JBO: Joystiq Box Office, September 7 - September 11
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendations of the Week:
(Netflix Watch Instantly: Mac/PC or Xbox Live, subscription required: starts at $8.99 per month)
There's a flurry of chopsocky action newly available in the Blu-ray department just after the break, but we just had to show this Jean Claude Van Damme "classic" a little love. He plays twin brothers, separated at birth and reunited to kick some bad guy butt. One is raised in a life of entitlement, and the other lives on the underbelly of society, but when they're together ... it's pure early '90s movie cheese. The tagline along sums it up for you: "One packs a punch. One packs a piece. Together they deliver." But what exactly do they deliver? That question remains unanswered.
Read for the full list on a system-by-system basis just after the break. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st-- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
Xbox Live Video Marketplace (Xbox 360)
(480
HD, 320
SD, to rent)
This underrated movie came and and left theaters in the blink of an eye earlier this year, nearly a year after its premiere at Sundance in 2008. It came to DVD and Blu-ray back in July, and still hasn't made much of a splash, so it's counting on you, Xbox users. Colin Hanks is adequate as Troy, who defies his father (Tom Hanks, ironically) to go work for Buck Howard, a sort of mentalist / magician performer. Howard is played by John Malkovich, who is completely wonderful in the role.
Netflix Watch Instantly (Mac/PC or Xbox Live, subscription required: starts at $8.99 per month)
Miller's Crossing
The Coen Brothers' finest movie, hands down. If you don't believe me, you need to grab yourself a fedora, knock back a glass of scotch (the cheap stuff is okay) and watch this again or experience it again for the first time. Besides a killer soundtrack, this film contains Albert Finney's finest performance to date. That scene with the Tommy gun is truly incredible. "The old man's still an artist with a Thompson." The gorgeous period setting makes you want to step back in time and be a gangster, despite the fact that everyone around you ends up getting shot in some fashion. I'd stack this up against Fargo and The Big Lebowski any day. The only thing you'll hate about this movie is John Tuturro's whining.
PlayStation Store (PlayStation 3 or PSP)
Community
(pilot episode, $2.99 HD, $1.99 SD to rent)
Community features a lot of things you wouldn't expect on an NBC sitcom these days that isn't The Office or 30 Rock: a funny Joel McHale who isn't riffing on reality TV, an extremely funny Donald Glover (recently seen in the extremely hilarious Mystery Team -- highly recommended) and, most auspicious of all, Chevy Chase. He hasn't been funny or relevant for quite some time, but somehow he brought the magic back for Community. Sony is hosting the pilot episode on the PS store before it shows on television.
Blu-ray Disc (PlayStation 3)
The Ultimate Force of Four Collection
($109.99 SRP)
Disney, of all companies, is releasing this ultimate chopsocky collection consisting of TheLegend of the Drunken Master (Jackie Chan), Iron Monkey (Yu Rong Guang), Zatoichi (the 2003 version directed by / starring Takeshi Kitano) and Hero (Jet Li). Besides all of the ass-kickery in glorious high-definition, there are a ton of extras, which include a lot of Quentin Tarantino, who's a huge fan of the genre. He's in conversation with Jet Li on one disc, and interviewed about Iron Monkey on another. Personally, I'm holding out for the "Behind the Master: An Interview with Jackie Chan" feature on Drunken Master. Hopefully it'll wash the taste of Shanghai Noon, Shanghai Knights and all the Rush Hour movies from my mouth.
