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:
Double Impact (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.
Recommendations of the Week:
Double Impact (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.
Xbox Live Video Marketplace (Xbox 360)
The Great Buck Howard (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 CrossingThe 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 The Legend 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.














Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
stray_dog_strut @ Sep 11th 2009 9:41PM
I'd like to suggest "The Man From Earth".
Science-fiction of the cerebral variety.
Bubbameister33 @ Sep 11th 2009 10:06PM
Best movie Netflix has recommended to me since I have been a member. It's on Instant watch so check it out.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 11th 2009 9:43PM
Double Impact: 4 stars.
2 for Van Damme.
2 for Van Damme.
I loved that movie, although it's a really dumb movie.
I saw JCVD last week. It's pretty good for the most part. For a movie produced by Van Damme himself, there sure are a lot of bad things said about Jean-Claude in there.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 11th 2009 9:54PM
http://www.cracked.com/blog/jcvdvd-the-latest-in-van-damme-hits/
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 11th 2009 10:14PM
That's pretty good. It just cuts off though.
I didn't know seanbaby reviewed anything but video games.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 11th 2009 10:22PM
His Super Friends article on his site is gold. http://seanbaby.com
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 11th 2009 10:42PM
I read the Herculoids thing instead. I actually was taping Herculoids off BOOM a few months ago. Because that show was so shitty it's hilarious to laugh at. I turned to Herculoids after trying to watch Sealab 2020 and failing because it's impossibly bad. It's got that whole environmental crap from the 70s going on and as a bonus it's also incredibly slow moving. It makes Captain Planet look like Freakazoid!
Balloonfighter99 @ Sep 11th 2009 9:57PM
Von Dom is back, HYYAAH!!!
Markez @ Sep 11th 2009 10:05PM
I always got a chuckle out of the edgy/bad Van Damme that said 'get out of here, wit your black silk anderwear'
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 11th 2009 10:16PM
I rented The Great Buck Howard. It was pretty good for me, but I'm, um, old. It'll bore the pants off most joystiq readers, I guarantee. Think twice.
Filthy Assistant @ Sep 11th 2009 10:28PM
A movie called Double Impact on September 11th. Keep bein' classy, Joystiq.
Markez @ Sep 11th 2009 10:31PM
As Mr. Henderson would say, "you blew it"
Neo Asuma @ Sep 11th 2009 11:06PM
It's time for a song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ5WXr4SO-c
LOL.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 11th 2009 11:18PM
That's no "Spin that Wheel (Turtles Get Real)".
Neo Asuma @ Sep 11th 2009 11:36PM
It's related to Double Impact, so I put it up. Crazily enough, I like this cheezy song.
And "Spin that Wheel" is awesome, but "Ninja Rap" is legend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx7dt0Wscpc&fmt=18
Autobot @ Sep 11th 2009 11:40PM
I don't care if I get downvoted:
DOULAIMI002 IS A DIPSHIT SPAMMER AND SHOULD BE BANNED.
Dumbapple @ Sep 12th 2009 2:00AM
Ahhh Miller's Crossing, indeed their finest, alongside No Country for Old Men.
MRBlue @ Sep 12th 2009 2:32AM
I bought Taken several weeks on Blu-ray and have yet to boot it up. The wife saw it and said she really enjoyed it. I figured for $14.99 how could I resist a recommendation from the misses? However, the lower sticker price worries me because why would a brand new film be priced so low?
Oh well, you can't really go wrong with Liam Neeson can you? He did do the Phantom Menace but then again so did Sam Jackson but I don't blame either of them for that. I'm sure the paycheck was worth the humiliation and horridly written dialogue.
The Adventures of Cesaria Across the 8th Dimension! @ Sep 12th 2009 8:52AM
Liam Neeson was the best part of Phantom Menace. The prequels would have been just a bit better if Qui Gon had not *SPOILER* died.
The Dark Wayne @ Sep 12th 2009 6:15PM
it's an incredible movie imo. Also it might be because the film was released in 2008 in the UK and France, so maybe blu ray sales started earlier there? Either way it's great
Eh @ Sep 12th 2009 3:25AM
They deliver mass destruction, by 10am tomorrow.
ill trooper @ Sep 12th 2009 3:51AM
Ed Hardy on sale? Wow, cool. I'll click over there RIGHT AWAY
Now I can dress like Cliffy B
iamthebishthatmakesyoumosh @ Sep 12th 2009 6:09AM
I can't recommend Taken enough, its an awesome film.
Jabra the Hutt @ Sep 12th 2009 10:27AM
I wonder how butchered those four classic Asian films are? I would love to have Drunken Master II and Hero on blu-ray, but if they're edited and dubbed in English . . . no deal.
refinedsugar @ Sep 12th 2009 11:57AM
The best part was when JCVD #1 had sex with JCVD #2's girl. Yee-haw!
Chris @ Sep 12th 2009 4:22PM
Netflix watch instantly can be played on PS3 with PlayOn. I'm going to check out Miller's Crossing tonight, thanks for the suggestion!
Rax Dakkar @ Sep 12th 2009 4:41PM
I consider the Big Lebowski, Fargo and No Country For Old Men better than Miller's Crossing, but that's not to say it's a bad movie in the slightest. It's just hard to rank the Coen Brother's movies when they make so many top notch films.
Great recommendation though.
iTzDaKroniK @ Sep 12th 2009 5:45PM
Kids is a great movie that i just saw again for the 9th time, great lines in the movie like "you know what bitches love yo.. SUCKING DICK!" and "He asked if you got dis dick". What a classic i recommend it to any one who hasn't heard of it.
Levon @ Sep 12th 2009 7:33PM
the great buck howard is on Instant Netflix too!