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…
See, I remember watching Daily Show correspondent John Oliver on UK shows like Mock The Week long before he crossed the pond to take up residence on US TV. With that in mind, I was delighted when Comedy Central decided to give him a stand up spotlight with John Oliver: Terrifying Times (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), which hits DVD in an extended/uncensored edition replete with bonus features galore. Snag yourself a copy and see why I like Brit comedians so much.
I love a good gadget. We all do. What better gadget is there for the average geek than one that potentially makes you look absurd when its in use? Such is the case with the Helmet Camera ($99.99) – a cordless, battery-powered, waterproof, and mountable camera that allows you to look like a giddy moron while running around with a camera strapped to your head. The camera can be upgrades from 32mb onboard flash memory to 2gb with the purchase of an SD card, which means 60 minutes worth of decent quality video of you doing… stuff. It’s fun!
If you thought that Mr. Show was an endearingly bizarre collection of surreality in sketch form, then – like me – you will revel in (and laugh at) Matt Berry and Rich Fulcher’s Snuff Box (BBC/2 Entertain, Not Rated, Region 2 DVD-£15.99 SRP). Yes, you will laugh – even if occasionally that laughter takes the form of a gurgling sputter of disbelief at Berry & Fulcher’s… unique sensibilities as a pair of bickering hangmen. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, a behind-the-scenes featurette, outtakes, and the show’s fantastic soundtrack, by Berry.
My only real disappointment with the Blu-Ray arrival of the uneven-but-still better-than The Batman first season of the animated Justice League (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.98 SRP) is that they yet again chose to present the made-for-widescreen episodes in their full frame format, without the alternative available. Still, you get all 26 episodes across 3 discs, plus a trio of audio commentaries, featurettes, a never-before-seen promo, and a music video. I hope we get the even more superior 2nd and 3rd seasons post haste.
After far too long an absence – and numerous health problems – Dana Carvey has returned with a brand new stand-up special – his first in almost 12 years – Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Not only is he looking hale and hearty, but he’s managed to do what few comics can do after so long an absence – come back with a funny act. The special delivers, and here’s hoping his next one comes a little faster. The 2-disc set features additional footage, a Q&A, and his 1995 HBO special Critics’ Choice.
Showtime’s loveable sociopath returns for a second season, and I have to agree with most of the fans – there was something off about season 2 of Dexter (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The tone just didn’t seem as deft as its inaugural run – but maybe that was because the new car smell began to wear off. I will say that this season ratcheted tension nicely, as the FBI began investigating the murders of his victims, while he began having some self-doubts. The 4-disc set features all 12 episodes, plus interviews and sampler episodes from other Showtime series.
Get a healthy reminder of what to avoid this election season by picking up the extended “Election Year Edition” of Oliver Stone’s flawed-but-riveting Nixon (Hollywood Pictures, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP), a complicated man brought to complicated life by Anthony Hopkins. The 2-disc set features an all-new documentary, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, a Charlie Rose interview with Stone, and the theatrical trailers.
Why is it that we get bucketfuls of tripe on TV here in the US, but the UK gets a wonderfully quirky rom-sit-com like Gavin & Stacey (BBC/2 Entertain, Not Rated, Region 2 DVD-£19.99 SRP)? Gavin & Stacey are a pair of twenty-somethings who have been talking with each other for months while at work – in different offices. You see, they’ve never met face-to-face. It’s when they do that we pick up their story, as we see their relationship develop through the eyes of their friends and family – including Rob Brydon and James Cordon. It truly is a little joy, and is worth importing. Bonus features include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and outtakes.
If only more lawyers were like Perry Mason and less like they actually are, the world would probably be a better place. Judge for yourself with the first volume of Perry Mason‘s third season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP). The 3-disc set features 12 episodes of just jurisprudence.
It’s 8 years later, and time and perspective make Recount (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) – and its dramatization of the events surrounding the Florida recount and the battle for the Presidency – a startling portrait of a political system gone wrong. Watch it and draw your own conclusions. Bonus features include an audio commentary, conversations between the actors and the men they portrayed, and an additional inside story of the 2000 election.
