Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – 2nd International Trailer

The second international trailer for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is online, and it’s getting me even more hyped for the movie.

The Scoop: With Voldemort tightening his evil grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds, their beloved Hogwarts is no longer a safe place for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends. He suspects that dangers may lie inside the castle, and Dumbledore ramps up his efforts to prepare Harry for the final battle with Voldemort.

More after the jump, including photos and the 2nd trailer…

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Film Gecko Five: Easter and Passover Movies for Kids!

Chocolate bunnies, colorful eggs, frilly dresses, and happy kids scampering through the house looking for hidden baskets of treats. Nothing rivals the pure joy of Easter, as shown in my top five movies celebrating Easter and Passover. Check out my list, and feel free to add your own in the comments:

1. IT’S THE EASTER BEAGLE, CHARLIE BROWN. Easter is coming, and the gang is preparing for the spring holiday in their usual catastrophic way. Charlie Brown is frustrated over the Christmas pre-sales at the local department stores.

Sally wants a new pair of platform shoes (this movie was made in 1974!). Peppermint Patty is trying to teach a clueless Marcy how to color eggs. Snoopy is shopping for a new bachelor pad for Woodstock. And Linus is busy telling everyone about the Easter Beagle, who rises up on Easter morning to give eggs to all the children (sound familiar?). Buy it on Amazon.

2. YOGI, THE EASTER BEAR. When Yogi accidentally ruins the big Easter Jamboree at Jellystone Park right before hundreds of kids are set to arrive, he and Boo Boo go in search of the Easter Bunny to save the day, only to discover that he’s been kidnapped by a gang of criminals! The pair must work fast when they learn that Ranger Smith has arranged for them to join a circus in Siberia. Buy it on Amazon.

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Six Clips of Dragonball Evolution - VIDEOS

Many thanks to MTV’s awesome video section for these clips of “Dragonball Evolution,” in theaters April 8, 2009. Watch trailers here and here.

It’s adapted from the manga created by Akira Toriyama, and was also turned into a Japanese anime series. The story follows an alien sent to destroy Earth who has a change of heart and decides to join the humans in their fight against various aliens and bad guys.

Lots of high-action stunts and cool special effects, and Justin Chatwin makes a great Goku. Also stars Emmy Rossum, James Marsters, and Ernie Hudson. Below are a few clips, followed by Emmy Rossum talking about her kick-ass character.

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Free Movies in Traverse City, Michigan

Regular Film Gecko readers know I’m big on free movies! While most of my free-movie posts involve online movies, today I’ve got spectacular news about free movies on a big screen in an actual theater!

If you’re in the area of Traverse City, Michigan, catch a free film or two or three at the State Theatre in downtown Traverse City. My kids and I saw “Meet the Parents” this afternoon, and it’s a thrill to see old favorites on the big screen. Plus, it’s a fun thing to do on their spring break.

Consider supporting the State Theatre in Traverse City by becoming a member; and/or supporting the Traverse City Film Festival.

After the jump, the rest of the schedule this week!

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Bolt, Quantum of Solace on DVD – March 24, 2009

New on DVD this week are films ranging from cute "Bolt" to edgy "Quantum of Solace." Take a look:

Bolt (DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Deluxe DVD/Digital Copy). Super-dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) accidentally gets shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to NYC, and embarks on a cross-country journey to get home to his co-star Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus). [Film Gecko Review] [Official Site]

Quantum of Solace (Single-Disc, Two-Disc Special Edition). Daniel Craig returns 007 to cross-cross the globe on a quest for justice. [Film Gecko DVD Review] [Official Site]

2 Fast 2 Furious (2-Disc Limited Edition). They’re putting out the "Fast & Furious" films again, to get us "geared" (get it?) up for the new Fast & Furious movie coming to theaters April 3, 2009. Vin Diesel isn’t in this one, but Paul Walker shines. [Amazon] Also out: The Fast and the Furious (2-Disc Limited Edition) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2-Disc Limited Edition).

The Cake Eaters. Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, along with Bruce Dern and Aaron Stanford star in this 2007 family drama about old baggage and unresolved issues. [Amazon]

Image: Amazon

Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller in The Edge of Love – Trailer

Here’s a movie that made the film festival circuit last year and was released in the U.K. in June 2008. As I understand it, "The Edge of Love" is now on DVD, but also getting a theater release in the U.S. on March 20, 2009.

It stars Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller as two free-spirited women both connected by the charismatic poet Dylan Thomas, who lived from 1914 to 1953. It looks like a great look into the Bohemian underground of London during and after World War II. 

