JBO: Joystiq Box Office, October 12 - October 16

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:
Black Dynamite (In actual theaters -- get out of the house and treat yourself!)
Remember Michael Jai White? The dude played Spawn in the forgettable movie, and was seen without makeup or a mask as Gambol in The Dark Knight. However, you've never seen him as a jive-talkin', nunchuck-swingin', butt kickin', fro-wearin' guy who gets results. From the website: "When 'The Man' murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House." You owe it to yourself to see an amazing return to blaxploitation.
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:
Black Dynamite (In actual theaters -- get out of the house and treat yourself!)Remember Michael Jai White? The dude played Spawn in the forgettable movie, and was seen without makeup or a mask as Gambol in The Dark Knight. However, you've never seen him as a jive-talkin', nunchuck-swingin', butt kickin', fro-wearin' guy who gets results. From the website: "When 'The Man' murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House." You owe it to yourself to see an amazing return to blaxploitation.
Xbox Live Video Marketplace (Xbox 360)
The Hills Run Red (480
($6) HD, 320
($4) SD to rent)What is it with horror films and the fascination of the 1980s? Probably the fact that some of our best and most terrifying movies in that genre came out of that era. Where The House of the Devil attempted to emulate an '80s horror movie, The Hills Run Red features one as its subject. There's a supposedly "lost" '80s horror flick, and the castmembers go looking for it. Of course, it is never a good idea to go looking for anything in any horror movie ... pretty much ever. As expected, there's gore, a demented killer, and bad things happening. Where torture porn looks like it's dying off, slasher movies are back. I just wish the killer wasn't named "Babyface."
Netflix Watch Instantly (Mac/PC or Xbox Live, subscription required: starts at $8.99 per month)
JarheadJarhead is a great movie about the war in Iraq, and while it stands on its own, just consider what it could have been. Tobey Maguire, Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio and even Josh Jackson wanted to play the leading role that went to Jake Gyllenhaal, and Gary Oldman, Micheal Keaton and Kurt Russell were considered for Lt. Col. Kasinzki (Chris Cooper ended up in the role). Personally I would have loved to have seen the Batman version, with Bale in the lead and Michael Keaton as the Lt. Col ... but all that aside, Jarhead is a great movie. This was director Sam Mendes' followup to Road to Perdition, and it's been woefully unappreciated. Give it another shot.
PlayStation Store (PlayStation 3 or PSP)
Blade ($4.50 HD, $2.99 SD to rent, $9.99 SD to own)It's a very lean week in the good movies department this week on the PlayStation Store. When they added The Hitcher, I was extremely excited ... until I found out it's the Sean Bean remake. Where's the high-definition version of the 1985 classic with C. Thomas Howell and Rutger Hauer? That is a near perfect movie. However, they did add an HD version of Blade, so not all is lost. Blade is one of those movies I'll flip by on a channel and end up watching all over again even though I own the DVD. Forget the sequels: this one is all you need. Blade himself actually makes hunting vampires seem like fun, and in a day and age of sparkly Twilight vampires, this film is a stake in the heart.
Blu-ray Disc (PlayStation 3)
The Land of the Lost ($39.98 MSRP, lower at many retailers)When this movie came out in theaters earlier this year, I was not a fan. Mostly because it wasn't the original television series. They changed it into a tribute to buffoonery and slapstick. Despite that, I watched it again recently and I can't deny that it's funny. Will Ferrell and Danny McBride holding on to a vibrating pylon singing Cher's "Do You Believe In Life After Love" is pure genius. Plus Ferrell's run in with a giant mosquito is both nauseating and hilarious. While it's definitely not the original television series by a longshot, this is destined to become one of those 3AM classics that people watch when they can't sleep. It's just a little boggling that Universal decided to set the MSRP at $39.98.













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason B. @ Oct 16th 2009 10:44PM
The Hills Run Red is also on PSN. Not sure of the price since I am not in the country (USA) currently. The movie is in HD format though.
bongoes Sector 2814 @ Oct 16th 2009 10:51PM
Black Dynamite looks hilarious. You guys should have an in theaters recommendation every week.
