JBO: Joystiq Box Office, November 2 - November 6
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Nov 6th 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:
The Shield: The Complete Series (DVD [What, no Blu-ray?] $159.95, lower at many retailers)
Vic Mackey isn't the first hardass cop to come down the line and smack miscreants into place, but he's definitely one of the most effective and most memorable. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching Michael Chiklis in The Shield, then this has your name all over it. If you have ... well, your name is still on it. It's the complete series, filled with extras, and packaged to look like a nifty coffee table book, embossed with a copy of the misaligned badge logo from the opening of the show. Forget everything else, this is hands down one of the best cop shows ever created, and it captures the underbelly of Los Angeles perfectly. Some people would argue that Los Angeles is all underbelly. Hopefully that means there's plenty of Mackey to go around.
As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- 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:
The Shield: The Complete Series (DVD [What, no Blu-ray?] $159.95, lower at many retailers)Vic Mackey isn't the first hardass cop to come down the line and smack miscreants into place, but he's definitely one of the most effective and most memorable. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching Michael Chiklis in The Shield, then this has your name all over it. If you have ... well, your name is still on it. It's the complete series, filled with extras, and packaged to look like a nifty coffee table book, embossed with a copy of the misaligned badge logo from the opening of the show. Forget everything else, this is hands down one of the best cop shows ever created, and it captures the underbelly of Los Angeles perfectly. Some people would argue that Los Angeles is all underbelly. Hopefully that means there's plenty of Mackey to go around.
Xbox Live Video Marketplace (Xbox 360)
Serious Moonlight (1200
($14.99) HD, 800 ($10) SD, to rent)Serious Moonlight is a spunky little movie about a disintegrating marriage, and things slide in the direction of Kevin Spacey in Swimming With Sharks. Meg Ryan comes off the back burner and does a great job in this movie, which also stars Timothy Hutton, Justin Long and Kristen Bell. Normally I'm not a huge Hutton fan, bet Ryan does such a good job that you won't mind that he's in it. Or maybe you love him, who knows. This movie was written by the fantastic Adrienne Shelly who wrote and directed 2007's Waitress, which starred Nathan Fillion and Keri Russell. Sadly, she was murdered before Waitress was released. This movie helps show off how snappy of a writer she really was.
Note: Serious Moonlight hasn't been released in theaters yet, hence the higher rental pricing.
Netflix Watch Instantly (Mac/PC, Xbox Live, PS3, subscription required: starts at $8.99 per month)
The Royal TenenbaumsHe might not be the most caring and devoted father on the planet, but having Gene Hackman's Royal Tenenbaum as your father sure would make things exciting: BB gun wars, dogfights, rides on garbage trucks, etc. Heck, just being a Tenenbaum, or even a family friend, would be worth it. Wes Anderson always crafts such realistic fantasy worlds that somehow seem believable, even though they're extreme caricatures of real life. Most wanted place from this movie: that closet full of board games. Tenenbaums wasn't my favorite Anderson movie (that would be Bottle Rocket), but it's the one that has grown on me the most.
PlayStation Store (PlayStation 3 or PSP)
Modern Family: En Garde ($1.99 SD to own)Don't get me wrong. I'm not a fan of Modern Family, ABC's comeback comedy vehicle for Ed O'Neil and a slew of other stars. Although, it does have Sofía Vergara in it. Which are two big reasons to tune in. But we digress. Actually this episode is recommended because it has a very special guest star: Nolan North. That's right, Mr. Nathan Drake himself is a featured guest on this episode, so if you've ever wanted to see what he looks like and how he can act, this is your chance. Sadly, he's not playing everyone's favorite ledge jumping, gun wielding fortune hunter, but the episode is about fencing. So you've got that going for you.
Blu-ray Disc (PlayStation 3)
Pixarpalooza! Up, Monsters, Inc., and Cars ($45.99, $40.99, and $49.99 MSRP, lower at many retailers)Next Tuesday is Pixar Blu-ray day, with releases of Up, Monsters, Inc., and Cars all arriving in stores at the same time. It's a smorgasbord of CGI. Up is hands-down the best of the bunch, with Monsters dragging up the rear. A lot of people consider Cars to be one of the weakest Pixar movies, but I have a soft spot for it because my Texas relatives are all obsessed with NASCAR. For me, Monsters just didn't hit the notes, so I rank it just behind Cars. Still, a semi-good Pixar movie is still ten times better than most of what's out there.
Up and Monsters are special four-disc sets that include the movie on Blu-ray, the movie on standard DVD, a disc full of extras, and a digital copy of the movie. Nice to have everything in one package! Just wish it didn't jack up the price so much. And couldn't they pack this all onto less than four discs? Blu-ray was supposed to save space! All three movies contain a ton of extra features ranging from commentaries to deleted scenes, and they'll all just make you wish that Toy Story 3 would just come out already. There's a teaser for it on the Up disc, and it's yet another reason why 2010 is going to be a wallet-breaker.
Cars is a Blu-ray re-release now available as a combo pack (Blu-ray + standard DVD) that also features a new 5.1 DTS-HD soundtrack, replacing the PCM version from the previous Blu-ray, and ports over all of the same extras. This new version also comes with two die-cast model cars: one of Mater and one Lightning McQueen. A couple of nifty little extras if you don't already own the movie. If you do, you probably don't want to double dip with this set unless you're dying for the new DTS sound. What are you watching?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Obie @ Nov 6th 2009 8:34PM
I am gonna watch "The Rock", mostly for Hans Zimmer great score and Sean Connery:
" You're best? Losers always whine about their best, winners go home and f**k the prom queen!"
