<![CDATA[PureTalkForum Debate & Discussion Forum - Digital Media]]> http://www.puretalkforum.com A place to post and discuss any media including photos and images, signatures, avatars, videos, movies, etc. For music, see the music forum. en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:22:16 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.puretalkforum.com/images/monkeybatter/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[PureTalkForum Debate & Discussion Forum - Digital Media]]> http://www.puretalkforum.com Piers Morgan to Replace Larry King http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/piers-morgan-replace-larry-king-7370.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:25:05 GMT Piers Morgan to Replace Larry King



By PopEater Staff

Posted Sep 8th 2010 11:47AM




CNN has made it official, announcing Wednesday that reality TV host and former tabloid editor Piers Morgan will replace the departing Larry King in the coveted 9PM time slot, according to The New York Times.

The British-born Morgan, currently a judge on NBC's 'America's Got Talent,' will debut the as-yet-unnamed interview show in January, a month after King signs off from the long-running 'Larry King Live,' which has aired for 25 years.


Jonathan Klein, the struggling network's president, informed staffers of the news in an upbeat internal memo. "We are delighted that he will now bring his dynamic, probing interview style to American television and to CNN viewers around the globe."

CNN and NBC worked out a deal to allow Morgan to continue his work on the popular 'Talent.' Before breaking into British television, Morgan was the editor of a tabloid, the Daily Mirror. He was fired after the newspaper published fraudulent photos of British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners.

Klein said that the final 'Larry King Live' will air Dec. 16, but its 76-year-old host will continue to host occasional programming for the network.

Morgan, 45, has been in talks with CNN since the summer about replacing King.

King dropped the bombshell in June that he was giving up his show. King made the surprising announcement via his Twitter account right before he taped that evening's program. "Announcing tonight: I'm ending my nightly show this fall but continuing at CNN," King wrote.

In a larger statement on CNN, King gave his reasons, which involved family but didn't mention his plunging ratings.

"I talked to the guys here at CNN and I told them I would like to end 'Larry King Live,' the nightly show, this fall, and CNN has graciously accepted, giving me more time for my wife and I to get to the kids' little league games."

The decision to leave the show came after months of declining ratings and media speculation about the future of King's career. The NY Times reported in March that the program was down about 50 percent in viewers and had seen its worst quarter ever at the start of the year.
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* Interesting choice @ this time. *
 ]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/piers-morgan-replace-larry-king-7370.html <![CDATA[Hitman Clooney's 'American' wins weekend with $16.4M]]> http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/hitman-clooney-s-american-wins-weekend-7354.html Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:09:53 GMT Hitman Clooney's 'American' wins weekend with $16.4M; 'Machete,' 'Takers' battle for No. 2
(AP) 12:39:00 PM (ET), Monday, September 6, 2010 (LOS ANGELES)
George Clooney's hitman tale "The American" has captured the top spot at the box office with a $16.4 million debut over the long Labor Day weekend.

Since opening Wednesday, the Focus Features release has taken in $19.5 million.

The 20th Century Fox revenge romp "Machete" and Sony's heist thriller "Takers" were in a duel for second-place.

"Machete" led with $14 million from Friday to Monday. "Takers" followed with $13.5 million, though the two movies were close enough that rankings could change once final numbers are released Tuesday.

"Takers," which had been the No. 1 movie the previous weekend, raised its 10-day total to $40 million.

The weekend's other new wide release, Drew Barrymore's romance "Going the Distance" from Warner Bros., opened at No. 5 with $8.6 million.

It was a typically quiet Labor Day period for Hollywood, a transition weekend as summer blockbuster season ends and young audiences prepare for the start of the school year.

Hollywood closed its busiest season with record revenue of $4.35 billion, about $100 million more than the previous high set last summer, according to Hollywood.com, which tracks box office. Yet because of higher ticket prices, movie attendance slipped to about 552 million, the lowest since summer 2005, said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

"This is a perfectly unspectacular end to a perfectly unspectacular summer," Dergarabedian said. "If you look at how low the attendance figure dropped, that's the audience telling Hollywood this crop of movies was good, but not good enough to get us out in huge numbers."

"The American" stars Clooney as a hitman who finds unlikely friendship and romance while trying to lay low in Italy before doing one last job.

"Machete" features a cast including Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal and Lindsay Lohan in a bloody tale of a former Mexican federal cop (Danny Trejo) taking on crooks, dirty politicians and thugs by the score.

"Going the Distance" stars Barrymore and Justin Long as a couple trying to maintain a coast-to-coast long-distance relationship.

With Clooney's appeal to adult audiences, "The American" dominated older crowds, while "Machete" was a hit with Hispanics, who accounted for 60 percent of the movie's viewers.

