JBO: Joystiq Box Office, July 6

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, July 6 - July 10

by Kevin Kelly { Jul 10th 2009 at 8:15PM }

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:

Let The Right One In (480

to rent HD, 320

to rent SD): Saria the Cat and our own David Hinkle suggested Let The Right One In in our first JBO post, and it's definitely worth our official stamp of approval. Probably one of the best vampire movies you'll ever see. It's subtitled, but don't let that turn you off. There's a scene near the end that makes it worth all that reading, and then some. It's a good example of how foreign films have pulled far ahead of American movies in the storytelling department.

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

Kings (240

to rent HD, 160

to rent SD: per episode)
Poor Ian McShane. First Deadwood gets canceled, and then they stop the movie version. Then he stars in the extremely ambitious Kings on NBC and it gets canceled as well. This is television well ahead of its time and features McShane as King Silas ruling over an alternate universe version of the United States, which is now a monarchy called Gilboa. Nine of the first thirteen episodes are available on XBL, before it goes to DVD in September. Terrific cast and great drama.

Netflix Watch Instantly (PC or Xbox Live)

Baghead (PC or Xbox Live, subscription required: starts at $4.99 per month)
It was going to be all too easy to slot Pineapple Express in here, since it's newly available on Netflix Watch Instantly and features one of the best stoners in recent movie history. But, Baghead is a small indie film that really needs to be seen. It's run the festival circuit, and now comes to your home. It's funny, scary, features realistic characters, and has a unique premise. We'd compare it to The Blair Witch Project in a good way, but that's almost an insult these days. Give it a spin.

PlayStation Store

Knowing ($4.50 HD or $2.99 SD to rent, $9.99 to own in SD)
Knowing isn't a perfect sci-fi film, but they're so far and few between these days that when something comes along that's even halfway decent, it's on our radar. Despite the overexposed presence of Nick Cage, Alex Proyas' set pieces are very impressive, and it's nice to see a film that doesn't dumb down the concept to a first-grade level.

Blu-ray Disc

The Deep ($28.95 SRP)
Just in time for summer! Peter Benchley of Jaws fame wrote the book this is based on, and even though it came two years after Jaws, it features another iconic image of a woman (this time Jacqueline Bisset) swimming towards the surface on the poster. Nick Nolte, Robert Shaw, and a bikini-clad Bisset? Your summertime has arrived. Plus it's all about treasure hunters, and fans of Uncharted will enjoy it.

What will you be watching?

Tags: Blu-ray, JBO, Joystiq-Box-Office, Movies, Netflix, PSN, XBL

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ThePhantomnaut @ Jul 10th 2009 8:24PM

For "Let The Right One In", if you subscribe to Netflix, it's on Watch Instantly and in HD with the theatrical subtitles; save some money and get more understanding in the story (people bitched about the initial DVD release as the subtitles were a bit too simplistic).

I am not sure if the video marketplace has the same subs but you would save some money for the Netflix one

squeevi82 @ Jul 10th 2009 8:35PM

came here to say this same thing. I watched this streaming over netflix a couple months ago and it worked great! HD too!

squeevi82 @ Jul 10th 2009 8:47PM

My wife would recomend the book, too. A whole hell of a lot more creepy than the movie.

chispito @ Jul 11th 2009 2:06AM

The movie's all right. I saw it in the theaters.

Also, I like foreign films a lot, but I wouldn't go so far as to say they've "pulled far ahead" of American films in the storytelling department. For ever Transformers 2, there's a Doubt, for every crappy chick flick there's a Wrestler or a There Will Be Blood.

chispito @ Jul 11th 2009 2:07AM

Okay, maybe not for *every* crappy chick flick.

Levi (God Hand Defense Force) @ Jul 11th 2009 5:03AM

Thanks for getting the word out ThePhantomnaut. I've been holding back on seeing the recent DVD because I heard the subtitles were crap.

Jrinswand @ Jul 10th 2009 8:25PM

I streamed Let The Right One In just a few days ago on Netflix. It was truly an incredible movie. The two little kids were both great in their respective roles.

Jrinswand @ Jul 10th 2009 8:27PM

Also, awesome end scene was awesome.

ThePhantomnaut @ Jul 10th 2009 8:30PM

I wonder how will the American adaptation will stand out. It's sense some loss in terms of content. I still have to finish the book.

Jrinswand @ Jul 10th 2009 8:36PM

Oh, the American version is going to suck ass. You can bet your bottom dollar on that.

Peace Fog @ Jul 10th 2009 8:26PM

Baghead all the way that movies awesome!

MystileArmor @ Jul 10th 2009 8:28PM

Well since Saria got her pick in, I'll give it a shot and recommend "Fawlty Towers" to everyone that has Netflix.

It might not be a movie, but it's arguably one of the best british comedies ever made. John Cleese at his best.

ZaxCG2 @ Jul 11th 2009 2:04AM

MANUEEEEL!!!

Moptimus Slime (The Return of Princess Griffin) @ Jul 10th 2009 8:29PM

I know this is a minor complaint but, why not add movies/shows available on sites like Hulu? If you want to get into a pissing match over the semantics of whether or not PCs are "gaming systems" then you can download Play On and run Hulu from your PS3 so there

Wiizer (Michael Pachter MUST DIE.. Professionally) @ Jul 10th 2009 8:31PM

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa

Old_Snake @ Jul 10th 2009 8:37PM

Watched that just about a month ago, pretty good flick. Kind of made me think it was a good version of Twilight

Old_Snake @ Jul 10th 2009 8:38PM

Knowing's not too bad either. It seems to get a huge amount of hate, but I thought it was okay

MystileArmor @ Jul 10th 2009 8:42PM

Twilight sucked ass in my opinion, so it's not very hard to best that one. I happened to get dragged along to see it and it felt like I was watching "Emo: The Movie"

Jrinswand @ Jul 10th 2009 8:43PM

Just because it is a vampire movie, that doesn't make it anything like Twilight. People have been doing vampire movies for like 80 years before Twilight ever came around you know.

