Before Toy Story 3 and The Last Airbender hit the theaters, you can reel in versions of each flick on your iPhone. Other top movie iPhone apps of the week include a new iPad-enabled version of the mSpot Movies video streaming service, a high definition tribute to Charlie Chaplin, and a new tool by Sony to help you produce your own masterpiece.
Toy Story 3 (Free)
While the free offerings available in this iPhone app developed by Disney mainly serve as a commercial for this film’s June 18 release, in-app purchases for premium games Woody’s Wild Ride ($3.99) and Toy Story Mania ($4.99) are worth tapping into. While five bucks is a little pricey for an iPhone game, at least you don’t have to wait in line to see the real Toy Story Mania attractions at Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Expect new updates and games throughout the year – particularly around the DVD release! If you download this app onto an iPod touch, make sure you are within a wireless Internet connection in order to play anything.
mSpot Movies (Free)
Already available on the iPhone and Android-enabled mobile devices, this video streaming service is now ready for the big screen (well, at least the 9.7-inch screen size of the iPad). New releases like Alice and Wonderland and Shutter Island can be viewed live for $4.99 a pop. The app also has hundreds of older titles in its growing library. Because the movies are streamed, there is no download required. However, you do need to have a wireless Internet or 3G connection to play anything. One additional cool feature for mSpot is the ability – like Netflix – to pause a movie on your iPad and continue where you left off on your computer or other mobile device.
The Last Airbender ($2.99)
While this new game developed by MTV Networks and based on the upcoming M. Night Shymalan release won’t allow your iPhone to see dead people (there’s no app for that!), it’s a good value. The arcade-style battle game stands on its own, and is a worthy investment even if you never end up seeing the movie. Fans who can’t wait for the Julu 2 feature film release of The Last Airbender can also access character backstories as well as music tracks inspired by the movie.
Charlie Chaplin HD Videos ($4.99)
Nearly a century after The Tramp first graced the silent screen comes this iPad app that showcases more than 20 of Charlie Chaplin’s early classics. While the image quality can be a bit spotty, the context of watching early 20th Century footage on Apple’s new iPhone or tablet computer will please historians and cinephiles alike. The clips are also really funny.
Sony Vegas Movie Studio 8 HD Video Training ($3.99)
Apple’s iThings – iPhone, iPad, iPod, etc. – are not just about consuming entertainment. They also offer great tools that enable anyone to be a content creator. This video-based training app provides extensive instructions for the Sony Vegas Movie Studio editing system, which is used by professional video editors. Calling all future Steven Spielberg’s, this app’s for you.
