It’s that time of year again, when sites the web-over compile helpful holiday shopping lists to guide you into the deepest, darkest pits of retail with a map that will hopefully get you out alive. Here now, without further ado, is the 2007 Quick Stop Holiday Shopping Guide (and if you see anything you like, support Quick Stop by clicking through the links and order from that fine online emporium, Amazon.com)…
If you’ve never heard of the UK quiz program QI, you’re missing out on one of the funniest “educational” shows ever devised (the devisee being creator/producer John Lloyd, formerly of Blackadder, Not The Nine O’Clock News, and Spitting Image). The key to QI (which stands for “Quite Interesting”) is the central tenet of its philosophy – it’s not always being correct that counts, but interesting (and funny). The interesting nature of a given piece of information spurs conversation and debate, eventually leading round to the learning said informational nugget. Did you know that the Earth has more than one moon, for example? Or that otters kill crocodiles? Airing on BBC2 (and currently in its 4th season), it’s hosted by Stephen Fry and features a rotating panel of four comedians (one of which is mainstay Alan Davies) – and it’s one of the most hilarious shows I’ve ever seen… Honestly, you’ll laugh as much as you learn, and I still hold out hope a network in the US is smart enough to pick the show up uncut (Hello, Comedy Central! Hello, Discovery Channel! Hello, PBS! Somebody!). Until then, you can grab a copy of both the first (A Quite Interesting Game) and second interactive QI DVD games – the newly-released sequel, Strictly Come Duncing – (Warner Home Video, DVD-£18.99 each), and a 2-disc, feature-laden DVD set of the first season (2 Entertain, Not Rated, DVD-£19.99)… all three of which are available only for Region 2, so make sure you have a Region Free player. For those in the US, the very first QI Book of General Ignorance (Faber & Faber, $19.95 SRP) is finally available for those in North America, and it’s a brilliant tome which collects much of the interesting information featured in the first four seasons into one handy volume. For those in the UK (and bright, industrious Americans who know how to use the internet, HINT HINT), the QI Book Of Animal Ignorance (Faber & Faber, £12.99) and the inaugural QI Annual (Faber & Faber, £12.99) are available and make the perfect holiday gift. By all means, learn what all the hubbub is about (and stop by the official QI site at www.QI.com).
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.
Put all the visions of the horrible live action version of Alvin & The Chipmunks by picking up some classic Chipmunk tunes courtesy of a newly remastered and expanded edition of Alvin & The Chipmunks: Greatest Hits – Still Squeaky After All These Years (Capitol, $14.98 SRP). And – since this is the holiday season – there’s a brand new edition of Christmas With The Chipmunks (Capitol, $13.98 SRP) to pick up at the same time.
Another holiday perennial – Vince Guaraldi’s jazzy soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas (Fantasy, $14.98 SRP) – has been remastered. Slowly but surely, everything that’s been recorded will be remastered – mark my words. In addition to the album’s original dozen tracks, this re-release features an additional quartet of alternate takes.
While J.K. Rowling may have finished her massive epic of Potter & pals, those seeking to get their Harry fix with some choice collectibles will want to browse – and probably drop most of their paycheck – at the Noble Collection website. As the official prop replica purveyors of the Harry Potter film franchise, they’ve got a ton of materials that will help you get your geek on – including wand reproductions ($35.00-$45.00 each), a Gringott’s Bank coin set ($29.50), a Gryffindor house scarf ($65.00), Hermione’s Time Turner ($49.00)… Really, they’ve got just about everything you could possibly want – either for yourself or as a fantastic gift for the Potterphile in your life. For the younger kids, there’s an illuminating version of Harry’s wand ($39.50). Heck, they even have a reproduction of Harry’s glasses ($55.00), if you want to build your own high quality ensemble for next Halloween!
Last year, there was a chance that the Mouse House’s beloved line of collector-friendly Walt Disney Treasures DVD releases were going to be discontinued… despite the fact that they had begun releasing The Chronological Donald (Duck, of course) as part of the series, and had only gotten two of the four volumes out the door. After a fan outcry, Disney has decided there’s life in the line yet, and this holiday season brings a trio of new releases – The Chronological Donald: Volume 3, Disneyland: Secrets, Stories, & Magic, and The Adventures Of Oswald The Lucky Rabbit (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$32.99 SRP each). Leonard Maltin returns as compere, and each volume sports the usual complement of featurettes.
Over the years, Canada has gifted the world with many a comedy legend – most of them, in fact, were in the much-beloved SCTV. Thanks to SCTV and the aggravation of fulfilling Canada’s Canadian content rules, Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis created the uber-Canadian McKenzie Brothers, Bob & Doug – fans of back bacon, bear claws, toques, and beer. They were also the hosts of the improvised “Great White North†segments that became a cultural phenomenon in the US – and also in the Canadian homeland they lampooned. Airing on the CBC, Bob & Doug McKenzie’s Two-Four Anniversary (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-CDN$28.99 SRP) celebrates those loveable pair of hosers with a celebrity studded retrospective, which also features brand new segments with Bob & Doug. The DVD features classic SCTV bits, songs, additional interviews, commercials, a Q&A, and even comes bundled with a bottle opener. Beauty, eh?
