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…
As much as I loved the first season of 30 Rock, the second season (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) is pure genius. Although a truncated 15-episode season due to the writer’s strike, some of the episodes in that run should be added to the pantheon of sitcom greats – from Jack Donaghy’s (Alec Baldwin) one-man therapy session with Tracy Jordan, to the cast’s “Midnight Train To Georgia” musical number. The 2-disc set features audio commentaries, deleted scenes, a table read, a look at Tina Fey’s SNL hosting gig, an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Q&A, 30 Rock live at the UCB, and more.
I’ve described in the past my utter delight in gadgets that magnify things – going all the way back to childhood – and the ultimate high-end version of that is the Portable Digital Magnifier ($179.99). It’s a handheld device featuring a 2″ LCD screen and an LED-lit lens that magnifies objects from 5x-20x. You can even freeze the image on the screen. You can recharge the batteries via USB, providing hours and hours of giddy magnifying fun.
For criminy’s sake – it’s taken forever, but we in the US have FINALLY gotten a box set containing all of the various travel documentaries hosted by Python Michael Palin in the uber-wonderful Michael Palin Collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$249.98 SRP). The set features Hemingway Adventures/Great Railway Journeys, Full Circle, Pole To Pole, Around The World In 80 Days, Sahara, Himalaya, and New Europe. The titles are also available separately, if you just need to pick up the new stuff. Either way, GET THEM.
I can’t even begin to express just how delighted I am with the 50th anniversary edition of Orson Welles’ classic venture into film noir, Touch Of Evil (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). Maybe that’s because it contains three separate cuts of the film, fully restored and remastered – the heavily studio-edited theatrical version, the restored version (that matches Welles’ vision of the film), and a preview version that incorporates some of Welles’ requests. In addition, the set features audio commentaries on all 3 versions, a retrospective documentary, a look at the restoration process, and a full reproduction of the 58-page memo Welles sent to the studio.
It’s hard to believe that we’re already up to the fourth volume of The Three Stooges Collection (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP). What that means in the timeline is that we’re now in the period from 1943-1945 – which means that the next set should feature the final shorts featuring Curly Howard as one of the Stooges. For now, though, enjoy the trio’s golden period.
This makes the thirteenth or fourteenth time they’ve been released on DVD, but a trio of Alfred Hitchcock’s certifiable classics have been given remastered 2-disc special editions – Rear Window, Vertigo, and Psycho (Universal, Rated PG/PG/R, DVD-$26.98 SRP each). All 3 flicks are now packed with audio commentaries, documentaries, featurettes, interviews, trailers, and more.
Get all of your festive holiday specials with the Peanuts: Deluxe Holiday Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP), featuring the newly-remastered special editions of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Each disc features a new retrospective making-of featurette and bonus special, while A Charlie Brown Christmas also contains a song sampler.
Another of the classic – well, mostly classic – stop motion Rankin/Bass holiday specials makes its way to DVD with Jack Frost (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). How can you not watch a winter love story featuring the villainous Kubla Kraus the Cossack?
I can’t even begin to tell you how disappointed I am that – despite brilliant, newly remastered sound and picture – the new edition of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP) is practically featureless, save for a trio of episodes from the animated Beetlejuice and the isolated score track found on the original release. No commentary, no featurettes, no retrospective documentary – nothing that all the other Burton films have gotten. What’s up with that? If you just want to see the flick, I’d recommend you pick up the Blu-Ray edition ($34.99 SRP), where you can at least appreciate the sound and picture – ’cause that’s all you’re really getting in this release.
Although the story is rather flat and doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny, Sleeping Beauty (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP) is the one Disney film that I watch just to admire the visual design (due largely to designer Evinyd Earle) and the incredible 2:55 widescreen canvas. The new 2-disc 50th anniversary edition that is sparklingly clean and pops like a champagne cork. Bonus features include a never-before-seen alternate opening sequence, deleted songs, a new making-of documentary, an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and much more. But honestly, if you’ve got a player, I highly recommend you pick up the Blu-Ray edition ($34.99 SRP), as this is the first of the classic Disney films to get the high definition treatment – and it is a wonder to behold. I can only hope the other classics in the Disney library arrive quickly (though, knowing Disney’s history, it will be a long, slow trickle).