"The whole marketing campaign was thrust at the Latino audience, and they have clearly responded and embraced the movie," said Chris Aronson, head of distribution for 20th Century Fox. "I would go so far as to say Danny Trejo is the first Latino superhero."

With $3.9 million over the long weekend, Universal's animated hit "Despicable Me" raised its haul to $241.3 million, surpassing the $238.4 million take of DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek Forever After," which failed to catch the same box-office fire as the franchise's earlier installments.

Summer's top hit, Disney's animated blockbuster "Toy Story 3," pulled in $2.7 million to lift its total to $408.8 million, second only to "Shrek 2" at $436 million on the domestic chart for animated features.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Tuesday.

1. "The American," $16.4 million.

2. "Machete," $14 million.

3. "Takers," $13.5 million.

4. "The Last Exorcism," $8.8 million.

5. "Going the Distance," $8.6 million.

6. "The Expendables," $8.5 million.

7. "The Other Guys," $6.7 million.

8. "Eat Pray Love," $6.3 million.

9. "Inception," $5.9 million.

10. "Nanny McPhee Returns," $4.7 million.

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* Not too bad but I think most folks stayed away in preparing for another school year. * ]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/hitman-clooney-s-american-wins-weekend-7354.html <![CDATA[Emmy's 2010]]> http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/emmy-s-2010-a-7328.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:02:39 GMT Emmys 2010: 'Mad Men,' 'Modern Family,' Sedgwick Win Top Awards

by Kelly Woo, posted Aug 29th 2010 10:45PM



Newcomers ruled at the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmys.

First-year series 'Modern Family' won the Best Comedy award. "I want to thank our incredible writing staff," co-creator Steve Levitan said.

'Mad Men' was one of the few repeat winners, collecting the Best Drama again for the third year in a row. And 'Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston also won his third trophy as Best Actor in a Drama.

But most of the telecast's categories saw brand-new winners. 'The Closer' star Kyra Sedgwick stunned prognosticators by winning her first Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama, beating out frontrunner Julianna Margulies ('The Good Wife') and previous winner Glenn Close ('Damages').

Though Margulies lost, her co-star Archie Panjabi became another first-time winner in the Supporting Drama Actress category.

She was joined by 'Breaking Bad' star Aaron Paul, who won his first Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama, beating out strong contenders including 'Lost' stars (and previous winners) Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn.


'The Big Bang Theory' star Jim Parsons was another new winner, taking the Best Comedy Actor in a Comedy trophy. And Edie Falco, who won three Emmys for her dramatic acting on 'The Sopranos,' was rewarded for showing her range on 'Nurse Jackie' with a trophy for Best Comedy Actress.

Perhaps the biggest shock came in the Best Reality Competition category, when 'Top Chef' beat out perennial, seven-time winner 'The Amazing Race.'

The ceremony kicked off with a musical number featuring host Jimmy Fallon singing and playing guitar to 'Born to Run,' joined by TV stars Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, Kate Gosselin, Jorge Garcia as well as the stars of 'Glee.'

'Modern Family' racked up so many awards that series star Sofia Vergara* may just have to run naked through Hollywood, as a full-page ad in Variety promised. (* Or Ed O'Neill).

One of the stars of the show, Eric Stonestreet, won the evening's first award, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy. He was followed by co-creator Steve Levitan for Best Comedy Writing.

Fellow comedy newcomer 'Glee' also got its share of glory, with star Jane Lynch taking home the trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, thanking her "lord and creator Ryan Murphy" and her younger castmates -- despite her "seething jealousy." Murphy himself won the award for Best Comedy Series Directing.

The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award was presented by Margulies to her former 'ER' co-star George Clooney for his work organizing relief telethons such as the one for Haiti earthquake victims.

In the miniseries/movies categories, HBO's 'Temple Grandin' was a big winner, winning Best Made-for-TV Movie, Best Movie/Miniseries Actress (Claire Danes) and Best Supporting Actress (Julia Ormond) among other awards. Al Pacino took home the award as Best Movie/Miniseries Actor for 'You Don't Know Jack.' Meanwhile, producer Tom Hanks accepted the award for Best Miniseries for HBO's epic 'The Pacific.'


EMMY WINNERS: FULL LIST

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* Ever notice the network broadcasting the Emmys never wins big or hardly @ all ?
One of the most memorable Emmy Awards last night. *
]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/emmy-s-2010-a-7328.html <![CDATA[Woman Charged With Slashing Leonardo DiCaprio's Face to Stand Trial]]> http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/woman-charged-slashing-leonardo-dicaprio-s-7317.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:23:23 GMT Woman Charged With Slashing Leonardo DiCaprio's Face to Stand Trial


Published August 27, 2010
| Associated Press

AP
A Canadian woman will stand trial today for charges she slashed actor Leonardo DiCaprio's (above) face with a shard of glass.

