JBO: Joystiq Box Office, June 29 - July 3
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Jul 3rd 2009 at 8:30PM }
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.
Recommendation of the Week:
Sunshine (Blu-ray: $29.99): We all know about Danny Boyle and Slumdog Millionaire; winning a few Oscars will do that to your movie, particularly if it's great. However, his sci-fi masterpiece Sunshine is severely underrated and underwatched. The Sun becomes an ominous character in this taut thriller, which, granted, has a plot point that could be completely jettisoned to make for a perfectly streamlined film. However, the sound, the action, and the attention to detail in this movie make this a must see in HD.
Read for the full list on a system by system basis just after the break, this time with a bent toward the upcoming Independence Day holiday this Saturday. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st ... well, actually we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift.
Recommendation of the Week:
Sunshine (Blu-ray: $29.99): We all know about Danny Boyle and Slumdog Millionaire; winning a few Oscars will do that to your movie, particularly if it's great. However, his sci-fi masterpiece Sunshine is severely underrated and underwatched. The Sun becomes an ominous character in this taut thriller, which, granted, has a plot point that could be completely jettisoned to make for a perfectly streamlined film. However, the sound, the action, and the attention to detail in this movie make this a must see in HD.Read for the full list on a system by system basis just after the break, this time with a bent toward the upcoming Independence Day holiday this Saturday. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st ... well, actually we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift.
Xbox Live Video Marketplace
The Shadow (360 MS points to rent HD, 240 to rent SD)Alec Baldwin plays the titular hero from the days when radio and pulp novels ruled the imagination. He's got psychic powers, wields twin pistols, and sports a massive, flowing coat and a giant fedora. Why was this never made into a video game? This movie didn't set the box office on fire, but it's surprisingly good. It does feature Sir Ian McKellen in an extremely terrible performance, but an over-the-top Tim Curry makes up for it.
Netflix Watch Instantly (PC or Xbox Live)
The Detective (PC or Xbox Live, subscription required: starts at $4.99 per month)What's more American than watching Frank Sinatra enter a world of sex and drugs in gritty New York City as a private detective, hot on the trails of a juicy case? The answer is: when you toss in Jack Klugman of Quincy and The Odd Couple fame. And when you have Lee Remick in it. Mix up some cocktails, invite some friends over, and watch Ol' Blue Eyes go to work. And no, it's not a musical ... thankfully.
PlayStation Store
Independence Day ($4.50 HD or $2.99 SD to rent, $9.99 to own in SD)The PlayStation Store is offering up a slew of patriotic movie and television shows, and you have to go with the heavy hitter here: Independence Day. I mean, it has the White House being annihilated by an alien superweapon, some classic Jeff Goldblum, a stripper who kicks ass, Will Smith, Randy Quaid, Bill Paxton, and Data from Star Trek.
Other PSN holiday-themed choice include: Born on the 4th of July, National Treasure, The Patriot, The Great Escape and Rocky. You can't deny Sly wrapped in the American flag.
Blu-ray Disc
Do The Right Thing ($29.98)It's been 20 years since Spike Lee's incendiary indie film about race relations in Brooklyn came out, and it's never looked so good. Lee provides a brand-new feature commentary, a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless track, and angry Danny Aiello. If you've never seen this movie, it's high time you did. Lee's film making has come a long way since, but it hasn't lost any of its relevance in the past 20 years. R.I.P. Radio Rahim.
What will you be watching?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sinergy @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:33PM
Coooool .. makes me wanna go watch Sunshine again!
kojo87 @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:49PM
great movie. i bet it would be tits in HD.
speaking of movies, can't wait for Visioneers to hit DVD on the 21st. haven't seen it yet but looks awesome!
NukeAssault @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:50PM
I didint even know it was out in Blu Ray. I might have to go buy it. =D
kojo87 @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:12PM
i might have to go buy a Blu-Ray drive for my PC!
OremLK @ Jul 4th 2009 12:01AM
Sunshine was a good film, but it had enough flaws that I don't feel at all comfortable with the descriptor "masterpiece". Still, I enjoyed it, and I wouldn't mind watching it again sometime.
DWells55 @ Jul 4th 2009 4:52PM
Sunshine is incredible on Blu-ray. Awesome movie, but the special effects truly shine on a good HD screen.
Heimbachae @ Jul 6th 2009 9:21AM
it's been out on bluray for MONTHS now. seeing as everyone that enters my apartment for more than an hour MUST watch it. it is a masterpiece in bluray, if you don't think so, i'll bring over my ps3 and lcd hdtv and prove you wrong.
Shmil @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:35PM
Sunshine is great, and i'm sure the blu ray version will kick ass. I'm watching Independence Day tonight as well but with the Rifftrax. Hope it goes well.
Rocky @ Jul 3rd 2009 11:27PM
The commentary on the BD version is awesome. I don't own the DVD version, so I don't know if it's also on there. Sunshine on BD was a no-brainer for me. Love that movie.
Shmil @ Jul 4th 2009 4:43AM
Oooo commentary's good you say? I'll have to check it out.
Takahashi @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:37PM
This was the third blu-ray movie I bought for my PS3, it is truly a great film and it looks pretty amazing. A great Sci-Fi cult film.
Johnathan @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:39PM
I love The Shadow. I still have the VHS tape.