Give the gift of Disney comics this year with a pair of brilliant collections starring my favorite fictional character. Uncle Scrooge Adventures: The Barks/Rosa Collection – Volume 1 (Gemstone, $8.50 SRP) features Carl Barks’s classic tale “Land Of The Pygmy Indians” and Don Rosa’s modern sequel, “War Of The Wendigo”. This is the first in a series of Barks/Rosa volumes, with hopefully many more to come. For modern Scrooge fans, Gemstone is also collecting the DuckTales comic done by the short-lived in-house Disney Comics in the early 90’s, beginning with Marv Wolfman’s “Scrooge’s Quest” (Gemstone, $15.99 SRP).
If you’ve ever had the desire to live a Wodehousian existence and be as coddled and pampered as Bertie Wooster – or you just feel like being awakened in the morning by the mellifluous tones of Stephen Fry – then you’ll want to make sure the new Voco Alarm Clock (£39.95 each), which features 150 different wake up messages recorded by Mr. Fry in his finest Jeevesian delivery. The clock is available in both a “Good Morning, Sir” and “Good Morning, Madam” version, and is an incredibly fantastic idea for an alarm clock.
It seems like every few years, a new version of Blade Runner makes its way out of whatever subterranean holding facility these things are held in. For the holidays, though, it seems Warners and director Ridley Scott are endeavoring to get all definitive on us by releasing a 5-disc Ultimate Blade Runner set (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$78.92 SRP). Not only does it contain all of the previously released versions (including the theatrical cut), but there’s a newly prepared director’s cut – and even the original workprint. Thee are plenty of bonus features to keep you occupied, and the briefcase also comes packed with a few nerd trinkets – a lenticular motion film clip, an origami unicorn, a miniature replica spinner car, collector’s photographs, and a letter from Scott.
Fans will have already picked up the Wal-Mart exclusive 2-disc edition of Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg’s Hot Fuzz, but you’ll probably want to donate that extra copy to a lucky friend and snag the 3-disc collector’s edition (Universal, Rated, R, DVD-$34.98 SRP) for yourself. The first two discs are identical to the Wal-Mart edition, but disc 3 is loaded with even more featurettes, behind-the-scenes materials, Wright’s first cop movie, outtakes, commentaries… Just an almost literal ton of goodies.
Chances are, to most Americans, the names David Mitchell & Robert Webb mean very little… unless, of course, they have a friend, relation, or acquaintance by that name. I speak, however, of a pair of brilliant comedians by the sobriquet Mitchell & Webb who currently ply their trade in the sceptred isle of England. A cursory glance at the offerings on YouTube will bring you up to speed on Messrs. Mitchell & Webb – who, since their Cambridge Footlights days, have written and starred in Edinburgh Fringe productions, radio (That Mitchell & Webb Sound), a live tour, and a trio of sketch shows (Bruiser, The Mitchell & Webb Situation, and That Mitchell & Webb Look – the latter two of which are currently available on DVD). They’re also the stars of the Britcom Peep Show (about to begin its 5th season), the feature film Magicians, and were cast as PC (Mitchell) & Mac (Webb) in the British versions of the popular Macintosh ads. The DVD for That Mitchell & Webb Look (Contender Home Entertainment, £19.99 SRP) features a behind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes, while The Mitchell & Webb Situation (Eureka Entertainment, DVD-£7.99 SRP) features an audio commentary, outtakes, and an interview with the guys.
And on the topic of Peep Show, if you’re a fan of The Office – or just offbeat British comedy in general (you know, the smart people) – you’ll probably dig Peep Show (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-£44.99 SRP). Gosh, how do I describe such a unique premise… In the show, you see the lives of roommates Jeremy & Mark through their eyes – and inner monologues. Jeremy is a wannabe pop star, Mark is an obsessive loser, and their thoughts and actions are truly hilarious. Think of it as a small-screen take on Being John Malkovich, without all the arty pretension. The 4-disc Region 2 set features all 4 current seasons, with bonus features including audio commentaries, featurettes, bonus scenes, and more.
Far a more surreal holiday viewing experience, I recommend Black Books, which stars Dylan Moran as customer-hating bookshop owner Bernard Black – a man fond of drink, swearing, antipathy, anger, but definitely not customers. Imagine if Basil Fawlty’s antisocial tendencies were given full reign and a bottle of vodka. Paired with Black is new-hire Manny (Bill Bailey), a good-natured man clearly out of his element and clearly the target for Bernard’s goading, which is only mitigated somewhat by the presence of daffy friend Fran (Tamsin Greig). Crikey, how I love this series – which is also, shock!, available in a box set that collects the first three series, with commentaries, outtakes, and more (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98).
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 pick it up.
Last year, Master Replicas inaugurated their line of Muppet photo puppet replicas with everyone’s favorite amphibian, Kermit The Frog. This year, you can pick up the manic drummer of The Electric Mayhem, Animal (Master Replicas, $399.00 SRP). Standing an impressive 38″, Animal is fully poseable – including his mouth and eyelids (which means you can capture the wildly fluctuating emotion puppeteered by Frank Oz). If you don’t feel like just sitting him on a shelf or hanging him upside down, he comes with a display stand. You might want to get him as soon as possible, as he’s strictly limited to only 1,500 pieces.