LOS ANGELES – A judge ordered a woman to stand trial on a charge of slashing Leonardo DiCaprio's face with glass during a 2005 party.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Edmund Willcox Clarke ordered Aretha Wilson to face one count of assault with a deadly weapon. The charge includes an allegation that Wilson, 40, caused great bodily injury.
The details and extent of DiCaprio's injuries were not made public, although the judge, who has reviewed photos of the injuries to the actor's ear and neck, said Thursday that "this would not be an injury that would be called trivial or moderate, in my view."
Those photos also were not made public. DiCaprio did not attend the hearing.
Wilson was returned to Los Angeles in the five-year-old case after waiving extradition from Canada.
She has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed in lieu of $150,000 bail.
Wilson's attorney Freddy Sayegh said the ruling was not unexpected and that Wilson has vehemently professed her innocence. He said he expected to trial to begin within 60 days.
She is due back in court on Sept. 9.
Authorities have said Wilson attacked DiCaprio with a broken beer bottle, but a witness called Thursday said it was a wine glass. The criminal complaint identifies the object only as glass.
If convicted, Wilson faces up to seven years in state prison.

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* I couldn't locate the photo directly after the attack.
Glad Leonardo will be OK. * ]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/woman-charged-slashing-leonardo-dicaprio-s-7317.html Wesley Snipes http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/wesley-snipes-7312.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:03:51 GMT Wesley Snipes avoids jail a little longer

Kelly Phillips Erb
Friday Aug 27th 2010 at 8:00AM


Filed under: Tax, Celebs & Money
Just weeks after a federal appeals court upheld Wesley Snipes' 2008 three-year sentence on misdemeanor counts of failing to file tax returns, Snipes is again trying to avoid prison. The "Blade" actor has filed another motion in court, this time alleging judicial misconduct.

Snipes' initial appeal focused on what he considered to be an "unreasonable" sentence. He believed that he should serve, at most, time on probation. A panel of federal court judges disagreed, paving the way for Snipes to serve time in prison as originally ordered.

The most recent legal action has given Snipes a bit more time to enjoy his freedom. He now doesn't have to report to the Bureau of Prisons on September 2, which was the date allegedly given to Snipes by a U.S. marshal.

Procedurally, what's happening isn't so much a continuation of the legal process as a new direction. Snipes' lawyers have filed motion for a new trial, citing evidence that he has been denied his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights. In case those amendments don't roll off your tongue quite so easily, here's the text of the Fifth Amendment:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
And the text of the Sixth Amendment:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Snipes is specifically arguing that he is entitled to a new trial because three of the jurors allegedly remarked that they would find Snipes guilty without hearing any of the evidence. According to his lawyers, he has the emails to prove it, though it's unclear why those emails were not disclosed earlier.

Snipes also alleges that the prosecution failed to disclose details of criminal charges which had been filed against one of the witnesses and Snipes' former accountant, Kenneth Starr (no, not that Kenneth Starr).

There has been no ruling yet on Snipes' latest request.
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* I am admitting Mr. Snipes is one of my favorite actors and hoping all goes well. * ]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/wesley-snipes-7312.html <![CDATA[Jersey Shore's' Situation Set to Earn $5 Million]]> http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/jersey-shore-s-situation-set-earn-7284.html Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:31:32 GMT Jersey Shore's' Situation Set to Earn $5 Million



By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 23rd 2010 02:15PM



It's time for some serious GTL, folks. 'Jersey Shore' star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, who flashes his infamous washboard abs with wild abandon, is expected to earn more than $5 million this year, a source tells The Hollywood Reporter.

"We are really excited about all the opportunities coming Mike's way," says Sorrentino's manager, Mike Petolino. "He has been able to secure many endorsement deals, business opportunities and additional television offers based on the success of the show. Our goal has always been to try to build a brand if the situation presented itself."

Earlier this year, the 'Shore' cast's contract negotiations held up production on the series. The cast initially asked the network for $30,000 per episode -- a 200% raise. The source confirmed that Sorrentino is earning close to $60,000 an episode, plus event appearance fees, which range from $15,000-$50,000.

He also has endorsement deals with Vitaminwater and Reebok and fronts chewable supplements for GNC.

