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…
If you’ve been missing Mystery Science Theater 3000 and need more of MST3K-alums Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett, then you’re going to be giddy about their latest venture – The Film Crew. As three working schlubs tasked with providing audio commentaries for every obscure, not-terribly-good flick, you’ve essentially got, for all intents and purposes (and due to various issues), the closest thing to new MST that you’ll be able to lay your grubby little mitts on (heck, there are even host segments!… bust sadly, no ‘bots). The first film getting the Film Crew treatment is Hollywood After Dark (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), a horrid, stagnant little gem from 1968 that features – I kid you not – a stripping Rue McClanahan. The only thing that makes it all tolerable is the on-target riffing from Mike, Kevin & Bill, who are still in the groove after all these years. Three more Film Crew discs are on track for release this year, and if you haven’t checked out Mike’s *other* venture, RiffTrax, you should head over there now.
It wasn’t until about halfway through the first season that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s sophomore effort, Extras (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), finally clicked for me. Since then, I’ve enjoyed his look at working actor Andy Millman and his best friend and fellow “extra”, Maggie (Ashley Jensen) – not to mention his loveably useless agent, Darren Lamb (Merchant). The second season kicks things up a notch by making Andy a commercial success as the creator and star of a hit BBC series… But one that he completely sells his creative soul for, in a Bizarro-version of the events and process that gave the world The Office. The 2-disc set features all 6 episodes, plus a behind-the-scenes documentary, a featurette on Gervais’s abuse of his poor editor, a look at “corpsing”, deleted scenes, and outtakes.
While I definitely less than enthused by what’s currently passing as comic book storytelling today, we are in a wonderful period of wonderful, overdue releases of classic material in high-quality form. The first of four hardcover volumes of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus (DC Comics, $49.99 SRP) – collecting, in chronological order, The King’s classic world-building in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen, Mister Miracle, New Gods, and Forever People – certainly fits the bill, and it’s definitely a must-have addition to any comics fan’s library.
One of the delights of the Harry Potter series, as we usher in the latest installment, has been to see the troupe of young actors find their sea legs as thespians, and branch out into non-wizarding projects. I’ve long predicted that Rupert Grint would be the Potter actor most likely to develop into a long-term, and interesting, career, and Driving Lessons (Sony, Rated PG-13, DVD-$24.96 SRP) is certainly a step in that direction. Grint stars as 17-year-old Ben, a shy teenager chafing under an oppressively conservative home life personified by his high-strung mother (Laura Linney). When he’s employed by a former actress naked Evie (Julie Walters), the family gets its Harold & Maude on (sans the whole love angle) as the eccentric and invigorating Evie shows Ben that there is a brighter, happier, more interesting future in store if he becomes his own man. Bonus features include a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, and outtakes.
It is without a trace of hyberbole that I praise the beauty – in both visuals and storytelling – that is Jeff Smith’s comic book epic Bone. Massive in scale but intimate in character, the adventures of the Bone cousins – Fone, Phoney, and Smiley – in a mysterious valley soon under the sway of war, besieged by Rat Creatures and the machinations of an ancient evil, The Lord Of The Locusts. Originally self-published by in black & white by Smith’s own company, Cartoon Books, Scholastic has been re-releasing the 9-volume saga with beautiful coloring by Steve Hamaker. The latest release is Volume 6, Old Man’s Cave (Graphix, Hardcover-$19.99 SRP, Softcover-$9.99 SRP), and the action is hot and heavy as we barrel towards the final chapters. If you’ve never read Bone, snap these up as soon as possible. If you’re an old fan, these additions are well worth picking up.
For all the fun of the fifth season of Bewitched (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP), it’s also a bittersweet batch of episodes, as it marks the final season featuring Dick York as Samantha’s put-upon husband Darrin. The 30 episodes also features guests like Jonathan Harris, Henry Gibson, Danny Bonaduce, and Isabel Sanford.
