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…
Although I’m sure the full season set will be out by the fall featuring the episodes, I can still recommend the South Park: Imaginationland disc (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) for its uncut versions of the trilogy, as well as the near full-length audio commentary with Matt Stone and Trey Parker (a rarity since their decision to only do mini-commentaries). The disc also contains the bonus episodes “Woodland Critter Christmas” and “Manbearpig”.
Forced to choose sides in the great Oscar battle between There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men (Miramax, Rated R, DVD-$29.99 SRP), my immediate choice was for the Coen Brothers atmospheric amorality tale that harkens back to the duo’s noirish Blood Simple roots. Josh Brolin stars as a man who makes the unfortunate decision to walk away with the money he finds in a pickup truck at a bloody crime scene, setting off a series of unfortunate events that left me glued to the edge of my seat as the action and consequences just kept escalating. Bonus features include a trio of behind-the-scenes featurettes.
Michael Palin continues his globe-spanning journeys with a trip a little closer to home – and yet worlds away – in Michael Palin: New Europe (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP). Exploring the area formerly situated behind the Iron Curtain, he finds a cultural explosion that mixes both the modern west and a more traditional identity. The 3-disc box set features an interview with Palin and deleted scenes.
I so very much wanted to like the remake of the manly tete a tete Sleuth (Sony, Rated R, DVD-$26.96 SRP), starring Jude Law and Michael Caine (in the role opposite of the one he played in the original) as a pair of men fighting an escalating battle of wits over a woman. Sadly, Kenneth Branagh’s direction feels merely like a stageplay statically brought to screen, and it mostly leaves the actors – who are largely on their game – out in the cold. Bonus features include audio commentaries, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a look at the make-up effects.
Based on Steve Purcell’s underground comic – and inspiration for a fantastic series of video games – Sam & Max: Freelance Police (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP) gets a feature-laden DVD release of the complete short-lived series. The 3-disc set also features a conversation with Purcell, a trio of animated shorts, a new animated short, a look at Telltale Games, the original series bible, and a playable demo of their latest video game adventure.
It’s not Pixar, but Jerry Seinfeld’s Bee Movie (Dreamworks, Rated PG, DVD-$36.98 SRP) is as affably goofy as Seinfeld himself. In what is essentially a goofy tale of the secret life of bees through the eyes of Barry B. Benson, the laughs are a bit uneven, but you can certainly feel Jerry’s comedy all over it. And, thankfully, the animation is better than Dreamworks’s previous standard, the Shrek franchise, and is on par with the decent-looking Over The Hedge. The 2-disc set features audio commentary, alternate endings and lost scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, music videos, and more.
If you’re hoping to regain sight and sanity after the recent “reinvention” of the Jay Ward nostalgia-classic George Of The Jungle (Classic Media, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP), look no further than the 2-disc set collecting all 17 episodes of that original series – complete with the supporting features Super Chicken and Tom Slick. Also included is the never-before-seen pilot episode.
After the abomination that was Evan Almighty, it would take a film to rejuvenate my view of Steve Carrell’s once-promising film career. Thankfully, he made a nice little flick like Dan In Real Life (Touchstone, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.99 SRP). Carrell stars as an advice columnist and single father of three who awkwardly finds that he’s fallen in love with his brother’s new girlfriend. It’s a likeable little comedy that doesn’t try to be more than it is. Bonus features include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and outtakes.
It’s like a watched pot, but ever so slowly we’re getting more seasons of the Britcom classic One Foot In The Grave with the release of seasons three and four (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP each). The 2-disc sets contain an additional 6 episodes each, following the hilarious life struggles of retiree Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson). Bonus features include Christmas specials and a pair of audio commentaries.
Get your Al Pacino catalogue fix with a pair of from the vaults releases – And Justice For All and Bobby Deerfield (Sony, Rated R/PG, DVD-$19.94 SRP each). The former finds Pacino as a race car driver under the direction of Sydney Pollack, while the latter is a Norman Jewison flick with Pacino as an idealistic young lawyer under pressure to defend a man he knows is guilty. Bonus materials on Justice include an audio commentary, interviews with Jewison and screenwriter Barry Levinson, deleted scenes, and an episode of Damages.
