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

Movie: Disney’s A Christmas Carol * Trailer * Official Site 
In Theaters: Nov. 6, 2009

Runtime: 96 minutes
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

MPAA Rating: PG for scary sequences an images
Gecko Rating:

We all know the classic Charles Dickens tale about the crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge who’s visited by three ghosts who make him see the light. There’s really nothing new to tell here, but it’s the WAY the story is told that makes it seem fresh and new in our eyes. This animated, 3D version of “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” does indeed bring new life to the story.
It’s directed by Robert …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

A new version of the classic film “A Christmas Carol” is headed to theaters on Nov. 6, 2009. This time, Jim Carrey takes center stage as the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge, as well as all three ghosts!
The CG-animated movie is rated G, and also features the voices of Robin Wright Penn, Colin Firth, Gary Oldman and Michael J. Fox. Watch the trailer here.
Here are a few photos of Carrey and director-writer Robert Zemeckis on their “train tour” at Grand Central Station to promote the film. Looks like a blast!
By the way, Carrey has gained a few pounds for …read more

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

I’ll preface this post by saying I’m a big fan of anything “Star Trek” (thanks to my Trekkie mom), so I was thrilled to learn that Warner Archive would be releasing Gene Roddenberry’s 1970’s TV pilots, “Genesis II” and the follow-up “Planet Earth” on DVD today.
GENESIS II, 74 minutes, 1973. “My name is Dylan Hunt. My story begins the day on which I died.” Set between now and the era of the starship Enterprise, this story follows Hunt (Alex Cord), who awakens after 154 years of suspended animation into a post-apocalyptic world that’s torn between the peace-loving citizens …read more

The “Toy Story” movies are those rare types of movies that could go into infinity and beyond, and I’d be the first person in line to see every one at the theater. They’re just so creative and fun. “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” are opening in theaters this weekend, packaged as a double feature re-released in 3D. That’s pretty cool, even though I don’t always go for the 3D movies. I think these will be the exception.
“Toy Story 3,” set for a June 18, 2010 release, finds Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toy box gang at …read more

One of my favorite clips from the classic “Wizard of Oz” is when Dorothy and Toto touch down in Munchkinland. The Good Witch appears in her shimmery bubble and tells Dorothy what happened (the house landing on the Bad Witch with her ruby shoes sticking out from underneath).
To celebrate the DVD and Blu-ray release of “The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition,” here’s the clip below. The commemorative edition contains nearly four hours of all-new and never-before-available bonus features. Buy it on Amazon. 

TCM has been releasing some fantastic collections on DVD lately, and this week brings “TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Murder Mysteries.”
The set includes “The Maltese Falcon,” “The Big Sleep,” “Dial M For Murder,” and “The Postman Always Rings Twice.” I can see myself vegging out on the couch for an afternoon with these lovely murder mysteries. More detail on this two-disc set from Warner Home Video (Buy it on Amazon):

The Maltese Falcon. This is classic Bogart in his prime, with plenty of rat-a-tat banter as he plays a detective so tough, he beats someone with his own gun …read more

It’s hard to imagine "Harvey" with anyone but Jimmy Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, the guy who befriended a 6 1/2-foot-tall invisible rabbit in the 1950 film version of Mary Chase’s play — which won a Pulitzer Prize, by the way.
But if anyone can do a remake, it would be Steven Spielberg, who plans to direct an upcoming film, a co-production of 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks. It’s the first film under DreamWorks’ new incarnation; the company will finance 50% through its new partner Reliance and distribute through Disney.
It’s funny how all these film companies are hooked …read more