I was worried that last year’s gloriously uncut complete first season of Saturday Night Live was a fluke and that somehow it would live on as a tease for future seasons never to come, but my fears were, thankfully, proven unfounded as SNL: The Complete Second Season (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$69.98 SRP) hits shelves in time to garner a place under many a Christmas Tree. Every episode from the season that the show established itself as a cultural powerhouse is uncut with all of the original music, and the set even contains the mythically disastrous Mardi Gras special, not seen since its original airing.
If that isn’t enough SNL for you, then there’s always the 10-disc Best Of Saturday Night Live (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) – containing the Best Of discs featuring Steve Martin, Chris Farley, Christopher Walken, Dan Aykroyd, Phil Hartman, John Belushi, Will Ferrell, Mike Myers, Tom Hanks, and Adam Sandler.
I’ve been outspoken before about how cruddy I think Michael Bay’s designs for his big screen Transformers are – they’re a visual mess of metal shards and no character. Hasbro must have recognized this, too, because the toys try desperately to streamline it all into something approaching the streamlined, iconic look that made the original toys so popular. Nowhere is that more evident than in the massive, 15″ Ultimate Bumblebee (Hasbro, $99.99 SRP). I’m a sucker for Transformers – and toys that light up and talk – and this one has it all. Ignore the film and pick up the toy.
And while you’re at it – and since the movie version of Megatron was such a non-starter – why not give Bumblebee a real enemy to fight with the massive transformable Darth Vader (Hasbro, $44.99 SRP) – whose robotic Dark Lord of the Sith form transforms into the Death Star. This one also lights up and features classic Vader lines.
For many cinemaniacs, the new Stanley Kubrick: Director’s Series box set (Warner Bros., Rated G/R/NR, DVD-$79.98 SRP) marks the third time we’ll be buying the same set of flicks on DVD. What makes it all worth it is that those flicks – 2001, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut – have been completely remastered and loaded with tons of new bonus content, including audio commentaries, documentaries, featurettes, conceptual artwork, interviews, trailers, and more. This set also contains the previously unreleased in America unrated version of Eyes Wide Shut. Also included in the set is the feature-length documentary Stanley Kubrick: A Life In Pictures. All in all, this is a must-have collection… Even if it does mean we’re upgrading for the third time. These, thankfully, are about as definitive as we can hope for at this point… And the commentary on Full Metal Jacket with R. Lee Ermey alone is worth the price of admission.
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, video diaries, featurettes, outtakes, and more.
History nuts – and those fascinated with World War II in particular – will have a field day getting lost in the 10-disc The History Channel Ultimate Collections: World War II (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP). Packed with 7 documentaries and four bonus featurettes, it’s an incredible gift. You might want to supplement it with a trio of BBC releases – Gladiators of World War II (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), Secrets Of World War II (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP), and Heroes of World War II/Weapons Of World War II (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), from the same people that produced the incredible documentary series The Century Of Warfare.
We’ve already seen a complete edition previously, but a remastered set of the Britcom classic The Young Ones is welcome – particularly when The Young Ones: Extra Stoopid Edition (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) contains new bonus materials, including audio commentaries, a spotlight on the guest stars, a making-of featurette, and a featurette on Britain’s alternative comedy scene of the early 1980’s.
If your holiday viewing plans skew prehistoric, then the Ultimate Dinosaur Collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) might be just the thing, as it collects the three hugely popular Walking With… documentaries – Walking With Dinosaurs, Walking With Beasts, & Walking With Monsters – along with a 30-minute making-of documentary in one easy-to-gift package.
If you were still pining for the bizarre visual musicality of Tenacious D, look no further than the kiwi duo of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie – aka Flight Of The Conchords (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP). The first season set features all 12 episodes of New Zealand’s 4th Most Popular Folk Parody Duo’s adventures in America.
There’s nothing like extracting nuts with everyone’s favorite infant with matricidal tendencies, Stewie Griffen. The Family Guy nutcracker (Kurt S. Adler, $24.44 SRP) is a heavy-duty nutcracker, and features Stewie dressed in his finest holiday Lederhosen.
Not wearing nearly as many clothes, though, is the nearly-nude, singing & dancing Macho Man Homer (Russ Berrie & Company, $29.99 SRP). Watch this plush Simpson gyrate to that Village People classic, right in your own home! Can you believe it? We live in amazing times.
If, perchance, a dancing Homer doesn’t satiate your geeky holiday wishes, then surely a remote-controlled R2-D2 (Hasbro, $137.99 SRP). Standing over a foot tall and fully mobile, RC R2 flashes lights, “talks” and can be coaxed to play Princess Leia’s message. You can program a path for him to follow, and there’s even a drink holder.
The collected stories of Cicely, Alaska’s goofy residents have been packaged together in Northern Exposure: The Complete Series (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$199.99 SRP). Bundled in a faux-fur saddle bag, all 6 seasons are spread across 26 discs (gone are the awkward flipper discs of the original individual releases), with bonus materials including deleted and extended scenes from every season.
