JBO: Joystiq Box Office, November 9 - November 13
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Nov 13th 2009 at 8:35PM } 
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 Office: Series One (Netflix Watch Instantly)
While everyone was quick to sneer at the American version of The Office on NBC and say "Oh, it's not as good as the original," that new show has gone a long way towards proving itself. However, they're right ... it's still not as good as the original. Now the entire British run of The Office is available on Netflix. If you haven't seen it yet, dive in here with the entire first series, then move on to Series Two and the Specials. Ricky Gervais hasn't struck box office gold yet in America (his movies Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying have fallen a bit flat), but The Office is more than good enough to make up for it.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and 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 Office: Series One (Netflix Watch Instantly)While everyone was quick to sneer at the American version of The Office on NBC and say "Oh, it's not as good as the original," that new show has gone a long way towards proving itself. However, they're right ... it's still not as good as the original. Now the entire British run of The Office is available on Netflix. If you haven't seen it yet, dive in here with the entire first series, then move on to Series Two and the Specials. Ricky Gervais hasn't struck box office gold yet in America (his movies Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying have fallen a bit flat), but The Office is more than good enough to make up for it.
Xbox Live Video Marketplace (Xbox 360)
Hollywoodland (360
($4.50) HD, 240 ($3) SD, to rent)Since we're giving a lot of love to the Kevin Smith Box Set in the Blu-ray section, I thought we'd balance this out with this unappreciated Ben Affleck gem. It's actually much more of an Adrien Brody starrer, but Affleck turns in a brilliantly understated performance here as the ill-fated George Reeves, TV's Superman, and it'll make you wish he was in the movie more often. If you combined this movie movie with Greg Kinnear's Auto Focus, you'd have a tremendous box set of your own, both about two troubled stars from the television of yesteryear. This one is highly recommended, despite the poor performance at the box office. Give it a whirl in HD.
Netflix Watch Instantly (Mac/PC, Xbox Live, PS3, subscription required: starts at $8.99 per month)
Farscape: Season OneI'll have to be honest and admit a bit of personal bias here. I worked on Farscape when I was at The Jim Henson Company, and I still think it's a tragedy that it was taken off of the air. The Sci-Fi Channel has made a lot of boneheaded decisions (the change to "SyFy" has been one of the latest), but yanking Farscape was just devastating. Still, thanks to the modern wonders of DVD and Netflix, the show lives on. Now you can watch the entire first season of the show on Netflix's Watch Instantly, and see why it was one of the smartest science fiction shows on television. And if you start singing the praises of Stargate, which was the one sci-fi show the channel kept when Farscape hit the skid, I might have to hurt you.
PlayStation Store (PlayStation 3 or PSP)
Mad Men - Season Three: "Sit Down. Have a Seat." ($1.99 SD to own)Alright, I swear this will be the last time (this season) that I sing the praises of Mad Men. It's just impossible to keep quiet about it when they had such a powerful final episode for season three. Have you been waiting on Don Draper to look extremely vulnerable? Well, your wait is finally over. It's almost an entire reset back to square one on this episode as everything is turned upside down, and it looks like next season will take everyone out of their comfortable shoes and shove them into new places. New things are in store for just about everyone, and can someone please tell me what the hell happened to Sal?
Blu-ray Disc (PlayStation 3)
The Kevin Smith Box Set ($89.99, $40.99, lower at many retailers)We know a lot of you out there are Kevin Smith fans, and this box sex is something of a mixed bag. First of all, this should have been an all-inclusive set and had Mallrats and Dogma in it. Plus where's the love for Clerks 2? What about just a Clerks box sex? The main reason this set is worth it is all the new Chasing Amy bonus material created just for it. After all, does Clerks really need to be seen in 1080p for you to appreciate the film grain? New Amy materials include "Tracing Amy: The Chasing Amy Doc," "Was It Something I Said? – A Conversation with Kevin & Joey," "10 Years Later" Q & A, plus an all new audio commentary with Writer/Director/Actor Kevin Smith and Producer Scott Mosier. Tons of extras (except on Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, which gets shorted), great transfers, amazing sound ... now bring on Mallrats already. It got an HD-DVD release, so where's the Blu-ray love?
