the side of the box, and one attaching itself to the top-right to form the familiar logo. The blue light dies down to create a glowing effect around the "ladder" as "NEW LINE CINEMA" zooms out from below. The byline fades in underneath.
Variations: Several variations on this logo:
Also, New Line Home Video adapted this logo for their logo. The logo is the same, but the animation is smoother than the movie logo (some people prefer this to the movie logo as a result), and the music is always used. Turner and (AOL) Time Warner bylines were used, and a new version was sighted on "The Cell" with "A TIME WARNER COMPANY" in a different font.
SFX: Well done CGI animation.
Music: Composed by Michael Kamen, a scale performed with a flute or woodwind instrument followed by a quiet horn tune at the end. Shortened on some movies. Very understated and popular fanfare.
Availability: Much more prolific than their past logos, given their higher-profile status thanks to the Turner and Time Warner acquisitions. A Turner logo is a hard find, but not too hard-- Turner-era New Line Home Video releases can still be found on the markets if you look hard enough. On newer issues of Turner-era releases, the Turner byline has been replaced with a Time Warner byline, but it's nothing major.
Scare Factor: None, this is a very popular logo.
FineLine Features
(1990s-)
Logo: Over a black background, a thin, glowing horizontal
blue line fades in, dividing the screen in half. Then, a
horizontal white line draws itself inside. The entire line
rotates clockwise and shirnks a bit in the process. When the line
becomes vertical, it rotates again, revealing an abstract F (it
really looks like a corner) with a steelish tint. Then, from
behind, a rectangel moves clockwise, and moves itself to the top
of this "F" shape. It forms an angle, much like a
director's block. Around the same time, a blue sportlight/circle
backdrop forms behind this shape. The following text fades in:
FINELINE FEATURES (Both F's and L look slightly bigger, and the
line is sandwitched between 2 horizontal lines.)
A division of New Line Cinema
The tops of both shapes shine afterwards.
Variations:
SFX: Very nice effects, similar to
it's parent's logo, but also reminicent of United Artist's
"Turning UA" logo.
Music: None
Availability: TBA
Scare Factor: Low, it may look a little dark, but
shouldn't scare many.