After individual releases of the first two seasons, Comedy Central has decided to show faith in one other their finest shows – and reward the fans – with a box set collecting all six seasons of Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$139.99 SRP). The 13-disc contains all of the bonus features of the previous releases, plus newly-produced “lost” episodes (featuring Dave Attell, Whoopi Goldberg, and Conan O’Brien), a live version of the show, “Short Attention Span Theater” shorts, a 28-page booklet detailing the life of Dr. Katz, and more. Can someone please tell me why this show isn’t still on the air?
Beatles fans have cause to celebrate this season, as their second feature film gets a fully-remastered, feature-laden release. Help! (Rhino, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP). The 2-disc special edition contains a 30-minute making-of documentary, a missing scene, cast & crew reminiscences, theatrical trailers, radio spots, and a featurette on the restoration.
Speaking of Beatles, Paul McCartney has released a comprehensive set of his prodigious music video output, The McCartney Years (Rhino, Not Rated, DVD-$34.99 SRP). Not only do I finally get to throw away my tape with “Pipes of Peace”, but there’s also plenty of rare interviews, the documentary/performance Creating Chaos At Abbey Road, his 1991 Unplugged episode, the 1976 Rockshow concert, his headlining gig at Glastonbury 2004, and more.
Granted, the films of the late Ingmar Bergman wouldn’t immediately come to mind as being bright and cheerful holiday fare, but their stark, Nordic cinematography is definitely evocative of winter. There is no denying, regardless, that he’s made his fair share of contributions to cinema, and a quartet of those landmark films are featured in the Ingmar Bergman: Four Masterworks collection (Criterion, Not Rated, DVD-$99.95 SRP). Criterion has been systematically going back and revisiting their most popular titles with brand new high definition transfers, and that’s what you’ll find in this set, with Smiles Of A Summer Night, The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, and The Virgin Spring. Bonus features include audio commentaries, documentaries, interviews, trailers, galleries, and more.
A brand new addition to the Criterion collection is Terrence Malick’s lush period piece Days Of Heaven (Criterion, Rated PG, $39.95 SRP), starring Richard Gere as a Chicago steelworker who flees to Texas after accidentally killing his supervisor to start his life anew, with his girlfriend and little sister in tow, as a fieldworker on the land of a wealthy farmer (Sam Shepard). Featuring a high-definition transfer, bonus materials include an audio commentary, interviews, and more.
Ready-made for geek gift-giving, the limited edition Music Of Star Wars: The 30th Anniversary Edition (Sony Legacy, $89.98 SRP) – packaged in a deluxe, hardcover box – contains the previously-available remastered versions of the original trilogy’s soundtrack albums. In addition to the 6 discs of music, there’s a bonus 7th disc which is essentially a hodgepodge of cues from across all 6 films. If you know someone who doesn’t have these albums yet, now the time to snatch ’em.
Get your holiday kicks with the first volume of the inaugural season of Route 66 (Infinity Entertainment, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP), sporting the first 15 cool cat, wanderlust episodes. Produced in the wake of the Kerouac fascination with hitting the road, Route 66 focused on the cross-country adventures of Tod and Buz… And featured one of TV’s most memorable theme tunes.
Reformed wild and crazy guy Steve Martin has committed to paper a wonderful first volume of his autobiography. Born Standing Up (Scribner, $25.00 SRP) is a candid tale of a young man who came at comedy from a right angle, upsetting the buttoned-up preconceptions of what stand-up had been and becoming the first rock star comedian during his meteoric rise in the 70’s.
f you’ve avoided immersing yourself in the oddball world of Matt Lucas & David Walliams, then you can rectify your oversight with Little Britain: The Complete Collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP). The 8-disc set features all 3 seasons, plus audio commentaries, interviews, featurettes, specials, Comic Relief sketches, and more.
When the boss writes a book, you’d better believe I’d have to at least mention it in the holiday guide. Lucky for me and my conscience, I actually dug the contents of My Boring-Ass Life: The Uncomfortably Candid Diary Of Kevin Smith (Titan Books, $14.95). The book collects over a year-and-a-half’s worth of Smith’s blog postings at SilentBobSpeaks.com, including some exclusive entries. Why not get a signed copy over at Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash?
For far, far too long, comic books have been a bleak, barren territory for kids. The subject matter appropriate for “all ages” has largely vacated the “Big Two” publishers DC and Marvel, residing solely at Gemstone and their Disney comics renaissance. One of the few creators who know what an all ages book can be – in terms of excitement, character, and storytelling – is Jeff Smith. Few people expected him to follow up his landmark independent epic Bone with a gig at DC, but that’s exactly what he did with a new – and wonderfully refreshing in its old school flavor – take on Captain Marvel in the 4 issue mini-series Shazam!: The Monster Society Of Evil, which has been collected in hardcover (DC Comics, $29.99 SRP) and makes the perfect gift for young and old alike.
Fans of Jeff Smith’s Bone, though, will want to get their grubby, Rat Creature-like mitts on the new Fone Bone plush toy (Cartoon Books, $12.95 SRP). It stands over a foot tall, is cute as all heck, and makes the perfect stocking stuffer (next to a set of the colored editions of the Bone library, from Graphix) for both big kids and small.
