Korner 21

Welcome to Kevin’s Korner, your one stop for all that is geeky.

I am your host, Kevin Hopp. It’s been a busy few weeks as I get ready for the wedding. We have gotten a lot done, and I spent the weekend with the future in-laws, which was awesome. When everyone is warm and welcoming, it makes everything way easier. My future bride also had her bridal shower, which means we got all kinds of gifts and I got to spend the afternoon eating wings and drinking beer, far away from a crazy amount of women. So, all is right with the universe.

Before we get started, we had two losses in the Hollywood community, Cliff Robertson, probably most famous for ‘Charley,’ in which he received an Oscar (yes, he also played Uncle Ben in Spiderman) passed, along with Spartacus: Blood and Sand actor Andy Whitfield, who was only 36. My sympathies go out to the two guys families and friends.

I’m in the news business and business is a boomin…

3 Stooges could be a joke – Some of my fondest memories of my childhood include getting up at 6 am, and enjoying some early morning TV with my father. It was good times that included Three Stooges and then Doctor Paul Barrer’s Creature Feature. So, you would think I would be excited at the news of a movie bringing back Larry, Mo and Curley. You would think wrong, however. I simply don’t think the style of comedy will work now, and the chemistry of the original characters would be tough to match. The film stars Sean Hayes as Larry, Chris Diamantopoulos as Moe, and Will Sasso as Curly. The Farrelly brothers directed the film and it’s coming out April of 2012. It’s not the Stooges movie I was expecting with rumors of another film being filmed starring Jim Carrey and Sean Penn. Apparently, that film is completely dead now.

Danger Zone goes 3D – Tom Cruise’s hit Top Gun is going to be launched in 3D. A four minute preview of the Tony Scott film was made available earlier this week at a film festival. The film is scheduled to premiere early in 2012. Legend 3D has said the film is perfect for 3D due to the aeriel aspects and hopes to have the dog-fighting scenes jump off the screen. Personally, I have no desire to see the film in 3D. I can’t imagine it will make the film any better.

“Noooo” makes so many films better, right? – Check out this video that takes some very famous moments and adds the Darth Vader “nooo” that was recently added to Return of the Jedi as a comedic way of showing adding shit doesn’t always make things better. Check it out, and let me know your favorite. Mine has to be Casablanca.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice – There is talks of the famous Tim Burton film creating a sequel. If you read this past week’s 411 Fact or Fiction, you already know my opinion, but it seems like opinions are extremely varied on the purposed sequel. There is still no word on whether Michael Keaton would come back, and there is still no script, but it’s fun to dream.

Netflix continues to make its customers oh so happy – After the already extremely popular 60% price increase from last month, customers are already removing Netflix from their Christmas card list. Now, they are having issues with their streaming service. First off, it started as unlimited amounts of streaming at the same time. Then, a few weeks ago, Netflix had said they are limiting it to one, unless you upgrade your streaming service, doubling the streaming price. Now, after there was crazy amounts of outcry, they are claiming they are merely cracking down on people abusing the privledge, and that they aren’t saying you must pay for more than one stream. It seems like Netflix may have tried something and bailed out, in an attempt to avoid more bad publicity.

How it should have ended – Captain America – The group over at Howitshouldhaveneded.com have done it again with their latest video with Captain America. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you shouldn’t watch the video, but if you have, you need to see this.

28 Weeks Later director to helm Highlander remake – There can be only one…again. Apparently, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is in talks to direct a remake of the Christopher Lambert hit. There is no word on who will be cast as Quentin McCloud, but I just better not hear anyone from Twilight picking up the sword. Anyone have a fantasy pick? My pick is Nathan Fillion…ok, just kidding, it’s just that he is usually my pick for everything. I’m going to have to go with Ewan McGregor. I know it could be weird, but he could do the accent, and he has plenty of sword-fighting experience. Honestly, it’s not easy coming up with a good pick.

Empire Strikes Back leaks unseen footage – If you haven’t seen the quick clip from Empire Strikes Back that just leaked online, you need to go HERE. There was talk about why this scene wasn’t used, and some said it made Han Solo sound sexist. Do you think it makes good ol’ Han sound sexist? I think, besides the silly dialogue, it just makes him sound like a scoundrel, maybe a bit of a nerf herder.

Power Laces still 4 years away – It was an up and down week for Back to the Future fans, or for that matter, fans of amazing sneakers. It was leaked that sneakers from Back to the Future 2 would be released. I was all kinds of excited over the possibility of power laces, but when it was announced the shoes were coming out, two problems came up; first off, no power laces, and second off, only 1500 are being made, and they are being auctioned off, with proceeds going to Parkinson’s research. Now, I’m all for donations to Parkinson’s research, but with an estimated average going price of $4,500, I’m pretty sure 411mania’s paycheck won’t cover it. Maybe a sneakers zone for the site? Free samples?

It’s time to meet the Muppets – If you are as excited as I am for the upcoming Muppet movie, then I have some links for you. The first is 20 facts about the Muppets you didn’t know HERE. My favorite talks about how difficult it was to shoot the scene with Kermit playing the banjo in the swamp. It’s pretty amazing! The other link HERE. goes over all the characters and plot in the film. I can’t wait for this film. The link also has some great bits of trivia, like how Miss Piggy has 12 costume changes, more than any other character. It’s good to know that wacky pig is up to her old shenanigans.

2011 Box Office sets a record – The summer box office showed a 1% increase, bringing in $4.4 billion from May through Labor Day. Considering the downturn in the economy, the box office increase is pretty special. I’m sure it’s about the increase of 3D films that include higher ticket prices, but it’s still a pretty good sign for Hollywood.

Box Office Breakdown – Contagion takes out The Help.

Contagion takes the top spot, opening with $23 million, bumping the Help to second with $8.7 million. Colombiana dropped big time, dropping to sixth, and Bucky Larson: Born to be a star coming in a bomb-tastic 15th, with $1.5 million, averaging only $967 a theater. On top of the terrible reviews, this news will hopefully mean less terrible movies like this.

1. Contagion - $23.1 million ($23.1 million total)
2. The Help - $8.7 million ($137.1 million total)
3. Warrior - $5.6 million ($5.6 million total)
4. The Debt - $4.9 million ($22.0 million total)
5. Colombiana - $4.0 million ($29.8 million total)
6. Rise of the Planet of the Apes - $3.9 million ($167.8 million total)
7. Shark Night 3D - $3.5 million ($14.8 million total)
8. Apollo 18 - $2.9 million ($15.0 million total)
9. Our Idiot Brother - $2.8 million ($21.4 million total)
10. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World - $2.5 million ($34.2 million total)

DVDs out this week

Doctor Who: Day of the Daleks
Glee: Season 2
Goose Bumps: Attack of the Mutants
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 6
Me and Orson Wells
Rescue Me: Season 6

Trailer of the Week: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Even if you don’t see the trailer, the cast alone will make you want to see it, with Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and Colin Firth starring in this film, it looks like a must see. Fortunetly, the trailer looks pretty amazing. What do you think?