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…

For years, Criterion’s 3-disc Brazil box set was the epitome of what the format had to offer, in terms of presentation and bonus materials (not one, but 2 cuts of the film, plus documentaries and deleted scenes, and more). As I became more aware of the technology, I realized that this amazing set had a single Achilles’ heel – the film itself was presented in the (then standard) non-anamorphic letterbox format. Seeking to rectify that one drawback, Criterion has released a new 16×9 anamorphic HD transfer of the film (Criterion, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP), while retaining that particular disc’s audio commentary with Gilliam and Jack Matthews essay – in other words, it completely replaces the now-outdated disc in that great box set. The transfer itself is absolutely stunning – in fact, when I spoke with Gilliam about it, he remarked it was so good that he was horrified to find that it revealed the wires during the dream sequences (don’t worry – they’ve been erased). Pick this disc up. Now.

The much-anticipated release of the second season of Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock (HIT, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) is a bittersweet affair, coming almost a year after the untimely passing of Muppet writer Jerry Juhl, an amazingly gifted scribe who gave voice, heart, and humor to Henson’s creations for over 30 years, which included guiding Fraggle Rock as its head writer. Thankfully, the producers of these DVD sets were able to conduct interviews with Juhl before he passed – and I’m thankful that we still have his remembrances. In addition to the 24 episodes comprising season 2, the 5-disc set also contains additional interviews, as well as a tribute to the late, great, very much missed Jerry Juhl.

Jerry Seinfeld cites it as the primary influence for his own show, and anyone who views the episodes featured in the inaugural season of The Abbott and Costello Show (Passport Video, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) will clearly see the precedent it set for a comedy set in New York City and almost entirely about characters and everyday events, rather than your typical sitcom fare. It was also anchored by an amazing comedy duo who managed to reinvent themselves for the small screen without falling into the trap of other comedians making the transition, who seemed to believe they were back on a vaudeville stage rather than pioneers on a brand new medium. I can’t recommend this 5-disc set highly enough, which also features Lou Costello’s rare home movies, interviews with the duo’s children, and the DVD premiere of the Abbott & Costello short film 10,000 Kids and a Cop.

There’s something quite sad about the fact that Rhino has begun releasing the entire Monkees catalog as newly-remastered 2-disc deluxe editions, complete with both the mono and stereo versions plus bonus tracks, while the remastered Beatles catalog remains MIA. However, back to the subject at hand. Despite all the criticism they’ve taken over the years, I still think that the Monkees are a completely underappreciated act that have been unduly maligned – I mean, did Elvis write his songs or play any instruments? The Monkees did both (Michael Nesmith’s tunes being some of the standouts), in addition to recording tunes from songwriters like Boyce & Hart, Harry Nilsson, Neil Diamond, and more. The first two deluxe editions are their debut album, The Monkees, and its follow-up, More of the Monkees (Rhino, $24.98 SRP each).

Celebrating 75 years of Disney comic books, Disney Comics: The Classics Collection (Disney Editions, $49.95 SRP) features the original comics adaptations of Snow White, Bambi, Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland, Dumbo, and a very odd adventure with Dumbo and the Seven Dwarfs. It’s a beautifully presented volume and a nice bit of nostalgia.

There was a time when I feared that the cancellation of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and the steady loss of rights to the various films featured in past episodes would mean I’d never get an official release of a series I loved so much. But with the release of the 10th MST3K Collection volume (Rhino, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP), it seems my fears were unfounded. The latest set features Teen-Age Strangler, The Giant Spider Invasion, Swamp Diamonds, and even Godzilla Vs. Megalon. We’ve also got outtakes and a video jukebox, but the real plus is that Godzilla flick – whod’ve thought they’d ever get the rights back to one of those? Where’s my Gamera?

In what seems like a bit of a drawn-out sentence, the 6th and final season of Oz (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$64.98 SRP) makes its way to disc, with plenty of surprises awaiting the prisoners and keepers of Oswald State Penitentiary in the final 8 episodes. The 3-disc set features a trio of audio commentaries, deleted scenes, original cast audition tapes, and an extended cut of the finale.

Like Ocean’s 11 with a multigenerational group of cons substituting for the fabled thieves, Hustle (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP) is one of those confection dramas that you devour greedily, enjoying the dramatic cake and the sweet character icing all in one go, unable to stop with just one episode. So maybe the cake metaphor was a bit much, but this is still an amazing show worth a spin, if only for Robert Vaughn’s performance as an aging con with much wisdom to impart to the young, sometimes foolishly cocksure, turks. Bonus features include cast bios and a making-of featurette.

Despite their claims, it was disappointingly obvious as the second season progressed that there was no master plan in place for Lost, and that padding of what was most likely intended as a 3 season arc was creeping in. You can watch the faltering of a once-brilliant series via the 7-disc season 2 set (Buena Vista, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP), featuring extended episodes, all-new flashback sequences, examinations of some of the show’s mysteries and revelations, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, bloopers, and more.

Fully remastered and available on DVD for the first time in the US, monster movie fans (and aficionados of a certain big lizard) can finally lay their hands on a near-pristine print of the original Japanese version of Gojira (Classic Media/Toho, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP). The 2-disc special edition also features a restored edition of the American version of the film, which introduced the English-speaking world to Godzilla, King of the Monsters and his archenemy, Raymond Burr. The set also features a look at the construction of the Godzilla suit, audio commentaries by Godzilla historians Steve Ryfle & Ed Godziszewski, a featurette on the story development, and the original theatrical trailers.

