The weekend’s here. You’ve just been paid, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket. What’s a pop culture geek to do? In hopes of steering you in the right direction to blow some of that hard-earned cash, it’s time for the Quick Stop Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…
Comic-Con is now a thing of the past, and my attention begins to turn towards the 5th annual Gonzo FilmFest at this year’s DragonCon at Atlanta, that I’ll be assembling and hosting in conjunction with Needcoffee.com. Trust me – you won’t want to miss it this year, starting Saturday evening on September 2nd (I’ll also be moderating the Adult Swim and Monkey Talk panels, plus a few surprises). Be there.
I’ve never really been a huge video game fan. Sure, I owned the obligatory Nintendo and even Super Nintendo “back in the day,” but I generally only played games that were pretty straightforward and could be jumped into and out of quite easily (Super Mario Brothers, Zelda. Donkey Kong, etc.). As soon as my family got our first PC (and we’re talking late 80’s, here), however, I was instantly taken with the games being produced by Sierra Online – epic adventures like King’s Quest, Space Quest, Heroes Quest (aka Quest for Glory) and even Lesirue Suit Larry. Really, they were like electronic, interactive storybooks, as the tale being told and the characters themselves were just as engrossing as solving the next puzzle or finding the parts to a hyperdrive engine. That kind of puzzle-based, interactive storytelling has largely fallen by the wayside, replaced by massive RPGs or first-person shooters (often with an online tournament angle). Well, just when I was despairing I’d ever see a fun little story-based adventure come down the pike, the folks at Telltale Games (www.telltalegames.com) have been adapting Jeff Smith’s sprawling Bone saga in point-and-click chapter form, with each arc of his longform story equaling it’s own installment, downloadable over the internet for $12.99 each or you can purchase a CD and download for only $17.99. So far, the first two chapters are available (“Out From Boneville” and “The Great Cow Race”), with more on the way. The design work is truly stunning, but best of all – they’re fun… and at the end of each game, you’re definitely eagerly awaiting the next outing.
If you’re not familiar with Jeff Smith’s Bone saga and the adventures of the three Bone cousins (Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone) in the heart of the mysterious Valley), I heartily recommend you pick up the colorized editions (the original comics were printed in black & white) that are being released by Scholastic publishing’s graphic novel line, Graphix. Although softcover editions of the first four arcs – “Out From Boneville,” “The Great Cow Race,” “Eyes of the Storm,” and “The Dragonslayer” are available ($ SRP each), I suggest you snag the beautiful hardcover editions instead ($18.99 SRP), as this is definitely a series you’ll want to put in a place of honor on your shelf (and it makes the perfect gift for any children in your life – in fact, my nephew already has a set on the way).
With each new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, I harbor the fear that the delicate balancing act that Larry David’s been able to pull off will come undone, toppling like a house of cards and leaving a bad aftertaste of brilliant comedy gone south. Thankfully, things are still working as they should in the fifth season (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), as his father’s stroke leads to the revelation that Larry may have been adopted – and not Jewish – a crisis of friendship develops when an ailing Richard Lewis needs a kidney, a smoking jacket is stolen from a famous raconteur, a Christ nail causes family strife, and much more. The 2-disc set also features a pair of documentaries chronicling the development, casting, and execution of the show.
Much like Adaptation before it, Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story (HBO, Rated R, DVD-$27.98 SRP) is a film about the attempt to film a book long seen as unfilmmable – in this case, Laurence Sterne’s The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. Starring Steve Coogan as Shandy, the flick flashes back and forth between Shandy’s 18th century life and the filmmakers 21st century attempt to crack the key to filming it, it’s an amazingly satisfying, and funny, piece of work. Bonus features include an audio commentary with Coogan and Rob Brydon, behind-the-scenes footage, an extended interview with Coogan, deleted scenes, and the theatrical trailer.
