2009 MTV Movie Awards Nominees

"Slumdog Millionaire" or "Twilight"? That’s the question to be asked at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, airing Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 9PM ET, hosted by Andy Samberg and featuring a performance by Eminem.

Categories include Best Movie, Best Female and Male Performance, Breakthrough Performances, Best Villain, Best Kiss, Best Fight, Best WTF Moment and more! Cast your votes right here. 

New on DVD March 31, 2009 – Marley & Me, Seven Pounds, Slumdog Millionaire

That crazy little pup known as Marley hit DVD this week. It’s a great movie, but I thought it was too intense for a PG rating and should have been rated PG-13. Do you agree with me?

New on DVD this week:

Marley and Me (single-disc and 2-Disc Bad Boy Edition). Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star in this real-life story about a couple and their unruly dog. [Film Gecko Review] [Trailer] [Official Site] [Buy Single-Disc] [Buy 2-Disc]

Seven Pounds. Will Smith stars in this mysterious movie about a guy who grants strangers wishes in order to atone for a past mistake. But when he falls in love with a woman with heart problems (Rosario Dawson), his plan starts to unravel. [Trailer] [Official Site] [Buy It]

Slumdog Millionaire. Danny Boyle directed this touching story about an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai who’s competing on India’s "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Amazon is running a note that some of the DVDs are missing the special features. So if yours doesn’t include special features, call their hotline at (888) 223-4FOX to receive a replacement DVD. [Trailer] [Official Site] [Buy DVD] [Buy Video on Demand ($14.99)]

Image: Amazon.com

Nicolas Cage’s Knowing takes box office – March 20-22, 2009

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:

1. Knowing, $24.60M
2. I Love You, Man, $17.81M
3. Duplicity, $13.96M
4. Race to Witch Mountain, $12.78M
5. Watchmen, $6.80M
6. The Last House on the Left, $5.77M
7. Taken, $4.05M
8. Slumdog Millionaire, $2.67M
9. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, $2.56M
10. Coraline, $2.13M

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

Witch Mountain rules box office – March 13-15. 2009

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:

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

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

Does Slumdog Millionaire make you want to visit Mumbai?

My friend Vera Marie Badertscher blogs at A Traveler’s Library, which uses books and movies as a jumping off point for travel. 

She just sent me the link to her fantastic post about "Slumdog Millionaire," and how after seeing the movie, she had no desire to visit the slums of Mumbai featured in the movie.

In fact, there are actually "slum tours" that take travelers to the worst places on the planet. But they’re not for me, because just as Vera says, "I’m not interested in visiting a place to look at the lives of the poorest … "

What about you? Have you ever visited – or NOT visited – a place because you saw it in a movie?

Photo Credit: TM and © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Madea Snags Box Office: Feb. 27 - March 2, 2009

Wow, the Jonas Brothers came in second to Tyler Perry this weekend. I’m not a big fan of the Jonas Brothers’ movie, but figured it would probably snag the top numbers.

And "Slumdog Millionaire" is still riding along on its Oscar train. Here’s the rundown from Box Office Mojo:

1. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, $16.17M
2. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, $12.51M
3. Slumdog Millionaire, $12.02M
4. Taken, $9.86M
5. He’s Just Not That Into You, $6.01M
6. Paul Blart: Mall Cop, $5.60M
7. Coraline, $5.26M
8. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, $4.72M
9. Confessions of a Shopaholic, $4.63M
10. Fired Up, $3.70M

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

Slumdog Stars Sign for Woody Allen, The Last Airbender

The stars of Oscar darling “Slumdog Millionaire” have wasted no time lining up their next films.

Freida Pinto, who looked so lovely in that blue dress at the Oscars, has signed to star in Woody Allen’s next film, “Whatever Works,” along with Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins (what a lineup!). The film follows an older man’s romantic life, including his taste for younger ladies.

Meanwhile, Dev Patel, who played the main character in “Slumdog,” has signed to star as bad-guy Prince Zuko in “The Last Airbender,” taking over the role from singer Jesse McCartney. “Sixth Sense” director M. Night Shyamalan is helming this movie.

I like Pinto for the Woody Allen flick (and really, what a coup for her – actors spend their whole lives hoping for a Woody Allen film), but I’ll have to wait and see on Dev for “Airbender.” It’s such a departure from “Slumdog,” but maybe that’s a good thing.

Both stars say “Slumdog Millionaire,” which picked up eight Oscars on Sunday, say the film has blazed new trails for them. “In many ways, it’s a blessing and a start of a new life," Pinto told People.com.

Patel described the experience as “very dreamlike.” “Hopefully, I don’t wake up one day and it’s all like a big dream!”

Image: Picapp.com

The Oscars 2009: Red Carpet Fashions - VIDEO

Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway and the rest of the A-List Stars shown brightly at the 2009 Academy Awards.

My favorites included Winslet’s darkish-blue gown, Hathaway’s shimmery mermaid affair, and Penelope Cruz’s princess gown. What about you? Did you have a favorite dress this year?

For more Film Gecko Oscar coverage: Live-Blog, Winners, and Photos.