JBO: Joystiq Box Office, October 19 - October 23
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Oct 23rd 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:
Red Cliff (VOD, Amazon, and Xbox 360: 800
($10) SD to rent)
John Woo is back! And thankfully this isn't the John Woo who directed Paycheck or Windtalkers. This is more like the Hard Boiled, Hard Target John Woo ... just on a massive scale. It's an epic film based on actual historic events and battles that took place in China around 208 AD. Chinese audiences were treated to a four hour long version that was split into two parts, and it has become the highest grossing film in Chinese history. American audience are getting a version that's been heavily edited down to 2.5 hours, but it is still well worth watching. Three epic battles, stealth, trickery, and martial arts action. Plus it reunited John Woo with actor Tony Leung who co-starred in Hard Boiled with Chow Yun-Fat. Don't balk at the running time, because it is worth every minute. Check out an exclusive clip of the movie over at Cinematical.
A lot of you have been asking about the pricing on certain Xbox releases. For instance Red Cliff is 800 ($10) to rent in standard definition, as opposed to the normal rental price of 320 ($4) for SD. The reason for this is that it has not yet been released in theaters, and is exclusive to the Xbox 360, Amazon, and certain VOD outlets. The film actually opens on November 18, so the added price is for the benefit of seeing it early.
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:
Red Cliff (VOD, Amazon, and Xbox 360: 800 ($10) SD to rent)John Woo is back! And thankfully this isn't the John Woo who directed Paycheck or Windtalkers. This is more like the Hard Boiled, Hard Target John Woo ... just on a massive scale. It's an epic film based on actual historic events and battles that took place in China around 208 AD. Chinese audiences were treated to a four hour long version that was split into two parts, and it has become the highest grossing film in Chinese history. American audience are getting a version that's been heavily edited down to 2.5 hours, but it is still well worth watching. Three epic battles, stealth, trickery, and martial arts action. Plus it reunited John Woo with actor Tony Leung who co-starred in Hard Boiled with Chow Yun-Fat. Don't balk at the running time, because it is worth every minute. Check out an exclusive clip of the movie over at Cinematical.
A lot of you have been asking about the pricing on certain Xbox releases. For instance Red Cliff is 800
($10) to rent in standard definition, as opposed to the normal rental price of 320 ($4) for SD. The reason for this is that it has not yet been released in theaters, and is exclusive to the Xbox 360, Amazon, and certain VOD outlets. The film actually opens on November 18, so the added price is for the benefit of seeing it early. Xbox Live Video Marketplace (Xbox 360)
The World's Fastest Indian (320 ($4) SD to rent)Anthony Hopkins shows us why he's one of the world's best actors in this true story about an old man determined to push the limits of his motorcycle, and himself. Even though everyone keeps telling he's too old, he keeps pushing ahead. When he's denied a racing permit, he decides to do it anyhow. He also does it on all on a rebuilt 1920 Indian motorcycle It's a simple, yet touching film about human spirit and perseverance that doesn't feature any real shocking twists, turns or surprises, but it'll make you forget that Hopkins formerly played a character who wouldn't mind dining on your liver.
Netflix Watch Instantly (Mac/PC or Xbox Live, subscription required: starts at $8.99 per month)
BoltI didn't want to like Bolt, and it would have been standard Disney animated fare if not for that freaking hamster. Rhino is one of the best characters to come out of any movie, animated, live-action or otherwise, in a long time. What's even better is that the animator Mark Walton recorded his lines as a temp track, and they liked them so much that they kept him in the film. Even more bizarre is the fact that the design for Rhino in his plastic ball was based on the look of John Lasseter's pet Chinchilla, and the animation team adopted a hamster to study for the film. They named him Doink. The movie is fun, charming and might even jerk a tear or two out of gamer's battle-hardened eyes.
PlayStation Store (PlayStation 3 or PSP)
Seventh Moon ($4.50 HD, $2.99 SD to rent, $9.99 SD to own)How do you follow up The Blair Witch Project? Apparently by waiting nearly 10 years to return to horror. Director Eduardo Sanchez has been notably silent since Blair Witch tore up movie charts in 1999 as a surprise hit (Paranormal Activity, anyone?). He directed the forgettable Altered in 2006, but Seventh Moon is a fine return to the horror genre and genuinely terrifying. And I'm not just talking about Amy Smart's acting ability and top billing on the movie poster. Film follows a young couple on their honeymoon in China, and things of course go horribly wrong. There are some actually decent scares here, and should be on your Halloween horror radar.
Blu-ray Disc (PlayStation 3)
The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition ($84.99 MSRP, lower at many retailers. Currently $49.49 at Amazon)Everyone has a secret guilty pleasure that they keep behind closed doors. Sometimes, you have to let that secret out and just go with it. Mine is that I love old Hollywood movies, and yes, that includes musicals. Next to Singin' in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz is my one of my favorite movies, and it has never looked this good. Not even when it screened in theaters. Seriously, there are details in this transfer (they call the process UltraResolution) that you've never seen before. This Blu-ray edition has been spectacularly restored, features enough archival material to keep you occupied for days, and comes with a wristwatch, a miniature coffee table book, and reproductions of the original 1939 press materials, as well as a copy of the budget. Yes, the budget. Bizarre but true.
What are you watching?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dr. Bradwart @ Oct 23rd 2009 8:35PM
I'm sorry, but eighty freaking dollars is WAY too much for one movie. I don't care how much you pack in.
Can't wait for the 3rd-50th Anniversary edition of North by Northwest comes out. Finally.