As much as Lost tries to maintain an off-kilter sense of “What’s going on?” and “Where’s it all going?” and “What’s reality?”, nothing they’ve done holds a candle to the brilliant mind f*** (to use the proper term, natch) that was The Prisoner (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$139.95 SRP). Retirement is not an option for Patrick McGoohan’s top secret agent, as he’s abducted from his London home and placed in a mysterious area known only as The Village, where everyone is known by a number and they all have important secrets locked in their noggin. The newly christened prisoner Number 6 tries not only to retain his humanity in the 17-episode run, but also find a way to free himself. The newly remastered 10-disc set features rare behind-the-scenes footage, an alternate version of the episode “The Chimes of Big Ben”, original broadcast trailers, a new limited edition collector’s booklet, and more. Get it. Now.
As self-deprecating as his narration is, I think Jeffrey Ross’s Patriot Act (Hart Sharp, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) is one of the most fascinating films I’ve seen this year. Essentially a home movie of his very first USO trip ever, deep into the heart of Iraq shortly after the invasion to entertain the already beleaguered troops, it’s refreshingly candid and largely apolitical, presenting the view with a document of the reality on the ground. Ross was spurred on by the legacy of Bob Hope’s tireless trips overseas for the sake of the troops’ morale, and it’s that respect for just how important an ounce of entertainment is to soldiers on the frontline that shines through. Honestly, this is highly recommended. Bonus features include a director’s statement, additional scenes, additional footage from another USO tour, additional aerials of Iraq, and a featurette on the 5-hour Amsterdam layover.
Words can not express just how much I’ve come to love Warner’s “Signature” collections, the latest being their 4-flick set spotlighting the legendary Bogie & Bacall (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The films in question are To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, Dark Passage, and Key Largo. All 4 are definite must-haves, bolstered by a bonus materials including making-of featurettes, vintage cartoons, and more (the prerelease version of The Big Sleep is fascinating).
The writing was certainly on the wall during the seventh season of Three’s Company (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) that the show was winding down. Jack (John Ritter) opened his restaurant, Terri (Priscilla Barnes) flirts with marriage, and Janet (Joyce DeWitt) has a run-in with Mr. Furley’s (Don Knotts) young nephew. The 4-disc set features all 22 episodes, plus a very nice (and much appreciated) little tribute to Knotts.
With a 2-year-old nephew – and as an uncle not wanting him to fall under the evil sway of the modern crop of “children’s entertainment” – I’m always on the lookout for classic books, DVDs, and toys to get him. When I found out that the classic “Little Golden Books” were being re-released with accompanying audio CDs in addition to the original books (Golden Books, $7.99 SRP), I knew little Cameron had to have them. How could I resist making sure he got to experience Tawny Scrawny Lion, Scuffy The Tugboat, The Poky Little Puppy, and The Saggy Baggy Elephant?
It’s very rare that I actually find the time to make it into a movie theater to see a flick on the big screen, so it’s always a big disappointment when the wheel of fortune delivers those infrequent visits a turkey of a pic, but a sheer delight when it’s actually a great film. For all its flaws in pacing and the changes it made to Alan Moore’s source material, I truly dug seeing V for Vendetta (Warner Bros., Rated R, DVD-$34.98 SRP) on the big screen (LA’s Arclight, to be exact). Sure, it’s a rather blatant, unsubtle criticism of the times we find ourselves in, but it’s that decided lack of subtlety that made it such a rollicking criticism of the powers that be. Every once in awhile, blatant works – and it certainly did here. The 2-disc set contains a making-of documentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and the theatrical trailer.
Not content to let everyone else jump into the graphic novel pool, Disney Press has taken the plunge as well, inaugurating their line with adaptations of Lilo & Stitch and Finding Nemo (Disney Press, $3.99 SRP each). These Disney Junior Graphic Novels are pretty faithful to the films, and the art is of the same polished style you’ll find in the average issue of Disney Adventures. Fun for the kiddies, and a great gift.