What are you watching?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cleric @ Nov 13th 2009 8:40PM
The Office just proves that Darkplace and Monty Python are the only funny British Comedies.
Diskoboy7 @ Nov 13th 2009 8:46PM
I assume you've never watched Spaced, or Brass Eye.
Jesus (PSN: Luttdawg) @ Nov 13th 2009 8:55PM
I assume you have never watched a lot of British comedy.
MystileArmor @ Nov 13th 2009 8:56PM
The British Office is by far superior to the American version. It's more believable and Ricky plays an asshole you kind of sympathize with, since he's not trying to be a dick but rather has a bit of a small man syndrome he's trying to make up for.
Most people just don't get British comedy... unfortunately. BTW, if you're into british comedies, check out Fawlty Towers (also available on NetFlix) one of my favourites.
Orchard Pear @ Nov 13th 2009 8:56PM
Fawlty Towers > You
Orchard Pear @ Nov 13th 2009 8:58PM
Damn you, Mystile.
Beat me!
godlovesugly @ Nov 13th 2009 9:51PM
Add The Thick of It and anything Charlie Brooker is/was involved with.
Bobby Kotick - Co-Founder of the ATDF @ Nov 13th 2009 10:09PM
Benny Hill was awesome. Don't talk shit about Benny Hill.
(01) @ Nov 14th 2009 12:42AM
IT Crowd. 'Nuff said.
Omega2k3 @ Nov 14th 2009 1:36AM
Pfft, Mighty Boosh FTW.
Also, I love how everyone says that they love the original Office and hate the US one. I, personally, found the comic timing way off in the original, and a lot of the jokes didn't really sink in for me, but maybe that's a regional issue. Anyway, Mystile, maybe you haven't seen the US Office in a while, because that's the same way Michael acts. As for the believability factor, I'm sure that's important to some, but I'm watching a comedy show, and sometimes it's funny for a boss to make an inappropriate speech at a wedding and bang the bride's mom.
Crayfish @ Nov 14th 2009 5:56AM
The Fast Show was always a favorite of mine when I was growing up.
As for the US vs UK Office.. I found the first season of the US one really weak, but the second season was a lot better, and I think it's because they played to their strengths. In other words, the comedy and acting was a lot more broad.
When the first season was trying to hit a lot of the same beats that the UK Office did it just wasn't working, and I think it's because of the different sensibilities between the cultures.
UK Office > US Office for me. But the US one isn't too bad either, as long as you accept it for being a little more of a caricature.
Space @ Nov 14th 2009 9:19AM
the american office is better, it wasn't at first but it's really grown alot. It also uses all of it's characters for laughs, as opposed to just David Brent and Garreth. although I do have to say I'm curious to see how the american one ends. because the british version had, hands down, the best ending of any tv show ever with that christmas special.
also, mighty boosh, dark place, and snuff box are the greatest tv shows to come out of the UK. matt berry is a comic genius.
Whocares @ Nov 14th 2009 2:15PM
I cant believe no one has mentoined Peep Show - the greatest show on telly just now
Cal @ Nov 14th 2009 4:52PM
I dont like the office, but just because I can't stand Ricky Gervais. For more good English comedy shows, how about Red Dwarf and Blackadder?
Diskoboy7 @ Nov 15th 2009 1:15AM
I'm amazed no one's mentioned 'The Young Ones' or 'Bottom', yet.
And the first 3 series of Absolutely Fabulous were damn funny. It literally kept Comedy Central on the air until South Park gave them good, original programming.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 13th 2009 8:41PM
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
SpiderMike @ Nov 15th 2009 2:46AM
lmao. That has be chuckling away for many minutes. Reading everything up until this point was just plain and then I read this and I laffed and laffed.
Kudos.
Diskoboy7 @ Nov 13th 2009 8:45PM
Mad Men was simply awesome.
I honestly can't say any more to describe it. It was an amazing hour of TV.