MystileArmor @ Jul 10th 2009 8:53PM

Knowing was good, the ending was kind of meh, but the movie as a whole was entertaining. The first 60 minutes were excellent.

ThePhantomnaut @ Jul 10th 2009 9:06PM

Jrinswand, I would agree but what can you do when Stephenie Meyer literally destroyed a generation and turned them into droned out fat scene girls who can't get laid with a melodramatic piece of crap like the Twilight series?

Someone call a nuke, one other way to kill a vampire that's not HIV.

Sly @ Jul 10th 2009 9:49PM

yeah, meyer pretty much destroyed the meaning of vampires. what used to be badass monsters that when implemented well in a story, could be some of the scariest monsters around, now are nothing more than your local emos. whoop-de-fuckin-doo.

Old_Snake @ Jul 10th 2009 9:59PM

Jrinswand: I realized very well that the vampire genre is very old and much told one, but Let The Right One still kind of reminded me of Twilight in the way the love angle played out. The gender roles were reversed and the kids were considerably younger, but I think there is a similarity between the two in that aspect.

That's what I meant

Old_Snake @ Jul 10th 2009 10:01PM

MystileArmor: I agree, Knowing was good. I remember it got a lot of negativity from critics and audiences alike when it was first released. I was surprised when I finally sat down and watched to see it was actually pretty decent.

waynski1457 @ Jul 10th 2009 8:42PM

I watched LTROI again, and while I thought the pacing was pretty poor the first time through, even that is really well done considering all that is handled. I really am starting to dread the U.S. remake.

Also, why did I only find out that Doctor Who: Caves of Androzani is on Netflix WI?? That story will never get old. Ever.

Riley @ Jul 10th 2009 8:55PM

I was thinking about seeing Knowing, because Proyas is a pretty good director and I really liked Dark City (not a huge fan of The Crow, though)

MystileArmor @ Jul 10th 2009 9:00PM

Funny fact: Did you know the movie executives first wanted Michael Jackson starring in The Crow.

Riley @ Jul 10th 2009 9:08PM

makes sense

NukeAssault @ Jul 10th 2009 9:25PM

I personally liked it.

Riley @ Jul 10th 2009 9:37PM

It was ok, I just think they tried way too hard in a lot of places and it got pretty cheesy

VaultICEE @ Jul 10th 2009 10:10PM

Huh. I like this new column on Joystiq. I seemed to miss the other(s)...

But, really, Let The Right One In is great. Anybody that is skeptical should check it out and be amazed.

I downloaded a episode of King to watch later, and I'll be watching Baghead tonight for sure.

Thanks Joystiq! :D

Samael @ Jul 11th 2009 12:03AM

Just wanted to say, good job on picking Let the Right One In, I have been recommending that movie ever since I saw it in theatres, it is awesome to say the least. One of the only movies that stayed really true to the book. Also if you can read the book, its sickening at a few points but its a great read and this has to be one of the best Vampire movies I have watched and one of the best books I have read.

St.McDuck @ Jul 11th 2009 12:13AM

I actually thought Let The Right One In was awful and pretentious, which still makes it better than most Hollywood vampire movies.

Kings is great, however.

ZaxCG2 @ Jul 11th 2009 2:06AM

'Despite the overexposed presence of Nick Cage'-
*barfs at the thought*

THE HAIRLINE. IT HUUUUUUUURTS. Hnnnnnnnng.

switters @ Jul 11th 2009 2:08AM

I watched "let the right one in" twice in the theaters. I really enjoyed how the characters wheren't rushed. By the end you become attached to their situations and feel for them and what they are going through. it also becomes a touching love story. Great pick! Hopefully it will be nominated for an oscar this year to get more people to take notice what a great film it is.

and for anyone who hasn't seen it, go watch OLDBOY

Brian @ Jul 11th 2009 5:36AM

really great movie
but saria the cat you need to change your pic to that of a guy and not a hot chick

Saria the Cat @ Jul 22nd 2009 8:52PM

You mean change it to a quincy?

Mudassir @ Jul 11th 2009 7:30AM

Definitely concur the pick of the week. It drags a little towards the end, but awesome movie none the less.

Mudassir @ Jul 11th 2009 8:12AM

Also, people who are looking for good sci-fi should check out the Virtuality pilot. I doubt the series'll be picked up, but if you can legally, you should purchase it. It is what Sunshine was

Diskoboy7 @ Jul 11th 2009 11:14PM

The Deep is out on Blu-Ray, yet for some reason, Jaws still isn't? Will someone please explain the logic, here?

Hey Universal, you guys wanna get with the program, already, or are we gonna have to wait until 2010 to get an overpriced "35th anniversary edition" with absolutely NO new features from the 30th anniversary version, except it's now in HD??

Or maybe the whole cast can do a commentary track? Oh, that's right! The only worthwhile castmember still alive is Dreyfuss! And Speilberg won't do friggin' commentary!!!

Okay. I'm done now. :)

xraybravo @ Jul 13th 2009 12:50AM

let the right ones in is a great movie def worth the watch

JeffyP00 @ Jul 13th 2009 9:57AM

Woah woah, so the version on Netflix has the correct subtitles? WTF.. I rented this a while ago, and the subtitles were crap, but the DUB was a good translation. But who wants to watch the English dub?

AWESOME movie, but was disappointed by the above on the DVD...