Other "Situation" Products:
- A to-be-released vodka line
- "GTL" app and a rap song on iTunes
- Clothing line with Dilligaf
- Fitness video: 'The Situation Workout'
- An autobiography
- Inking deals for upcoming movie roles
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* Posted this on RecoveryPlus so I decided to place this here as well.
Haven't seen this show but wondering why all the hype ? * ]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/jersey-shore-s-situation-set-earn-7284.html <![CDATA[Stallone's 'Expendables' routs]]> http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/stallone-s-expendables-routs-7280.html Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:09:38 GMT Stallone's 'Expendables' routs crowded field to retain box-office crown with $16.5M
By DAVID GERMAIN
AP Movie Writer
(AP) 01:53:31 PM (ET), Sunday, August 22, 2010 (LOS ANGELES)

Sylvester Stallone's "The Expendables" fought off an onslaught of newcomers to finish on top of the weekend box office again.
Lionsgate's "The Expendables" remained No. 1 for a second straight weekend with $16.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Directed by and starring Stallone, the action romp about mercenaries aiming to overthrow a dictator raised its total to $64.9 million.
Five new wide releases debuted to crowd the market, but none managed to pack in huge audiences and knock off "The Expendables."
"Given all that competition in the marketplace, I don't think there was any guarantee we would hold this strong, but we did," said David Spitz, head of distribution for Lionsgate.
Leading the newcomers was 20th Century Fox's "Twilight" spoof "Vampires Suck" with $12.2 million, raising its total to $18.6 million since it opened Wednesday. The movie mocks the blockbuster franchise with a parody about a moody schoolgirl in a love triangle with a vampire and a werewolf.
"Vampires Suck" was in a photo finish for the No. 2 spot with another holdover, Julia Roberts' drama "Eat Pray Love." The Sony film about a divorced woman traveling the world in search of fulfillment pulled in $12 million to lift its total to $47.1 million.
The Warner Bros. comedy "Lottery Ticket," featuring rapper Bow Wow as a young man besieged by neighbors after he wins a $370 million jackpot, opened in fourth place with $11.1 million.
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg's cop comedy "The Other Guys" held up well in its third weekend, with the Sony release taking in $10.1 million and boosting its total to $88.2 million.
"The Other Guys" was in a tossup for No. 5 with the Weinstein Co. horror remake "Piranha 3D," which opened with $10 million. Inspired by the low-budget 1978 "Piranha," the update is set at a lake where spring-break partiers are consumed by prehistoric man-eating fish.
Universal's sequel "Nanny McPhee Returns," with Emma Thompson back as the homely title character whipping a wartime family into shape, opened at No. 7 with $8.3 million. The first film, 2006's "Nanny McPhee," debuted in fewer theaters but managed to pull in $14.5 million over opening weekend.
Bringing up the rear among new wide releases at No. 8 was Jennifer Aniston's single-mom comedy "The Switch," which debuted with $8.1 million. The Disney release features Aniston as a woman whose drunken friend (Jason Bateman) switches her sperm specimen at a party to celebrate her artificial insemination.
Surprisingly, the overall box office was down only slightly compared with the same weekend last year, when "Inglourious Basterds" fired up the normally quiet late summer with a $38.1 million opening and "District 9" held up well with an $18.2 million second weekend.
Revenues this weekend came in at $125 million, down just 1.7 percent from the same weekend a year ago, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
"It was the collective strength of these five newcomers, plus the holdovers," said Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com. "Inglourious Basterds" and "District 9" were "so unusually strong for August that it should have made the comparison tough for this year. But the industry threw everything they had at the wall this weekend and tried to see what would stick."
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Expendables," $16.5 million.
2. "Vampires Suck," $12.2 million.
3. "Eat Pray Love," $12 million.
4. "Lottery Ticket," $11.1 million.
5. "The Other Guys," $10.1 million.
6. "Piranha 3D," $10 million.
7. "Nanny McPhee Returns," $8.3 million.
8. "The Switch," $8.1 million.
9. "Inception," $7.7 million.
10. "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," $5 million.
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* So I stand corrected once again ! * :y: ]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/stallone-s-expendables-routs-7280.html Top 25 Geeks in Movies(part 2) http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/top-25-geeks-movies-part-2-a-7255.html Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:52:30 GMT 15. George McFly in 'Back to the Future' series
Geek-tor: Crispin Glover, Jeffrey Weissman
Geekery Focus: Science fiction, writing
Geek Quote: "Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out that he'd melt my brain."
Geek-Down: George answers the question most high school geeks wonder: "What would happen if I stood up to my bully?" After George punches Biff, he gets the girl and becomes a successful sci-fi writer in the future, able to hire Biff to work for him. Unfortunately, eccentric geek actor Glover refused to return for the sequels, and Weissman had to fill his orthotics shoes. Otherwise, we'd have more George McFly scenes to love.

14. Andy Stitzer in 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' (2005)
Geek-tor: Steve Carell
Geekery Focus: Electronics, action figures, collecting, video games, tuba
Geek Quote: "I'm a virgin."
Geek-Down: Andy being a virgin at 40 years old is sad on a few levels. Obviously, the first is that he's never had sex. On the other hand, it's sad because the reason stems from his contentment with hanging by himself, in his one-bedroom apartment, with all of his collectibles and video game accessories around him. However, the thing that kept him from a normal life -- his collecting -- ultimately pays off when he is able to sell his sweet stash and use the money to start his own electronics business.