I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of Sal.
L3thal Interjection (XBL: BR41N4TT4Q) @ Nov 13th 2009 8:46PM
Anatomy of Hell on Netflix Instant Watch.
Discotheque @ Nov 13th 2009 8:53PM
The Office (UK) is easily the greatest tv comedy this decade. Hell I think it's even better than Arrested Development (which is pretty awesome too).
The reason why I hate the US version so much is that it got off to a pretty cool start. But then it turned into an absolute piece of shit. The original UK series had such great writing. Literally every awkward moment was ultra-awkward to the point where you felt extremely embarrassed watching it. The US series was just...lame.
doc j @ Nov 13th 2009 8:58PM
Just want to throw It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia into the mix of best comedies of the decade. The Office(UK), Arrested Development, It's Always Sunny... all excellent.
And, just to be a douche, the first three seasons of Scrubs :)
Discotheque @ Nov 13th 2009 9:10PM
Hahaha Danny DeVito for the win!
I don't mind Scrubs sometimes but the latter seasons really put me off.
It's best to make a comedy short and sweet. Something Gervais does a lot (2 seasons of Office, 2 seasons of Extras)
MonKENy @ Nov 14th 2009 1:04AM
yeah the first 3 seasons of the US Office were GREAT the last couple were fun to watch but they werent like a LOL at every scene I havent seen any of season 6. Also I loved Scrubs well the last couple episodes were pretty lame...
Space @ Nov 14th 2009 9:32AM
you're out of your mind if you think anything is better than arrested development!
The writing in that show was so fast-paced and layered you could watch it five times and catch new jokes and references to older jokes every time. Unfortunately, that's probably the same thing that sealed it's fate.
best show of all time.
It's always sunny is great too, I think that's the funniest show on tv right now.
Orchard Pear @ Nov 13th 2009 8:57PM
Been watching it on HD on Netflix on my PS3..
Looks fantastic! :)
GewurztraminerX @ Nov 13th 2009 9:04PM
Maybe it's the optimist in me, but I much prefer the US version of The Office. I had to force myself to watch the entire UK series. I empathize too much with characters when I watch TV and some shows are literally too uncomfortable to watch at times.
Discotheque @ Nov 13th 2009 9:11PM
Exactly. That's what I loved about the Office UK (I can see why it would put some people off though) he made moments so uncomfortable. Sometimes I would just cover my face while watching when Brent made an ass of himself.
Ritz* @ Nov 13th 2009 9:16PM
Thats part of the funnies. Along the same lines of uncomfortable yet hilarious British comedies are Peep Show and Green Wing, both personal favorites of mine.
Farscape was so good, a friend and I got detention one for arguing loudly with an art teacher who didn't like it. I loved the Pilot, he looked so awesome.
Silent Protagonist @ Nov 13th 2009 9:04PM
Box sex?
GewurztraminerX @ Nov 13th 2009 9:15PM
well... it IS Kevin Smith...
Deadpool @ Nov 13th 2009 9:32PM
I think he did that just to make sure someone actually read his blog. I think it worked! :)
Riley @ Nov 14th 2009 3:51AM
I can't believe it took this many comments for someone to notice that
GewurztraminerX @ Nov 13th 2009 9:13PM
Farscape, on the other hand is awesome.
Though, with the re-release of the DVDs I don't know if I'll rent or buy. $100 for the entire series from Amazon is a lot better than the $100 per season it was some years back.
Awetoebawt @ Nov 13th 2009 9:20PM
DVD packs are the biggest ripoffs in the history of film-making. Seriously. We have blu-ray now, why can't we put all of the data on that?
GewurztraminerX @ Nov 13th 2009 9:33PM
I think popcorn is the biggest ripoff in the history of film-making.
But not everyone has a Blu-Ray player and Blu-Ray movies cost more than DVDs.
So... why are DVDs a problem again?
Awetoebawt @ Nov 13th 2009 9:55PM
For example: A $100 DVD box set of your favorite program just came out, and it comes in 6 dvds that are each 4.7 GB in storage. A dual layer blu-ray disc can hold all of that and more for less than $60.
