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…
I remember getting a screener for the Elton John documentary Tantrums & Tiaras (Echo Bridge Entertainment, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) when it was about to air, over a decade ago. Made by filmmaker David Furnish (who also happens to be Elton’s then-partner, now-husband), it’s a candid behind-the-scenes portrait of Elton – not as an artist, but as a man. It was filmed over the course of 1995, which is also when I first saw Elton in concert at Madison Square Garden. It’s a great documentary, and it’s about time it made its way to DVD, with an audio commentary from Elton & David and bonus interview footage.
I think we’re just now starting to get the distance necessary to effectively dramatize the ground events of the Iraq War, and the first project that feels like it’s accomplished the task is HBO’s Generation Kill (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP). The 7-part miniseries follows the Marines of the First Recon Battalion in the first 40 days of the war as they face a disjointed chain of command, inadequate and ineffective supplies, and their own doubts about the effectiveness of their mission. It’s certainly no rah-rah Band Of Brothers. The 3-disc set features audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, and more.
There’s nothing I can say about Mamma Mia!: The Movie (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$34.98 SRP) that will either convince you to see it or convince you to avoid it like the plague. Fans of ABBA and Meryl Streep (and to a much lesser extent, fans of Pierce Brosnan singing) will pick up the DVD anyway. The 2-disc set features an audio commentary, a deleted musical number, a sing-along function, making-of featurettes, a music video, deleted scenes, outtakes, and more.
Paramount has unplugged the taps and released a flood of new-to-Blu-Ray titles this week. Special features-wise, they’re direct ports from the standard DVD versions, but you know you just want them for that high-definition fix you so desperately crave. Those titles making their debut are Old School (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), Coach Carter (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), The Heartbreak Kid (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), Tommy Boy (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), Hot Rod (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), and Into The Wild (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP).
There’ve been releases cobbled together from the episodes in the public domain, but you can now get the “official” first season of Petticoat Junction (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$40.99 SRP) in all its spiffy official glory. The 5-disc set features all 38 episodes, plus cast interviews, episode intros, original sponsor parts with a video intro, and a photo gallery.
If you think The Hills should be sent into the wilderness and Gossip Girl‘s twenty-something teens don’t represent the reality you faced in high school, you’ll probably find more familiar territory in the documentary American Teen (Paramount, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.99 SRP), which follows a group of Indiana teenagers as they try and navigate the pitfalls of senior year. Bonus materials include cast interviews, blogs, deleted scenes, and trailers. The DVD is currently a Target exclusive.
Years in the making and hours in the watching, the remake of The Women (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$28.98 SRP) arrives on DVD, and is sure to at least interest those with a spare X chromosome, as it’s got a who’s who line-up of female thesps (Meg Ryan, Candice Bergen, Annette Bening, Jada Pinkett Smith, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing). Bonus features include a featurette about the path from the original to the remake, additional scenes, and a featurette on female empowerment. A Blu-Ray edition is also available ($35.99 SRP) with identical bonus materials.
For all of the on screen sturm and drang of Eagle Eye (Paramount, Rated PG-13, DVD-$34.98 SRP), I liked it better when it starred Will Smith and was called Enemy of the State. Also, I’m beginning to loathe Shia LeBeouf. A lot. And could care less about his turn as a man ripped from his life and thrown into an assassination plot alongside fellow “activee” Michelle Monaghan. The 2-disc special edition features include deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, an alternate ending, a photo gallery, gag reel, and the theatrical trailer. A Blu-Ray edition ($39.99 SRP) with identical features is also available.
It may not be the smartest show, but there is a goofy energy and fun to be found in the first 2 seasons of 10 Items Or Less (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP), which focuses on the bizarre employees of the Greens & Grains grocery store. The 2-disc set features all 13 episodes, plus viral videos, a behind-the-scenes featurette, notes from the casting couch, and a blooper reel.
When holiday season is over, if you’re lucky, you’ve got a few extra bucks filling up your pocket. With that in mind, Paramount has unveiled another clutch of new-to-Blu-Ray catalogue releases in order to get you to impulse buy some favorites. The 5 titles they’re tossing into the fray are Days Of Thunder (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), GhostLast Holiday (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), The Truman Show (Paramount, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), and Event Horizon (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP). Bonus features are identical to those found on the more recent special editions of each title.
If you want to spend the holiday season with a costume drama that brings a little spice, then you’ll probably be happy with The Duchess (Paramount, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP). It’s the true story of Georgina Spencer (Keira Knightley) – the Duchess of Devonshire known as the “Empress of Fashion” – who must decide between what is expected of her and what her heart wants. You know – that old chestnut. Bonus features include a making-of featurette, a costume diary, and a look at Spencer’s own words. A Blu-Ray edition ($39.99 SRP) with identical features is also available.
One of the more disturbing things I’ve seen in a long time would have to be the Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP). Do you really have to ask why? It’s Bob Saget! The man’s vulgarity behind a Danny Tanner face is just too odd. Bonus features include interviews on the Blue Carpet, post-Roast footage, and Bob Saget interviews.
There’s no doubt that Surfer, Dude (Anchor Bay, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP) is a labor of love film for its star, Matthew McConaughey, because it feels just like the prototypical “lot of love went in, but boy is it hard to watch” flick. Still, any surfing movie that brings in Willie Nelson as a guardian angel deserves at least a watch. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a behind-the-scenes featurette.
Mindless popcorn films are all well and good, but it’s nice to pop in a flick like writer/director Alan Ball’s Towelhead (Warner Bros., Rated R, DVD-$27.98 SRP) every once in a while, if only to have to sit and think for a bit. As the story of 13-year-old Arab American Jasira Maroun, it’s an interesting coming-of-age tale for these times, as various cultural identities coalesce with burgeoning womanhood. Bonus features include a pair of community panels hosted by Ball.
Long since jumped the shark, Nip/Tuck (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) has become just a bizarrely fascinating exercise in how to keep a show going in full sudsy soapiness, with plastic surgeon brothers Sean & Christian going from off screen consultants to onscreen rivals – oh, and Rosie O’Donnell returns. The 5-disc box set features 14 episodes, plus a featurette, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.
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: 1 Comment
One Response to “Weekend Shopping Guide 12/19/08: Rocket Man”Leave a Reply |
December 20th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Glad to see “American Teen” given its proper consideration. It’s a well-edited, “Real World: Indiana,” but hardly the BREAKTHROUGH DOCUMENTARY that so many people anointed it after Sundance. That said, Jake – the kid who can’t help but get in his own way – was achingly familiar, though Hannah gives probably everyone a lot of hope.