Top Geek Events for 2010

By Stephen Tramontana on January 1st, 2010

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As we bid adieu to what I’m sure Historians will refer to as “the trainwreck decade” (or maybe that’s just me), it’s time to look forward all the good things headed our way in 2010. If the…er…Aughts gave us anything, it was a substantial rise in stature to people who formally kept their collectors items in the closet.

So as you’re recovering from yet another failed attempt to moderate your alcohol intake, keep in mind these upcoming events for the New Year. I present the Top Geek Events of 2010 (not an exclusive list):

1. The Return of Pee-wee Herman

It may not be the movie we were all hoping for, but the return of Pee-wee Herman at all is a near miracle. It used to be that intellectual property had approximately three years to make another episode or be lost forever, but we now live in a time where entire decades can come and go and our beloved childhood heroes will return to us (please see Ghostbusters 3 further down the list).  Beginning January 12th and running for four weeks, Herman will unleash a live version of his treasured Pee-wee’s Playhouse show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Most of the old gang will be back, and one can only hope that Larry Laurence Fishburne will reprise his role as Cowboy Curtis.

2. Iron Man 2

It seems like these days films must suffer some degree of internet wrath to be considered legitimate. Almost nothing can go into production without being greeted by cynicism and doubt, and Iron Man was no different. He was a second-tier character played by a burned out Hollywood star. Then the movie was actually, you know, released, and Marvel’s production gamble paid off in spades. Now that it has proved to be the franchise to beat (after Nolan’s Batman), the pressure is on to deliver not only a better movie than the first, but a strong setup to The Avengers end game that Marvel has been planning all along. If the teaser trailer is any indication, all your base are belong to this movie.

3. Bioshock 2

Remember that time you had that horrible nightmare after watching The Shining where you were stuck in a shuttered motel/industrial complex and something big, mean, and scary was hunting you? No? Just me? Okay, well you get the drift. Though the likes of Resident Evil and Silent Hill had teased us with great Horror experiences, Bioshock came along and shamed them all. Never have demonic little girls and lugs in dive suits been so frightening, with some of the best sound design engineered for any medium. Come February, the long-awaited second chapter arrives to continue the Horror show, but now you’re playing as a Big Daddy.

4. RUMORS!

If the last two decades have given us anything, it’s been the gift of internet rumors. Internet rumors are kind of like the meth of the geek world. They don’t cost much, they help you waste a lot of time doing nothing, and ultimately will kill your sex life. 2010 looks to be a banner year for a heap of juicy internet rumors. We’ll get our first bits of production stills and reports on the likes of Spider-Man 4, The Green Lantern, Thor, Captain America, and the mother of all internet rumors: Batman 3. Yes, as Nolan’s Inception hits screens this summer, we’ll no doubt be bombarded with the first real exclusives of what is happening with the next Bat-film. Will he return to direct (most likely)?, who will be the villians (Catwoman? Riddler? Someone new?)?, and because it just doesn’t seem to die in the face of absolute fact, will Two-Face return?

5. Ghostbusters 3 (finally)

There was a time when Ghostbusters 3 seemed like it would never happen. That time happenned to be when Bill Murray was going through a career slump. Now, almost a decade later, Mr. Murry is game to reprise scientist-Lothario Peter Venkman and join the other guys in putting a cap on one of the 1980’s best exports. Cast and crew have been playing coy, but now both Sigourney Weaver and Harold Ramis have essentially confirmed it’s happening, and will start shooting this summer for a May 2011 release. So while this is techinically a 2011 Geek Event, the mere fact that it’s even a reality this year warrants placement on the list. Who ya gonna call, indeed.