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: 

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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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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I’ll say right off the bat: I LOVED “The Greatest Game Ever Played”! It’s the film that made me slightly fan-crazed for Shia Labeouf, and it’s just a great movie.

THE MOVIE: Based on real-life golfer Francis Ouimet, it tells the story of how he beat the odds of his working-class life to play in the 1913 U.S. Open Championship against pro Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane). Josh Flitter as Ouimet’s pint-sized caddy is a hoot! Directed by “Big Love” star Bill Paxton, it’s rated PG for some brief mild language, so basically a family movie good for ages 7 and older. It hits store shelves on Blu-ray June 16, 2009.

THE GIVEAWAY: One Blu-ray Disc of “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”

BONUS FEATURES: Audio commentary with Paxton, audio commentary with author/screenwriter/producer Mark Frost, “From Caddie to Champion: Francis Ouimet,” “Two Legends and The Great Game,” and “On the Set of The Great Game Ever Played.”

HOW TO ENTER: To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post by midnight on Saturday, June 20, 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!

THEATRICAL TRAILER:

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

Need some Jimi Hendrix in your life? Hankering to hear Joan Baez?

It’s been 40 years since the first “Woodstock: Three Days of Peace and Music” was released, and now they’re releasing some cool new anniversary editions on June 9, 2009. And I’ve got giveaways for you!

Read my review and watch clips here, and leave a comment below to enter the giveaway.

THE GIVEAWAY: One (1) Blu-Ray Collector’s Edition box set - “Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music Director’s Cut” (40th Anniversary).

TO ENTER: To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post by midnight on Saturday, June 20, 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!

Image: Amazon.com

Last week, I received a groovy new 2-disc DVD set celebrating the 40th anniversary of the pop culture, history-changing concert.

"Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music – The Director’s Cut" will hit store shelves on June 9, 2009. It’s the four-hour director’s cut of the 1970 Oscar®-winning documentary about the landmark music event featuring some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll performers in history. Check out the DVD and Blu-ray at the official "Woodstock on DVD" site.

In case you missed the concert 40 years ago, featured on the DVD are Joan Baez; Canned Heat; Joe Cocker and the Grease Band; Country Joe McDonald; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Arlo Guthrie; Jimi Hendrix; Richie Havens; Ten Years After; The Who; and many others.

More after the jump, including clips…

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With the new "Star Trek" in theaters right now, it’s a good time to revisit some old favorites in a fantastic "Star Trek Trilogy" DVD set. Take a look at what’s new on DVD and Blu-ray this week:

Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy. This fantastic set includes "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan," "Star Trek: The Search for Spock," and "Star Trek: The Voyage Home." Also out this week are two sets from the TV shows: "The Best of Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "The Best of Star Trek: The Original Series."

Taken (on Blu-ray and DVD). This fast-paced thrill ride stars Liam Neeson as CIA agent Bryan Mills, a workaholic trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter. When she’s kidnapped by an Albanian crime ring, Bryan moves heaven and earth to track her down. Rated PG-13. [Trailer] [Official Site]

Passengers. It’s a supernatural thriller starring Anne Hathaway as a grief counselor working with plane crash survivors … who start to disappear. Also stars Andre Braugher and Dianne Wiest. Rated PG-13. [Official Site]

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. Vampires and werewolves populate this dark movie about centuries-old blood feuds. Rated R. [Official Site]

Image: Amazon.com