July 17th, 2009
Happy Friday!! I think you already know what’s out in theaters this weekend, but if you haven’t heard…..
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (PG)
The sixth installment of the Harry Potter films, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Alan Rickman. The film centers on Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts, as Voldemort’s grip on the Muggle and Wizards worlds tightens, Dumbledore begins to prepare Harry begins to prepare for the inevitable battle he must fight. To uncover a vital key to unlocking Voldemort’s defenses, critical information known only to Hogwarts’ former Potions Professor, Horace Slughorn, Dumbledore lures the professor back to Hogwarts. The film also stars Helena Bonham Carter, and Maggie Smith.
It raked in 58-point-four-million dollars on Wednesday. The film now lays claim to the second-biggest Wednesday opening ever. The blockbuster smash “The Dark Knight” still holds the record for the largest single day opening ever, collecting 67-point-two-million dollars on July 18, 2008. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” will now look to eclipse “The Dark Knight’s” record for a five-day opening, with 203-point-eight-million dollars.
GEORGE LUCAS IS HOLLYWOOD’S HIGHEST-PAID MAN
Although the actors tend to get all the press, it’s the Hollywood players behind the scenes who earn the most money. George Lucas topped Forbes’ first ever “Hollywood’s Highest-Paid Men” list by banking $170 million in the past year, followed closely behind by Steven Spielberg, who pocketed $150 million. Jerry Seinfeld earned the highest spot on the list of any actor, coming it at number four after having made $85 million last year.
1. George Lucas: $170 million
2. Steven Spielberg: $150 million
3. Jerry Bruckheimer: $100 million
4. Jerry Seinfeld: $85 million
5. Phil McGraw: $80 million
6. Tyler Perry: $75 million
7. Dick Wolf: $75 million
8. Simon Cowell: $75 million
9. Bruce Springsteen: $70 million
10. Howard Stern: $70 million
11. Harrison Ford: $65 million
12. Kenny Chesney: $65 million
13. James Patterson: $60 million
14. Adam Sandler: $55 million
15. Larry David: $55 million
URINE AS NEW ENERGY SOURCE?
A new technology that uses urine could be powering cars and houses by the end of the year, according to a Discovery Channel report. Scientists at Ohio University used a nickel-based electrode to make cheap hydrogen from urine. When scientists stuck the electrode into a pool of urine and applied an electrical current, hydrogen gas was released — and used in fuel cells. The prototype, is about three inches by three inches and it produces up to 500 milliwatts of power. The scientists are hoping to create commercial versions of the technology.
AMERICANS SPEND MOST OF WEB TIME ON FACEBOOK
Nielsen Online’s U.S. June report showed that Facebook was first out of the top ten web brands when it comes to time spent online and sixth when it comes to overall traffic. During the month of June, Facebook attracted 87 million US users, who each spent an average of four hours and 39 minutes on the site. After Facebook, Americans spend most of their time on Yahoo properties, which was an average of three hours and 15 minutes per person, followed by AOL which two hours and 43 minutes per user. Google came in fourth, with each person spending an average of two hours and 43 minutes on the search site and Microsoft ranked fifth, with two hours and 12 minutes spent by each user across its sites.
Movie Clip Trivia Answer: She’s All That