| Film Fest 'A Look at the Video Marketplace' |
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Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace has come along way from the individual download screens for each game from the original Xbox days. Users can not only easily browse content on the Marketplace, ranging from downloadable arcade games, game trailers, game demos, but the ever increasingly popular way of consuming HD video content is the ability to rent high-definition (and standard-def) films direct from the Video Marketplace. Essentially this saves on all the faffing about of having to drive down to your local video store.
The cost of these rentals does not come cheap, yet it still remains competitive. By purchasing Microsoft Points direct from the Xbox Live service, the typical recent HD/SD film rental equates to 540MSP (£4.59)/360MSP (£3.06). Users can shave a further £1-£2 from these prices if they stock up on their MS Points online, as online retailers often have slight discounts on 2100 and 4200 MSP cards, which can be redeemed and added to your Xbox Live account. Something especially handy is the ability to 'Watch a preview', basically in most cases this lets you watch a low-res, streamed theatrical trailer (or short 1 min. clip) from the film you're pondering over giving a rental.
Either way, the Video Marketplace certainly beats the concerns of late returns and fees of your local video stores. On Xbox Live's Video Marketplace, once you rent a film it's yours to watch when you want over the next 14 days, at a time that suits you and your family. Once you hit the Play button, the 'rental' mode officially kicks in, and from that moment you have 24 hours to watch the rental as much as you like before it expires. Not only are the majority of films available in HD, but furthermore most also include their 5.1 soundtrack, too; certainly a feature users with surround setups will greatly appreciate.
MSXbox World's Recommendations:
Role Models: Danny Donahue (Paul Rudd) and Anson Wheeler (Sean William Scott) work as salesman for an energy drink known as, Minotaur. One loves the job, while the other despises it. They travel from school to school with a message of “keep off drugs, drink Minotaur”. With Danny's negative attitude towards life and his job, the two ultimately end up in some trouble, with a company about to toe their Minotaur truck away the two get in, and Danny proceeds to drive their Minotaur bull looking-like truck up the backside of the school's horse statue. Danny's now ex-girlfriend, Beth (Elizabeth Banks), who just so happens to be an attorney, works some of her magic and gets the two down for community service, as opposed to jail time. The duo are signed up to a program called Sturdy Wings, which basically puts the unlikely duo down as 'Role Models' for kids.
As you might imagine, this leads to some further hilarious antics. Role Models proves to bring in some good laughs and is definitely a title worthy of rental.
Add Rental from Xbox.com Video Marketplace
Quantum of Solace: This is the second film to feature Daniel Craig as James Bond, and the story picks up immediately from where the previous film, Casino Royale, ended. After having tracked down 'Mr. White' at the end of Casino Royale, putting a bullet in his leg and placing him in the trunk of his car. In the opening of Quantum of Solace, Bond is being chased down in a high-speed vehicular pursuit by Mr. White's henchmen, which satisfyingly gives a great and thrilling opening to the latest in the Bond series. Fortunately, the action continues to come thick and fast throughout, compared to the previous Casino Royale, there's certainly a lot more of the good old-fashioned action, and naturally as both the stories tie together one can't really be recommended without the other. So if you're in the mood for some of 007's hard-hitting escapades, then make sure to catch both of them on Xbox Live's Video Marketplace.
Add Rental from Xbox.com Video Marketplace
The Tale of Desperaux: No recommendation is complete without an animated movie of some sort, The Tale of Desperaux is the latest to appear on the Video Marketplace. Now, it's no Ice Age, and may prove a bore for adults unlike the previously mentioned, but the kids will surely be mesmerized by the antics of the two unlikely heroes, who must above all else, bring soup (yes, I said soup) and along with it, the joy back to the Kingdom, the soup and joy being banished by the King. The main big-eared hero is of course named Desperaux, he's somewhat smaller than his fellow mice, but certainly makes up for his lack of 'mouse' height in bravery, courage and honour; all that storybook reading seems to have gone to his little mouse head.
With the story of the film narrated by Sigourney Weaver, in a sense it brings the fairy-tale to life, as well of course the all-star cast featuring Matthew Broderick as Desperaux, Dustin Hoffman as Roscuro, both playing the unlikely heroes, with the likes of Emma Watson as Princess Pea and Tracy Ullman as Mig, and others that fill some furry roles.
Add Rental from Xbox.com Video Marketplace
One of the great things about the Video Marketplace is the ability to be able to start watching your film rental while it continues to download (depending on your download speed). You could literally be watching the film within minutes of renting it, as opposed to what some might expect, and end up having to wait for the download to fully complete, which takes some time.
Currently the Video Marketplace is a great way to consume HD video content, and while the UK Video Marketplace in particular has had somewhat of a slow start-up compared to our cousins, we're beginning to see it get frequently updated with new releases. Although, don't get too comfortable, things are going to be getting even easier and quicker with Microsoft's next update later in the year, which offers On-Demand 1080p Streaming of film rentals, as well as for UK Sky TV Subscribers, the ability to watch films, sports and popular TV shows through the Sky Player, direct on your Xbox 360 console at no extra cost.
Posted By: Wayne Julian
Date: 2009-07-27
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