I’m not sire if we really needed a knock-off of both Resident Evil and Underworld, but that’s certainly what Ultraviolet (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$28.95 SRP) feels like. It even has Milla Jovovich as the woman caught in the futuristic civil war between the government and the disease-riddled subculture that’s been bred for strength, speed, and endurance (yes, you did just get the whole zombie vibe). It’s pretty eye candy, though, and a largely inoffensive way to spend a Saturday night’s DVD spin. The unrated edition contains additional footage, plus commentary from Jovovich and a making-of featurette.
Most will dismiss it as light pop, but I always enjoyed my Bruce Hornsby and the range CD, purchased many years ago and always a great disc to work to (I could listen to “The Way It Is” on repeat for hours… and, sadly, have). Having only ever listened to that disc, 90% of the material found on the new 5-disc Bruce Hornsby: Intersections 1985-2005 (Sony Legacy, $49.98 SRP) was new to me, and I liked what I heard. Packed with album tracks, film music, and even a bonus DVD, it’s already in my listening rotation.
The stars just keep on dying in the complete fourth season of Tales From The Crypt (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), with gore turns from Brad Pitt, Cathy Moriarty, Treat Williams, Timothy Dalton, Robert Patrick, David Warner, Twiggy, Christopher reeve, Margot Kidder, Meat Loaf, Blythe Danner, David Morse, and more. The 3-disc set features all 14 episodes, plus audio commentary on “What’s Cookin'” and a guest star montage.
I tried and tried, but I never could get into HBO’s Carnivale. I admired the epic story of the literal struggle between good and evil they were trying to pull off, but it never clicked for me. There are fans out there, though, who will want to pick up the complete second (and, so far, final) season set (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP), featuring all 12 episodes plus audio commentaries, a Museum of Television & Radio panel, a “Creating the Scene” featurette, And a half-hour documentary explaining the show’s mythology (if they’d actually aired this, I might have actually clicked with it).
One night, little Sophie is snatched from her bed by a giant – coincidentally, the titular BFG (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP) of Roald Dahl’s children’s tale, as Sophie and the big friendly giant must stop the nefarious, kid-devouring plans of the evil giants Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater, and Bonecruncher before the nasty lot make it to England and the feast begins. A classic little Dahl tale, brought to animated life by the folks at Cosgrove Hall.
If you want to bring a decided hipster vibe to your iPod (or your next party), then pick up the newest releases from Sony Legacy’s “Signature Series”, featuring best-of collections spotlighting old school songsmiths like Count Basie, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie, Rosemary Clooney, and Billie Holiday (Sony Legacy, $11.98 SRP each). Come on-a my house, indeed.
While I’ve always enjoyed the “New Rules” segment on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, I would have preferred complete episodes of the show as opposed to the concentrated dose of those segments collected on the Bill Maher: New Rules disc (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). It’s best to take its 45-minute run time in small chunks, and hope they’ll eventually release complete seasons.
Has it really been 10 years since Blue’s Clues first hit the air? It must be, since Nick Jr. has released a 10th anniversary DVD, Blue’s Biggest Stories (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP), and CD, Blue’s Biggest Hits (Nick Records, $12.98 SRP). Whatever happened to Steve, anyway?
It seemed that it took forever and a day for Beavis & Butthead to finally hit DVD, but now, with the release of the 3rd Mike Judge Collection (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$38.99 SRP) of episodes, they seem to be coming fast and furious. Fans will rejoice at the inclusion of another 42 cartoons, the original uncut Frog Baseball, 16 music videos with commentary, the 3rd part of the “Taint of Greatness” documentary, promos, special appearances, and much more.