Directed by John Maybury, "The Edge of Love" doesn’t have a U.S. rating yet, but it’s rated UK:15 in the UK. So for the U.S. I’m guessing it will be rated R. Check out the trailer and see what you think:

Watch Free Movies Online – HelloMovies.com

I’m always psyched to find new places to watch free movies online. I received a note today from Steven Fan, CEO of a site called HelloMovies.com.

The site aggregates films from a variety of sources, including free online movies, paid online movies, Netflix, TV listings such as Starz OnDemand and Encore OnDemand, Xbox Live, and soon, theaters.

It’s pretty cool. I registered (it’s free), and started browsing the site. They have a lot of movies listed, everything from "Fatal Attraction" to "The Crawling Hand" to "Liar, Liar."

When I clicked through to "The Crawling Hand," it told me what the movie is about, how it’s rated on IMDB.com and NetFlix.com (a measly 2.5 out of 5 - maybe you need to watch this with the MST3K gang!), and where I can watch it online for free (Hulu.com).

Check it out, and let me know if you like HelloMovies.com. Steven says they’re always looking for feedback and ways to improve the site.

Image: Amazon.com

AnnaSophia Robb, Amy Adams in Theaters Today – March 13, 2009

New movies in theaters today run the gamut from a fun Disney remake starring AnnaSophia Robb to some psycho killers who really, REALLY pick the wrong place to shack up. Check out the new releases:

Race to Witch Mountain (Rated PG). When a Las Vegas cab driver (Dwayne Johnson) finds two teens (AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig) with supernatural powers in his cab, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of an adventure he can’t explain. Rated PG. [Preview & Trailer] [Official Site]

Sunshine Cleaning (NY, LA; expands March 20). This made my list of "16 Movies I Can’t Wait to See in 2009"; it looks fun and quirky, and I hope it gets some traction in theaters. Amy Adams stars as a single mom who, along with her slacker sister (Emily Blunt), starts a crime-scene cleanup biz as a way out of their dead-end lives. Alan Arkin plays the doting dad in this dramedy that scored big at Sundance last year. [Premiere Video] [Official Site]

More after the jump…

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New on DVD: March 3, 2009

Aw, the Chihuahuas are out on DVD today! My 11-year-old daughter and I loved this movie and look forward to watching it on DVD. Here’s what’s new on DVD today:

Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Drew Barrymore voices the part of Chloe, a pampered Beverly Hills pooch who suddenly finds herself lost on the wild streets of Mexico. Also stars Piper Perabo and features the voices of George Lopez and Andy Garcia. Loved this fun movie! [Film Gecko Review] [Official Site]

Australia. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman star in this epic movie, but the real star is the sweeping vistas of the land Down Under. This movie is long but beautiful, with a killer musical score and storyline. [Film Gecko Review] [Official Site]

Awake. This psychological thriller revolves around a true-life medical condition known as "anesthetic awareness," where a patient is conscious during surgery. A friend of mine actually had this happen! Talk about a nightmare. Stars Terrence Howard, Fisher Stevens, Hayden Christensen, and Sam Robards. [Official Site]

Things We Lost in the Fire. Halle Berry plays Audrey Burke, a woman who learns that her husband (David Duchovny) has been killed in a random act of violence. She turns to her husband’s drug-addict friend (Benecio Del Toro) for comfort. [Official Site]

Image: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Seraphine nabs Best Pic at 2009 Cesar Film Awards

The 34th Annual Cesar Film Awards – celebrating the best in French cinema - were held Friday night in Paris, and Martin Provost’s "Seraphine" took home the prize for best film.

All in all, ”Seraphine” took home seven awards, including a best actress award for Yolande Moreau, as well as wins for original screenplay, costumes, sound, photography and decor.

The event was hosted by actor/director Antoine de Caunes, who followed Hugh Jackman’s lead and did an opening musical number based on “Singin’ in the Rain” – complete with an onstage shower! Hmmm … wonder if we can get Hugh to do that! 

Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and Sean Penn all made appearances, as well. Vincent Cassel took home a best actor prize for his role as "Public Enemy Number One" in Jean-Francois Richet’s "Mesrine.” Cassel also played Francois Toulour in “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s Thirteen.”

Films from France and other countries around the globe are often so creative and thoughtful, yet many of them can only be found in arthouses and film festivals in the U.S. If you have a chance, check out some of these films. You won’t be sorry. You’ll probably find some of them on YouTube’s Screening Room, as well. 

Image: Picapp.com