On Saturday, thousands of people gathered in 11 cities across the planet to celebrate the birth of Peyo, the man who gave us the Smurfs, for Global Smurfs Day 2011. In fact, 4,891 people combined to set a new Guinness World Record for the “Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Smurfs within a 24-hour Period in Multiple Venues.” This, of course, means that there had been a previous record for people dressed as Smurfs, and that distinction belonged to 2,510 losers. As for the people who participated in this global blue ball…

The 11 venues were Brussels, Belgium; Athens, Greece; Scheveningen (The Hague), Holland; Dublin, Ireland; Mexico City, Mexico; Panama City, Panama; Warsaw, Poland; Moscow, Russia; Johannesburg, South Africa; New York, USA; and London, UK. The record was announced by Marc Weinstock, President, Worldwide Marketing for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Mr. Weinstock commented, “It’s a thrill to see so many people turn out to be a part of this true fan moment in Smurfs history. Breaking a Guinness World Record on Global Smurfs Day is a testament to the enormous appeal and popularity of these beloved characters.” (Galatta)

It’s certainly a Smurf of a marketing tool for Sony, as the company’s live action feature The Smurfs opens on July 29, starring Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry… *sigh*… George Lopez, Kenan Thompson, and Jeff Foxworthy. As for this new record, I’m an 80s child so I can appreciate the nostalgia for a cartoon that influenced a generation to try hallucinogenic drugs, but after looking through hundreds of photos from around the world, I was a little confused. You can see for yourself what the gatherings looked like, as I’ve included images from England, Poland, Ireland, Mexico, Panama, South Africa and New York City after the jump. Let’s see if the rest of the Drunkards can figure out why I’m upset.

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According to Funny or Die, this is a little vignette called “Wikus and Charlize”, which originally played as an intro clip during the South African Music Awards (which is apparently something that exists).  In it, District 9′s Sharlto Copley reprises his role as Wikus van de Merwe, the Afrikaaner Steve Carell, and tries to convince fellow South African Charlize Theron to appear with him at the awards show.  I post it mainly because I know there are many of you who can’t get enough of Wikus from District 9.  I enjoy it too, even though Afrikaaners sound like scary witch people, and if I ran into one I’d probably burn it alive just to be safe.  This must be what they listen to while they wait for their babies to cook.

[ForD via Cinematical]

Oscar bait, anyone?  This is the trailer for Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood, starring beloved actor Morgan Freeman as beloved leader of South Africa Nelson Mandela. Hoping to unite his country in the wake of apartheid, Mandela calls on Springboks captain Francois Pienaar (Mmmatt Daaaamon) to get the country behind their rugby team during the 1995 World Cup hosted by South Africa.  It’s basically Cinderella Team, or District 9 without the aliens.

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A lot of people are predicting Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 to be the sleeper hit of the summer, and now we’ve got a full-length trailer. (Trailer also available in HD at Yahoo)

Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in Johannesburg, South Africa’s District 9 as the world’s nations argued over what to do with them. [Yahoo]

The film was shot documentary-style, and as you can see from the trailer, robots also seem to factor into the plot somehow.  Anyway, the humans fear the aliens, so they marginalize them from society and control their movements, and the aliens’ frustrations eventually makes them violent, which only proves to the humans they were right to stick them in ghettoes all along. Anyone else smell a parable for Palestinians, or some other ethnic minority group?  Then again, the director’s South African, so it might just be an allegory for how much he hates black people.  They can get away with that in South Africa.  Why?  Diplomatic immunity.
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