It seems like there’s no end to the classic Doctor Who adventures still in the vaults, as we get not only a Tom Baker adventure with The Brain Of Morbius (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP), but also the massive Colin Baker epic The Trial Of A Time Lord (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP). As usual for these anorak’s delights, they’re absolutely packed with commentaries, deleted scenes, interviews, featurettes, and much more.
Of a more recent vintage, there’s the animated Doctor Who: The Infinite Quest (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$9.98 SRP), featuring the David Tennant Doctor and companion Martha Jones as the traverse the universe on a quest to find an ancient starship. Bonus features include cast interviews, an animation test, featurettes, animatics, deleted scenes, and more.
Although launched as a Doctor Who spin-off aimed at the teen market, I find The Sarah Jane Adventures (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) – starring classic Who companion Liz Sladen – to be a much more enjoyable expansion of the franchise than the laughably awful Torchwood. Maybe it’s the snappy writing, maybe it’s the sense of intelligent fun, or maybe it’s just that the characters – and the actors playing them – are just enjoyable. Whatever it may be, check out the complete first season for yourself, featuring interviews, featurettes, outtakes, audio clips, and more.
As beautiful and memorable as it is, do not show Watership Down (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP) to a small child. Just don’t. The tears may dry, but the trauma lasts a lifetime… And that’s just the Art Garfunkel tune. The new edition is completely remastered, and features a conversation with the filmmakers, a featurette on the film’s visual style, and a storyboard-to-screen comparison.
Well, we’ve finally hit the wall. The eleventh season of The Simpsons (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) is the one I clearly remember as being the first of the just bad seasons, where the show turned into just a delivery system for gags and lost the charm and comedy of the early golden seasons. Still, the DVD set is worth picking up for the always-entertaining commentaries on every episode, plus deleted scenes and featurettes. Oh, and by the way – whose idea was it at Fox to cheap out and shove the discs into cardboard slots for this season? Thanks for all of the disc scratches, ya mooks. Now change it back.
Though I’m getting a bit tired of all of the South Park best-ofs that are coming down the pike, at least the 2-disc South Park: The Cult Of Cartman (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP) – which collects 12 Cartman-centric episodes – features newly-produced animation in the form of “Life Lessons” introduced by Cartman. Oh, and a sticker and official membership card.
From years of watching it during my frequent Nick at Nite binges when the block first began all those years ago, I have the theme tune to My Three Sons (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) burned into my brain. ACH! See, it’s in there now! ARGH!!! The first volume of the premiere season features 18 remastered episodes, and THAT THEME SONG!
There’s nothing like sparkling fresh Ray Harryhausen, and that’s exactly what you’ll see with the new 50th anniversary edition of The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad (Sony, Rated G, DVD-$19.94 SRP). Not only does the tale of high seas adventure and creatures galore look great, it’s also loaded with an audio commentary, retrospective featurettes on the film and Harryhausen, a spotlight on composer Bernard Herrman’s score, music videos, John Landis interviewing Harryhausen, and more.
Fill up your pre-Halloween viewing with the new Blu-Ray edition of The Omen Collection (Fox, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$129.98 SRP), featuring all 3 original tales of The Littlest Antichrist, plus the 2006 remake. The bonus materials are the same as those found on the standard DVD editions, including commentaries, featurettes, trailers, and more. I do want to mention, though, that Fox has chosen to package this multi-disc set in what is – by far – the cheapest, flimsiest packaging I’ve ver encountered for either a DVD or Blu-Ray release. It’s beyond cheap. Be sure you’re discs haven’t dislodged in transit before you buy, as they’re only held in place by a foam circle. C’mon, Fox.
Peyo’s little blue mushroom-dwelling creations are back in The Smurfs: Season One Volume Two (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), featuring another 20 smurfing episodes sure to smurf your smurfing smurf. The 2-disc set also features a featurette reflecting back on the show.
