JBO: Joystiq Box Office, October 5 - October 9
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Oct 9th 2009 at 9:30PM } 
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:
Anvil: The Story of Anvil (DVD: $24.98 MSRP, cheaper at most retailers)
Just for the record, I'm not a fan of heavy metal. It's just never been my thing. But this documentary about a band you've never heard of just came out on DVD, and it's one of the most moving, amazing movies I've seen in a long time. You'll laugh, cry, play some air drums or guitar, and ultimately be won over. Steve "Lips" Kudlow channels more emotion in this movie than most actors ever do in their lives, and you'll understand why he's kept this failed band going for 30 years. By day he works at a depressing school catering job, and in his spare time he and longtime childhood friend (and drummer) Robb Reiner rock as heavy metal band Anvil. The film chronicles their history, a failed European tour, and what life is like for the flipside of Metallica or Slayer. Highly recommended.
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.
Recommendation of the Week:
Anvil: The Story of Anvil (DVD: $24.98 MSRP, cheaper at most retailers)Just for the record, I'm not a fan of heavy metal. It's just never been my thing. But this documentary about a band you've never heard of just came out on DVD, and it's one of the most moving, amazing movies I've seen in a long time. You'll laugh, cry, play some air drums or guitar, and ultimately be won over. Steve "Lips" Kudlow channels more emotion in this movie than most actors ever do in their lives, and you'll understand why he's kept this failed band going for 30 years. By day he works at a depressing school catering job, and in his spare time he and longtime childhood friend (and drummer) Robb Reiner rock as heavy metal band Anvil. The film chronicles their history, a failed European tour, and what life is like for the flipside of Metallica or Slayer. Highly recommended.
Xbox Live Video Marketplace (Xbox 360)
Trick 'r Treat (480
($6) HD, 320 ($4) SD to rent)Ever heard the urban legends about a kids getting candy with razorblades inside? That's Trick 'r Treat, which people are calling the best Halloween movie ... ever. It's an anthology movie of the quintessential things that make up the haunted eve, and yes that includes people getting killed. It's not your typical horrorized gorefest, and features a bag-headed young kid as "Sam," the spirit of Halloween. If you're not already hooked by now, Brian Cox and Anna Paquin are in it. I have no earthly idea why Warner Bros. sat on this film for two years, but if you need something to get you in the mood for October 31, this is it.
Netflix Watch Instantly (Mac/PC or Xbox Live, subscription required: starts at $8.99 per month)
OldboyIf Alfred Hitchcock was still alive, and if he was Korean, he'd be making movies just like this. Yes, that's a lot of ifs. A businessman is taken and held for 15 years by unseen captors. 15 years. When he finally gets out, he's in the mood for some cold, hard revenge. He serves some of that revenge up in a hallway fight where he's armed only with a hammer, which was filmed in one, continuous, incredible take. It took three days to set that up, but it was worth it. It's based on a Japanese manga of the same name, and it's about as crazy as you'd expect given the source material. It's an excellent film about the limits of human endurance, and is well worth your time.
PlayStation Store (PlayStation 3 or PSP)
Mad Men Season Three, Episode Eight: Souvenir ($2.99 HD, $1.99 SD to rent)Do I have to keep recommending Mad Men until every single one of you is watching it? Unfortunately, I'll run out of slots before that happens. But seriously, this AMC television show deserves your attention. It nails the '60s era, makes working in an office look a lot more exciting than it ever should be and Christina Hendricks is in it as va-va-va-voom office maven Joan Holloway. In "Souvenir," the Don / Betty Draper relationship continues to slide sideways, even though they take a romantic trip to Rome together. Why did people stop dressing fancy and having cocktail hour all day long?
Blu-ray Disc (PlayStation 3)
The National Parks: America's Best Idea ($129.99 MSRP, lower at many retailers)Ken Burns is known for making extremely long documentaries about different American subjects: Baseball, jazz, The Civil War, Mark Twain, etc. Usually the people who enjoy these are your Aunt Jean, your Grandfather Joe or your weird Uncle Pete. After all this time, I'm finally on the bandwagon. Burns' National Parks series is twelve hours worth of fantastic. When all you hear in the news these days is doom and gloom about the economy, the current state of the country, and all that blather, this reminds you what made America great. Plus it'll probably make you take a trip in the near future.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tmacairjordan87 @ Oct 9th 2009 9:43PM
I saw the Anvil movie on vh1 the other day, such a sad movie. I mean, it ended on a high note and they finally seem to be doing ok after 30 years, but most of it was so depressing.
On a related note, 666 (from Anvil) is awesome on Rock Band. So fun to play on drums.
tmacairjordan87 @ Oct 9th 2009 9:45PM
I was also a little pissed hearing Lars (from metallica), the Slayer singer, and Slash talking about how much Anvil inspired them and how important they were...well where the hell were those guys when Anvil disappeared? Throw them a goddamn bone and let them open for you guys or something.
