Hellboy Goes 'Inside the Actor's Studio'

It's almost unfair, really, that the two most inspired marketing campaigns of the summer are coming at us back-to-back beginning next week. Though Iron Man and Indiana Jones and Incredible Hulk got plenty of hype, the two gold stars for summer movie marketing have to go to Hellboy II and The Dark Knight. Clearly, The Dark Knight is in its own league. But Hellboy has been running second for a while. When you look at movie marketing, the things that leave the biggest impression are usually trailers and posters. Even in the "viral" age, it's still got to be good content or the virus won't spread. The Dark Knight ought to be taught in marketing classrooms next fall. Every week there's some new wrinkle. Hellboy, on the other hand, has kept its message very consistent and streamlined. It has managed to develop its hype based primarily on the fervor over director Guillermo del Toro, whose career is certainly not in anyone's rear view mirror the way it was when the original was released. The posters are spectacular but there's nothing terribly innovative about them. Still, they're worth seeing whenever they're released because they just beat the pants off any other set of posters out there not named The Dark Knight. And then this popped up, and it's a complete curveball. This clip is innovative, it does stick with you, and it's incredibly effective. I wonder if having more tricks like this in its arsenal would've helped Hellboy or not. Marketing can get gimmicky, and this sequel (which are gimmicks in their own way) has managed to avoid that curse. Check out Ron Perlman as our big red hero talking to everyone's favorite interviewer, James Lipton, as Hellboy goes Inside the Actor's Studio.

Some Famous Famous Last Words

If you've seen Wanted, you know that for all the special effects wizardry and incredible action, what's likely to stick with you is the film's closing speech by Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy). We won't spoil the fun for you if you haven't seen it, but it's quotable, easy to remember, and fits almost any occasion.

There is quite a cinematic precedent for famous last words, of course. Billy Wilder alone is on this list three times. Not surprisingly, he has 12 Oscar nominations for writing. The screenplay for Casablanca, always at the top of anyone's list, is featured, too. Some of these you may have heard from time to time but don't know where they're from. And this is certainly not a complete list; these are more or less off the top of my head. Feel free to throw some others at us. “Oh, no! It wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast.” - King Kong, 1933 “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” - Casablanca, 1942 “Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” “That's right, that's right. Attaboy, Clarence.” - It's a Wonderful Life, 1946 “There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.” - The Naked City, 1948 "All right, Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close-up.” - Sunset Boulevard, 1950 "Shane. Shane! Come back! 'Bye, Shane.” - Shane, 1953 “Madness. Madness.” - Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957 “He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?...Adios!” - Touch of Evil, 1958 “Well, nobody’s perfect.” - Some Like It Hot, 1959 “Shut up and deal.” - The Apartment, 1960 “I'm not even gonna swat that fly. I hope they are watching. They'll see. They'll see and they'll know and they'll say, 'Why, she wouldn't even harm a fly.’” - Psycho, 1960

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Another 'Dark Knight' Poster Vandalized by the Joker

Earlier today we had what I believe is the moodiest trailer for The Dark Knight and now we have probably the most sinister and chilling poster of the bunch, courtesy of WhySoSerious. Just when you think the hype has reached a tipping point, TDK overwhelms you again.

Christopher Guest Takes "Terrible" Role in 'Night at the Museum' Sequel

I don't have a problem with actors and filmmakers juggling commerce and craft. If you like making documentaries about monks and they're great documentaries, that can be its own reward...but it probably doesn't pay very well. So, if somebody wants you to be a villain in a kid's movie, why not? It'll pay the mortgage and allow you to keep doing what you're good at, making those monk documentaries. Christopher Guest falls squarely into that category. The man behind the mockumentaries Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration doesn't get rich making his very specific style of film. In fact, he might make just as much directing the new series of DirecTV ads featuring members of his ensemble, Ed Begley Jr. and John Michael Higgins. So if Guest wants to take a role in a movie guaranteed to make money and earn an easy payday for a change, I won't complain. Guest has signed on to play Ivan the Terrible in the upcoming sequel Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. At least that's what The Hollywood Reporter is calling it. Up until now, I had heard it referred to as Escape from the Smithsonian, but whatever. Also playing violent men from the past are Bill Hader (Custer), John Bernthal (Al Capone...wait, Al Capone's in the Smithsonian?), and French actor Alain Chabat (Napoleon). Ben Stiller will star, of course, and Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Steve Coogan, and Robin Williams will all return. Currently filming in Vancouver, look for Night at the Museum in theaters on May 22nd next year, and hopefully the news about Guest means we can see another inspired mockumentary (more Best in Show, less For Your Consideration) shortly thereafter.

The Darkest 'Dark Knight' Trailer Yet

We've seen plenty of trailers for The Dark Knight and I actually didn't even watch this one for several hours after it made its way to me. How different could it be, right? Well, the truth is, this probably has more of the Joker than any other trailer for the film. It's loaded with his dialogue, a lot of which we've never heard, and it's a far cry from the recent crop of teasers in terms of action. This one is much darker, much more somber. In fact, it fits the mood I'm hoping the film can find. So if you want to get an earful of Heath Ledger's Joker, get an eyeful of this trailer, which comes to us courtesy of Domino's Pizza. What's the connection? Why, that's the new Gotham City Pizza, which is "shrouded in darkness, cloaked with 50% more pepperoni." Thankfully, that's not in this trailer anywhere, but just on Domino's website. Give us your feedback and, what the hell, let us know when you plan to stand in line for The Dark Knight...