Viral videos of the week: Vin Diesel sings and Anne Hathaway swings

10 Apr 2015

Actors Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Photo via facebook.com/VinDiesel

This week in viral videos, Vin Diesel pays tribute to his friend Paul Walker with a song, Anne Hathaway swings like Miley Cyrus, and a springbreaker meets a manatee.

About 100 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, 500 years of video are watched on Facebook every day, and more than 700 YouTube videos are shared on Twitter each minute, ensuring there is always video trending on the web.

With so much video available for viewing, we take a look at some of the viral videos that caught our eyes this week…

Vin Diesel sings See You Again in tribute to Paul Walker

Despite being known for playing on-screen tough guys, we all know Vin Diesel to be a gentle soul at heart.

With Fast and Furious 7 currently raking it in at the box office, the actor took time during an interview to pay tribute to his sadly-departed friend and co-star, Paul Walker.

Vin’s not much of a singer, but he still attempted to croon a segment of See You Again, Wiz Khalifa’s new single that plays over a Walker montage at the end of the movie. He even appears to get a wee bit emotional too.

Uploaded: 7 April 2015

Anne Hathaway on Lip Sync Battle

Lip Sync Battle is based on the popular segment previously featured on US chat show The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. which saw celebs mouthing the words to famous pop songs. Hosted by LL Cool J, the first season has already welcomed a number of A-list stars, including Justin Bieber and The Rock.

None though have caught the attention like Oscar winner and Interstellar star Anne Hathaway, who took on Miley Cyrus’s Wrecking Ball and recreated the famous video.

Swinging from a giant wrecking ball like Miley herself, Hathaway even took the opportunity to flip off her opponent, Emily Blunt.

Uploaded: 6 April 2015

John Oliver and Edward Snowden talk password security

Last Week Tonight host John Oliver’s interview with Edward Snowden last week was total must-see TV, as the comedian questioned the former NSA contractor on the firm’s extreme surveillance in terms everyone could relate to: Are the American government storing pictures of your junk?

As a follow up, the news show has posted an unseen extract from the piece that sees the duo discuss password security. Most of Oliver’s recommended passwords fail Snowden’s security test, but the American exile’s own suggestion that references Maggie Thatcher is the real pearler.

A little extra from Sunday’s interview. John Oliver and Edward Snowden talk password security.

Posted by Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on Thursday, 9 April 2015

Uploaded: 9 April 2015

Sesame Street: Game of Chairs (Game of Thrones parody)

The wholesome fun of Sesame Street might seem as far away from Game of Thrones’ blood-soaked madness as you can get, but that didn’t stop the long-running children’s TV show from tipping its hat to the series.

The parody saw characters battle it out to become king or queen of Jesteros by playing musical chairs. And when you play the Game of Chairs, you win or you stand!

Uploaded: 6 April 2015

Women’s self-defence in 1947

This nearly 70-year-old video has been kicking around the internet for a while, but this week got a boost after being posted on the Meetville Facebook page.

In a demonstartion of self-defence techniques, the grainy black and white footage sees a woman unleash a cavalcade of judo throws and martial arts manoeuvres on her would-be attacker.

The way she throws the dude around like a rag doll is impressive in 2015. Imagine what onlookers must have thought in 1947, a time when women were often discouraged from vigorous exercise, lest they damage their delicate lady organs. 

Women self defense in 1947

Posted by Meetville on Monday, 6 April 2015

 

Uploaded: 6 April 2015

Jurassic Park star Chris Pratt

Appearing on MTV to promote the forthcoming rebooted Jurassic Park, actor Chris Pratt had a unique take on John Williams’ iconic score.

By adding lyrics to the series’ famed theme tune, he pretty much cut to the core of why everyone loves these flicks. Sample lyric: “It’s Jurassic Park/It’s Jurassic Park/And the dinosaurs will flip out and eat someone/Run!” 

We’re looking forward to seeing just that when the movie comes out in June.

 

A video posted by MTV (@mtv) on

Uploaded: 8 April 2015

 

True Detective trailer

Following the moody masterpiece that was the first season of True Detective won’t be easy for the team behind the show, but the first glimpse of the new series is certainly encouraging.

This dialogue-free trailer matches the tone of the original, while also giving us a nice preview of Colin Farrell’s handlebar moustache, which we thought he had retired a decade ago following the relase of Miami Vice. No mullet this time, mind.

The clip also features Farreller’s co-stars Rachel McAdams, Vince Vaughn and Taylor Kitsch.

Uploaded: 9 April 2015

Girl getting attacked by a manatee 

Have you seen It Follows? The recent horror movie that centres on a girl being pursued by a supernatural entity?

If so, this video will look familiar. But rather than being pursued by a ghostly figure, this girl is majorly freaking out because there’s a manatee swimming around her.

Perhaps the most notable thing about this clip, though, is her high selfie-stick skill level. Even as the manatee closes in she never loses her grip.

Uploaded: 6 April 2015

Dean Van Nguyen was a contributor to Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com