Deadpool @ Oct 9th 2009 9:48PM
Good thing there aren't any movies I want to buy in the midst of this fine Broketober month. I have to make sure I have enough money for all these excellent games! :)
Levi (God Hand Defense Force) @ Oct 9th 2009 9:57PM
Saw Happiness of the Katakuris today. One of Takashi Miike's best movies. You will walk around with a smile on your face for the rest of the day after watching, guaranteed. Oh yeah, it's a musical by the way.
I'm watching The Rock & Roll Swindle right now. I'm not a big Sex Pistols fan, but this is a very amusing movie.
Bill$ @ Oct 9th 2009 10:34PM
lol Happiness of the Katakuris is NOT one of Miikes best.. try Ichi the Killer, Audition, Visitor Q.. heck even Gozu is better than that. Katakuris is a horrible "remake" of The Quiet Family (KOREA)...
Levi (God Hand Defense Force) @ Oct 9th 2009 10:45PM
I've seen all of those movies already, and a few others of his. I honestly think that Katakuris is welcome company amongst all those that you mentioned.I will check out The Quiet Family though. I did not know Katakuris was a remake.
Bill$ @ Oct 9th 2009 11:01PM
yea try The Quiet Family.. i guess i know what you mean by it will leave a smile on your face for the rest of the day, because thats the essence of The Quiet Family.
Hydrophobicfish (PSN: HydrophobicFish) @ Oct 9th 2009 10:00PM
Old boy is actually a pretty good movie. I'll admit that it drags on for a little while, but it does have some really cool scenes... and the ending is pretty phenominal, easily worth it, even without the cool fight scenes.
Bill$ @ Oct 9th 2009 10:38PM
ha i cant believe thats on the ps store.. quality movie. seen it last year, was recommended by a friend. one of my favorite Korean films. Chan Wook Park is the man.. cant wait for his vampire flick.
dantebk @ Oct 9th 2009 10:02PM
America's Best Idea? I guess no one told him about fried oreos.
Deadpool @ Oct 9th 2009 10:20PM
Or about fried butter. :P
iTzDaKroniK @ Oct 10th 2009 4:28AM
It's all all about the friend twinkies..mmmmmmmmm fried twinkies *drools*.
Bill$ @ Oct 9th 2009 10:43PM
tonight i'll be finishing up Mr. Vampire.. then its off to Tsui Hark's Vampire Hunters.
Obie @ Oct 9th 2009 10:45PM
I saw Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog for the first time, a cool little comedy that was. :)
Bananarama @ Oct 9th 2009 10:52PM
I'm trying to watch Mad Men, but I'm halfway through season 1 and I just don't get it. It doesn't seem to be about anything other than shallow unlikable (and unbelievable) characters.
Markez @ Oct 9th 2009 10:57PM
Anyone know if Old Boy is in Korean, or has the crappy voice-overs? Because the voice-overs are quite crapular.
Bill$ @ Oct 9th 2009 11:08PM
hmm thats an interesting question.. im guessing english dub.. i personally have no problem with dubs.. i love em all. other than that, Korean is a beautiful language. (Seung-beom Ryu --my favorite korean.. i have a man crush on his voice... ABSOLUTELY platonic!)
Shmil @ Oct 10th 2009 3:50PM
I think it's subtitled. May god have mercy on their souls if it isn't.
Godmars @ Oct 10th 2009 12:40AM
How does this whole thing work, because Trick or Treat is on PSN.
Diskoboy7 @ Oct 10th 2009 12:42AM
I wasn't really thrilled with last weekends episode of Mad Men.
Why didn't you guys recommend "A Guy Walks Into An Ad Agency.."? That is, without a doubt, the best episode of the Season, thus far.
Nothing like watching a guy have his foot run over by a John Deere in the middle of an office party.
And I hope 'Connie' sticks around for a while.. I like him, for some reason.
see5harp @ Oct 10th 2009 1:43AM
My personal recommendation is Brick. It just got added to the Netflix instant stream library. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance was also added a few weeks back, and probably edges out Old Boy as my favorite Chan Wook Park film.
mykel @ Oct 10th 2009 1:41AM
FYI everybody . . . Old Boy is being remade in 2010 with Steven Spielburg as director and Will Smith as the main character.
"Hell naw you ain't finna lock me up, bitch!"
Bill$ @ Oct 10th 2009 2:16AM
that would have been funny if it was 50 Cent.
Nihilism98 @ Oct 10th 2009 7:58AM
Zombieland was really good. Better than I expected.
Access Granted [No one can stop Mr. Domino!] @ Oct 10th 2009 12:03PM
I saw the remakes of the Hills have eyes and Six String Samurai and also Zombieland on it's opening day which was great!
Discotheque @ Oct 10th 2009 6:53PM
Zombieland was pretty good but nowhere near on the same level as Shaun of the Dead.
I'm gonna rent Trick R Treat this weekend and also check out Anvil.