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…

Call it kitsch, call it overkill – frankly, cal it anything you’d like – but there’s no denying that it’s hard to take your eyes off of John Milius’s memorable 80’s “what if?” war flick Red Dawn (MGM/UA, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Previously available as a rather mediocre bare bones DVD, those cries of “Avenge me!” must have finally reached the right ears, because the film has been treated to a 2-disc special edition, fully remastered, with a newly-produced cast & crew retrospective and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Other than the pathetic “carnage counter” feature – who in the hell thought that was a good idea? – the flick finally gets the edition it deserves… Even if they missed a goldmine of greatness by neglecting to get a commentary track from Milius.

Though short-lived, I don’t think I ever missed an episode of Voyagers! (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) during my misbegotten early-80’s childhood. I think the time-traveling adventures of pirate Phineas Bogg (Jon-Erik Hexum) and 12-year-old orphan Jeffrey Jones (Meeno Peluce) inspired my love of the concept of time travel. It’s not a great series by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly is a fun romp, and you can snag all 20 episodes in one handy-dandy box set.

Long the objects of postmodern ridicule by Cartoon Network and then Adult Swim, the complete, original, unvarnished adventures of both Space Ghost and Birdman are finally getting their go on DVD with the 2-disc sets Space Ghost & Dino Boy and Birdman and The Galaxy Trio (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP each). Each set features all 20 episodes of their respective series, plus a special documentary on the contributions of legendary artist Alex Toth.

Give it enough time and everything will eventually be collected and reprinted, and such is the case with the first quite welcome volume of classic Harvey Comics, starting with Casper the Friendly Ghost (Dark Horse, $19.95 SRP). Collecting over one hundred tales, it’s a beautiful start to what I can only hope is a genuine commitment to re-presenting these tales.

DVD has been a boon to studios eager to try and resuscitate the marketability of old, little-remembered TV series. Case in point is the release of the complete first season of The Rookies (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP), an early 70’s series that features a trio of young police officers from the “Southern California Police Department”, mixing both their on and off-duty lives, and brought to you by the legendary TV producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg. The 5-disc set features all 23 first season episodes.

Hollywood’s original mermaid queen gets the Warners spotlight treatment via the 5-film collection Esther Williams: Volume 1 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP). Those 5 films are Bathing Beauty, Easy To Wed, On An Island With You, Neptune’s Daughter, and Dangerous When Wet – the last of which features an animated sequence with Tom & Jerry, similar to Anchors Aweigh. Bonus features include featurettes, trailers, vintage cartoons, and more.

Weeds (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) is one of those quirky, loveable shows that you just can’t help but become addicted to. Mary-Louise Parker’s suburban pot dealer Nancy Botkin is one of those performer/character combos that simply clicks, and anyone who’s yet to check it out, now’s the time to do so with the release of the second season. Bonus features include commentaries, featurettes, a gag reel, and more.

Put on the Willie Nelson as we head back out on the road again with David Banner, wandering the American byways and hoping that someone manages to make him angry… Because he’s really cool when he’s angry. Yes, it’s the complete second season of The Incredible Hulk (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) – a 5-disc set featuring all 22 episodes, plus commentary, an introduction from producer Kenneth Johnson, and a bonus episode from season three.

I’m still convinced that their existence has ultimately proved to be more harm than good for the industry, there’s no denying the influence that the debut of Image Comics had. The formation and legacy of the company – and its founders – is examined in George Khoury’s Image Comics: The Road To Independence (Twomorrows, $34.95 SRP).

It’s been available previously in via half-assed collections of public domain episodes, but you can finally snag yourself the complete first season of Gunsmoke (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$38.99 SRP), starring James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon (no word on what Kevin was up to in the Old West). The 6-disc set features all 39 episodes, but sadly no bonus features.

Moving beyond all the Dylan controversy that threatened the film’s release, Factory Girl (Genius, Not Rated, DVD-$28.95 SRP) stands on its own as a fascinating, often disturbing look at 1960’s “It” girl Edie Sedgewick’s rise and eventual fall within the coterie of moons circling Andy Warhol (Guy Pearce) . Sienna Miller give a performance that is as poignant as it is all-too-realistically desperate. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, a deleted scene, a making-of, a look at the real Edie, Guy Pearce’s video diary, Miller’s audition tape, and the theatrical trailer.

Even if Quentin Tarantino & Robert Rodriguez’s Grindhouse homage met with mixed reception, at least it spurred on the release of a new double feature line collecting some of those so bad they’re… well, still bad – but interesting grindhouse flicks of yore. The first two releases in the Welcome To The Grindhouse line (BCI, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP each) are Pick-Up/The Teacher and Black Candles/Evil Eye. Grind on…

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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