I wasn’t around when “Gone With the Wind” was released in 1939, but thankfully, I had an opportunity to see it on the big screen, as our downtown theater — the State Theatre in Traverse City, Michigan — played it when I was in high school. That same theater is playing it again to celebrate the film’s 70th anniversary.
On Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, Warner Home Video staged their own Flash Mob, as 70 couples in period costumes celebrated the film’s anniversary by dancing “The World’s Largest Virginia Reel” in the historic Marietta Georgia Town Square.
And get this. Four original …read more

Right before “Bruno” was released in theaters, the scene with LaToya Jackson was deleted out of respect for the death of Michael Jackson.
But, of course, it’s included in the special features on the DVD and Blu-ray, hitting shelves Nov. 17, 2009 from Universal Home Entertainment.
The movie stars Sacha Baron Cohen as an Austrian TV host searching for fame and fortune in America. During the process, he pranks any and everyone who crosses his path.
Really, though, you’ve gotta believe that celebrities can see him coming a mile away. It’s not like Cohen hasn’t been on TV and …read more

Some friends of mine were hoping to get to this, and it looks like it was loads of fun. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Say Anything,” people in trench coats holding boom boxes were seen around New York City earlier today.

The film starred John Cusack as mediocre student Lloyd Dobler, attempting to capture the heart of a beautiful valedictorian. Even if you’ve never seen the movie (you need to fix that right now), you’ve likely seen the picture of Cusack holding that iconic boom box over his head.
Buy the 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray and DVD of “Say …read more

The lovely Disney/Pixar film “Up” hits DVD and Blu-ray on Nov. 10, 2009 (read my review here), and I had an opportunity to catch up with writer-director Pete Docter (pictured), who talked about the challenges of making an animated movie.
Q: “Up” became the first animated film to open the Cannes Film Festival. Do you believe animated features are becoming accepted as a more serious artistic platform?
Pete Docter: We were very honored to be the first animated film to open the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Walking around there, I kept picturing Hitchcock, Coppola, Truffaut; these big time directors … …read more

“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” hits DVD and Blu-ray tomorrow, Nov. 3, 2009, and I’ve got a great prize pack for you below, offered on behalf of Paramount Home Entertainment.
The movie tells the story of an elite military unit of special operatives known as G.I. Joe, who take on an evil organization led by a notorious arms dealer.
Directed by Stephen Sommers, it stars Sienna Miller, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayons, Dennis Quaid, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Check out the trailer and the G.I. Joe Faceoff Game on Facebook.
THE GIVEAWAY: I have one prize pack ($80+ value) that includes …read more

“Pee-wee’s Playhouse” used to be a favorite, and I loved the movies that came out of that show — “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” and “Big Top Pee-wee.”
Then there was that whole nasty child porn scandal and things sort of when kaput for Paul Reubens’ career. Who really knows what happened, but the charges were eventually dropped.
But there’s no denying that the guy was a creative genius, and he’s hoping to bring back some of that magic. The Emmy-winning, 57-year-old actor is donning that skinny suit again for an elaborate live show and an upcoming movie, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The …read more

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is out on DVD and Blu-ray today. Can we ever get enough of that cute little pixie? I think not. She’s just darling, and that attitude!
In this DVD, Mae Whitman voices Tinker Bell, who journeys far north of Neverland to patch things up with her friend Terence and restore a Pixie Dust Tree. It’s all very noble.
Other voices include Raven-Symone, Jesse McCartney, Lucy Liu, Kristin Chenoweth, Pamela Adlon, and Anjelica Huston. Check out the clips:
Featurette: Fashion (bonus):

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. The gang comes back and finds a paradise world underneath their ice. Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, John Leguizamo, and Denis Leary star in this fun animated tale. [Film Gecko Review] [Buy It]
Orphan. Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard star in this creepy thriller about a malevolent orphan who lands in the home of adoptive parents. [Buy It]
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (Two Disc + BD Live) [Blu-ray]. Raven Symone and Jesse McCartney star in this cute sequel that finds Tinkerbell saving the day. [Buy It]

Image: Amazon.com

Our household has been watching some great Halloween-type movies on Turner Classic Movies this weekend, including two Fay Wray movies: “Doctor X,” a classic 1932 flick about a reporter investigating a series of cannibalistic murders at a medical college (that’s Lionel Atwill pictured), and “Mystery of the Wax Museum,” a 1933 movie about a disfigured sculptor who turns murder victims into wax statues. Great stuff.
It’s easy to forget that this great archive of classic movies is available on TCM 24/7. Check their schedule for all the great scary movies. A few coming up this week:
Tuesday, Oct. 27: 
8 p.m. …read more

“Wrong Turn at Tahoe” hits DVD on Nov. 16, 2009, and I’ve got the DVD trailer below. Harvey Keitel, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Miguel Ferrer star in this crime drama about a small-time crime boss who kills a drug dealer without realizing that the drug dealer works for the biggest crime boss in the country.
Directed by Franck Khalfoun, it’s rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language, some drug use and sexual content. All of these actors are top-notch, and I’ve missed Harvey Keitel, since “Life on Mars” was canceled. Check out the trailer…
p>Wrong Turn at Tahoe Trailer from Jane …read more