Here’s a fun event! People who buy the Blu-ray copy of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (read my review here) can actually watch the film with Harry himself, Daniel Radcliffe, and director David Yates.
Well, sort of. Probably as close as we’ll ever get to the real thing anyway. It’s the first worldwide live community screening of the movie, and here’s how it works:
- Buy the Blu-ray disc of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” available on Dec. 8, 2009. Buy it on Amazon.com!
- Be one of the first 100,000 BD-Live community members (accessible through a BD-Live enabled …read more

In Steven Zeitchik’s Risky Biz Blog on The Hollywood Reporter, he talks about whether Fox Searchlight’s Oscar blitz over the past few years will come to an end.
The studio specializes in offbeat films like “Juno,”  “The Darjeeling Limited,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “The Wrestler,” and it’s heartening to think that Fox Searchlight films have been nominated for at least five Oscars in each of the past three years, including a best picture nom for all of them.
I say heartening because I always appreciate when the less mainstream films – the quirkier, more character driven films — earn audience kudos. It …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 movie “Precious” has been garnering lots of praise on the film festival circuit, and it opens in limited release on Nov. 6, 2009.
Executive producer Tyler Perry decided to open up about his own personal demons in a letter on his Web site.
“I’m tired of holding this in," he wrote. “I don’t know what to do with it anymore, so I’ve decided to give some of it away.”
“Precious” tells the story of a teenage girl who endures molestation and physical abuse. “I watched all the things that Precious, a 16-year-old girl in the film, went through. I …read more

You know, I understand wanting to name a film after a place, person or original film with a weird name, but really, it’s not a good idea. Trust me on this.
For one thing, you have to educate everyone in how to pronounce it. And for another – raising hand here — anyone who writes about it will undoubtedly get it wrong at some point. It’s just a pain.
But even with the hard-to-pronounce-and-spell title, “Reykjavik-Rotterdam” sounds like a good film, especially with Mark Wahlberg onboard.
The remake, based on an Icelandic film directed by Oskar Jonasson that’s in …read more

The video game “Spore” passed briefly through our household, but others like “World of Warcraft” took hold and stayed. Still, I can see the appeal of the cute little amoebic creatures, and apparently, so does Twentieth Century Fox.
The studio is pairing up with Electronic Arts to turn “Spore” into an animated feature film, with “Ice Age” director Chris Wedge attached to helm. Greg Erb and Jason Oremland, who also penned the upcoming “The Princess and the Frog” and “The Return of King Doug” are writing the screenplay.
Released in September 2008, “Spore” the video game lets players create their …read more

Looks like Darren Aronofsky’s “Robocop” remake may be stuck in OCP storage for the time being. He’s already working on the supernatural thriller “Black Swan” with Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, and according to Variety, he’s eyeing a heist flick.
It’s based on the true story of the Tonbridge Securitas robbery, which took place outside of London in February 2006, resulting in a haul worth $85 million. Former UFC fighter "Lightning" Lee Murray was reportedly behind the job.
Kerry Williamson is working on the script for XYZ Films, which Aronofsky is producing and may also direct. Sources include Jon Wertheim’s …read more

Walden Media has picked up a modern-day genie tale with “Gene,” written by Randi Mayem Singer and produced by Jordan Kerner via his Kerner Entertainment.
While few details about the plot are known, Walden helm Michael Bostick said the story “combines originality, humor, heart and broad appeal that all ages can enjoy. It is everything Walden embraces with family comedies."
Walden has a history of thoughtful family movies like “City of Ember,” “Nim’s Island,” “Because of Winn-Dixie,” and “How to Eat Fried Worms.” All great movies!
I’ll look forward to seeing what “Gene” is all about.

Images: Walden Media

Bilbo Baggins can continue to travel through Middle Earth, because the never-ending lawsuit by the Tolkien heirs has been resolved.
The Tolkien Trust and publisher HarperCollins had alleged that they didn’t receive a promised percentage of the “Lord of the Rings” movies’ box office. We’re talking several billion dollars, and the suit likely would have prevented Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson from continuing with the upcoming “Hobbit” movies. 
While the terms of the settlement are confidential, at least we can rest easy knowing that Bilbo and the rest of the hobbits and creatures of Middle Earth can continue …read more

Could Michael Moore’s new documentary, “Capitalism: A Love Story,” be his last? I’ve been wondering that myself, since the film will likely offend many companies who might offer financing for future films.
The film is a scathing critique of Wall Street, capitalism, and what some would call greedy bankers across America. Moore admits that many of the companies that financed this film will probably be unhappy with the final product.
“Why would these companies give money to me, a guy who is diametrically opposed to everything they stand for? One of the beautiful flaws of capitalism is they will …read more