13. Max Fischer in 'Rushmore' (1998)
Geek-tor: Jason Schwartzman
Geekery Focus: Rushmore Academy, theater, clubs, teachers
Geek Quote: "My top schools where I want to apply to are Oxford and the Sorbonne. My safety's Harvard."
Geek-Down: Max is the worst student at Rushmore Academy, but it's not for a lack of interest. He is obsessed with joining and starting school clubs: beekeeping, stamp and coin collecting, French, model United Nations, wrestling, etc. The only thing that can make him stray from this course is a pretty British teacher, who ultimately brings about Max's downfall when he tries to build her an aquarium on the baseball diamond.

12. Garth Algar in 'Wayne's World' series
Geek-tor: Dana Carvey
Geekery Focus: Music, inventing, gadgets, cable access, "schwinging"
Geek Quote: "Hey Mr. Donut Man, who's trying to kill ya? I don't know but they better not!"
Geek-Down: Also one of the best sidekicks of all time, Garth backs up Wayne (Mike Myers) on their cable access show and drums the theme song on his lap, "Wayne's World! Wayne's World! Party time! Excellent!" The most popular geek around Aurora, Illinois, he drives his fire-painted Gremlin around cranking Queen, invents random gadgets to keep himself busy and voices little men he makes from doughnuts.

11. Dr. Frankenstein in 'Young Frankenstein' (1974)
Geek-tor: Gene Wilder
Geekery Focus: Medical school, re-animating the dead
Geek Quote: "I am not a Frankenstein. I'm a Fronkensteen."
Geek-Down: In the beginning, Frankenstein tries to deny his family name and becomes a respected lecturer at an American medical school. When he inherits his family estate in Transylvania, he moves there and resumes his grandfather's quest for re-animating the dead. Unfortunately, his assistant Igor steals a brain marked, "Do Not Use This Brain! Abnormal," and everything goes downhill from there.

10. Louis Skolnick & Gilbert Lowell in 'Revenge of the Nerds' (1984)
Geek-tors: Anthony Edwards and Robert Carradine
Geekery Focus: Nerd rights, computer science, frat life
Geek Quote: "I just wanted to say that I'm a nerd, and I'm here tonight to stand up for the rights of other nerds."
Geek-Down: Best friends Louis and Gilbert enroll at Adams College to study computer science and have a good time. However, when the football team accidentally burns down their frat house, they seize the freshman dorm for themselves -- forcing the geeks to live in the gym. Louis and Gilbert refuse to stand for it and fight back, starting their own fraternity complete with panty raids. They really stick it to the jocks by winning the annual Greek Games and sleeping with the head jock's girlfriend on the moon bounce.

9. Milton Waddams in 'Office Space' (1999)
Geek-tor: Stephen Root
Geekery Focus: Swingline stapler, public radio, revenge against Initech
Geek Quote: "Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler ..."
Geek-Down: 'Office Space' is based on Mike Judge's original series of animated shorts, 'Milton,' so it makes sense the character would shine through with the best lines. Milton only wants a few things in life: to listen to his radio on at a reasonable volume, to have consistency in his work environment, to eat a piece of cake and to hang onto his Swingline stapler. When he doesn't get these things, he explains that he will burn down the building. Of course, no one pays attention because he's mumbling. In the end, Milton proves that the meek will inherit the money.

8. Richard 'Data' Wang in 'The Goonies' (1985)
Geek-tor: Jonathan Ke Quan
Geekery Focus: Gadgets, inventing, booby traps, James Bond
Geek Quote: "Hey I've got a great idea you guys! Slick shoes!"
Geek-Down: Since Data doesn't have Q like Bond does, he's forced to invent his own gadgets. At first they seem pointless and silly, but they end up saving lives when the Goonies venture into the caves to find One-Eyed Willie's treasure. His inventions like Pinchers of Peril inspired a generation of '80s children to disassemble their toys and parents' electronics in attempts to invent their own gadgets.

7. Chris Knight in 'Real Genius' (1985)
Geek-tor: Val Kilmer
Geekery Focus: Science, lasers, ladies, elaborate pranks
Geek Quote: "Ick invented a nude virus and we're going to release it in Kent's room."
Geek-Down: Very few make geekery look as cool as does Chris Knight. The most brilliant student in the elite university Pacific Tech, he learned early on that college is as much for meeting women and goofing off as it is for studying. Despite his distractions, Chris invents a laser "hotter than the sun" and then uses it to get back at evil Professor Hathaway, who wants it as a weapon for the CIA. House full of popcorn, anyone?

