Jan. 2-8

Here are the top ten rentals of the past week from Video Underground in Hyde Square. Numbers in parenthesis are rankings from the week of Dec. 19-25:

1. Midnight in Paris
2. Contagion
3. Super 8 (3)
4. The Debt [2011] (6)
5. The Help (8)
6. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (1)
7. The Hangover Part II (7)
8. Bridesmaids (4)
9. Cowboys & Aliens (2)
10. Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Josiah's Pick of the Week

“13 Assasins”
dir Takashi Miike, 2010

Where to find it: New Release/Takashi Miike

"13 Assassins" is a simple story about a group of samurai who set out to kill a tyrant lord. The samurai fight for justice for the people.  The film is beautifully shot and the battle sequences are stunning. The action is nonstop but never seems forced.  While still extremely violent, "13 Assassins" almost seems tame compared with some of Miike's earlier efforts. The violence is justified as we are given a ruthless antagonist in the form of Lord Naritsugu, who has mutilated and terrorized peasants throughout the land. I particularly enjoyed the film for it's simplicity and it's ability to entertain throughout. Fans of the genre as well as action fans of all kinds will enjoy this homage to films like "Seven Samurai" and "The Magnificent Seven."