I’m probably more in love with "Transformers" than "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (read my review here). They’re both rock-em sock-em movies with giant robots, but the first one had more plot and character development, in my view. Well, as much as you can have in a movie about giant robots. 

THE DVD: The 2007 action flick directed by Michael Bay centers on an ancient battle between two extraterrestrial robotic clans, the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons. But the key to who wins this battle is held by a teenage boy, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf). Also stars Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor, Jon Voight, and John Turturro.

("Transformers" is also now available in a two-disc Blu-ray edition. As with the DVD, it includes new deleted scenes and 25 minutes of bonus features; available on June 16 from from Paramount Home Entertainment.)

THE GIVEAWAY: I have FOUR “Transformers" DVDs to give away.  

HOW TO ENTER: To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post by midnight on Saturday, July 11, 2009. Be sure to include a valid email address. Winners will be drawn randomly. I’ll email the winner for their snail-mail address after the contest ends. Good luck!

Image: Amazon.com

I just posted a little tidbit about Antonio Banderas doing nude scenes as he turns 50 years old, so I thought I’d post a few stills from "The Code" (said movie in which he strips down).

Also known as "Thick as Thieves," "The Code" bypassed theaters and went straight to DVD yesterday. The story follows a veteran thief, Keith Ripley (Morgan Freeman), who recruits a younger crook, Gabriel Martin (Antonio Banderas), to help him pull one final job so he can repay his debt to the Russian mob. But what Ripley doesn’t know is that the younger crook is actually a Miami cop working with the NYPD to bring him to justice.

Gabriel gets involved in a romance with Ripley’s goddaughter, Alexandra (Radha Mitchell). When they get around to pulling the final job, a Russian mobster kidnaps the goddaughter and demands two Faberge eggs stolen in return.

Directed by Mimi Leder (a veteran filmmaker whose credits go back to "China Beach" and "Hill Street Blues"), "The Code" is rated R for sexuality, language and some nudity. With Freeman and Banderas, it sounds like a lovely game of cat-and-mouse shenanigans. Buy it on DVD or Blu-ray.

More pics after the jump…

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Movie stud Antonio Banderas has been known for showing some skin in his movie roles – well, at least taking his shirt off! But as he gets closer to 50, he’s a little leery of getting naked on screen.

Sure, he does it for his love scenes with Radha Mitchell in the upcoming crime drama The Code, but he wasn’t exactly comfortable with it.

He told the New York Post: "It’s always uneasy when you get into bed with a woman on screen. It’s difficult because you have 50 people around, and there are some people who are sensitive to that." 

He said he wanted to be as respectful to Mitchell as possible. "At the same time, I’m nearly 50 years old, and even I start getting more wary of those scenes. Everything changes as you get older - your mind, your body, the way you view the world."

Well, he still looks darn good to me, but I think it would be really weird getting naked onscreen with someone who’s not your real-life partner. All part of the acting process, I guess.

Image: Antonio Banderas as master thief Gabriel in "The Code," courtesy of First Look Studios, photo by Eric Liebowitz; Source: WENN

“Inkheart” is coming to DVD and Blu-ray on June 23, 2009. I didn’t see this in the theater, but I have a screener copy here, so will do a fresh review in the next day or so. Check out the trailer and preview here.

When Mo Folchart (Brendan Fraser) reads a story, the characters leap off the page, and he has to figure out how to get them back to their own world. Rated PG for fantasy adventure action, some scary moments and brief language, it also stars Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent. Visit the official “Inkheart” site, and watch the clip: 

Isla Fisher, Sophie Kinsella and Jerry Bruckheimer

I’ve heard people say that the timing of “Confessions of a Shopaholic” isn’t great, what with all of our personal and national economics woes. But as Val Kilmer said in “Tombstone,” I beg to diffah.

“Confessions” is the perfect movie right now, because a lot of us … ahem, not me, of course … are shopaholics, but this movie shows that you can overcome it and learn to curb your spending. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.

Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” says the movie is perfect for our current times.

“It’s a tale of redemption,” he says. “It’s a tale of a girl who is going on a journey, who makes mistakes as most young people do … the credit card companies love sending you credit cards so you exceed your limit and they can charge you interest. And this is a girl who overcomes her problems and figures a way out of her financial crisis, and hopefully the world will do the same thing.”

See? I knew I was right!