6. David Lightman in 'WarGames' (1983)
Geek-tor: Matthew Broderick
Geekery Focus: Hacking computers, starting World War III
Geek Quote: "Let's play Global Thermonuclear War."
Geek-Down: In a time when computers were not in every home, David Lightman reigned supreme. He didn't have to study for class because he could just hack into the school's computers and change his grade. Looking for new challenges and games, he hacks into the NORAD supercomputer, WOPR, and accidentally incites World War III. Fortunately, David's computer geekdom also saves the day when he teaches the computer futility.

5. Hermione Granger in 'Harry Potter' series
Geek-tress: Emma Watson
Geekery Focus: Magic, Hogwarts, proving she's no regular Muggle
Geek Quote: "I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed -- or worse, expelled."
Geek-Down: A Muggle-born Gryffindor student, Hermione is determined to prove she's as good or better than any student born from magical parents. Author JK Rowling calls her a "borderline genius," and throughout the series, Hermione proves herself to be the best student in Harry Potter's year -- repeatedly being the first to master each new spell or charm. Without her guidance, Harry often wouldn't know what to do with all his talent.

4. Peter Parker in the 'Spider-Man' series
Geek-tor: Tobey Maguire
Geekery Focus: Photography, science, crime-fighting, Mary Jane
Geek Quote: "Some spiders change colors to blend into their environment. It's a defense mechanism."
Geek-Down: Stan Lee designed Spider-Man's alter ego to appeal to high school geeks who dreamed of fighting their bullies. Film geek director Sam Raimi only added to Peter Parker's geek charm. For example, in 'Spider-Man 3,' when Peter gets a taste of the extraterrestrial symbiote that creates Venom, he becomes geeky arrogant instead of cocky cool. Does anyone really believe geeks would only use superpowers for good? They would at least steal a few comic books.

3. Fogell in 'Superbad' (2007)
Geek-tor: Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Geekery Focus: Fake IDs, fake names, vests
Geek Quote: "I am McLovin."
Geek-Down: No high school geek has ever lived through a crazier, more amazing night than Fogell: buying booze, getting punched in the face, drinking with cops, shooting guns, blowing up cars, losing his virginity ... Renaming himself McLovin is a moment of geek genius that only he recognized, as is the case with true genius at first.

2. Spock in the 'Star Trek' series
Geektor: Leonard Nimoy, Zachary Quinto
Geekery Focus: Language, science, technology, mastering emotion
Geek Quote: "I am endeavoring, ma'am, to construct a mnemonic circuit using stone knives and bearskins."
Geek-Down: The son of a Vulcan ambassador and a human woman, Spock is only alive because Vulcan scientists intervened during his mother's pregnancy and placed his fetus in a specially designed gestation environment. You can see, he was meant to be a geek before even being born. Spock (last name unpronounceable by humans) has saved the USS Enterprise with his calm wit and genius countless times. He'll no doubt save it countless more with the re-imagining of the series.

1. Anthony Michael Hall in everything from 1982 to 1985
Best Geek Roles: The Geek in 'Sixteen Candles,' Brian Johnson in 'The Breakfast Club,' Garry Wallace in 'Weird Science'
Geekery Focus: Academics, girls' underwear, computers, science, '80s culture
Geek Quote: "I've never bagged a babe. I'm not a stud."
Geek-Down: No geek-tor has had a better run than Anthony Michael Hall from 1982 to 1985. During that time, he went from a skinny dorky actor to A-list celebrity based solely on his ability to nail the geek character perfectly in a high school film. He took geeks from quiet background characters to the forefront. Hall's stardom only faded because he decided to beef up and try to play the alpha male rather than continuing to embrace being the king of geekdom.
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* Haven't we all been geeks at one time ?
We have our favorite geek characters and movies.
The Nerds series is mine...like the one when they went to college and to form their own fraternity.*
 ]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/top-25-geeks-movies-part-2-a-7255.html Top 25 Geeks in Movies(part 1) http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/top-25-geeks-movies-part-1-a-7254.html Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:47:38 GMT Top 25 Geeks in Movies: The Few, the Obsessed, the Socially Awkward







To truly separate the great geeks from the good, we had to dig into the true meaning of the term. In today's culture, the term has become a catchall for nerds, hipsters, pariahs, etc. Being a true geek is more than just being awkward, smart or wearing the wrong clothes. It is someone who is overly obsessed with one or more things, usually of a intellectual, electronic, or collecting nature, to the point of societal exclusion. Other factors may accompany that, but those are more byproducts than a root cause.

