We're already a week into the new TV season, there are some winners, and soon to be losers (we can discuss that later). But like I said last week, you'll always have DVDs. And when the new releases fall, one man is there to help you sort the good stuff from the crap, or the laughable crap, or the so-bad-it's-good crap. And art flicks. And movies with "seasoned actresses."

I am of course talking about Videoport Jones.

"Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer"

VPJ: "Nerd though I may be (and I do be indeed), the first installment in this Marvel superhero franchise left me with a big, fat case of nerd ennui. Maybe it was the blandness of Ioan Gruffudd as the ironically named Mr. Fantastic. Or the blandness of Jessica Alba (Invisible Woman is actually an apt moniker). Or that bland Human Torch whose name I can't be bothered to remember. I dunno, one of those reasons. Well, at least Chiklis is cool in his excellent Thing suit, and Laurence Fishburne's voice stars as the Surfer."

JE: "I'm with you on this one Jones. I too am a geek, in fact I can recall drawing Fantastic Four characters in my notebooks in school. There is something appealing about drawing a man on fire. At some point I guess the superhero movie genre was bound to start suffering from the lack of thought and storytelling that most action movies do, which is sad, because the Fantastic Four's story has just as much heart as Spidey. I always get an initial jolt when I see trailers for comic book movies, but more and more I am skipping them in the theater. I'll get around to seeing this eventually ... if I've had a few beers ... and I'm blind in one eye ... and in traction."

"1408"

VPJ: "It's a Stephen King adaptation, so my hopes aren't sky high, but it does star John Cusack (personal hetero man crush #3) in practically a one man show as a paranormal investigator determined to debunk a hotel's claim that the titular room is haunted. I love big John, and will watch this ... because of the man crush. Also along for the ride is Samuel L. Jackson."

JE: "By state law aren't you prohibited from saying a bad word about Mr. King or his works? Missed this one as well, though I have to say it did not look too bad. Personally I'm more of a fan of the Stephen King stories where people eventually turn on each other in really tight circumstances. But Cusack is a selling point (does Joan make an appearance? I thought they were a package deal.) as is Mr. Samuel J."

"Jindabyne"

VPJ: "Heavy drama time with Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney as a couple whose marriage is tested after his ill-fated fishing trip. This one is based on the same Raymond Carver story that formed part of the excellent 'Short Cuts.' Sadly, this version does not appear to co-star Huey Lewis."

JE: "I remember reading about this when it came out and thinking 'this is probably a movie I should check out, but most likely won't because my interest is slightly more than minimal.' But a good cast and story makes this one a solid rent I'd say. Spend a night in."

"Evening"

VPJ:"Try and find a more impressive collection of talented older actresses outside of a Tony Award afterparty. We're talking Vanessa Redgrave, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Toni Collette, Natasha Richardson ... damn. One can only hope that wan, unimpressive costar Claire Danes was taking notes ... for all our sakes."

JE: "Here we go again with the older actresses. Just once can you show a little love for the Amanda Bynes of this world? Wait, bad example. Sorry to disappoint you Jonesy, but I missed this one for all the reasons you just listed. I know it may make me sound a bit like a beer-can-crushing slug, but I'm not even in the casual part of this movie's demographic."

"Ten Canoes"

VPJ: "Adventure film from Australia, apart from looking great, is the first film ever made in the indigenous Aboriginal lanuage. It stars the excellent Aussie actor David Gulpilil from 'Walkabout' and (sigh) 'Crocodile Dundee'."

"Day Night Day Night"

VPJ: "Intense, controversial thriller about a young female would-be suicide bomber in Times Square. Videoport: We scare the crap out of you!"

JE: "YES! I recall seeing the trailers for this, forgetting it, and then trying to track it down. This is one of those 'it's too controversial for American audiences ... the film that made Roper throw-up blood," movies, but the story just looks so damn interesting, not to mention timely and original. I know I'll be stopping by to rent this...probably along with 'We Are Marshall' to round out a weekend. That's how I roll."

"Entourage" - Season 3, part 2

VPJ: "Jeremy Piven has always, apart from being John Cusack's best bud (a position that should rightfully be mine), been hilarious, and he won the Emmy this year for his brilliant agent Ari Gold in this HBO series."

JE: "Some folks have said the show is losing a step, but to that I would say even at its most tense moments, this show has been light-hearted. You always know Vinny Chase is going to come out on top and Ari is going to get him there along with a trainful of inventive swears. There's nothing wrong with a show that knows exactly what its aiming for, even if it's just pop-fantasy. Hug it out indeed."

Finally, here's Mr. Jones' picks on the new arrivals at Videoport:

"The Sarah Silverman Program" - "She's sassy, adorable, and massively offensive to everyone in the world. Videoport's Regan says this is a funny show (although watch out for the ill-advised musical numbers). Co-starring 'Mr. Show' alums Brian Posehn and Jay Johnstone."

"The War" - "The new Ken Burns documentary, this time about WWII."

"My Name Is Earl" - season 2 - "Funny show, funny lead, I just wish Jason Lee weren't subsumed into a horrible sci fi cult. At least the Crab Man is stilll one of us."

"What About Brian" - The complete series: "Hey, you know that show nobody's ever heard of starring those people you don't recognize? Well, Videoport's got you covered."

And now, questions:

- What's wrong with superhero movies these days?
- Where does 1408 rate in the Stephen King film adaptation pantheon?
- Is the country ready for a movie that looks at terrorism in a non "Die Hard" way?
- Piven, overrated, underrated or just plain #$%?! funny?

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