What to Watch – 11/19/2011

After a week of TPS reports, rude customers, and annoying bosses, all you want to do on the weekend is kick back with a few aliens, superheroes, and machete-wielding maniacs.  So here’s a We Love Cult recap of this week’s new releases in genre entertainment, covering everything from DVD/Blu-ray and online streaming to the movies coming out at your local theater.

In Theaters

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I— Only one more after this and then we can finally stop hearing about this series forever, right?

DVD/Blu-ray

Being Human: The Complete First Season (U.S.) — Critics were lukewarm on the U.S. version of the U.K. show about three supernatural roommates, but it managed to gain a dedicated following of fans nonetheless.  Now’s your chance to check it out if you missed it the first time. (By the way, the first three series of the UK version are available on Netflix Instant.)

Superheroes — Across America, a handful of people feel its their civic duty to don a mask and cape in order to fight crime in their neighborhoods. Are they offering a valuable service to the community? Or are they simply a menace to society? Learn more about them in this fascinating HBO documentary that takes a look at these real-life superheroes among us.

Whitechapel: The Ripper Returns (BBC Series) – In this highly-acclaimed BBC series, a small team of London police officers are tasked with finding a serial killer that’s taking his inspiration from the notorious Jack the Ripper.

Netflix Instant

The Last Circus — This 2010 Spanish film features a clown slaughtering soldiers with a machete, another that wields dual submachine guns, and another whose face has been cut up and mangled beyond repair. Those of you with coulrophobia should probably avoid this one, but for everyone else, it’s worth checking out.

Dr. Lamb — Dr. Lamb tells the story of a deranged cabby that becomes judge, jury, and executioner for the passengers he feels are a detriment to society. Like Taxi Driver with a chainsaw meets Silence of the Lambs, this film is considered the grandfather of Hong Kong “Category III” serial killer movies, and is said to make even the most hardened horror fan squeamish. Sounds like a winner to me.

The Eternal Evil of Asia — Combining sex, violence, humor, and magic this bizarre Hong Kong Category III film is perhaps best-known for a man that turns into a dickhead…literally. Not for the faint of heart or the easily offended, it should be right up the alley of many of our demented readers.

Jet Let’s Fearless — It’s Jet Li doing awesome kung fu. ‘Nuff said.

Limitless — If you could become a genius just by taking a pill, would you do it? What if there was a chance it would also drive you crazy, too? This intriguing film starring Bradley Cooper (The Hangover, The A-Team) received pretty good reviews from critics when it was released earlier this year, but if you missed it then, now’s your chance to check it out just by adding it to your queue.

Edward Scissorhands— You know, back when Tim Burton made good movies.

Redbox

Batman Year One — This solid, direct-to-DVD animated film is based on Frank Miller’s classic Batman comic book story arc from 1987. It features the voice work of WLC favorite, Eliza Dushku (Buffy, Dollhouse), BSG babe Katee Sackhoff, and the dad from Malcolm in the Middle, Bryan Cranston (he hasn’t been on anything else, has he?)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides — Eh…you saw the other three, you might as well see the fourth one, too. Besides, it’s only a $1.20 per night.

Written by Rob Lammle (@spacemonkeyx)

Rob became a geek at a very young age. Growing up on a farm, with the nearest kid his age living five miles away, Rob had a lot of time to watch movies, read comic books, and play with his Star Wars action figures. He now finds time to write for a few… More »