The Dark Wayne @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:43PM
lol@independenceday
Tyler Conlee @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:21PM
I, too, recommend Sunshine. It is a great movie, and the sound in Blu-ray is fantastic.
waynski1457 @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:49PM
Hey I didn't see the Detective was on Netflix! Easily my favorite Sinatra movie!
And thanks to whoever suggested Let the Right One In in the comments last week. I didn't have too high hopes for it, but it was much better than expected.
Sly @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:09PM
"You can't deny Sly wrapped in the American flag."
O_o
Diskoboy7 @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:11PM
The Shadow? Is this a joke?
The only redeeming quality of that movie was Penelope Ann Miller, because she was still pretty hot, back then.
RolexDPracer @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:16PM
I rented it on Blue Ray a few months ago. It's an awesome movie, and it looks spectacular in HD.
ncxcstud @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:27PM
I too recommend Sunshine. My wife and I just watched it this past week on Bluray. Great flick.
ncxcstud @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:28PM
Silly no edit button...
I'll be watching "The Rocker" and "Vicky Christina Barcelona" which my wife and I got from Netflix in the past few days.
E.P. @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:38PM
Bill Pullman, not Paxton...
Riley @ Jul 3rd 2009 10:52PM
no, it was Bill Paxton
E.P. @ Jul 4th 2009 1:27AM
NO, this guy is Bill Paxton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY4J1FtFb_E
Reddrive @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:40PM
When you actually get off the couch. Moon just got a little wider release. I have to wait till the 10th. Hopefully the will have a showing before my flight.
CH3BURASHKA @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:43PM
The first time I saw Sunshine it freaked the crap out of me. Then again, I was watching a crappy Russian translation so I had no clue what the hell was going on.
Nicholas Muldoon @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:55PM
Sunshine & Do the Right Thing are terrific, good choices
Mudassir @ Jul 3rd 2009 10:39PM
I dont get the love for Sunshine. The ammount of flak The core gets, while having the same concept, only outside in, is just unbelievable. Granted Sunshine is better made, but the stupidity of the concept never escapes me.
And when the whole premise changes halfway through...
VicViper @ Jul 4th 2009 12:31PM
The first 1/2 of Sunshine could've been the first 1/2 of a great movie. Which makes the last half even more disappointing when it becomes a by the numbers 'monster in a ship' movie.
Too bad.
Riley @ Jul 3rd 2009 10:54PM
Sunshine is a fantastic movie, and the soundtrack is even better, John Murphy should score every movie ever
Tyler @ Jul 3rd 2009 10:58PM
Sunshine was my first BD movie. I bought just because of everyone saying how amazing it looks in HD. It does look amazing but the story is so-so. I do think Scarecrow is a great actor though.
TakeCTRL @ Jul 3rd 2009 11:20PM
one of the best sci-fi movies in recent time.
Mudassir @ Jul 4th 2009 1:58PM
Say what? The state of Sci-fi in Hollywood has suffered, doesn't mean we have to lower our standards.
Monarch @ Jul 3rd 2009 11:49PM
Sunshine is one of my favorite movies. Gotta check out some of the others on the list.
Deck @ Jul 4th 2009 1:25AM
Sad that I haven't seen or heard of Sunshine. I must go check it out now!
Great JBO thanks!
BPMOmega [GT,Steam] @ Jul 4th 2009 2:22AM
I... hated Sunshine. I went to see it with a group of college buddies when it first came out.
To me, it felt like it had no sense of direction or identity. First, it's like a "Hey, let's go save the world!" kind of movie. But then it's a "Ohnoes! Something went wrong! We gotta survive!" kind of movie. Then people start dying. Everything's broken, they find the failed ship from the previous attempt and "zomg scary monster-man" movie. What the hell?
Shmil @ Jul 4th 2009 4:45AM
I'll admit I was pretty lost by the time scary monster man showed up the first time I watched it. I thought he was the Psychologist who stayed behind on the broken ship. But its a lot more coherent the second time through.
Azariel_z @ Jul 4th 2009 4:29AM
Anyone ehre read the shadow on the comics? Is awesome, way beyond its time... the movie doesnt make jsutice, but its ok....Sunshine is great, as soemoen metnioend some flaws here and tehre...and the scarecrow..I mean the guy works hard to save people...
Rip Tatermen @ Jul 4th 2009 12:42PM
Space Ghost: I told you, Zorak, we're not doing a musical tribute to Jack Klugman.
Zorak: But Klugman is terrific, Klugman is dynamite, Klugman is ... Klugman!
pliny5678 @ Jul 4th 2009 12:49PM
I loved the first half, didn't like the second half so much as they just trashed a bunch of good characters or wasted them.
serotoninzero. @ Jul 4th 2009 2:17PM
Sunshine was sweet. I recommend seeing Millions by Danny Boyle too.
Douche Bigalow @ Jul 6th 2009 11:20PM
Wow, you guys have some really bad taste in movies.
Sunshine is a taut, intense sci-fi movie with great attention to detail ... for like the first 30 minutes. Then it quickly devolved into an idiotic, asinine, pointless, completely inane slasher flick. I love how the burnt-to-a-crisp captain is able to sneak up on people (disregarding the fact that he should be dead, he'd make glorping sounds while walking) and suddenly gains superhuman strength. Sooooo realistic.
Worst joining of two completely unrelated movies since "From Dusk Til Dawn", which at the very least didn't take itself seriously.