Cassi @ Oct 17th 2009 1:52PM
Wait, get...out...of the house? I don't think I understand.
Shadowbender (Nelson Is Behind You) @ Oct 16th 2009 11:15PM
Give me reason why my boy here shouldn't pull your head off.
I love that line from Michael Jai White.
Preston @ Oct 17th 2009 12:05AM
Holy shit, Black Dynamite's a real movie?
Preston @ Oct 17th 2009 12:06AM
Holy shit, Black Dynamite's a real movie?
Preston @ Oct 17th 2009 12:06AM
Goddamnit, that shouldn't have double-posted.
doc j @ Oct 17th 2009 12:33AM
Just for the record, I'd totally take Jake Gyllenhaal over all those guys. Wish they had gone with anyone other than Chris Cooper, though - but especially Kurt Russell.
I'm actually trying to decide between Donnie Darko and Kurt Russell from The Thing as Halloween costumes. So far Kurt Russel has the lead because I would get to make a flamethrower prop and I wouldn't have to cut my hair.
robert @ Oct 17th 2009 10:51AM
yeah, but if you go as frank, you can ask people why they wear that stupid "human suit" when they ask you why you're wearing a rabbit suit.
Redeye @ Oct 17th 2009 12:51AM
Ok, now it's official: I can no longer accept movie recommendations from this site.
Jason Statham (Has a ps3 now) @ Oct 17th 2009 2:22AM
cool story, bro.
Bowser Rogozhin: England is finished @ Oct 17th 2009 6:18AM
You can't blame Kelly for the poor selection Sony and Microsoft have on show. If you're given scraps you still have to make an effort to make them look presentable.
Reddrive @ Oct 17th 2009 2:01AM
I'm all for for Black Dynamite, but the closest showing is 300 miles away.
Rented Trick 'R Treat
Discotheque @ Oct 17th 2009 2:28AM
Trick R Treat was alright. Pretty fun halloween film in it's own right. I'm actually glad Bale wasn't cast in Jarhead. He's decent, but I think his performances have been getting blander with time. The ones considered for Cooper's role were all fantastic choices though, but Cooper is a good actor too so not a big deal.
Discotheque @ Oct 17th 2009 2:30AM
On a sidenote:
Oh shit I gotta pick up Black Dynamite
Jason Statham (Has a ps3 now) @ Oct 17th 2009 2:31AM
On the topic of Land of the lost, I didn't think it was as bad as people made it out to be. Yeah it didn't really have much of a plot and this movie was just more of Will Ferrell screaming like a retard, but I can't deny that the movie did have it's share of funny moments.
Jason Statham (Has a ps3 now) @ Oct 17th 2009 2:31AM
Also it makes me sad that Black Dynamite is not playing in a theater near me.
Ballistic H @ Oct 17th 2009 2:36AM
They ain't showing Black Dynamite in Canada... Dammit! Oh well, porn here I come.
Bill$ @ Oct 17th 2009 12:22PM
lol.. black dynamite on my to watch list, right next to "im gonna git you sucka".. never saw that. btw if you guys crave some Michael White B-movie, check out Toxic Avenger. idk how big his role was or if he was in the first or 2nd.
xtremeholymuffin @ Oct 17th 2009 10:00AM
Oh man, seeing Black Dynamite in the theater on Monday.
Bill$ @ Oct 17th 2009 12:25PM
The Hills Run Red?.. interesting choice Joystiq. i have the movie sitting here but didnt get around to watching it. i hope its bad enough to watch @ 3am..(best b-movie hour)
cactusjack1981 @ Oct 17th 2009 12:43PM
If you're thinking about renting a movie, try to grab Drag Me To Hell. Sam Raimi's first horror-ish movie since Army of Darkness and it's a blast. It's great to see Raimi return to the horror/comedy realm of film making, even if it's for a short while. It doesn't make up for Spider-Man 3, but it's a start.
Zsavior @ Oct 18th 2009 5:55AM
I been looking for Black Dynamite ever since I saw the trailer a while back when it was going to a film festival, think it was Sundance I wanted to see that and Mystery Team.
Spacesuit 501.... is my PSN ID @ Oct 18th 2009 6:25PM
BLACK DYNAMITE!!!!