Fridays mean new movies come out! I look forward to that as I’m always looking for a reason to eat movie popcorn!

As a copy editor, I get to edit the reviews a couple of days before they are printed in today’s TGIF section. Though sometimes I try to avoid reading about the films that I’m hoping to catch in the theater so I can be surprised.

Are you a movie buff? Or more specifically, how well do you know your movie titles? (Don’t worry, this is not a trivia game where you gotta guess some obscure movie line!)

Did you know that various nations tweak movie titles to cater to local tastes? See if you can recognize any of these current showings.

U.S. film titles abroad are ODD
By CHRIS HAWLEY
USA Today

MEXICO CITY — This weekend, thousands of Mexicans will line up at theaters to see “The Knight of the Night,” “Super Agent 86” and “The End of Time.”

Never heard of them?

Those are the literal translations of the Spanish titles given to “The Dark Knight,” “Get Smart” and “The Happening,” examples of the marketing tactics that can leave cinephiles baffled as Hollywood reaches out to increasingly important foreign audiences.

Depending on the nation, moviegoers are watching “Get Smart’s” Steve Carell in “Max the Menace” (France), “Agent Smart: Casino Totale” (Italy), “Is the Spy Capable or Not?” (Taiwan), or “Confused Spy” (China).

Titles are often tweaked to suit local tastes. Last year’s comedy hit “Knocked Up” was given the gentler title “Slightly Pregnant” in Roman Catholic Peru and the gloriously blunt “One Night, Big Belly” in China.

Hollywood has taken a more active role in translating its titles in recent years, says David Weitzner, a former chief of worldwide promotion for 20th Century Fox and Universal. Some films make half of their money overseas, and studios are increasingly doing “global launches” to generate buzz.

The translations used to be left to foreign film distributors, with dubious results. Some titles gave away key plot points, such as when “Rain Man” became “When Brothers Meet” in Latin America.

U.S. film titles for foreign movies are often odd, too. “Open Your Eyes,” a Spanish film about a man in suspended animation, became “Vanilla Sky” when it was remade with Tom Cruise.

Other titles in foreign markets:
• “American Pie”: “American Virgin Man” China)
• “Juno”: “Run, Grow and Trip” (Mexico)
• “Alien”: “The Eighth Passenger of the Nostromo” (Poland)
• “Much Ado About Nothing”: “Lots of Noise and Not Many Nuts” (Latin America)
• “Airplane!”: “The Unbelievable Trip on a Wacky Airplane” (Germany)

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So, in the spirit of Movie Fridays, can anyone think of a twist on the title for these movies? The ODDER the better!

• “Swing Vote”
• “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”
• “Hancock”
• “Journey to the Center of the Earth”
• “Mamma Mia!”

Anyone planning on seeing a movie this weekend? Do you prefer to see films on opening weekend or wait until the crowds die down? Ever get dressed up for those hyped-up movies?

Or do you prefer to watch movies from the comfort (and cleanliness) of your own home — with the surround sound and comfy couch?

For those hoping to maybe just rent a movie this weekend, anyone want to throw out some suggestions? What are you favorite comedies, action flicks, horror shows, romantic movies or tearjerkers?

Planning on doing any traveling soon?

Clothes? Check. Toiletries? Check. Extra cash (for all those new fees)? Check.

Even got the dwarf packed. Say what? Yup, you heard right…

Dwarf comedy stunt shocks Swedish airport staff
Associated Press

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Swedish airport staff were not amused when a team from a TV comedy show tried to check in a suitcase with a dwarf inside.

Employees at Bromma airport called police when the dwarf hopped out of the suitcase at the check-in counter.

Police soon found that it was a stunt being filmed by a hidden camera for a program on private TV network Kanal 5.

Police spokesman Mats Eriksson says airport staff decided against filing charges even though they were “shocked and humiliated” by Wednesday’s stunt.

Kanal 5 spokesman Dan Panas told Swedish news agency TT that the show was meant to be “provocative and entertaining.”

He said the stunt was not meant to make fun of little people, but to make entertainment out of “extreme situations.”
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Ever tried to get away with packing something illegal? Security is pretty tight so I can’t imagine it would be easy. They don’t even let my bottle of water through!

What ODD things have you seen people travel with? Or better yet, what strange airplane behavior have you seen?

Any TV-worthy stunts you’ve played on others or perhaps “extreme situations” where you got played? Kinda reminds me of that Ashton Kutcher “Punk’d” show. It’s funny to watch, though I feel bad for the guys who the joke is on!

I’m warning you, this next story might be offensive to some. But it really happened. A man dressed in a penis costume joined graduates for the ceremony at one high school in New York. There’s even a video to prove it…

Apology for the public penis costume
Associated Press

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — A judge has ordered a 19-year-old man to write an apology to the city of Saratoga Springs in New York for dressing in an offensive costume at a high school graduation.

Calvin Morett had pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for dressing in a 6-foot penis costume at the graduation at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. A video of his visit last month has appeared on YouTube.

