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

When I heard that Lindsay Lohan had an upcoming movie on ABC Family, something just didn’t click with that news. I mean, let’s face it. The girl hasn’t exactly been the stuff of family viewing in recent years. But who knows, maybe she’s doing a reboot and getting back on track.

Then again, since ABC Family started airing shows like "Secret Life of the American Teenager," maybe they’re more geared towards pregnancy stories. The IMDB Page for "Labor Pains" lists it as PG-13 for sexual content and language, and notes that it will be on DVD Aug. 4, 2009.  

"Labor Pains," will air on ABC Family on Sunday, July 19, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Lohan stars as Thea, an assistant at a publishing company who pretends to be pregnant so her boss won’t fire her. Her friend and co-worker, Lisa (Cheryl Hines), helps with the ruse, but as you might imagine, things don’t go as planned.

The movie also stars Janeane Garofalo, Chris Parnell, and Bonnie Sommerville. Watch the trailer and see more stills after the jump!

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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

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

He’s Just Not That Into You (PG-13). An all-star cast including Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Drew Barrymore, and Jennifer Connelly populate this romantic drama of love and angst. And yes, it’s more drama than comedy, despite the trailers. [Official Site]

Revolutionary Road (R). Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio team up again (remember “Titanic”?!) in this tale of repressed suburbia in the 1950s. Film Gecko Review [Official Site]

Defiance (R). Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell are three Jewish brothers who escape into the woods to escape the Nazis, and end up helping others in the process. Based on a true story. [Official Site]

Buy these DVDs and Blu-rays on Film Gecko’s DVD Store on Amazon!

Images: Amazon.com

Several actors from diverse backgrounds have come together to make the crime thriller, “Elsewhere,” which will be released on DVD June 2, 2009. Olivia Dawn York (pictured) co-stars in the film, along with Anna Kendrick (“Twilight”), Paul Wesley (“Army Wives”), and Tania Raymonde (“Lost”). It’s directed by Nathan Hope.

Kendrick and Raymonde play two girls trying to break free of their small town lives, but one goes missing after trying to connect with someone on the Internet, leaving only a journal and a cryptic video message sent from her cell phone. The story delves into the town’s corrupt police force and string of unsolved child abductions.

Says York of her role in the film, “I think the most exciting moment in shooting ‘Elsewhere’ besides landing the role, was when I learned my character’s father was going to be played by Jon Gries. Even though he is known for so many great projects, I was a ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ fanatic! When I found out I would be working with ‘Uncle Rico’ it was the first day on location in Indiana, and I had to call my dad and sister to tell them who I was working with! The whole thing was a great experience.”

I loved “Napoleon Dynamite,” too, and would be totally star-struck to be working with Uncle Rico (I can’t get those football-throwing scenes out of my head!). I’ll look forward to seeing “Elsewhere” when it hits DVD, and seeing York’s future projects. Next up for her is “Low Ground: The Portal,” a fantasy thriller directed by Omar Kaczmarczyk. 

Photo courtesy of MLC PR

Kids, pirates, and sweet bayou creatures populate this fun family movie with a message.

THE DVD: In "Labou" (on DVD May 19, 2009), three unlikely friends get lost in the Louisiana bayou while searching for the dreaded ghost of Captain LeRouge, whose treasure-laden ship was lost more than 200 years ago. With the help of a magical swamp creature named "Labou," the kids stay one step ahead of two crazy oil moguls, but can they find the treasure and save the swamps before it’s too late?! Read more here.

THE GIVEAWAY: I have one copy of "Labou" to give away. To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post by midnight on Saturday, May 23, 2009. Be sure to include a valid email address. A winner will be drawn randomly. I’ll email the winner for their snail-mail address after the contest ends. Good luck!

After the jump, check out some clips from "Labou"…

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Here’s a fun DVD for anyone who loves sweet family stories involving cute animals.

THE DVD: "Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts" (new on DVD May 19, 2009) stars Kyla Pratt  (Hotel for Dogs, Fat Albert), who returns as animal whisperer Maya Dolittle. Maya’s off to college when a Hollywood starlet seeks her out to help with her depressed Chihuahua. But when she experiences the excitement of Hollywood, Maya’s plans for college get put on the backburner. With her faithful sidekick, Lucky, Maya sees past L.A.’s rich and famous and stays true to what’s really important in her life. Read more here.

THE GIVEAWAY: I have one copy of "Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts" to give away. To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post by midnight on Saturday, May 23, 2009. Be sure to include a valid email address. A winner will be drawn randomly. I’ll email the winner for their snail-mail address after the contest ends. Good luck!

After the jump, check out clips from "Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutt"…

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