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…
When I wasn’t watching Three Stooges shorts during the pre-dawn Saturday and Sunday mornings of my childhood, I’d watch the adventures of Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Darla, and all the rest of The Little Rascals. Kids today don’t have the joy of seeing those classic Hal Roach shorts in their heavily edited forms in syndication packets farmed out to networks near and far, but I’m positively giddy that the DVD genie has granted us The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection (Genius, Not Rated, DVD-$89.95 SRP). The 8-disc set features all 80 original theatrical shorts, completely unedited and fully restored. Bonus features include audio commentaries, introductions, a trio of silent shorts, a documentary on the Hal Roach Studio and Our Gang, a look at racial issues in the series, and a featurette catching up with the actors.
A long time ago, not too terribly far away, there was a company that produced some of the most wonderful and faithful Star Wars prop replicas to be had. Sadly, due to corporate issues both various and sundry, the timeliness of the releases began to wane, and then the company decided to drop the license entirely. What became of it? Well, the core group who handled the license at that other company decided to strike out on their own, and they formed eFX Collectibles. Out of the gate, they’ve created a prop replica of the Star Wars Clone Trooper helmet circa Attack Of The Clones ($429) – which is unique in that all of the Clone Troopers in the film were digital, so this is the first “real” CT helmet. My feelings for the movie aside, right out of the gate eFX has done a stunning job on the helmet itself, which is fully padded (and fully wearable) and even features a red LED light on the back, as it did in the film. The edition size is limited to 1,000, so you’d better act fast. The company has some big plans for the future (check out their Ralph McQuarrie-inspired Vader helmet), and should be on your “will drop plenty of dough on…” list.
If I were pressed to choose my favorite sitcom of all time, the answer I’d have to give is Newsradio. I still think it remains one of the finest written and acted ensemble comedies to ever hit the tube, and I can only hope that the DVD releases cement its classic status. Out of the show’s 5 seasons (the last of which was after the untimely death of Phil Hartman), I can’t name a single bad episode – in fact, event he weakest outings still topped the majority of its competitors. What can I say? I love the show. You can now get all 97 episodes in a single set (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP) – with everything from Bill McNeal’s massage chair, the fever dream episode (in which a faulty AC inspires hallucinations), Jimmy James’s run for president, Bill’s cane, Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor, the Halloween party, the office smoking ban… I mean, the genius never stops! The 12-disc set features commentaries (with cast and crew), behind-the-scenes footage with optional commentary, gag reels, and more.
It doesn’t interest me much – or at all, really – but my father got a big kick (as a fan) out of Dale Earnhardt: 10 Greatest Wins (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP), which brings together a clutch of legendary race triumphs by the late Man In Black. The 5-disc set also features footage from Ralph Earnhardt’s 1997 Hall Of Fame induction, and footage from Dale’s 2006 induction.
It’s goofy, it’s dopey, and the effects are ropy, but there’s something simpleton charming about the glorified IMAX 3-D excuse feature Journey To The Center Of the Earth (New Line, Rated PG, DVD-$28.98 SRP). Oh, and it has Brendan Fraser. The flick doesn’t play nearly as well at home with standard red/blue home 3-D. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, making-of featurettes, and more. A Blu-Ray edition is also available ($35.99 SRP) with the same bonus materials.
There’s nothing that points out the deficits in today’s lackluster TV fare than viewing some of the groundbreaking (and *still* pretty damn funny) sitcoms from the 70’s. One of those that still holds up is Sanford and Son, which has now been repackaged in a single complete series set (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP). The 17-disc set features all 136 episodes. It’s amazing to note, after viewing these episodes, just how much they could get away with that is now seen as verboten. It makes you wonder how much we’ve progressed as a nation.
With Hell Ride (Dimension, Rated R, DVD-$19.98 SRP), producer Quentin Tarantino attempted to make a modern day biker flick that played like the Corman flicks of the 60’s with the grindhouse ethos of the 70’s. Writer/Director Larry Bishop certainly wrangled the cast for it – Michael Madsen, Vinnie Jones, Keith Carradine, and Dennis Hopper – but the film itself is kind of a mess, about a motorcycle gang who set out to avenge the death of one of their own. Bonus features include an audio commentary, a quintet of featurettes, and the theatrical trailer.
Instead of pumping their minds full of Hanna Montana and princess pap, why not sit your daughters down with Kit Kittredge: All American Girl (New Line, Rated G, DVD-$28.98 SRP), a family flick that plays like old school Disney, and features the increasingly charming Abigail Breslin as the titular 9-year-old. Bonus features are limited to a trailer gallery.
Yet another series has made the transition from individual season sets to one uber-mega-all-inclusive set with the release of The 4400: The Complete Series (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP). The 15-disc set sports all four seasons of the show, which told the story of 4400 missing individuals who mysteriously return in a blinding explosion, and begin exhibiting strange powers. For those who thought they might not have to get the set since they picked up all the previous season sets, this new edition contains an exclusive bonus disc with additional bonus materials.
One of those wonderful holiday classics of yore gets its special edition due in the form of the 3-disc Holiday Inn (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). The first disc features the original black & white version of the film, plus an audio commentary, a retrospective on Crosby & Astaire, a look at the film’s song and dance numbers, and the original theatrical trailer. Disc 2 features a newly colorized version of the film, while disc 3 is a music CD with a dozen Irving Berlin tracks from the flick.
I must say kudos to Sony for their move to consolidate their classic TV series – formerly released as single season sets – into one comprehensive set. Good Times: The Complete Series (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP) features all 133 episodes across 17 discs, for a pretty decent price.
The title is mostly apropos, as the Agatha Christie: Mystery Lover’s Collection (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP) features a sampler of Christie adaptations – The Pale Horse, Tommy & Tuppence: Partners In Crime, Miss Marple: The Body In The Library, and Poirot: The Mysterious Affair At Styles.
Her work has become iconic – and some of it has become controversial – but there’s no denying that photographer Annie Leibovitz is an interesting character. Judge for yourself with the documentary Annie Leibovitz: Life through A Lens (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which traces her life and career. Bonus features include bonus interviews with her subjects and galleries of her work.
I’m not a fan of torture horror, no matter how stylish it tries to make itself. That lack of interest certainly applies to The Strangers (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which tries to dress up its bleak version of TG with a game of psychological brinkmanship. Eh. The unrated DVD features deleted scenes and a making-of featurette.
Eager to expand the lucrative stranglehold on preteen girls they have with their omnipresent “Princess” franchise, Disney has decided Fairies are the next big thing, which means we get a feature-length straight-to-DVD abomination spotlighting the friends and family of Peter Pan’s formerly feisty paramour Tinkerbell (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP). Oh, and they’ve given her a voice, too. Great, right? Right? Oy. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, a music video, and more. A Blu-Ray edition is also available ($34.99 SRP) featuring the same bonus materials.
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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