A new Fletch film seems permanently grounded, but both of the original Chevy Chase-starring vehicles starring Gregory McDonald’s investigative reporter – Fletch and Fletch Lives – are now available in The Fletch Collection (Universal, Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Bonus features include a trio of featurettes, plus the theatrical trailers.
Tweenie heads will combust with excitement as a pair of Disney flicks hit DVD – the big screen Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$34.99 SRP) and the Disney Channel’s Camp Rock (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP). Both discs sport a clutch of bonus materials, including behind-the-scenes featurettes and bonus songs.
The doctor is back with a bunch of bizarre, incredibly rare maladies and the increasingly tedious grumpy manner in the fourth season of House (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP). The best thing about the fourth season is probably the addition of Kal Penn to the cast, as yet another new hospital staffer. The 4-disc box set features all 16 episodes, plus an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and interviews.
I’m all well and good with the Terminator franchise – I consider the first two films classics – but I found 3 to be a mediocre money grab and I simply can’t get into Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP)… even though it pretends the events of Terminator 3 never happened, gives us yet another John Connor, and a Terminator played by Summer Glau. The 3-disc set features all 9 first season episodes, plus a trio of audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, audition tapes, unaired scenes, rehearsal footage, a gag reel, and more.
Yeah, that whole Gossip Girl (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) thing? Complete passes me by. I’m sure it’s just some younger-skewing replacement for Sex And The City. Regardless, the complete first season is now on DVD in a 5-disc set with all 18 episodes, plus unaired scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, music videos, a gag reel, and more.
Like a delightful throwback to smallish, enjoyable flicks of the 40’s and 50’s, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP) stars Frances McDormand as the titular Miss, who decides to jump into the deep end and becomes the “social secretary” to a glamorous singer/movie star Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) – and turns her whole humdrum life upside down in the process. Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted scenes.
What started out as a promising show has become largely forgettable with the third season of Prison Break (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), as we get Michael Scofield trapped in a Panamanian prison, his brother plotting his rescue, more conspiracy layered in, and plot twists that just make you go “eh”, I can only hope the 4th season course-corrects. The 4-disc set features all 13 episodes, plus behind-the-scenes featurettes.
You know, it’s the ninth season of Married With Children (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP) – you pretty much know what to expect. This season does, however, feature a wonderful guest appearance from the late Wolfman Jack, so that’s something. The 3-disc set features all 28 episodes of Bundy goodness.
Not since the feature film itself have I seen something so horribly, awkwardly designed as the new Transformers: Animated series (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). Honestly, the design sensibility is the visual equivalent of tone deaf. I’d suggest avoiding this mess and revisiting the original 80’s series. The 2-disc box set features all 16 first season episodes.
Raise your hands, anyone who voiced – or even felt – a desire for a sequel to The Scorpion King. You will now be shot. Yes, there is now Scorpion King 2: Rise Of A Warrior (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP). Yeah. Bonus features include a featurette, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more.
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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Comments: 2 Comments
2 Responses to “Weekend Shopping Guide 8/22/08: Snuff Times”Leave a Reply |
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:49 am
Matt Berry is a gem. He’s got amazing pipes. The intimidating deep tones for speech and the dulcet highs for vocals. And that’s on top of being funny.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
The thing people don’t understand about Justice League Season One is that it was MATTED widescreen. The episodes were first composed fullscreen then matted widescreen to give a more cinematic look.
In this case, you’re actually LOSING picture with the widescreen matting. It’s only Season Two onwards that they composed the series for widescreen without a fullscreen pre-composition. For Season Two onwards, the fullscreen TV airings were blow-ups of the widescreen which really did lose information on the sides of the picture. Not so for Season One!
Sure, a matting option would be nice, but techically WB isn’t wrong here. Several animation sites covered the fullscreen/widescreen issue when JL was a brand-new show.
Even the Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker direct-to-video was composed fullscreen and matted wide for the Uncut release. The Uncut release strips away information from the top and bottom of the frame. It’s also quite a bit grainier and scratcher than the first Return of the Joker DVD release. Compare both versions of that film on DVD and you’ll see what I mean.