January 2008: Top 10 Film, TV, and DVD Preview
by Brian Tallerico

9. Rambo (In Theaters, 1/25)
Optimism isn't the word we would use to describe the return of Rambo. Astonishment, maybe. Guilt for being excited to see it. Fear that it won't be as over-the-top as we dream. Disappointment that Uwe Boll and Sly haven't worked together yet. Seriously, Rambo looks ridiculous (if you haven't seen the insane red-band international trailer, check it out as soon as possible), but that's why we're excited for it. In an era when even movies starring Steve Austin take themselves too seriously, we hope that Rambo is the balls-to-the-wall, exploding-head, quality-kill insanity that it could end up being. If everything fun is in the preview and the rest is a mumbling Sly talking about saving the world through bigger guns, then we're going to be very, very upset. But if it's all explosions, loud music, and Sly doing stunts that would kill a man half his age, then Rambo could be the guilty pleasure of the year.

8. In Treatment (HBO, 1/28)
HBO continues to try and figure out what happened to the network that once led the way in water-cooler conversation by trying a completely new scheduling strategy for their new show. In Treatment. The new half-hour series starring Gabriel Byrne, Dianne Wiest, Blair Underwood and Melissa George, will play every night, Monday through Friday. In another twist, HBO Signature will actually air episodes of the show in "real time." For example, the character of Laura goes to therapy on Mondays at 9am for a half-hour and you can peek in at the same time. The combination of voyeurism, unusual scheduling, and the great cast makes us curious, even if we are much more cautious about HBO programming than we used to be. (Thanks a lot, John from Cincinnati!)

7. Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest (DVD, 1/15)
If you saw it on Fox, you know that the "Blue Harvest" episode of Family Guy was pretty damn cool. It wasn't perfect, but the fanboy devotion behind the Star Wars spoof was great around the edges. The little references (like Meg's only part being as the trash compactor monster) made it fun, and the DVD looks awesome. We would usually say to avoid a home release of only one episode - it reeks of double-dipping because you know hardcore fans will get the same ep in an eventual season set - but this is an unusual case where the copious special features make it worthwhile. Forget the bare bones edition and pick up the special version that includes collectible packaging, a 3-D fight scene, 3-D glasses, a t-shirt, trading cards, and an exclusive brochure. That's right - 3-D Family Guy. What more do you need to know?

6. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (DVD, 1/29)
One of the best documentaries of 2007, The King of Kong should grow from minor success to cult classic on DVD. Practically everyone who has seen it has totally fallen in love with this great story of a man who decided to become the best at "something". And that something just happened to be Donkey Kong. If you're one of those people who avoid documentaries because you think they're dull and dry, you should know two things about The King of Kong. First, its story is so rich and great that it's being remade as a narrative feature. Second, it's one of the funniest movies of 2007.

5. Torchwood (DVD, 1/22 & BBC America, 1/26)
If you haven't caught on to Torchwood yet, this is the year to do it. The best science fiction show on television that doesn't include the word "frak", Torchwood is hitting DVD with its first season and you'll have four days to catch up before the second season debuts on BBC America. A darker, more adult-driven spin-off of Doctor Who, Torchwood is consistent fun. It's creative, clever, and features a star-making turn by John Barrowman as Captain John Harkness, the best sci-fi mystery solver since Mulder watched his sister get abducted. Russell T. Davies, the creator of Doctor Who, has crafted a show that feels part Who, part Buffy the Vampire Slayer, part X-Files, and part Men in Black. What part of you doesn't want to check that out?

January 2008: Top 10 Film, TV, and DVD Preview Page 3