What is Movie News After Dark? It’s a nightly movie news column that usually doesn’t get political. But it’s time someone takes a stance on Twilight. It had to be done. This aggression will not stand.
One of the best things going in this business — of movie blogging — is Marvel rumors. They’re going to keep us all employed at least until the second Avengers film comes to term, if not longer. Kudos to Rob Keyes at ScreenRant for his astute dissection of how Doctor Strange may fit into Thor 2. Yes, Viggo Mortensen. Yes.
1. Clint Eastwood’s new book is… – Ah, Christ. I can’t even make a joke on this one. The Onion is too good sometimes. Poor, Dirty Harry.
2. Drive-ins are making a comeback – This report from NBC Nightly news includes a look at the Star-lite Drive-in here in Austin, where I’ve had a number of successful dates (they’ve been open for years, I remember those dates fondly). It’s cool to see drive-ins making a comeback. Now if only we could all get matching jackets like in Grease.
3. How BBC reunited all the Daleks – In the most recent series premiere of Doctor Who, not a Dalek was spared for the massive production. Luckily all the Daleks still work at BBC, mostly under the employ of Jeremy Clarkson.
4. Tina Fey to visit Springfield - The writer/star of 30 Rock and all-around power gal will make an appearance (vocally) on The Simpsons as a substitute teacher who gives Lisa a hard time. In related news, go find and watch High School, featuring the real-life Lisa Simpson, Yeardley Smith, eating pot brownies. On DVD and streaming now.
5. G4 is no more – NBC Universal, which owns the network soon to be formerly known as G4, has said that it will be rebranding the network to be more hip, in the vein (of selling expensive suits) of GQ magazine. It will retain its “tech-savvy roots” and target a more modern male (with money) audience. It’s too bad for (poor) geeks, as they will have to find another outlet to spend time (avoid student loan payments and work retail jobs). Luckily, the Internet still exists.
6. Welcome to Smallville, Kansas – The state of Kansas — well, to be more specific, some guy in Kansas — is trying to get his town’s name changed to Smallville in honor of Superman. If you take a look at his reason, you can tell that he really doesn’t have anything better to do, because he lives in rural Kansas.
7. Michael Keaton keeps on directin’ – After his last film, The Merry Gentleman, was a little weird but ultimately okay and mostly off-the-radar, former Batman Michael Keaton is going back behind the camera for Buttercup, a film about a neurotic woman who must take responsibility for her drunkard father.
8. Safer House – Universal is planning a sequel to Safe House, the movie with Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds that found plenty of closure the first time around. But they’re doing another one, anyway.
9. Filmography – Christopher Moloney, the man responsible for the cool film project blog FILMography, tipped me off to his site via email earlier today, and I quickly lost myself in his photos. As you can see below with this example from 1947′s Gentleman’s Agreement, he takes still images from movies (iconic or otherwise) and holds them up at their real-life locations. It’s like that Chevy commercial, but way more fun. You have to admire his dedication.
10. Dude, you slapped a fiiish… – The folks at Bad Lip Reading, makers of many a fine political commercial or speech remix, have decided to take on Twilight. It might be the funniest thing that will ever come out of the Twilight phenomenon. It might be the only funny thing to ever come out of the Twilight phenomenon.
If tonight’s column is late, it’s because I got lost watching Mitt Romney Bad Lip Reading videos. For the record.