Second only to endless documentaries about the Nazis and WWII, one of the most addictive shows to hit the History Channel has been the how-to/how-does explorations of Modern Marvels. Criminally absent from DVD shelves for years, that oversight has been rectified with another 8-disc Modern Marvels: Architectural Wonders box set (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP). The set features all you could ever want to know about the pyramids, the Hoover Dam, the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Great Wall of China, Mount Rushmore, and the St. Louis Arch.
The Astronaut Farmer (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$27.95 SRP) is one of those quirky little flicks that come down the pike every so often, that are just charming enough to skirt by and avoid any real harsh criticism. Such is the case here, about a man (Billy Bob Thornton) who decides to build himself a rocket into space – in his back yard. Think of it as the astronaut version of Field of Dreams, and you’ve pretty much got the idea. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette, a conversation with NASA astronaut David Scott, and bloopers.
HBO’s late night revelations returns to its roots in Taxicab Confessions: New York, New York (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), taking to the streets of the Big Apple for more awkward moments than you can shake a stick at.
It whipped John McClane’s ass last week, and now you can own the soundtrack to Die Hard killer – and latest Pixar flick – Ratatouille (Walt Disney Records, $18.98 SRP), by composer Michael Giacchino. It’s bright, it’s peppy, and it’s a fun spin.
Say goodbye to Crockett & Tubbs with the fifth and final season of Miami Vice (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), a show nobody thought would ever get released with all the original music intact, but dammit if they didn’t find a way to do it. Pay your last respects with these last 21 episodes, featuring guest stars John Leguizamo, Pam Grier, Michael Chiklis, and Rita Moreno (of course, only Moreno and Grier had any real career at the time).
For far too long, we’ve been taunted by the glaring lack of complete seasons of The Powerpuff Girls. No more! Now, you too can hold tightly your very own copy of The Powerpuff Girls: Season 1 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), featuring all 13 episodes, plus animatics, promos, Craig McCracken’s original student film, and more! Get this! Now!
Add Joan Collins to the list of stars with their own themed sets, as the 5-film Joan Collins Collection (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) hits shelves with a career-spanning gathering of the catty siren’s big screen outings. Included in the set are The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing, Rally ‘Round The Flag, Boys!, Sea Wife, Seven Thieves, and Stopover Tokyo. Bonus features include audio commentaries, galleries, trailers, restoration featurettes, vintage pressbooks, and more.
Filmation’s ersatz (and original) Ghostbusters returns with a second volume (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) featuring the final 33 episodes of the ‘busters battle against the ghoulish Prime Evil, plus interviews, an audio commentary, rare footage, image galleries, and more.
Wrap up the final episodes of the Black Sheep Squadron’s first season with the second volume of Baa Baa Black Sheep (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), starring Robert Conrad as ace pilot Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, leader of the misfit squad of pilots tasked with some of the most difficult aerial combat missions of WWII.
As insultingly awful as the second Fantastic Four film was, one of the only bright spots of Rise of the Silver Surfer was John Ottman’s score (Sony Classical, $18.98 SRP). It certainly deserved to be attached to a better movie.
It may not be Disney’s tale as old as time, but the small screen love affair of Vincent and Catherine is a much more beloved cult version of Beauty and the Beast (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$50.99 SRP). The 6-disc second season features all 22 episodes, plus video introductions on select episodes by Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman.
And finally, we wrap this week with one of those gloriously geeky collectibles that come down the pike just to appeal to the geekiest of the geeks. This time, that barometer of geekdom is Gentle Giant’s limited edition statue of the mechanical owl Bubo from Ray Harryhausen’s Clash of the Titans ($60.00 SRP). With a metallic finish, beautiful sculpting, and standing approx. 5″ tall perched on a branch affixed to a wooden base, it’s a must have delight for fans of Harryhausen’s stop-motion swan song. With an edition size of only 500 pieces, you’d better act fast!
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…
-Ken Plume
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