The rankings were determined by what impact the characters have had in society and the successes their geek tendencies won them in the film(s). (Some actors, of course, play the geek card to perfection -- just look at Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who at the tender age of 21 has already made our list twice.) Ultimately, we went with Richard Clarke's sentiment when he told Stephen Colbert on 'The Colbert Report' that the difference between nerds and geeks is "geeks get it done." Without further ado, these are the geeks who have gotten it done.
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25. William Lichter in 'Can't Hardly Wait' (1998)
Geek-tor: Charlie Korsmo
Geekery Focus: Computers, revenge on Mike Dexter, detailed toy dioramas
Geek Quote: "Nobody drink the beer, the beer has gone bad!"
Geek-Down: While the rest of the film's partygoers just want one last night of drunken debauchery with their graduating classmates, valedictorian William has arrived with the intention of humiliating his jock tormentor Mike Dexter (Peter Facinelli). He's obsessed with the revenge plot -- mapping it with a detailed diorama and stationing two geeks on the roof to help. Instead he accidentally gets wasted, sings 'Paradise City' and becomes the life of the party. He goes on to become the most popular geek at Harvard.


24. Chuck Sherman in the 'American Pie' series
Geek-tor: Chris Owen
Geekery Focus: Science fiction, sex, referring to self in third person
Geek Quote: "I'm a sophisticated sex robot, sent back in time to change the future for one lucky lady."
Geek-Down: The Shermanator is an inspiration to struggling geeks everywhere: Stick to your geek guns and eventually you'll be rewarded with a gorgeous, oversexed Russian exchange student. Just be patient, because the payoff may not come until the sequel. In 'American Pie 2,' Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) even calls him a geek in the throws of passion.

23. Augie Farks in 'Role Models' (2008)
Geek-tor: Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Geekery Focus: Medieval live-action role-playing, chivalry, swordplay
Geek Quote: "Naysayers tell me, 'You should be embarrassed. You should not be fighting. You look like Marvin Hamlisch.' I say, 'Nay, I am not embarrassed. I will fight. Who the f*** is Marvin Hamlisch?'"
Geek-Down: Augie is essentially a Renaissance Fair geek who has gone overboard. He uses his medieval role-playing world to escape the loneliness of high school and his crappy stepfather. Everyone thinks he's a freak, including his "Big" from Sturdy Wings, Danny Donahue (Paul Rudd); but Augie ends up being the most noble character in the film. After defeating the evil king of LAIRE (Ken Jeong), his obsession pays off with the sexy wench Esplen.

22. Ned Gold in '17 Again' (2009)
Geek-tor: Thomas Lennon
Geekery Focus: Technology, fantasy, 'The Lord of the Rings,' Elvish language
Geek Quote: "It's a classic transformation story. Are you now or have you ever been a Norse god, vampire, or time-traveling cyborg?"
Geek-Down: If you find yourself suddenly kicked out of your house and/or transformed into a teenager, Ned is the perfect friend. You can crash at his billionaire mansion due to his technology geekery, and he will believe in the magic that turned you into your teenage self because of his love of fantasy. He also has the ability to actually score a woman after delivering the pickup line, "I think our hands just made a baby."

21. Josie Geller in 'Never Been Kissed' (1999)
Geek-tress: Drew Barrymore
Geekery Focus: Words, writing, Shakespeare
Geek Quote: "Yes, you are a guy. Quite a guy. Oh my. Hey, that rhymes! Yikes. Bikes!"
Geek-Down: Known in high school as "Josie Grossie," Josie has never been able to get over her insecurities of being unpopular. All she wants is to be a reporter for the Chicago Sun Times and get a boyfriend. However, she can't get past copyeditor and "the friend" stage with guys. That is until she goes undercover as a high school student for a story and finds everything she wants. Sometimes you just have to follow your obsessive, unrealistic storyline until it yields a geek jackpot.

20. Wayne Szalinski in 'Honey I Shrunk the Kids' (1989)
Geek-tor: Rick Moranis
Geekery Focus: Science, inventions, electromagnetic shrink rays
Geek Quote: "No, if the machine had blown up the kids, there'd be pieces of them everywhere ..."
Geek-Down: Moranis is a master at playing geeks, and Wayne is his most iconic. An eccentric bordering on nutty scientist, he knows his research will change the world, but he cannot convince NASA. Isn't that always the case? Finally, he develops an electromagnetic ray that doesn't blow things up. The problem is his pesky children accidentally shrink themselves. Wayne figures it out when he finds his "thinking couch" missing. Luckily, his obsessive genius saves the day in the end.

19. Lucas Blye in 'Lucas' (1986)
Geek-tor: Corey Haim
Geekery Focus: Bug collecting, Maggie
Geek Quote: "Either you're an athlete or you're not an athlete."
Geek-Down: Lucas may be the most relatable geek on this list. Most of us have lusted after someone who only sees us as a friend. The difference with Lucas is he turns his laser geek focus on overcoming Maggie's preconceptions of him. He joins the football team and almost dies because of it. While his sacrifice doesn't get him the girl, it does win him school hero status, a letterman jacket and every geek's dream, a school-wide slow clap in his honor.