Reading through the best-of collection for the legendary comics fanzine Alter Ego (Twomorrows, $21.95 SRP) – edited by Roy Thomas & Bill Schelly and featuring an introduction by the late Julius Schwartz – is like wading into a geeky time capsule. This volume collects the first 11 issues of the fanzine, which launched in 1961.
Dora and Boots have brought together a toe-tapping collection sure to be on constant repeat in the CD and mp3 players of anyone with kids, ¡Vamos a bailer! Let’s Dance!: Dora The Explorer’s Music Collection (Nickelodeon, $29.98 SRP). The 3-disc set features the original Dora CD, as well as Dora Dance Fiesta! and Dora’s World Adventure!, as well as some interactive board games in the fold-out packaging.
Not content to let Dora venture out alone this weekend, there’s also a brand new Diego release – Go Diego Go!: Moonlight Rescue (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP) involving baby sea turtles, rain forests, and Rhea.
Stargate fans still smarting over the show’s cancellation can wrap up the Ori saga with the direct-to-DVD Stargate: The Ark Of Truth (MGM/UA, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), which picks up right were the series left off. Bonus features include an audio commentary and a trio of featurettes.
Clearly a reaction to her Oscar win last year, the Helen Mirren At The BBC set (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$79.98 SRP) is still a welcome release of productions done over the course of her 40-year career for the Brit broadcaster. The 5-disc set features The Changeling, The Apple Cart, Caesar and Claretta, The Philanthropist, The Little Minister, The Country Wife, Blue Remembered Hills, Mrs. Reinhardt, & Soft Targets. Bonus materials include a new interview with Mirren and a Michael Parkinson interview from 1975.
Watching the episodes on the second volume of Love American Style‘s first season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$35.98 SRP) is like peering into a time capsule at what TV thought courtship in the late 60’s was all about. Considered risqué at the time, it’s now fascinatingly quaint. The 3-disc set features the remaining 12 episodes of season one… And lots of innuendo.
I’d say anime fans probably already have their copies of Appleseed Ex Machina (Warner Bros., Rated Pg-13, DVD-$34.98 SRP) already on order. Maybe that’s because an anime produced by John Woo doesn’t often come down the pike. Bonus materials include a featurette on the creation of the movie, a look at the animation technology used in the film, and an audio commentary.
Get your Tom Baker Doctor fix with a pair of new classic Doctor Who releases – Planet Of Evil & Destiny Of The Daleks (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP each). As usual with these Doctor Who discs, they’re much like the Tardis – far more loaded with extras than a similar release of this size, including commentaries, documentaries, featurettes, trailers, galleries, and more.
It’s always a disappointing exercise to watch the recently produced cartoons featured in the fourth volume of Tom & Jerry Tales (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), particularly if you have any affection for the old MGM cat and mouse-capades. This volume features 12 more installments from the Kids’ WB show.
Completely inoffensive and largely forgettable, the big screen Nancy Drew (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$29.98 SRP) – starring Emma Roberts as the sleuthing teen – pales in comparison to the most recent Drew-esque heroine, Veronica Mars. Still, I’m sure the tweenie crowd will delight in Roberts effervescence and the film’s light touch. Bonus materials include featurettes, a music video, and a gag reel.
Those trippy teens Linc, Pete, and Julie return for the rest of their inaugural season with The Mod Squad: Season 1 – Volume 2 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The 4-disc set features the remaining 13 episodes, as well as a featurette on Julie’s fashions. Groovy.
The wonderful thing about the toy explosion of he last 10 or so years is that we’ve seen many a niche license explored by many a start-up toy company looking to make their mark. Sometimes the results are disappointing, to say the least, but sometimes the results make a geek’s heart swoon. Such is the case with the figures based on the theatrical cult classic Flash Gordon being produced by newcomer Biff Bang Pow. Designed by Alex Ross, the first two figures released were Flash and his archnemesis, Ming The Merciless (#14.99 SRP each). Pictured below you’ll see the first two variants from the line – and as you can see, they capture the likenesses of actors Sam Jones and Max von Sydow nicely. Get your hands on these before they’re gone, and be sure to keep an eye out for Series 2.
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
##
Comments: None
Leave a Reply |