What is Movie News After Dark? It’s a nightly column about movie news that wasn’t exactly nightly this week, so it’s giving you a Friday edition with a little extra umph…
We begin this evening with one of four new images from Pacific Rim, courtesy of the most recent edition of Empire magazine. It features Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba and those sweet, shiny suits worn by the drivers of the giant-ass robots in Guillermo del Toro’s exciting next film. Now, when are we going to get a shot at those robots in action?
1. Brave returns to theaters this weekend – Earlier today we reported that The Avengers is headed back to theaters for the Labor Day weekend, and that’s not the only money Disney will be earning. They’ve decided to give Pixar’s Brave another run at the box office. Which makes sense, because there really isn’t anything else happening in theaters this week.
2. How Cinephiles Are Failing Cinema – This essay by Jason Bellamy describes the Sight and Sound poll, released recently to celebrate the “greatest films of all-time,” as “little more than an unremarkable rearranging of the china cabinet.” That’s where I was hooked.
3. Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t like Elementary, either – In a recent interview, the Sherlock star talked about the new show starring his good friend Jonny Lee Miller, which brings Sherlock Holmes to the other side of the pond. Same-ish wit, different tone altogether. Alas, Cumberbatch is not impressed.
4. 5 Things We Hope to See in Doctor Who Series 7 – Vulture runs down a solid list of things that could do well to make an appearance in the upcoming season of Doctor Who, including but not limited to a proper and fitting exit for Amy and Rory.
5. The Fantastic Fest Bumper Competition is on – The folks at Fantastic Fest are once again holding a competition to select the bumpers for the upcoming festival (19 days and counting…) What do you need to do in order to get your bumper played in front of the most passionate festival audience on the planet? Following the theme of “Time Travel is Fantastic” is a must. Also, having yours truly in your bumper doesn’t hurt, either. (That one played on opening night.)
6. Indiana Jones loves apps – But he still hates snakes, as we’ll soon find be reminded when he comes to Blu-ray next month. For now, Paramount and their marketing machine are all behind this new “Pocket Whip” iPhone app. Apparently it showed up on The Big Bang Theory.
7. How Ari Graynor Breaks the Funny Female Mold – Another excellent Girls on Film entry from Monika Bartyzel at Movies.com. She talks about the For a Good Time, Call… star and her ever-growing career as a serious funnywoman.
8. In the mountains at Telluride – My good friend Alex Billington at First Showing is blogging his way through the Telluride Film Festival, where it’s likely that films like Argo, The Master, Hyde Park on the Hudson, Frances Ha and more will be seen. Plus he’s super excitable about pretty much everything, which can be a fun read at times.
9. Solomon Kane by Phantom City Creative – If you follow my thoughts on movie posters, or my Instagram feed, you’re undoubtedly familiar with Phantom City Creative. They’ve done posters like Captain America, A Trip to the Moon and a badass Sons of Anarchy print for Mondo. Now they’re doing the studio thing with Radius and their upcoming release, Solomon Kane. And it’s badass:
10. When pop culture and academia collide – The studies of pop culture in the world of smart people. I’m surprised our own Landon Palmer is not mentioned directly.
11. Evil’s many faces – This new poster for Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D is creepy.
12. Jonny Quest in stop-motion – Filmmaker Roger Evans has decided that what the world needs is a full-length episode of Jonny Quest done in vibrant stop-motion. It doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all. In fact, based on this opening title sequence he did to prove that he’s no hack, I’d bet that his Kickstarter may do well.