the dope report

• Jennifer’s Body (DVD, Blu-Ray)

  We aren’t the biggest fans of Diablo Cody’s annoyingly quirky screenwriting, but the picks are slim this week and Megan Fox is hot. Insanely hot. Watch the unrated version for even more boner inspiration.

• Facing Ali (DVD)

  Ali didn’t become the greatest of all time without fighting the greats. This documentary depicts Ali through accounts of his best opponents, from Foreman to Holmes to Frazier. A must for aficionados of the sweet science.

• The Clash – London Calling: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (CD)

  Sure, this may be the umpteenth anniversary release of this monumental album, but I think it deserves a deluxe reissue every year. This one comes with a supplemental DVD that includes a documentary of the making of London Calling, home movies, and even a few music videos. Rudie can’t fail with this purchase.

• Inglourious Basterds (DVD, Blu-Ray)

  Quentin Tarantino’s revision of Nazi Germany was full of more depth, emotion, and nuance than the preview trailers let on. You think you’re getting a full-on war movie, but instead you get one of the most superb films of the year.

• The Hangover (DVD, Blu-Ray)

  Three bros throw such a balls-out ridiculous Vegas bachelor party that they can’t even remember what happened the next morning. Hilarity ensues. TDR’s type of flick.

• Samurai Champloo (Blu-Ray)

  Shinichiro Watanabe’s follow-up to Cowboy Bebop blended feudal Japan samurai action with dope hip-hop beats courtesy of Fat Jon. Now see it in crispy hi-def.

• Animal Collective – Fall Be Kind EP (CD)

  After putting out one of the year’s top albums, Animal Collective just couldn’t leave well enough alone, and are giving us a five-song EP of loveliness to end ‘09.

• Spiritualized – Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space Remastered (CD)

  Over a decade ago, Spiritualized put out the definitive head-trip masterpiece that only maybe Pink Floyd can rival. Ingest your controlled substance of choice and relive this album with remastered audio in this new import. You can also get it in a 3-disc Super Deluxe edition.

• Public Enemies (DVD, Blu-Ray)

  Michael Mann’s biopic of the notorious John Dillinger turns in a stellar performance by Johnny Depp, but just can’t hold a candle to Mann’s crime drama masterpiece, Heat.

• Wesley Willis’s Joy Rides (DVD)

  Learn more about everyone’s favorite homeless schizophrenic songwriter, and the inspiration behind such profound classics as “Rock and Roll McDonald’s” and “Suck a Cheetah’s Dick.”

• Snoop Dogg – Malice N Wonderland (CD)

  Can anyone stay relevant in hip-hop as long as the Doggfather has? Probably not.

• Clipse – Til the Casket Drops (CD)

  The latest effort from the dope boys we’ve come to know and love. Expect more songs about making crack, selling crack, and enjoying the extravagance that comes from distributing crack.

• Snatch (Blu-Ray)

  Guy Ritchie’s magnum opus now gets the hi-def treatment it deserves. I fuckin’ hate pikeys…

• The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter Criterion Collection (Blu-Ray)

  This historical rock documentary captures the Rolling Stones on their 1970 tour, as well as a dude getting stabbed to death at one of their shows. Ever seen a snuff film in lovely 1080p?

• Souls of Mischief – Montezuma’s Revenge (CD)

  The legendary Bay Area hip-hop group put out this new album almost ten years since their last release. With choice flows and production from Prince Paul and Casual, it sounds like it’s worth the wait.

• Natural Elements – 1999: 10 Year Anniversary (CD)

  A product of label mismanagement and group turmoil, this release never saw the chance to add to the golden age of hip-hop in the ‘90s. Wear some Cross Colours and Stussy while listening to add to the nostalgia.

You’d think there would be a cavalcade of awesome stuff coming out the week of Thanksgiving and Black Friday, but nah. No dope music or games at all. The only movie worth your bread is Judd Apatow’s Funny People, his most serious film to date but still very hilarious nonetheless. The deleted scenes from the stand-up shows they actually performed at for the film should be well worth it.

Otherwise just enjoy all the cool shit that came out last week while you get your homemade stuffing on.

• Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, PC)

  L4D’s wave of zombie mutilation continues with this sequel set in New Orleans. Blow ‘em up from afar or get up close and real messy with melee weapons that include electric guitars, machetes, and chainsaws.

• Assassin’s Creed 2 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC)

  The historical epic about a lineage of assassins moves from the medieval Holy Land to Renaissance-era Italy. Exact your kills with precision devices invented by Leonardo da Vinci. Just don’t get spotted by Lorenzo de’ Medici.

• Them Crooked Vultures (CD)

  This rock and roll supergroup boasts a power trio of Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones. ‘Nuff said.

• Felt 3 – A Tribute to Rosie Perez (CD)

  Indie hip-hop aces Murs and Slug team up with Aesop Rock for another B-movie actress homage. Easily one of the best hip-hop releases of the year.

• Star Trek (DVD, Blu-Ray)

  J.J. Abrams’ reboot gives the legendary franchise a sorely-needed boost of adrenaline and awesomeness.

• Fight Club (Blu-Ray)

  Now watch Project Mayhem destroy beautiful things in beauitful hi-def.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC)

  Our UAV is finally online! The year’s most anticipated video game release is now upon us. Read the TDR review for more.

• Up (DVD, Blu-Ray)

  We’re fairly certain that Pixar can do no wrong at this point. This film features one of the most heart-wrenching opening sequences in a kids movie to date, but manages to balance it out with lots of humor and adventure.

• Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut (DVD, Blu-Ray)

  Zack Snyder’s near-faithful adaptation of Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel gets a little bit closer with this director’s cut that weaves the Black Freighter cartoon into the live-action narrative.

• Pearl Jam – Backspacer [Import] (CD)

  The ‘90s alt-rock juggernauts’ ninth album is only available at Target, but you can order this enhanced import from Amazon.

• Wale – Attention Deficit (CD)

  When a rapper puts together an underground mix dedicated to Seinfeld, he’s got to be pretty cool. Wale follows up The Mixtape About Nothing with this proper debut album.

• Lego Rock Band (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS)

  Just like the regular Rock Band games, only with Legos for some reason. Although we can’t complain about getting to play with Lego versions of Iggy Pop and David Bowie.

• Weezer – Raditude (CD)

  The legendary power-pop quartet that hit its artistic plateau four albums ago now makes it five albums ago.

• Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For The Young (CD)

  That adds up to four out of five Strokes members with solo albums, and all of them combined still aren’t as good as Is This It.

• Fraggle Rock: Complete Series Collection (DVD)

  The trippy Jim Henson muppet show you used to enjoy as a kid, only now you can smoke bowls of weed instead of grubbing bowls of cereal.

• Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome, America. A Final Night With George W. Bush (DVD)

  Ferrell brought back his excellent Dubya impersonation from SNL for this Broadway show and HBO special. Bush looks back on his days in the White House in hilarious fashion, such as a 4-way sexual encounter that had “the power of the Karma Sutra and the Incredible Hulk at a Dave Matthews concert. In other words, it just felt right.”