Movies featuring Woody Harrelson, Paul Giamatti, Chris Evans, Ben Affleck, Jackie Chan and Gerard Butler this week. We also have TV shows featuring Brian Butterfield himself, Peter Serafinowicz and the splitsmaster Jean-Claude Van Damme. Lucky us.

Netflix

The Duel – A Texas Ranger (Liam Hemsworth) investigates a series of murders in an Old West town that’s run by a former Confederate officer (Woody Harrelson).

Not Another Teen Movie – “Not Another Teen Movie” shows no mercy as it skewers the conventions and clichés of the genre you hate to love. Join Janey Briggs (Chyler Leigh), an aspiring artist who is outcast by her classmates for wearing glasses, a ponytail and paint-covered overalls; and Jake Wyler (Chris Evans), the all-American football star who makes a foolish bet to turn Janey into a prom queen, in a risqué romp with an assortment of twisted takes on classic teen characters and teen movies.

The Craft – After transferring to a Los Angeles high school, Sarah (Robin Tunney) finds that her telekinetic gift appeals to a group of three wannabe witches, who happen to be seeking a fourth member for their rituals. Bonnie (Neve Campbell), Rochelle (Rachel True) and Nancy (Fairuza Balk), like Sarah herself, all have troubled backgrounds, which combined with their nascent powers lead to dangerous consequences. When a minor spell causes a fellow student to lose her hair, the girls grow power-mad.

Amazon

The Tick – Pilot Episode – In a world where superheroes have been real for decades, an accountant with mental health issues and zero powers comes to realize his city is owned by a global super villain long-thought dead. As he struggles to uncover this conspiracy, he falls in league with a strange blue superhero, who may or may not be a figment of his own imagination.

JEAN-CLAUDE VAN JOHNSON – Pilot Episode – JEAN-CLAUDE VAN JOHNSON stars global martial arts & film sensation Jean-Claude Van Damme playing “Jean-Claude Van Damme”, a global martial arts & film sensation, also operating under the simple alias of “Johnson” as the world’s best undercover private contractor. Retired for years, a chance encounter with a lost love brings him back to the game. This time, he’ll be deadlier than ever. Probably.JEAN-CLAUDE VAN JOHNSON stars global martial arts & film sensation Jean-Claude Van Damme playing “Jean-Claude Van Damme”, a global martial arts & film sensation, also operating under the simple alias of “Johnson” as the world’s best undercover private contractor. Retired for years, a chance encounter with a lost love brings him back to the game. This time, he’ll be deadlier than ever. Probably.

Iron Clad – Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti stars as King John in this epic historical adventure detailing the siege of Rochester Castle in the year 1215. Forced under duress to sign the Magna Carta, an enraged King John assembles a rogue army and fights to take back England by force. As the king sets his sights on London, the only thing standing between him and total victory is Rochester, where the brave Baron Albany (Brian Cox) prepares to fight back until the cavalry arrives. Chief among Baron Albany’s small yet determined rebel army is a Templar Knight (James Purefoy) wracked with love for Reginald de Cornhill’s (Derek Jacobi) neglected wife, Isabel (Kate Mara), ruthless mercenary Beckett (Jason Flemyng) and young soldier Guy (Aneurin Barnard).

Rush Hour – When a Chinese diplomat’s daughter is kidnapped in Los Angeles, he calls in Hong Kong Detective Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) to assist the FBI with the case. But the FBI doesn’t want anything to do with Lee, and they dump him off on the LAPD, who assign wisecracking Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) to watch over him. Although Lee and Carter can’t stand each other, they choose to work together to solve the case on their own when they figure out they’ve been ditched by both the FBI and police.

300 – In 480 B.C. a state of war exists between Persia, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Greece. At the Battle of Thermopylae, Leonidas (Gerard Butler), king of the Greek city state of Sparta, leads his badly outnumbered warriors against the massive Persian army. Though certain death awaits the Spartans, their sacrifice inspires all of Greece to unite against their common enemy.

Streaming Pick of the Week

Amazon – Argo

On Nov. 4, 1979, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, taking 66 American hostages. Amid the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge with the Canadian ambassador. Knowing that it’s just a matter of time before the refugees are found and likely executed, the U.S. government calls on extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to rescue them. Mendez’s plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and train the refugees to act as his “film” crew.

https://youtu.be/w918Eh3fij0

Amazon 5: Netflix 5

Amazon was the clear winner this week with a wide variety of films and some pilots for some promising new shows. Oscar Winner Argo gets the pick this week. One more week to crown the August champ.  It’s so tense I can barely handle it.