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…
I’m not quite sure what all the hubub was about regarding the star of Pixar’s latest cartoon opus, Ratatouille (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP). Some seemed to think that it was a massive risk to do a story about a rat who has aspirations to be a master chef, and that somehow the sight of this loveably designed (some would say Muppety) rat – Remy – in a kitchen environment would be a turn-off to audiences. Those people are fools. Director Brad Bird took Jan Pinkava’s unique idea and crafted an exciting, beautiful, and funny flick that proudly upholds Pixar’s winning streak. Bonus features include a brand new short (Remy & Emile in Your Friend The Rat), deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and the theatrical short Lifted. Sadly, there’s no audio commentary.
If you’re still in the mood for more Pixar this holiday season, then you’ll probably want to pick up the Pixar Short Films Collection (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP). As its title clearly indicates, it’s a collection of all the shorts that Pixar has produced to date – The Adventures of Andre & Wally B, Luxo Jr., Red’s Dream, Tin Toy, Knick Knack, Geri’s Game, For The Birds, Mike’s New Car, Boundin’, Jack-Jack Attack, One Man Band, Mater And The Ghostlight, and Lifted – plus audio commentaries, a featurette on the history of Pixar’s shorts program, and more.
Why is it that The Daily Show got a multi-disc DVD set, but The Colbert Report gets only a single disc Best Of (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP)? The 2+ hours of Colbertian genius should have been 10 – no, 20+ – hours of features including “The Word”, “Better Know A District”, “Cooking With Feminists”, and the infamous “Green Screen Challenge” (won by Quick Stop’s own Bonnie Rose). Maybe we’ll get a massive box set when Stephen wins the presidency.
For years, the Bloom County holiday special Opus N’ Bill: A Wish For Wings That Work (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) – the animated adaptation of Berke Breathed’s first children’s book – was a bit of an albatross. A one-off run and 15 years of being little more than a rarity with only a half-hearted VHS release, it’s gotten a remastering for DVD just in time for the holidays, and I urge you to
Another year, another deluxe edition of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$ SRP). Volume Five is jam-packed with dozens of classic Warner Bros., cartoons, uncut and fully remastered, plus audio commentaries documentaries, featurettes, and more. These can’t come out fast enough.
It’s inevitable, in this day and age, that just about every title will be revisited and granted a new, “improved” special edition DVD. Sometimes, they’re even worth it. Such is the case with Roman Polanski and Robert Towne’s Chinatown (Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$14.99 SRP), which sports a brand new transfer, four retrospective featurettes, and the theatrical trailer. Also getting the treatment is the Jack Nicholson-directed sequel The Two Jakes (Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$14.99 SRP), featuring a conversation with Nicholson about the film, and the theatrical trailer.
After stumbling in the second season of its relaunch, the third season of Doctor Who (BBC Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP) benefited immensely from the introduction of a brand new companion, Martha Jones, and a big bad that allowed for a much spiffier finale than last year’s awkward Dalek vs. Cyberman whizaroo. The 6-disc set features all 13 episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, and more.
If classic Who is more your cup of tea, then you’ll want to pick up the Peter Davison-starring Doctor Who: The Arc Of Infinity and Time-Flight (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP each). Both releases feature the now-regular array of commentaries, featurettes, promos, and more.
Warner Bros. Marches forward with their wonderful line of signature collection catalog spotlights, this time with Burt Lancaster: The Signature Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP). The 5-disc set features The Flame and the Arrow Jim Thorpe All-American, His Majesty O’Keefe, South Sea Woman, and Executive Action. Also available is the 6 film Barbara Stanwyck: The Signature Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), containing Annie Oakley, East Side, West Side, My Reputation, Executive Suite, Jeopardy, and To Please a Lady. As has become blissfully routine, Warners has loaded the disc with a nice array of bonus features, including commentaries, cartoons, shorts, and more.
While many dismissed Fahrenheit 911 as a heavy-handed polemic, it’s much harder to find fault with Michael Moore’s latest, Sicko (Genius, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.95 SRP). Maybe that’s because his condemnation of the broken American health care system crosses political divides. Anyone who walks away from this piece without even a tinge of outrage must have a cold, cold heart. Bonus features include additional interviews and featurettes, a music video, and the theatrical trailer.
Find out why, 40 years on, the band is alright – courtesy of the documentary Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which tells their story in their own words, with tons of rare footage and performances thrown into the mix. The 2-disc set also features a multi-part documentary on the musical virtuosity each member brought the band.
As a space buff, I really do wish I could have seen Magnificent Desolation: Walking On The Moon (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) in its intended IMAX – if just for the stunning NASA lunar footage. But watching it on a nice HD is the next best thing, and this documentary is a delight.
While I bide my time waiting for another live disc from They Might Be Giants, Barenaked Ladies has been kind enough to make the wait less painful by dropping a live release of their own Barenaked Ladies: Talk To The Hand – Live In Michigan (Shout! Factory, $19.98 SRP), which also comes packaged with a bonus concert DVD. Sweet.
Available individually in the past, Chuck Jones fans can now get the whole lot of his independent animation specials – Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, The White Seal, Mowgli’s Brothers, Yankee Doodle Cricket, A Cricket In Times Square, & A Very Merry Cricket – in the Chuck Jones Collection (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP).
I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98SRP) is very similar to Big Daddy – both are Adam Sandler flicks with a good deal of heart behind the low-rent humor. In a nutshell, the flick stars Sandler and Kevin James as a pair of firefighter buddies named Chuck and Larry – after saving his life in a fire, Chuck owes Larry big time… And Larry decides to call in the favor when he needs to make sure his pension coverage extends to his children by asking Chuck to pose as his domestic partner. Hilarity ensues. Bonus features include deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, outtakes, and more.
Fly away with the complete fifth season of Wings (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$38.99 SRP) – that amiable NBC sitcom that was always funny and goofy in that harmless sort of way that was later epitomized by Just Shoot Me. The 4-disc set features all 24 episodes.
Put the cork in another TV-on-DVD release, with the arrival of the eighth and final season of guilty pleasure Full House (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$ SRP). Delight again in the naive innocence of tiny Mary-Kate and Ashley, who are completely unaware of what perils the future holds.
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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