COLUMN: Now that's Xbox entertainment!
It’s a tale of two cities when it comes to Xbox entertainment content this month. The Zune channel is chock-full of blockbusters ready for streaming, but we’re going to assume you’ve seen the swath of superhero movies that are now available to rent. Instead, we’re going to recommend a pair of summer theatrical releases that any movie fan should have on their must-watch list.
Meanwhile, between the barrage of new games hitting consoles and the sweeps period on network television, we get the feeling that the programming department behind Netflix Instant Watch has been holding back as of late. And thus, this first foray into the world of hot new Netflix entertainment content may seem a bit threadbare. However, if you expand your idea of “entertainment” beyond “critically acclaimed TV shows and movies,”(both of which are still in high supply) you’ll find a pretty decent array of campy content that’ll float your boat.
ZUNE RENTALS
Attack the Block (2011 - $4 SD rental, $6 HD rental)
It might be missing Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg (the director — who simply exec produces here — and lead actor of the British action-comedy hits Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz), but there’s more than enough to make up for their absence when it comes to the London-based alien invasion movie Attack of the Block. Nick Frost is now front and center, working alongside a group of inner-city teenaged thugs to repel threats to the lesser-loved areas of England’s capital. Okay, we know that teaming with kids can often lead to disaster, but given their potty-mouthed attitudes and humor, you won’t mind in Attack the Block.
Bridesmaids (2011 - $4 SD rental, $6 HD rental)
Bridesmaids may end up being one of 2011’s most important movies. It injected some sorely-needed energy into the R-rated comedy genre, made stars of many of its leads (including Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy), and proved that a female ensemble can outdo the guys in any comedic category. It manages to be more clever than most male-driven comedies but can get just as dirty, and it deserves to be watched by comedy fans of any stripe.
NETFLIX STREAMING
Double Dragon (Added on November 4, expires January 2012)
Double Dragon couldn't possibly be more quintessentially '90s. It's got Party of Five's Scott Wolf as the lead, a bleach-blonde Alyssa Milano as the love interest, and an also-bleach-blonde Robert Patrick (fresh off T2!) as the lead villain. Moreover, it’s got second-rate martial arts choreography, first-generation CGI, and absolutely zero idea about what game fans want. It may have been lost in the even more awful shadow of the Super Mario Bros. movie, but you can check out one of the originators in the "so bad it's good videogame movie" genre, Double Dragon on Netflix Instant Watch right now.
Take Me Home Tonight (Added on November 16, expires May 2013)
No movie earns its 3-star, middle-of-the-road rating quite like Take Me Home Tonight. This ode to '80s culture is good, with a stellar cast, (Topher Grace, Anna Farris, Chris Pratt, Michael Ian Black, Demetri Martin), a memorable soundtrack, and plenty of callbacks to the cheesiest decade ever. However, it never quite reaches the sum of its parts. This movie was filmed in 2007, but only released theatrically this year, and it’s kind of apparent why. It’s does everything well enough, but can’t quite reach the heights a hit comedy. Even though all of this sounds pretty damning, if you have an affinity for any of the actors involved or are looking for a hearty dose of '80s nostalgia, Take Me Home Tonight is worth queuing up.
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Kevin OXM
November 21, 2011 at 10:01pm
You have to pay the extra $2 for an HD Zune rental, otherwise you might as well be watching Betamax.
















