William World News William F. Yurasko's blog v.14 – Nats, Redskins, Capitals, D.C. life, transportation, not so much Penn State anymore,

Marion Barry biopic in development with Eddie Murphy as star – Reliable Source, The Post
Eddie Murphy is going to star in a HBO movie about Washington D.C.’s “mayor for life” Marion Barry. He’s not the first person I would have selected, but if Murphy wants a serious acting challenge, he just signed on for one. [...]

Saturday was the 25th anniversary of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, one of my favorite movies. I have been thinking about the movie lately, especially after I got ride around my dad’s classic Triumph ragtop the other day. The timing is merely coincidental.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is great escapism, whether you are a kid in school [...]

It’s Time for Your Face-Lift, Miss Piggy – The Times
A new Muppets movie is due this Christmas, but can Disney make the Muppets great again?
I am a big Muppets fan — the show and The Muppet Movie were fantastic, but efforts since then have seen diminishing returns both creatively and financially. The obvious reason is [...]

So, I go to the NY Daily News Web site this morning and I see this:
‘Heavy Metal Parking Lot’ 25th anniversary celebrated at Found Footage Festival screening.
It is already almost 5 years since I interviewed Jeff Krulik and John Heyn about the 20th anniversary of Heavy Metal Parking Lot. The cult classic is a documentary [...]

Remember that movie starring Owen Wilson as a Washington Nationals relief pitcher? The trailer for How Do You Know? is now out:
'How Do You Know' Theatrical Trailer @ Yahoo! Video
I laughed twice during the trailer which would be two more times that I anticipated. I guess James L. Brooks still has it or something. He [...]

Did ‘Star Wars’ become a toy story? Producer Gary Kurtz looks back – LA Times
The Star Wars saga was not all it could have been, but it was still pretty good. Producer Gary Kurtz explains why he left after The Empire Strikes Back and uses a magical phrase “teddy bear luau.”
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I was just thinking about Star Wars Robot Chicken the other day, wondering if there would be more. The answer is yes — Adult Swim Hatches Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III – starwars.com
“We’re telling more of a linear story this time that covers the series from start to finish,” says Green. Senreich says, “We [...]

Why David Lynch turned down Return of the Jedi! – Sci Fi WireIt is pretty hard to even comprehend David Lynch directing Return of the Jedi, yet George Lucas sought him out for it.
If there are any more Star Wars Robot Chicken episodes, they really need to do some Lynch-ian parodies.

H/T The Ewoks [...]

Mike’s Movies to liquidate stock – The CollegianIt has been a rough week for State College, first QWK Rock going off the air and now Mike’s Movies & Music going out of business. They are selling their inventory and closing up the Calder Way location for good. Frankly, I am surprised it lasted so long.
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Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse files for Ch. 11 – Washington Business JournalFritz texted me on Friday evening (while I was in Pennsylvania) the news that the Arlington Cinema n’ Drafthouse is in chapter 11 bankruptcy. Their second location, the now shuttered Montgomery County Cinema n’ Drafthouse is the cause. I have to wonder if adding [...]