The judge has also ordered Morett to pay to have the apology published in a local newspaper, pay court fees and perform 24 hours of community service.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/AlzkaDEWmas" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

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Hmm, have you seen anything more ODD at a graduation ceremony that can top this stunt?

With Halloween a few months away, given any thought to what might make for a fun and talked-about costume? What unique costumes have you seen or worn before? I noticed the trend in recent years has been sexy costumes. Wonder why that is… perhaps people want to break free from their mundane lives for a night of wild fun?

Speaking of fun, our Midlife Crisis blogger has a word game (my favorite kind of games!) in progress. Come play with us while Rodney is away on vacation!

Ever imagine how your claim to fame could be? In this digital age, it probably will come on YouTube. And I’m not talking about infamous sex tapes that has churned out some self-made celebrities.

Even if you have no intentions of becoming a household name on the Internet, make sure your significant other is also in the loop.

Take the story of 25-year-old Lauren Bernat, who if you haven’t heard, can be seen gyrating in a T-shirt and striped underwear to Nintendo’s Wii Fit video game. The YouTube clip titled “Why every guy should buy their girlfriend Wii Fit” was surreptitiously filmed by her boyfriend while she did hula-hoop motions on the exercise device in her apartment.

The minute-long video was posted on Memorial Day weekend and has since been viewed more than 4 million times.

The boyfriend, who is director of interactive media for Miami-based Tinsley Advertising, says he was “testing a couple ideas” that day he sat on a couch behind Bernat and made her famous.

Despite Bernat’s initial fury, she is now enjoying her instant fame. “There’s been a radio station interview. I’ve got MTV calling me,” she says. “The U.K. wants me to do an exclusive photo shoot. People are asking me, ‘Do you work for Nintendo?’ This thing has taken off; it’s insane!”

The video has drawn 3,500-plus comments on YouTube, including this one: “I get a huge flashback to Cameron Diaz doin’ her booty shake in Charlie’s Angels. … Props to your girl.” (And just a warning that some of the comments are not exactly PG.)

[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/v31qxrXsxv0" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

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Personally, I think the video is boring. Yet I still wouldn’t want to be the one unknowingly starring in it. And I wouldn’t be happy with the person who uploaded the video either. By the way, Bernat and her boyfriend are still together.

Is today’s technology coming back to hurt us as people find ways to take advantage of the Internet? When cameras started becoming popular on cell phones, signs went up at the gym prohibiting the use of them in the locker rooms. Though the thought of someone snapping a picture while you’re in a bathroom stall never even crossed my mind…

Have you been a victim of technology? Would you ever secretly upload a video of your friends or partner?

What are your thoughts on using YouTube for your 15 minutes of fame?

Becoming a star used to seem so hard. Nowadays, reality shows and YouTube are churning out celebrities whose names we often forget with the next big face.

But a teen singer from the Philippines is rapidly gaining attention in the U.S. with her powerful voice. Some of you may have heard of Charice Pempengco, who recently appeared on Oprah and first got recognition on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Hear for yourself the next possible Whitney Houston.

According to a story I found on ABS CBN News Online, here’s some background on the teen sensation, who apparently now only goes by her first name:

After a landmark guesting in Ellen DeGeneres’ show (and then in those of Paul O’Brady in London and Oprah Winfrey), Charice shared the spotlight this past weekend with Josh Groban, John Mayer and Alicia Keys in a show organized by songwriter David Foster for the grand opening of the MGM Grand Casino-Hotel at Foxwood, Connecticut, USA.

Here’s the full report from STAR columnist Michael Gurfinkel and his wife Millie who were in that Foxwood event (it was the couple who helped expedite the issuance of the US visa of Charice and her mom Raquel):

Saturday, May 17, was the grand opening of the hotel.

David Foster put together and produced the very first show, featuring Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, John Mayer and, of course, the International Singing Sensation and pride of the Philippines, Charice.

Charice appeared just before Groban and sang a medley of the Whitney Houston hits I Have Nothing and I Will Always Love You (from the movie The Bodyguard which stars Houston herself and Kevin Costner).

Charice received a standing ovation, the only performer to receive one that night, and therefore the first performer at the MGM Foxwoods to receive a standing ovation.

Foster asked the crowd after Charice finished her numbers, “Would you like one more song?”

The audience cheered and shouted an enthusiastic “Yes!” Foster said that he and Charice would do And I’m Telling You…unrehearsed!

After they sang, the audience once again gave Charice another standing ovation. Among those in the audience were Quincy Jones, and Michael Douglas with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Backstage, Foster, Alicia and Josh congratulated Charice for her “phenomenal performance.”

Next stop for Charice is the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Friday, May 23, where she will perform once again with Josh Groban, along with Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble and Katherine McPhee.

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And because we just can’t get enough of that voice, here’s another clip of her appearing on a Korean show (looks like when she was younger):

While there is no denying she has talent, do you think it’s too easy to become famous on the Web — for either good or bad reasons? Hey, “American Idol” could be in for some tough competition should a singing competition evolve online!