GewurztraminerX @ Nov 13th 2009 10:12PM
Just because you can release something on one Blu-Ray doesn't mean it will be cheaper than multiple DVDs.
e.g. Final Fantasy XIII will be the same price on PS3 and 360.
Awetoebawt @ Nov 13th 2009 10:19PM
We're talking about movies, not games.
Anyways, most Blu-Ray's are actually really cheap and easy to make, they're just using high-def as a scapegoat to a high retail price.
GewurztraminerX @ Nov 13th 2009 10:49PM
That's just it. I used a game as an example because it's the only actual existing product I could think of where it's the same content in each case. I'm not aware of any movies that are released on Blu-Ray in SD just to save space over DVD formatting.
And in the case of TV shows, $20-$30 for a single SD season is common practice, whether it's on DVD or in digital format, therefore $100 for 4 seasons is far from unexpected.
Discotheque @ Nov 13th 2009 9:19PM
I've never seen Farscape. I think I'll check it out.
I doubt it will replace my favorite sci-fi show ever (and one of my favorite shows of all time) BSG though. That's branded into me.
GewurztraminerX @ Nov 13th 2009 9:25PM
It may be 10 years old, but you might be surprised.
waynski1457 @ Nov 13th 2009 9:42PM
OOH YES FARSCAPE!
Also, UK Office has been on there forever, but like Red Dwarf, they keep adding expiration dates to try and get people to watch it. Still amazing though.
Which reminds me, watch Red Dwarf if you want a decent British comedy. It kind of deteriorates around Series 6, but I still like 6-8.
MyLittlePwny @ Nov 13th 2009 9:44PM
I did not enjoy the original office, I didnt like the first season of the american version either, It really hit it's stride after that though.
bongoes Sector 2814 @ Nov 13th 2009 10:10PM
Got my PS3 streaming disc so I think I'll have a Dr. Who marathon, I'm pretty sure it's on Netflix streaming and I've never seen it before so I want to jump right in at the beginning.
Zach Adams @ Nov 14th 2009 12:58AM
Unfortunately, they CAN'T include Dogma and Mallrats--you'll notice that all three movies in the box were released by Disney/Miramax. Other companies published the other two, so there'll never be a box set. (Which is why for years there was an empty "New Jersey Trilogy" box available from Smith's store.)
Now, a Clerks/Clerks TV/Clerks 2 box set would be great, since Clerks TV is the best thing Smith ever did (even if he was barely involved...)
Crayfish @ Nov 14th 2009 6:02AM
The Chasing Amy commentary from the Criterion Collection disc is pretty damn good. This new commentary would have to be pretty damn good to eclipse Affleck's lols in the original.
Seriously, I dunno why he's usually cast as the straight up guy when he's so much more likeable playing/being the asshole buddy.
Weazel @ Nov 14th 2009 7:35AM
Do you have Peep Show? Seriously, this is the most eye-wateringly uncomfortable humour ever. Hillarious too!
Nicholas Muldoon @ Nov 14th 2009 10:41AM
I would put it like this
Office (UK) > Office (US) Season 1
Office (UK) = Office (US) Season 2 & 3
Office (UK) >>>>>> Office (US) Season 4-6
Also so glad someone mentioned Peep Show, easily one of the funniest comedy series ever made, so consistently good even after 6 seasons
aMIGA_dUDE @ Nov 14th 2009 11:28AM
The best comdy from UK comes from ether the BBC or Channel 4. ITV is err rubbish at comdey and Sky just show US rubbish.
BBC = The Office, Little Brittion, Red Dwarf, Only Fools and Horses
ITV = Benny Hill
Channel 4 = Ali G, Brass Eye, The IT Crowd, Bo' Selecta!, Fonejacker
Worth taking peek-a-boo at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/archive/
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/tags/comedy
el serpiente @ Nov 14th 2009 1:09PM
Seriously? No one else here excited that 'The Prisoner' TV series was just released on bluray?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrN0LeC-LZU