18. Number 5 in 'Short Circuit' series
Geek-tor: Tim Blaney (voice)
Geekery Focus: Robotics, electronics, toy repair, '80s dance-pop
Geek Quote: "Attractive! Nice software."
Geek-Down: One of five prototype robots designed for the U.S. military's use in the Cold War, Number 5 is recharging when an electrical storm-induced power surge changes the programming. The robot is now geekier than Newton Graham Crosby (Steve Guttenberg), the scientist who created it. After hearing the dance-pop hit 'Who's Johnny?' Number 5 changes its name to Johnny 5 and then eludes the military by building a copy robot for them to destroy. This robotics knowledge helps Johnny 5 return in the sequel build and repair mini-Johnny 5 toys in New York.


17. William Miller in 'Almost Famous' (2000)
Geek-tor: Patrick Fugit
Geekery Focus: Music, journalism
Geek Quote: "Even when I thought I was [cool], I knew I wasn't."
Geek-Down: William is based on a real geek, director Cameron Crowe, who himself became a teenage music writer for 'Rolling Stone.' During the '70s, the magazine was the hippest source for culture. Ironically, you had to be a music-obsessed geek to work there. William fits the bill -- being super-intelligent, socially awkward from always being younger than his classmates and using music to escape his overbearing mother. For a while he's lured into believing he's cool by rock stars. Thankfully that evaporates, otherwise we wouldn't have Cameron Crowe movies today.

16. Enid in 'Ghost World' (2001)
Geek-tress: Thora Birch
Geekery Focus: Vintage stuff, vinyl records, hating happy people
Geek Quote: "That's not true. I just hate all these extroverted, obnoxious, pseudo-bohemian losers."
Geek-Down: Enid did geek chic way before American Apparel became popular. The most bitter geek on the list, her self-deprecating humor and hatred of anyone not socially inept rival any of Janeane Garofalo's standup acts. She's likely such a great character because she was born from the mind of a comics geek, Daniel Clowes. Yet the thing that really sets her apart is she sleeps with a character played by Steve Buscemi. What better geek love it there than that?
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* More to come...* ]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/top-25-geeks-movies-part-1-a-7254.html <![CDATA['The Expendables']]> http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/expendables-7246.html Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:15:25 GMT Furloughed Californians Protest Schwarzenegger's Cameo in 'The Expendables'

By GIL RUDAWSKY Posted 1:45 PM 08/12/10





California state employees are the ones feeling expendable. They are planning on using their mandated furlough day Friday to protest at theaters across the state showing the movie The Expendables.

The action-adventure flick with an all-star cast features a rare cameo by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Last month the governor reinstituted "furlough Fridays," meaning all state offices will be closed three Fridays a month, and workers won't be paid for those days. Their first furlough day is probably Friday, opening day of the movie.

A judge's ruling may temporarily bar the unpaid days off, but the governor's office is appealing the ruling.

No Hope of Digging Out

The state is faced with a $19.1 billion deficit and no hope of digging out. In announcing the new furloughs, Schwarzenegger said that California is close to "a fiscal meltdown."

Jim Zamora, a spokesman for the Service Employees International Union Local 1000, said 150,000 state workers are mad that Schwarzenegger is restoring his movie career while they have no options. He called it a "slap in the face." The campaign's slogan is "Tell Arnold We're Not Expendable."

Schwarzenegger's brief role is unpaid and won't be included in the credits, according to Aaron McLear, the governor's spokesman.

"Furlough days are not something we want to do, but until we have a workable budget we really have no choice," McLear said in an interview with DailyFinance.

Schwarzenegger's Sacrifices

In a recent speech before the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Fresno, Schwarzenegger took some hard questions about when the furloughs will stop and what he is doing to make sacrifices.

"I make certain sacrifices. I'm working for seven years without getting any salary. My salary, I never receive, I just give it back to the state because that's not why I'm in this job," he said in a transcript provided by the Sacramento Bee. "So that's why I feel, you know, that the least thing I can do is work for seven years and not think about my movie career or the $30 million a movie and all of those kinds of things.

"But forget that. I've made enough money because of California and because of America. So let's go and do something."

The movie, which opens Friday, is directed by Sylvester Stallone, who also has a role in the film. Other stars include Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, Giselle Itie and Eric Roberts.
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* I don't believe this one will be a hit but will stand corrected this weekend.
Outside of the controversy,in my opinion there are too many stars stepping on each other's toes.
This is a "B" movie destined for a "C-". *






]]> Digital Media ash1280 http://www.puretalkforum.com/f17/expendables-7246.html