The newest Star Trek: Fan Collective collection this time features 11 episodes dealing with those belles of the ball, the Klingons (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$38.99 SRP), with 2 original series episodes (“Errand of Mercy”, “The Trouble With Tribbles”), 4 TNG episodes (“A Matter of Honor”, “Sins of the Father”, “Redemption” Parts 1 & 2), 3 DS9 episodes (including the brilliant “Trials and Tribble-ations”, plus “The way of the Warrior” and “The Sword of Khaless”), a single Voyager episode (“Barge of the Dead”), and the abysmal pilot to Enterprise (“Broken Bow”). Bonus materials include 3 new text commentaries from the Okudas, as well as an audio commentary on “Broken Bow” from Berman and Braga.
While not Hammer horrors, the 3 films being released under the “Amicus Collection” banner are very much in the same vein as those early 70’s fright and gore fests, including starring Hammer regular Peter Cushing. The Beast Must Die, Asylum, and And Now The Screaming Starts (MPI, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) are definitely not the best of the genre, but they are great rainy day flicks that any horror fan should at least check out.
Nothing sums up that loveable early-80’s bombast more than the albums of Journey, which is why the secret guilty pleasure part of my brain was delighted by the new remasters (with bonus tracks!) of their albums Escape, Departure, Evolution, Infinity, plus their Greatest Hits (Sony Legacy, $11.98 SRP each). Now I can’t get “Any Way You Want It” out of my head. Bastards!
Peta Wilson returns in the complete fourth season of La Femme Nikita (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP), as Nikita’s marriage makes for some interesting revelations, while the series’ agenda comes to the fore. The 6-disc set features all 22 episodes, plus commentary on 2 episodes, deleted scenes with optional commentary, and a gag reel.
Completely unnecessary and ultimately innocuous fluff that could just as easily been a direct-to-video, Disney’s remake of the Shaggy Dog (Walt Disney, Rated PG, DVD-$29.99 SRP) stars Tim Allen as the transformed human in what amounts to a cross between the Shaggy original, its sequel The Shaggy DA, and the “learning to be a good dad” arc of The Santa Clause. The disc features an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.
Even though I consider myself a bit of a minor WWII buff, my knowledge of the events in the Pacific theater have been dwarfed by those of the European front, so I was often surprised by the knowledge gleaned from the History Channel’s D-Days in the Pacific: The Path To Victory From Guadalcanal To Okinawa (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP). The 3-disc set features four documentaries and the A&E Biographies of Gen. MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz.
The Ewing family is rocked as patriarch Jock Ewing is killed in a helicopter crash, but the billion-dollar bickering soon begins as each member of the family maneuvers in true Ewing fashion to secure their piece of the action, while J.R. and Sue Ellen divorce – plus murder, kidnapping , and more – in the fifth season of Dallas (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The 5-disc set also features a look at the real Southfork Ranch.
I wasn’t terribly impressed with the trailer for the new Daniel Clowes flick, Art School Confidential, even though I got a real kick out of his original strips detailing the odd little universe that exists within the walls of your average art school. You can pick up those original strips along with Clowes’ screenplay (Fantagraphics, $14.95 SRP) and see for yourself.
Not being a religious person, I admit that the internal struggles facing the potential priests in the 5-part series God or the Girl (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP) were a bit lost on me, as the potential padres faced a life with either women or God. To each his own, I suppose. The 2-disc set also features deleted scenes, a mini-episode, and more.
Decoding the Past: Secrets of the Koran (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP) is one of those documentaries that take on a fresh relevance thanks to current events, and its in-depth look at the writing, development, and influence of the Muslim faith’s most important text is a necessary bit of information in understanding the current world we find ourselves in. The disc also features the “Muhammad” episode of A&E’s Biography.
There’s nothing like cheap, lowbrow comedy, and that’s certainly the stock in trade of Blue Collar TV (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP), the second season collection of which features all 13 episodes plus unaired sketches and a deleted “Booth” skits reel.
So there you have it… my humble suggestions for what to watch, listen to, play with, or waste money on this coming weekend. See ya next week…
Comments: None
Leave a Reply |