I love books that you can pick up, flip upon to a random page, and be instantly entranced by whatever you discover there. A recent tome fitting that particular bill is Silent Traces: Discovering Early Hollywood Through The Films Of Charlie Chaplin (Santa Monica Press, $24.95 SRP). As the title suggests, it’s packed with photos and film frames detailing the locations both then and now of those Chaplin flicks. It’s a wonderful journey back in time, and it makes me feel good to know that some of these locations are still around.

I admit that I’m one of those people who is profoundly disinterested in viewing dramatizations of any of the events surrounding the events of 9/11, and that includes the doomed passengers and heroic actions depicted in United 93 (Universal, Rated R, DVD-$30.98 SRP). Writer/director Paul Greengrass has crafted a dignified, almost sterile, dramatization of that fateful flight that ended in a Pennsylvania field. As usual, make sure you seek out the 2-disc limited edition, which features additional behind-the-scenes features and interviews (mainly a feature on the military and civilian response teams) in addition to a commentary with Greengrass.

I’m sure there was a story in there somewhere, and a pretty good one, but I spent the entirely of District B13 (Magnolia, Rated R, DVD-$26.98 SRP) marveling at the art of Parkour, wherein amazing physical specimens navigate urban landscapes through constant motion – including scaling buildings. The film itself has something to do with a lawless section of Paris in the near-future, and an undercover policeman sent in to the walled area. Bonus features include outtakes, a making-of featurette, and extended fight scenes.

Although presented in paperback form, Viking Studio’s new series of illustrated novels pairs classic literature with modern comic artists for a refreshing spin on material that should be a cornerstone of any self-respecting home library. The novels are presented in their entirety, with periodic illos from the artists. The first two releases are Bram Stoker’s Dracula, with illustrations by Jae Lee, and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, with illustrations by Dame Darcy (Viking Studios, $21.95 SRP each).

Do I still have to be embarrassed for actually laughing at – and liking – Jackass: The Movie (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP)? Does that make me some kind of sad, pathetic person that I got a kick out of watching idiots do moronic things to both themselves and others? If you prick me, do I not bleed? Well, you can now peep an extended unrated cut of the flick just in time for the sequel’s release, which also contains much of the bonus features from the original release, including commentaries, deleted scenes, a making-of special, and additional footage.

How sad is it that the arrival of another 12 episodes of the original heroes on the halfshell gets me so geeky giddy? That embarrassing reaction greeted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Volume Five (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP). Sad. So very sad. I feel like getting a pizza.

Okay… With Scary Movie 4 (Weinstein Company, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP), we have finally reached the limits of the Scary Movie franchise. No matter how much love I have for the still comedically brilliant Anna Faris, I simply can not see myself wringing any more enjoyment out of this franchise after this tired, strained affair. Maybe I’m wrong about the series’ future, but rest-assured, it needs a radical rethink (or at least a better script). The unrated special edition features an audio commentary, interviews, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted/extended scenes with optional commentary, and a blooper reel.

This week’s soundtrack is the album for Hollywoodland (Decca, $18.98 SRP), which features 14 standards from the 50’s – including tunes like “At Last,” “Elephant Walk,” “The Girl Can’t help It,” “The Great Pretender,” and more. I’m still on the fence about Ben Affleck as George Reeves, but the soundtrack disc is worth a spin.

Make Buffy a guy, and you’ve essentially got the premise of The WB’s… sorry, The CW’s… Supernatural (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), as a pair of supernatural-fighting brothers – one of which wants nothing more than a normal life – are pulled together on a quest to find their missing father. Like most W… CW shows, it’s a light confection sans particularly sharp writing. You can catch up on all 24 episodes via this 6-disc set, which also contains a pair of commentaries, extended scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, a still gallery, and a gag reel.

After four seasons and an indelible mark upon the culture psyche, ALF (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) wraps up its run with a memorable finale, as well as another 23 episodes across this 4-disc set. Is this the end of ALF? I hope not…

Not nearly as blasphemous as I was dreading, the preschool modernization of Gerald McBoing Boing for new sound-filled adventures is actually quite fun and clever, and has become required viewing for my young nephew. Now that there are 2 DVD volumes of his adventures available (Classic Media, Not Rated, DVD-$12.98 SRP each), I’m sure they’ll be in the Bob the Builder rotation.

He’s been incommunicado for a bit, but Norm MacDonald returns in fine form with a new stand-up CD, Ridiculous (Comedy Central Records, $12.98 SRP). It’d be nice if the wait for a follow-up wasn’t nearly as long an absence.

Lately, I’ve been plowing my through the “Smart Pop” series of completely unauthorized – but utterly engaging – series of pop culture analyses put out by Benbella Press ($17.95 SRP each). Basically, they’re collections of essays on a given pop culture subject, analyzing the given subject in some interesting ways – social, cultural, economic… All across the board. So far, they’ve released Getting Lost (edited by Orson Scott Card), The Man From Krypton (edited by Glenn Yeffeth), The Unauthorized X-Men (edited by Len Wein), Star Wars On Trial (Edited by David Brin & Matthew Woodring Stover), and Boarding the Enterprise (edited by David Gerrold & Robert Sawyer).

Even after months of tinkering and rejiggering, Geena Davis returned to finish out what would be the final episodes of her tenure as President of the United States in ABC’s Commander-in-Chief (Buena Vista, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), the final 8 episodes of which are collected in this second 2-disc volume (leaving many to still wonder why they weren’t all collected in a single 4-disc set). Bonus features include an interview with Davis, deleted scenes, and bloopers.

Finally, how about a look at Gentle Giant’s uber-cool 1/6-scale Boba Fett statue, standing approximately 12.5 inches of bounty hunting badosity ($185.00 SRP)? The edition size is limited to 6500 pieces, so grab yours now before the secondary market puts a gun to your head and robs you blind.

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…

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