If I were to name a definitive Spider-Man artist – or, at least, my personal choice – the honor would have to go to the legendary John Romita. After he inherited the art chores on Amazing Spider-Man from co-creator Steve Ditko, he drew the Spider-Man that entered into the pop culture lexicon in the late-60’s-early 70’s. Twomorrows has produced a beautiful tribute to the man in the form of John Romita: … And All That Jazz! (Twomorrows, $44.95 SRP), featuring an in-depth, career-comprehensive interview accompanied by dozens of pieces of Jazzy John’s art. If you can swing it, the hardcover edition is the way to go, as it features a supplemental section of additional artwork in full color.
In the age of super-articulated, exquisitely sculpted action figures, it’s a gloriously garish blast from the past flipping through Mego 8″ Super-Heroes: World’s Greatest Toys! (Twomorrows, $49.95 SRP). Author Benjamin Holcomb has written the definitive guide to these beloved 70’s pop culture relics, filled with dozens of photos and every bit of info and trivia you could possibly want, including looks at unproduced figures and rarities.
Where Scrubs fails in trying to merge medicine and absurdity, the UK’s Green Wing (Channel 4, DVD-£59.99 SRP) succeeds in spades. It’s fast, funny, and has one of those ensemble casts – led by Black Books alum Tamsin Greig – that you’ll not soon forget. The 8-disc collector’s edition features both series, plus the Green Wing special. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, and more.
With the sole CD release long out of print and the original albums even longer so, I’m delighted to finally have a 3-CD set of the music from Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock, Fraggle Rockin’ (Koch, $23.98 SRP). The set essentially collects the CD release and two of the original albums, making for 53 tracks of Fraggle fun. I hold out hope that this is only the first volume, with more to come.
The Beatles and The Rolling Stones before them have gotten their definitive, first-person histories, and now Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have Runnin’ Down A Dream (Chronicle Books, $39.95 SRP) – a lavish, in-depth story of the band’s over 30 year history, as told by the band themselves. It’s every bit as fascinating as the massive tomes of those other groups.
I’m not impressed with it in motion, but the design artwork featured in The Art Of Beowulf (Chronicle Books, $40.00 SRP) is impressive when taken on its own merit, which you can do with this impressive Art Of book from Chronicle. But really, when isn’t an Art Of book from Chronicle not impressive?
Speaking of which, Chronicle’s Art Of Bee Movie (Chronicle Books, $40.00 SRP) is also out now, and if you got a kick out of Jerry Seinfeld’s exploration of bee culture, this is the companion book for you – and would you guess it’s also chock full of artwork? Wouldja? And it’s co-written by Seinfeld and my good buddy Jerry Beck. He’s a busy guy, that Jerry Beck.
While American audiences will only know him largely from the U.S. version of the gameshow Distraction on Comedy Central, Jimmy Carr is actually one of the preeminent stand-ups currently plying the funny trade today. If you don’t believe me, pick up his third stand-up DVD, Jimmy Carr: Comedian (Channel 4, DVD-£19.99 SRP). It’s only available in Region 2, but it’s worth the effort to pick it up if you live in the States… And pick up his other two while you’re at it. The DVD is loaded with bonus features, including a DVD-only sketch show.
Kudos to Fox for dusting off the library and presenting a fully remastered presentation of the films of John Ford with the Ford At Fox Collection. Two absolute must-haves are The Essential John Ford (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) and John Ford’s American Comedies (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP). The Essential collection is just that – featuring Drums Along The Mohawk, The Grapes Of Wrath, How Green Was My Valley, My Darling Clementine, Frontier Marshall, and the feature-length documentary Becoming John Ford, in addition to audio commentaries, featurettes, and more. The American Comedies set contains Up The River, Doctor Bull, Judge Priest, Steamboat ‘Round The Bend, When Willie Comes Marching Home, and What Price Glory.
Easily the funniest – and heaviest – recommendation this holiday season is the first in what I hope is an ongoing series spotlighting Mad Magazine‘s greatest artists, The Completely Mad Don Martin (Running Press, $150.00 SRP). This two volume, high quality hardcover set features every single Don Martin illustration that ever graced Mad – and trust me, that is *a lot* – plus original letters, notes, and sketches, plus an introduction from Gary Larson and a special note from Jim Davis. This is truly an mind-bogglingly incredible set that I could not stop from exploring cover to cover.
Last year saw the release of the first of 4 archival hardcover volumes collecting Neil Gaiman’s incredible comic opus, Sandman. This year brings volume 2 of The Absolute Sandman (DC Comics, $99.00 SRP), featuring issues 21-39, fully recolored, plus never-before-reprinted stories and the original script and pencils to Sandman #23. These editions are simply stunning, and are the best conceivable presentation for this material. It’s also very, very heavy.
Nobody does nature specials better than the BBC, and two of their landmark series have been bundled in one easy-to-snag set. The Blue Planet/Planet Earth Collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$119.98 SRP) contains both previously available sets, loaded with bonus features galore in addition to the stunning visuals in the programs themselves.