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Movie: Confessions of a Shopaholic * Trailer * Official Site * BuyIt	In Theaters: Feb. 13, 2009; On DVD & Blu-ray: June 23, 2009
Runtime: 112 minutes	Directed by: P. J. Hogan
MPAA Rating: PG for some mild language and thematic elements	Gecko Rating:

I’m a huge fan of all the Sophie Kinsella books, and "Confessions of a Shopaholic" is based on her book by the same name. It’s about a woman named Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher – pronounced "I-la")) who LOVES to shop.

There are more books in the series, including "Shopaholic Ties the Knot," "Shopaholic & Sister," "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan," and "Shopaholic & Baby," so I’m really, really (picture me in my most persistent voice here) hoping they make more of these movies, with Isla Fisher in the lead role. She’s so sweet and funny, and such a great comedic actress. She’s a Lucille Ball for the new age.

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Movie: Revolutionary Road * Trailer * Official Site	In Theaters: Dec. 26, 2008; On  DVD: June 2, 2009
Runtime: 119 minutes	Directed by: Sam Mendes
MPAA Rating: R for language and some sexual content/nudity	Gecko Rating:

As a rule, I generally don’t like movies that revolve around couples arguing. But as you can see above, I gave "Revolutionary Road" 5 out of 5 Geckos, and the reason is simple: Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

As I was watching this movie, I kept thinking, here’s a couple who really work well together. It’s like they’re hardly acting, because they’re so natural with each other, their dialogue and actions playing beautifully off each other. They’re a modern-day Kate Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, only way more intense and dramatic.

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New on DVD this week are a few horror movies, a dramedy, and a comedy. Take a look and see what appeals to you:

What Goes Up (NR). Steve Coogan plays a morally challenged New York reporter who learns a few life lessons from a group of dysfunctional students (Hilary Duff, Josh Peck, Olivia Thirlby), while covering the hometown hoopla surrounding the first teacher in space. Buy It

The Cell 2 (R ). This straight-to-DVD sequel to the 2000 Jennifer Lopez thriller follows a telepathic mind-melder (Tessie Santiago) who’s hired by the cops to get into the brain of a serial killer. Buy It

Friday the 13th (R ). Searching for his missing sister, Clay heads up to the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins (and other creepy things). Buy It (Extended Killer Cut!)

Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail (PG-13). America’s favorite pistol-packin’ grandma is raising hell behind bars and lobbying for her freedom! Buy It

Check out all of Film Gecko’s DVD recommendations at Amazon.com.

Image: Amazon.com

Clint Eastwood continues to knock me out with his heartfelt performances, this time in "Gran Torino," in which he plays Korean War vet Walt Kowalski. It’s a racially charged story that’s also violent and disturbing, with Eastwood’s classic humor thrown in for good measure.

Read my review of "Gran Torino," and buy the DVD on Film Gecko’s DVD Store on Amazon.

Bonus Features include some of the filmmakers reminiscing about their first cars or dream cars. We also get to see a Detroit rally of classic cars along Woodward Avenue, which is bittersweet considering Detroit’s altered auto scene in recent months. 

Also on DVD this week:

Crossing Over (R). Harrison Ford, Sean Penn, Ashley Judd, and Ray Liotta star in this movie about crime, fraud and murder, all revolving around a missing illegal. Buy "Crossing Over."

The International (R). Clive Owen and Naomi Watts star in this crime thriller about an obsessive Interpol agent who spearheads an investigation into a high-profile banking institution. Buy "The International."

Image: Amazon.com

In the world of classic cartoons, one of my favorites is “Tom and Jerry,” and much of that is because of the artistic style of legendary animator Chuck Jones.

Coming to DVD on June 23, 2009 is “Tom and Jerry: Chuck Jones Collection,” a must-have 2-disc collector’s set featuring all 34 theatrical shorts produced by Jones. Pre-order Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collectionon Amazon right now! And visit Film Gecko’s DVD Store on Amazon.

What I love about these cartoons is they’re not “in your face” like the cartoons of today (kids these days!). They’re more subtle. You have to actually watch the cartoon to catch everything, whereas a lot of modern-day cartoons – not naming names – are just made up of stupid characters doing stupid things.

Anyway, you can tell I’m a fan of the vintage cartoons like “Tom and Jerry,” and I’ve already checked out this collection and can tell you it’s awesome. It also includes two new bonus documentaries: “Tom and Jerry … and Chuck” and “Chuck Jones: Memories of a Childhood.”

After the jump, a trailer and complete list of shorts included in the set…

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