Most excellent DVDs and Blu-ray discs are hitting store and cyber-shelves this week. Here’s the rundown of my faves:
Watchmen (Director’s Cut): Someone’s killing former superheroes! Read my review of this dark and gritty comic noir film starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, and Billy Crudup. [Buy DVD] [Buy Blu-ray]
Coraline. Dakota Fanning voices the main character in this animated story about a little girl who finds an alternative reality right in her own home. It’s a little scary for young ones, but ok for kids 12 and older. Read my review here. [Buy DVD] [Buy Blu-ray]
Stargate SG-1: Children of the …read more

“Watchmen” is coming to DVD and Blu-ray on July 21. Did you see the movie? It got mixed reviews, but I liked it well enough, though don’t recommend it for kids younger than 16. Read my review here.
The film follows a group of superheroes who are being killed off one by one, and have to come back together after being estranged to face down evil. Here’s a clip of what I like to call “the big blue naked guy” to refresh your memory:

Freddy Krueger is like a demented Energizer Bunny, isn’t he? He just keeps on going and going and going. In New Line’s redo of "A Nightmare on Elm Street," Jackie Earle Haley will play the role of Freddy Krueger, taking over for Robert Englund.
The original "Nightmare" was released in 1984 and established Krueger as a serial child killer murdered by angry parents who returns to terrorize teens in their dreams.
I’m sure it will put Jackie Earle Haley in the annuls of horror movie history. Not sure I would want to be there, but for a working actor, …read more

Carla Gugino sat down with Paul Byrne of Movies.ie and talked about her movie career, including the fact that she always seems to play analysts and scientists. Gugino is currently in theaters as an aging femme fatale in “Watchmen,” and a UFO specialist in “Race to Witch Mountain” with Dwayne Johnson and AnnaSophia Robb. It’s a really fun action movie with nothing too objectionable for kids. Read my review here, and check out the clip below:

"Monsters vs. Aliens" took last weekend’s box office by storm! I really liked it, and especially loved the 3D version (as opposed to Roger Ebert, who HATED the 3D version!).
Here’s the rundown from Box Office Mojo:

Monsters vs. Aliens, $59.32M
The Haunting in Connecticut, $23.00
Knowing, $14.70M
I Love You, Man, $12.67M
Duplicity, $7.67M
Race to Witch Mountain, $5.80M
12 Rounds, $5.32M
Watchmen, $2.73M
Taken, $2.69M
The Last House on the Left, $2.64M

Photo credit: Monsters vs. Aliens ™ & © 2009 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Moviegoers went out to see Nicolas Cage save the world this weekend, with "Knowing" coming in at the top slot. Julia Roberts and Clive Owen didn’t fare as well with "Duplicity." Here’s the scoop from Box Office Mojo:

Knowing, $24.60M
I Love You, Man, $17.81M
Duplicity, $13.96M
Race to Witch Mountain, $12.78M
Watchmen, $6.80M
The Last House on the Left, $5.77M
Taken, $4.05M
Slumdog Millionaire, $2.67M
Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, $2.56M
Coraline, $2.13M

Photo Credit: Vince Valitutti; TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

I guess moviegoers were more into a fun family flick than the dark and bloody “Watchmen” this weekend. “Race to Witch Mountain” ruled the box office. Here’s the rundown from Box Office Mojo:

Race to Witch Mountain, $24.40M
Watchmen, $17.81M
The Last House on the Left, $14.11M
Taken, $6.56M
Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, $5.10M
Slumdog Millionaire, $5.00M
Paul Blart: Mall Cop, $3.11M
He’s Just Not That Into You, $2.93M
Coraline, $2.40M
Miss March, $2.40M

Image: © 2008 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

Here’s a bit of casting news for you: Megan Fox has signed on for two comic flicks — "Jonah Hex" and "Fathom"; Dakota Fanning snags the much-coveted role of Jane Volturi in "New Moon"; and Malin Akerman, fresh off of "Watchmen," has signed to headline "The Bang Bang Club" with co-stars Ryan Phillippe and Taylor Kitsch. Check out this video CelebTV put together:

Movie: Watchmen * Trailer * Official Site
In Theaters: March 6, 2009

Runtime: 163 minutes
Directed by: Zack Snyder

MPAA Rating: R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language
Gecko Rating:

I was especially interested in reviewing "Watchmen" this week, because I knew it was quite the hit with my 14-year-old son’s crowd. What? For one thing, it’s rated R, so I had to check it out for myself. Rest assured, it’s NOT for kids younger than 16. There’s just too much violence, sex, nudity and swearing, even though the consequences of all that violence are a main plot-point of the movie.
The …read more

I saw “Watchmen” today with my 14-year-old son and three of his buddies. We all loved the movie, and all agreed that it’s ripe for a sequel.
PonderPop sat down with director Zack Snyder, who talked about making a movie out of one of the most popular graphic novels ever. He also reveals whether people should read the graphic novel before seeing the movie – a comment I made to the boys today. “Watchmen” is currently in theaters now. Have you seen it? What did you think?