After teasing fans with the incredibly awesome first volume of classic (and actually entertainingly educational) Sesame Street, I worried that the grand experiment would only yield that single volume. Thankfully, my fears are allayed with the release of Sesame Street Old School: Volume 2 (Genius, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP), which features episodes and segments from the years 1974-1979. All of the classic bits and characters are there and as fun as I remember them being, and it’s a much needed alternative to the pathetic, boring ghost the show has become. The 3-disc set also features the original pilot episode that aired only once in Philadelphia prior to the launch of the show in 1969. Waiter! Volume 3, please!
Long absent from the numerous reissues of Apocalypse Now, one of the most revelatory documentaries ever made about the production of a feature film finally sees the light of day in the standalone release of Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP). Directed by Francis Ford Coppola’s wife Eleanor, it’s a remarkable portrait of an out of control creative process deep in the jungles of the Philippines. The disc also contains a new documentary, Coda, which picks up the filmmaker’s journey as Francis produces his newest film, Youth Without Youth.
Rudolph, Frosty, And Captain Kangaroo (Santa Monica Press, $24.95 SRP) is the biography of one Hecky Krasnow, the producer of perennial holiday favorites including “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty The Snowman,” “I’m Getting’ Nuttin’ For Christmas,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Suzy Snowflake,” “Peter Cottontail,” as well as “Davy Crockett,” “The Captain Kangaroo March,” and more. Full of anecdotes and trivia, it’s a fun little tome to read through by the fire.
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without Stan, Kyle, Kenny, & Cartman, and that means that the compilation release Christmas Time In South Park (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) is a welcome addition to the holiday viewing schedule – perfect for following up A Charlie Brown Christmas. This disc has all 7 South Park Christmas episodes to date.
Always on the lookout for ways to introduce my nephew to the world of comic book superheroes, there’s something loveably wrong yet endearing about the animatronic Sing-a-Long Spider-Man (Hasbro, $29.99 SRP). With a child-friendly design, a repertoire of 3 songs (“Spider-Man & Friends Theme”, “Heads, Shoulders, Webs, & Knees”, and “If You’re Happy And You Know It”), and a microphone for the kids to join in on the fun, it’s the perfect gift for the under-5’s on your holiday list.
When a comedian decides – at the age of 32 – to write his autobiography, it’s understandable to be a bit wary. But when that comedian is Russell Brand – and the tome deals in large part with his years of heroin and sex addiction – my curiosity is piqued. The book itself – whimsically titled My Booky Wook (Hodder & Stoughton, $18.99 SRP) – is an engaging, witty, and brutally candid bio, and increases my respect of Mr. Brand even beyond the already high level attained by his wonderfully odd, affected comedy style.
You know it’s not just another Spongebob release when the special guest star is David Bowie. The Thin White Duke plays the Lord Royal Highness in Spongebob Squarepants: Atlantis Squarepants (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP). In addition to the 2-part special, the disc also features an additional 6 episodes, an inside look at the Spongebob animation studios, and a making-of featurette on the “Atlantis” ep.
If you want to load up on the Nickelodeon releases this holiday season, there’s Go Diego Go!: Safari Rescue, Dora The Explorer: Dora Saves The Mermaids, The Naked Brothers Band: Battle Of The Bands (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP each), and Avatar: Book 2 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$64.99 SRP).
There have been numerous releases of the flick in the past (almost as many as Goldfinger), but I think we’ve gotten pretty much definitive with the Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition (Sony, Rated PG, DVD-$39.95 SRP). The 3-disc set features all 3 versions of the film – the theatrical cut, the special edition cut, and the director’s cut – plus a 30th anniversary retrospective documentary, a making-of documentary, the 1977 “Watch The Skies” featurette, a collectible booklet, and a poster detailing the differences between all the versions.
Where George Lucas went overboard on his revisionist special editions, the high definition remaster of the original Star Trek gets it mostly right by sticking to the axiom that less is more. All of the special effects have been redone and the entire series has been remastered in high definition, which – while not replacing the classic versions – certainly provides a different viewing experience that’s largely worthwhile. By all means, check out the combo edition of the first season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$194.99 SRP) which contains both standard DVDs and HD-DVDs, plus bonus retrospective featurettes. My only real criticism is they used wretched flipper discs. Here’s hoping they abandon that presentation method before season 2 hits.
Fans of Huckleberry, Fred, Scooby, Jonny, Elroy, Birdman, Yogi, and Tom & Jerry will be absolutely giddy about the new Hanna-Barbera Treasury (Insight Editions, $45.00 SRP). Written by animation historian Jerry Beck, it’s a must-have collection of rare artwork and collectible/ephemera reproductions from across the breadth of the animation house’s storied career.
And Jerry Beck’s been quite busy, as he’s also penned a retrospective of Nickelodeon’s animated history – Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons! (Melcher Media, $40.00 SRP). Loaded to the rafters with artwork both rare and conceptual, it’s an excellent overview of a remarkable amount of cartoons over the years. Oh, and it also has a nifty slime cover.
