The bestselling novel Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen recalls the life of circus workers in 1930s America. The filming of this romantic drama stars "America's sweetheart" Reese Witherspoon, "Twilight heartthrob" Robert Pattinson, and the legendary Hal Holbrook. But it is a fourth cast member we are celebrating in this fun giveaway...Christoph Waltz.

Devastated by the sudden death of his parents at the height of The Depression, a young dreamer from the wrong side of the tracks, Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson), abandons his veterinary studies at Cornell University. With no house, money, or family, Jacob stows away on a train carrying the circus performers of The Benzini Brothers' Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Hired as a veterinarian to care for the troupe's animals, Jacob is temporarily filled with the promise of an exciting life that comes with a traveling circus troupe. However, as he builds a rapport and falls in love with the star of the show, Marlena (Witherspoon), they become prey to the circus's owner, Marlena's violent and abusive husband August (Waltz).

Christoph Waltz: America's Favorite Viennese Villain

When Christoph Waltz stepped onto the screen in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, American audiences immediately felt the presence that German theater-goers had long been aware of. We take a look at Waltz's villainous roles in recent American cinema.

1) Inglourious Basterds as Col. Hans Landa

Col. Hans Landa is a German SS officer in the Sicherheitsdienst. He is nicknamed "The Jew Hunter," and, accordingly, is cruel and ruthless, but also manages to be charming, courteous, and diabolically intelligent. Landa is driven by ambition alone, and has no real loyalty to the Nazis, which is shown when he gladly switches sides (with generous American military benefits) at the end of the film. Waltz won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role.

2) The Green Hornet as Chudnofsky

Benjamin Chudnofsky is a paranoid Russian gangster who, in an attempt to destroy The Green Hornet and Kato, plans to join all of the crime families of Los Angeles together to organize a sort of "super-mafia." Throughout the film, he becomes more and more paranoid and worries that he is losing his edge. Eventually, he starts calling himself "Bloodnofsky" in an attempt to intimidate his enemies. Chudnofsky eventually dies at the hands of The Green Hornet.

3) Water for Elephants as August

August is the owner of the circus, and Marlena's (the star of the show) husband. August mismanages the circus, brutally abusing both his animals and employees (as well as his wife). He will do whatever it takes to get his way, and for the circus to make money. Eventually, as an elephant that August had previously abused is trying to protect Marlena, the elephant accidently kills August. / Buy it from Amazon: DVD • Blu-ray • Book / Scroll down to win it here!

4) The Three Musketeers as Cardinal Richelieu

Now in theaters, Waltz plays the conniving Cardinal Richelieu, who hatches a deadly plan to overthrow King Louis. Richelieu frames the King's new bride as having had an affair with Buckingham. If the King believes Richelieu's lies, a war with England will surely follow, and the people of France will demand a stronger ruler – which Richelieu hopes is him – to get them through this crisis.

5) Carnage as Alan Cowan

In theaters December 16, Waltz stars in Carnage as Alan Cowan, the father of a boy who beat up another couple's son on the playground. When the two couples decide to meet to discuss the problem with their children, Alan incessantly distracts from the conversation by using his cell phone, and put his lawyerly background to good use when arguing with the other sets of parents.

 
What About RPatz?!

Madame Tussauds Hollywood Celebrates Blu-ray and DVD release of Water for Elephants with Restyled Robert Pattinson Figure!

A newly restyled wax figure of Robert Pattinson is now on display at Madame Tussauds Hollywood to celebrate the upcoming November 1 Blu-ray and DVD release of the 20th Century Fox major motion picture, Water For Elephants. The restyled figure, which will be dressed in authentic wardrobe from Water For Elephants, will be on display for a limited time until November 6. The figure will be available for free photos in the box office entrance of Madame Tussauds Hollywood. The first thirty fans who visited the restyled figure received a free copy of the Water For Elephants DVD.

"Water For Elephants is a superb love story featuring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon," said Colin Thomas, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Hollywood. "We are delighted to bring the experience to life for fans through our Robert Pattinson wax figure."

The Water For Elephants Robert Pattinson figure rejoins the ranks of such Hollywood icons as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, as well as Hollywood's latest big stars including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Aniston and Will Smith.
 

 Win Water for Elephants on DVD or Blu-ray!

One lucky US reader will win Water for Elephants on DVD. One other will win it on Blu-ray. Take up to six quick entries in our giveaway...

1. First, fill out the following form. One entry per U.S. household; multiple submissions will be disqualified.

2. Next, Like DVDizzy.com on Facebook, then like this message and add a comment naming your favorite drink and your favorite animal in the "[drink] for [animal]" format and your preferred prize format (Blu-ray or DVD). Example: "Lemonade for Cheetahs DVD". Do that and remain a Facebook fan, you're entered! Make sure you're accepting messages there, so we can contact you if you win.

3. Then, follow us on Twitter and tweet Witherspoon + Pattinson + Waltz + the circus? I'm there! I want to win that Water for Elephants [DVD or Blu-ray] @UltimateDisney (Pick DVD or Blu-ray per your preference.) Do that once and remain a follower and you're entered!

4. "Share" any one of the recent wall posts on our Facebook fan page. The "Share" link appears next to "Like" and "Comment" at the bottom of each link. We'll see it and add another entry for you to the pile!

5-6. Mention @UltimateDisney in a tweet between October 28 and November 8, 2011 or retweet any one of our tweets from October 28-November 8, 2011 that links to DVDizzy.com content. Do both and pick up two final entries!

Entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST on November 8, 2011. Privacy is very important to us. Information submitted for this giveaway will be used exclusively for the purpose of contacting winners and mailing prizes. No personal data will be saved, shared, or used in any way following this giveaway. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void everywhere but in the United States. Winner will be contacted by e-mail, Facebook message, or direct Twitter message, depending upon winning entry method.