Kevin Kelly @ Oct 23rd 2009 8:46PM
Eh, it's only $50 on Amazon. That's not so bad. Plus there's a huge documentary about MGM in this set. It's great stuff.
Saria the Cat (now on XBL!) @ Oct 23rd 2009 8:43PM
Bolt?! Kevin, you need some help. :P
Kevin Kelly @ Oct 23rd 2009 8:47PM
Hey. Go watch it. And yes, I do need help. I spell that help "Kicking Saria's Ass." :D
Markez (attempting to call me less of a man because i knew so much about pans) @ Oct 23rd 2009 8:54PM
IT'S MILEY!
As a 12 year old... Hey I added this days ago, always like animated movies like this. We're gonna kick your ass!
Einhanderkiller @ Oct 23rd 2009 8:55PM
Bolt is way better in French.
lnternetjesus @ Oct 23rd 2009 8:52PM
We have a real culture of thrift. The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games.”
I tried to instill into the company culture “skepticism, pessimism, and fear” of the global economic downturn, adding, “We are very good at keeping people focused on the deep depression.”
Dr. Bradwart @ Oct 23rd 2009 8:56PM
Inserting random Kotick quotes is bad enough...but they don't even work in this situation.
You idiot.
Markez (attempting to call me less of a man because i knew so much about pans) @ Oct 23rd 2009 8:56PM
My instant watch recommendation is Monster Camp. Falls kinda flat and gets boring after awhile, but not too shabby.
"For one weekend a month, die-hard gamers leave the real world for the fantasy of live-action role playing. This award-winning documentary examines this make-believe world at the Seattle franchise of NERO (New England Role-playing Organization). As players become warriors, creatures, sorcerers and other assorted characters, filmmaker Cullen Hoback goes inside the subculture to ask what this make-believe world means to its dedicated inhabitants."
Charlie_Six @ Oct 23rd 2009 9:09PM
Red Cliff = Live action Dynasty Warriors.
I thought it was an OK movie. Kinda boring though. More boring sequel :(
futurebiblehero @ Oct 23rd 2009 9:33PM
I loved both it and it's sequel. It blew my mind that John Woo could actually redeem himself at this point (especially after Mission Impossible 2).
However, this stuff is really correlative to how much interest you have in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story. If you don't know Cao Cao from Zhang Fei and couldn't care less either way, then I'd avoid Red Cliff. For fans of Chinese history though, it can be pretty damned entertaining.
Ballistic H @ Oct 23rd 2009 9:50PM
"Special Edition" is 286min instead of the standard version 147min
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Red-Cliff-Blu-ray-Review/7821/
Silverback 55 @ Oct 23rd 2009 9:31PM
I'm sitting down to watch Ong Bak 2 tonight. I loved the first one.
Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Oct 23rd 2009 9:36PM
Seventh Moon sounds interesting. And I'm soon traveling to China too, although not on a honeymoon.
johnfordcoley @ Oct 23rd 2009 10:01PM
I was channel surfing this past Wednesday, and saw that The Third Man was on TCM. Eschewing my original choice of watching a new episode of South Park, I decided to watch the film, and came away from it amazed. It was an incredible film noir with beautiful cinematography, a great story, and some of the best actors of that era of film, including Orson Wells in a fantastic, if utterly short, role. If you have a chance to check it out, do so, I really enjoyed it.
Also, that Wizard of Oz Blu-Ray sounds fantastic. If only I got paid sooner...
doc j @ Oct 25th 2009 2:33AM
It is fantastic. I don't care for the movie all that much, but it is my girlfriend's favorite movie and I got it for her (39.95 at a local Target w/ a Target Card discount), and I enjoyed the whole thing. We also watched the documentary (which is long!) and also very enjoyable
bongoes Sector 2814 @ Oct 23rd 2009 10:02PM
I got the Big Bang Theory on dvd. My friends have told me to watch it, so I am. I've found I'm a lot like Sheldon.
Demon G Sides @ Oct 24th 2009 1:02AM
Red Cliff is pure brilliance. The original releases in china were better though.
07prathik @ Oct 24th 2009 3:07AM
Red Cliff is horrible.
I hated it.
If you want an epic watch hero instead.
Benny @ Oct 24th 2009 11:00AM
Red Cliff is already on DVD in the UK.
Clavius @ Oct 24th 2009 11:38AM
Bolt was good watched it with my exgf's kids. You'll laugh as much as you dont want to but you shall. Tears um.. not to me atleast.. oh and as always they toss in a few "adult jokes" that the kiddies wont get at all in there for us to.
Now to track down Red Cliff on my DVD's to track down list.
Jose [Steam & PSN: Assmar] @ Oct 24th 2009 12:22PM
Watched Worlds Fastest Indian on Blu-Ray a while back, very pretty. Got Brothers Bloom from Netflix on Blu-Ray as well, I love this effing service.
Gorgula @ Oct 24th 2009 12:31PM
who the f pays so much to rent a movie? gross
Smoke_me_a_Kipper @ Oct 24th 2009 1:41PM
Where is my LOTR trilogy on BD?!
Where is my Star Wars on BD?!
freaparn @ Oct 24th 2009 4:02PM
Looking at the imdb review for Seventh Moon kind of made me chuckle: "If you want a film that has camera work that looks like the camera man had Parkinson's, than this is for you. After 20 minutes into this confusing plot flop, I was thoroughly nauseous from watching this convulsing mess."
Yep, sounds like the Blair Witch guy alright.