Of course, Star Wars fans will want a deluxe memorabilia book of their own this holiday season, and those wishes are granted with The Star Wars Vault (Harper Entertainment, $85.00 SRP). In addition to reproductions of rare ephemera from over the 30-year history of the franchise, the massive hardcover tome – co-written and compiled by Lucasfilm ubergeek Stephen Sansweet – also contains a pair of audio CDs jam-packed with rarities.
A verbal comedian par excellence on Brit shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Have I Got News For You, Room 101, and Just A Minute, Paul Merton is also a tremendous fan of silent comedy. He’s poured that fascination into a comprehensive look at the evolution and stars of that early cinematic form in the tome Silent Comedy (Random House, £25.00 SRP), and it’s the perfect gift for aficionados of chaps like Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, Laurel, & Hardy.
Try as might, I can’t help but saying, “Thanks for the memories…” in regards to the 4-disc Bob Hope: The Ultimate Collection (R2, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), which collects copious clips and bloopers from Hope’s 50-year television career. Those specials include regular comedy outings, as well as his numerous shows for the troops. The set also includes comedy shorts from the 1930’s, interviews, and more.
Also getting an uber-collection for the holidays is the King of Late Night, Johnny Carson. The 12-disc Heeere’s Johnny – The Definitive DVD Collection from The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (R2, $99.99 SRP) contains all of the previously released Carson collections in one handy volume, easy for gift-giving.
Every new set seems like a gift, so be sure to celebrate the season with the purchase of The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Volume 12 (Rhino, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP). This time around, we get The Rebel Set, Secret Agent Super Dragon, The Starfighters, and Parts: The Clonus Horror – plus original theatrical trailers, the MST3K jukebox, interviews, and MST3K Hour Jack Perkins wraparounds.
Perfect for your holiday decorating needs, McFarlane Toys has released the first wave of How The Grinch Stole Christmas toys (McFarlane Toys, $12.99 SRP each) based on Chuck Jones’s animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic. The sculpting work is spot on – particularly when you put the dioramas together and create the aforementioned perfect holiday decoration. The initial wave features “All I Need Is A Reindeer“, “Two Sizes Too Small“, “Cindy Lou Who“, “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch“, and the deluxe diorama “The Grinch & Max On Mt. Crumpit” (McFarlane Toys, $23.99 SRP).
The POV: 20th Anniversary Collection (Docurama, Not Rated, DVD-$249.95 SRP) is an incredible compilation of 15 top-notch documentaries, all in one easy to snag package. The documentaries included in the set are American Tongues, Best Boy, The Chances Of The World Changing, Dark Circle, Farmingville, Leona’s Sister Gerri, Licensed To Kill, Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision, Of Civil Wrongs And Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story, Passin’ It On, Regret To Inform, Silverlake Life: The View From Here, Tongues Untied, Taking On The Kennedys, and Well-Founded Fear.
If the cold is getting you down and you desire a little sunshine, why not head down to Florida and hang with Crockett & Tubbs as they infiltrate the seedy, steamy, and well-soundtracked drug underworld of Miami with the complete set of Miami Vice (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$199.98 SRP). The 27-disc set features all 111 episodes in one faux albino alligator-skinned box. All the original music, and the stylish wardrobe of Don Johnson – if that doesn’t say “Christmas” to you, I don’t know what does.
Rightly considered one of the finest documentaries ever produced, D.A. Pennbaker’s portrait of Bob Dylan’s landmark 1965 tour, Don’t Look Back (Docurama, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP), has gotten a deluxe remastering and special edition treatment. In addition to restored picture and sound, the 2-disc collector’s set features audio commentaries, additional audio tracks, an alternate version of the “Subterranean Homesick Blues” cue card sequence, a second documentary utilizing unused footage, trailers, and a reproduction of the original photo-filled 168-page companion book. A definite must-have all around.
The third movie was a disappointment, but I’m a big enough sucker for “Art Of” books that I still got a kick out of all the development artwork jam-packed into Shrek: The Art Of The Quest (Insight Editions, $45.00 SRP). Not only are there scores of artwork on display, but also interactive collectibles inserted throughout the book, including diaries and coasters.
Erik the Viking (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) is one of the “lost” post-Python films, overlooked by many in favor of more well known efforts from the likes of Cleese (A Fish Called Wanda) and Gilliam (Brazil). Still, I find writer/director Terry Jones’s tale of a Viking with a conscience (Tim Robbins) to be an enjoyably fun flick, with many of the whimsical and visual qualities that have marked much of Jones’s style. Unfortunately, the original cut of the film was somewhat rushed, and Jones has never been happy with the theatrical version – which means, in this modern DVD age, he’s been given the chance to go back and tweak it for a new 2-disc special edition… well, actually, his son Bill Jones has done the tweaking, producing the “Director’s Son’s Cut” of Erik the Viking. The new special edition features both cuts of the film, audio commentary with Terry Jones, and interview with Terry and his son Bill, a making-of featurette, extended cast interviews, and a photo gallery.