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 8:59PM
At least it's a Michael Bay film that's watchable.
Konrad @ Nov 6th 2009 9:54PM
So is Bad Boys.
Reddrive @ Nov 7th 2009 12:21AM
You're = You are
doc j @ Nov 7th 2009 2:13PM
the follow up line to that was even better
"Carla was the prom queen"
gordo @ Nov 6th 2009 8:39PM
I recommend that you push fluids and continue the stomach cancer medication
Mr French @ Nov 6th 2009 8:41PM
Modern Family is actually a great show. Best new comedy of the season IMO.
Autobot (Now with Vitamin D)! @ Nov 6th 2009 9:08PM
I found The Middle to be quite pleasing.
Sadly, I can't say the same for Courtney Cox's "Cougar Town".
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 8:43PM
Well, I'm watching THFRO, and I'm going to watch The Empire Strikes Back after it. (Haven't decided if I can stomach the Remastered Edition, or if I should go theatrical.)
WREturns [Planeteer I Power of The Final Countdown] @ Nov 6th 2009 8:43PM
Dude, Cars is by far the weakest Pixar offering.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 8:45PM
No, I'd say Ratatouille is.
Markez @ Nov 6th 2009 8:52PM
I loved both those! You guys probably think rainbows and puppy dogs are weak, too.
gordo @ Nov 6th 2009 8:59PM
If we're talking Pixar offerings, then Tin Toy and its creepy Baby is definitely in last place
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 9:02PM
The Incredibles
Toy Story
Toy Story 2
Up
Wall-E
Monsters, Inc
Cars
Finding Nemo
A Bugs Life
Ratatouille
That's about where I'd rank them.
airpolgas @ Nov 6th 2009 9:04PM
I'm a huge Pixar fan, and for me the weakest is Wall-E, simply because there's no suitable antagonist.
Bubbameister33 (Confused by Fanboyism) @ Nov 6th 2009 9:21PM
I like all their movies because they are awesome. All of those movies are better than Shrek.
Mr Mobius - the wandering artist @ Nov 6th 2009 9:36PM
You see, I would say Ratatouille and Wall-E are my favourite Pixar films. I guess it depends what genres you like.
doc j @ Nov 7th 2009 2:15PM
In my mind there is no good ranking system for Pixar movies, just echelons.
The upper echelon would be Up, Incredibles, Toy Story 2
The lowest echelon would be Cars
Everything else is in between.
Diskoboy7 @ Nov 8th 2009 5:05PM
WRONG!
Bug's Life is the worst Pixar movie, by a long shot.
Up comes in a close second.
Discotheque @ Nov 8th 2009 5:13PM
Strange ass ranking. I think Wall E, Finding Nemo, Toy Story series and Ratatouille are by far their best efforts.
Everything else is in between those and the absolute crap Cars and Bug's Life. It's a shame that Cars was Paul Newman's last movie role.
Hibiscus @ Nov 8th 2009 7:10PM
Whenever I hear people say that Cars is better than Ratatouille I just remind myself that Hitler was voted into office.
freaparn @ Nov 6th 2009 9:03PM
I kind of wish I could un-watch The Shield so I could watch it again for the first time. Great series, if a tad depressing at the end.
CynicalStrike @ Nov 6th 2009 9:05PM
The Shield is incredible; not quite in the same league as The Wire, but still miles ahead of every other cop show on TV. Last month I re-watched the whole series over the course of a week (1 season per day lol).
Hibiscus @ Nov 8th 2009 6:59PM
It annoys me how anytime The Shield gets mentioned someone has to say something to the effect of "it's not as good as The Wire". It's not wrong enough to be provocative. It's not true enough to be insightful. It's just the expulsion of unwanted but inoffensive air, like burping with your hand over your mouth. You should be expected to say 'excuse me' after saying it.
CynicalStrike @ Nov 10th 2009 9:27PM
Here's a deal; you can remain annoyed and I'll remain entitled to my opinion. It's not some anti-Shield conspiracy, it's just my personal criticism. Seriously, just calm down. If I got offended every time someone online says something I don't agree with, I'd be pissed off every waking hour :p
skyzbig @ Nov 6th 2009 9:25PM
Everyone should be watching The Shield...the final season was just completely immense.
rob @ Nov 8th 2009 11:43PM
Moon
It's one of the best thriller movie in a long while.
Autobot (Now with Vitamin D)! @ Nov 7th 2009 12:06AM
Can this asshole be banned please?
Fillem @ Nov 7th 2009 5:24AM
The last episode of The Shield. Particularly the last 20 minutes, made me feel sick to my stomach., Such an awesome ending to a rollercoaster ride of a series. It comes highly, highly recommended.
I have The Wire on my waiting to watch list.
David @ Nov 7th 2009 2:28PM
the final two seasons of the shield are available on netflix instant as well, for anyone who's far along in the series.
Discotheque @ Nov 7th 2009 4:06PM
Modern Family's hilarious. But what the hell? I didn't notice Nolan North anywhere in this episode. He must have gotten a really small part.
Discotheque @ Nov 7th 2009 4:07PM
Also, Monster's Inc. and particularly Up are going to look jizztastic on BluRay.
JH @ Nov 8th 2009 2:41PM
The Shield is without a doubt one of the greatest dramas in television history. Too bad its probably too intense for most of the "kiddies" on these threads. ;)