Not only does The Munsters: The Complete Series (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$69.98 SRP) contain all 70 episodes, but it also sports both feature-length movies (Munster, Go Home & The Munsters Revenge), the unaired pilot, A&E Biographies (on Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo, and Al Lewis), an in-depth documentary on the show, and the “Family Portrait” episode in color.
There have been dozens of releases featuring the numerous episodes that have moved into the public domain, but Paramount has finally put out the official second season set of The Beverly Hillbillies (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), featuring all 36 episodes. Bonus materials include the original episode sponsor openings and closings, Irene Ryan’s screen test, a clip from the 1963 CBS Fall Preview Show, a CBS network promo, and a Paul Henning interview.
Certainly on the “to give to my nephews” list this holiday season is Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Collection (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) – which features all 52 episodes houses in a Mach 5 tin. Bonus features include a featurette, an episode of Speed Racer: The Next Generation, and a look behind-the-scenes of Next Gen. Sure, the show is hokey and poorly animated – but it’s still got a lot of poppy pep.
Even over 20 years later, there’s no denying that Kathleen Turner’s performance in Body Heat (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$28.99 SRP) is certainly… memorable. Very memorable. As a film, it’s a nice little piece of modern film noir, written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan and co-starring William Hurt, and the new Blu-Ray edition features a nice high definition transfer, a trio of featurettes, vintage interviews with Turner & Hurt, and lifted scenes.
Most don’t think of the man in black when they think of the holiday season, but the Johnny Cash Christmas Specials: 1976-7979 box set (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) proves that false, with 66 star-studded performances of hits and festive treats.
Set in 1945 on a navy cargo ship far from battles in the Pacific theater, Mister Roberts (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) is the Tony-Award winning play that – in this remarkable live TV production – finds Robert Hays cast as Lt. Doug Roberts, who longs to see real action but instead finds himself butting heads with the dictatorial Captain (Charles Durning). Rounding out the cast are Howard Hesseman and a young Kevin Bacon, this is quite a gem from the vaults.
You know when a band puts out a lackluster EP of material that’s been sitting around, as a stop-gap instead of releasing a new album? That’s exactly what Michael Moore’s Slacker Uprising (Disinformation, Not Rated, DVD-$9.95 SRP) feels like, as it’s essentially material cobbled together from his “Get Out The Vote” tour for the 2004 presidential election. It’s available for free on the internet, but the DVD loads up with 9 additional featurettes.
Has it really been that long since the last Robot Chicken (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) box set? It must be, because the complete third season is now available, featuring 20 new episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, animatics, a studio your, video blogs, a gag reel, and more.
The ragtag band of global crimefighters led by Jim Phelps returns in the complete fifth season of Mission: Impossible (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP). This season features the addition of castmember Lesley Warren as Dana Lambert. The 6-disc set features all 23 episodes of DUH-duh-duh-DUH-duh-duh action.
A must-have from the vaults, be sure to pick up and give a spin to the 1945 adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Portrait Of Dorian Gray (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.97 SRP), starring George Sanders, Angela Lansbury, and Peter Lawford. Bonus features include an audio commentary, a theatrical short, the theatrical cartoon Quiet Please, and the theatrical trailer.
Even the kiddies with their eyes normally glued to Nickelodeon can begin celebrating the holidays with Wonder Pets!: Save The Nutcracker and Dora The Explorer: Dora Celebrates Three Kings Day! (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP each).
I must admit, I was surprised that Brotherhood (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) – about a pair of brothers on opposite ends of the criminal scale – made it back for a second season. It never really caught my eye, even though I thought the premise was interesting. Well, the second season does gel a bit more, even if it was cut short by the writer’s strike. The 3-disc set features all 10 episodes, plus the season 3 premiere of Dexter.
The only reaction that I got from M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening (Fox, Rated R, DVD-$29.99 SRP) is just how much I’ve come to loathe M. Night Shyamalan. That, and the fact that his eco-terror mystery flick is so insipidly written and executed that it makes The Day After Tomorrow feel like Citizen Kane. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, a quintet of behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a gag reel. A Blu-Ray edition ($39.99 SRP) is also available, featuring the same bonus materials, and the same bleh flick but much prettier.
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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