While collections have been available in the past, Fantagraphics has pulled out all the stops with their chronological collection of E.C. Segar’s Popeye (Fantagraphics, $29.95 SRP). Also known as Thimble Theater, Volume 2: “Well Blow Me Down” continues where the essential first volume left off. As lovingly constructed as Fantagraphics equally must-have Complete Peanuts, the second volume covers 1930-1932, featuring dailies as well as color Sundays.
And that’s not the only comic strip collection available this holiday season! I have immense respect for any cartoonist who can make a career out of single panel gags – particularly if they’re consistently funny. Long before Gary Larson made The Far Side into a prime example of this in the 80’s, Hank Ketcham’s Dennis The Menace was king of the single panels on the daily comics page. Not content with just their amazing Complete Peanuts and Popeye lines, Fantagraphics has also been releasing Hank Ketcham’s Complete Dennis The Menace (Fantagraphics, $24.95 SRP), the fourth volume of which is now available, covering the period from 1957 to 1958.
This holiday season, I intend to spend those cold winter nights holed up with hot chocolate, Little Debbie Christmas Trees, and – Would you believe? – the complete 5 season Get Smart box set (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$199). Long a fan desire, never did I think that not only would we get completely uncut, stunningly remastered episodes that make the series look sparkling fresh, but that the entire run would be released in a special box set absolutely loaded with bonus features. In an age when studios release bare bones season sets only to screw over fans be releasing comprehensive, feature-laden sets at the very end (Hello, Fox!), this comprehensive bonus-filled bonanza is a true delight. Those bonus features include audio commentaries (with the likes of Mel Brooks, Buck Henry, James Caan, Barbara Feldon, Bernie Koppell, Don Rickles, and more), interviews, bloopers, featurettes, Emmy footage, rare commercials, and much more – literally hours of material. Packaged in a box comprised of multiple doors (ending with the phone booth), the set is currently an exclusive available only at TimeLife.com.
Ah, but there’s more classic TV in ridiculously large sets to be had! Packaged in a stylish briefcase, you can also own the complete 4 season run – 105 episodes over 41 discs, plus new interviews, featurettes, home movie footage from the set, and much more – of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$249.99). Nothing beats kicking back and watching the superspy adventures of Robert Vaughn as the lavishly named (by Ian Fleming, no less!) Napoleon Solo with a mug of cocoa in hand. Nothing, I tell you. Nothing. The set is also a Time Life exclusive.
To get another iconic 60’s spy show, though, you’ll have to go a bit farther afield. To Australia, in fact. While the US has gotten scattershot releases of I Spy – starring Robert Culp and Bill Cosby as espionage agents Alexander Scott and Kelly Robinson. They’ve released the first 2 seasons, completely remastered and unedited (Umbrella, Not Rated, DVD-AU$79.99 SRP each). If that weren’t enough, Umbrella has also picked up the ball unceremoniously dropped by Rhino in the States and have released the complete third season of My Favorite Martian (Umbrella, Not Rated, DVD-AU$69.99 SRP). Not only does the 6-disc set feature all 32 episodes, but it’s also loaded with bonus materials – including the original pilot, behind-the-scenes home movies, interviews, and audio commentary, and more. Umbrella is definitely a company to watch (and import from!).
Resurrected from the abyss of Fox’s ignorance, Futurama makes the same Lazarus-like return of Family Guy before it with a brand new feature-length direct-to-DVD movie, Bender’s Big Score (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), which finds the crew of Planet Express in a time-spanning adventure to stop Bender’s grand larceny through history. Everyone – actors, writers, producers, animation team – are back where they belong, and it’s like they never left. Bonus features include an audio commentary, a live comic book reading by the cast, a full-length episode of Everybody Loves Hypnotoad, deleted scenes, a math lecture, 3D models, the first draft of the script, the Comic-Con promo, a message from Al Gore (with commentary), and more. More direct-to-DVD flicks are on the way, and we can only hope the show finds its way back to the airwaves proper.
If your little ones are a mite too young for Brain Age but you want to start them down the path of getting a little bit of recreational learning into their noggins, then there’s a pair of Scholastic releases you’ll probably want to make sure Santa places under the Christmas tree for them – I Spy Funhouse and Animal Genius (Scholastic, $29.99 SRP each). The former is full of illusions and brain teasers, and the latter builds up your animal IQ.
Paul McCartney’s latest album, Memory Almost Full (Hear Music, $19.98 SRP) – formerly a Starbucks exclusive – has hit traditional retail outlets with a deluxe 2-disc edition, featuring not only the album proper with 3 additional tracks, but also a bonus DVD with a pair of music videos and 7 live performances recorded in London.
Those in search of a truly jazzy holiday will want to plug in to the 5-disc John Coltrane: Interplay box set (Prestige Records, $59.98 SRP). It’s over 7 hours of the pure Coltrane from his 1956-1958 period. The set also contains a photo and essay packed booklet, as well.
Of their output over the years, the only U2 album I love from start to finish is 1987’s The Joshua Tree (Universal, $29.98 SRP). Imagine my delight, then, that it’s been fully remastered and re-released as a 2-disc deluxe edition, with 14 bonus tracks to boot. The hardcover pack also includes a 36-page booklet full of photos, an essay, and lyrics.
-Ken Plume
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June 3rd, 2008 at 12:13 am
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