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…
Fans have been waiting with bated breath, and all of that desperate anticipation can finally be released with he release of The Powerpuff Girls 10th Anniversary Edition: The Complete Series (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP). The 6-disc set features all 78 episodes, plus bonus materials, the holiday special, and much more. But BOOOOO to Warners for putting out this long-awaited set on friggin’ double-sided discs. I LOATHE these awkward, money-saving monstrosities.
Try as I might, I couldn’t get into Steve Coogan’s latest sitcom foray, Saxondale (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), starring the former Alan Partridge as burned out, middle-aged roadie Tommy Saxondale as he attempts to negotiate a post-divorce, workaday life. The 3-disc set features both seasons 1 &2, plus audio commentaries, deleted scenes, a featurette, a behind-the-scenes documentary, and an interview with Coogan and Neil Maclennan.
All good things must end, even if that ending came over 30 years ago. Such is the case with the release of the sixth and final season of The Rockford Files (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The 3-disc set features all 12 episodes, but still not a single bonus feature. Shame.
Alan Davies is back as sleuthing magician Jonathan Creek, accompanied as always by journalist Madeline Magellan (Caroline Quentin), the complete third season (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.96 SRP). The 2-disc set features all 6 episodes, but sadly no bonus features. Here’s hoping the final season features a tribute to late producer Verity Lambert.
Simon Schama turns his historical eye towards examining American History and explaining how the past informs the nation’s present in his excellent documentary The American Future: A History (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP). Bonus features include an introduction from Schama and a photo gallery.
Paramount rolls out another pair of much0requested catalogue titles onto Blu-Ray with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon in Alexander Payne’s Election (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) and David Fincher’s Zodiac (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$38.99 SRP). Election features an audio commentary with Payne, while the 2-disc edition of Zodiac features a pair of audio commentaries, a behind-the-scenes documentary, a documentary on the actual events, a look at the prime suspect, and a visual effects featurette.
The latest star to get the Warners box set spotlight treatment arrives in the form of the Natalie Wood Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), featuring fully remastered special editions of 6 films – Bombers B-52, Cash McCall, Splendor In The Grass, Gypsy, Sex And The Single Girl, and Inside Daisy Clover. Bonus featurettes include classic cartoons, trailers, and a pair of deleted musical numbers on Gypsy.
I’m sorry, but I can’t watch Mark Wahlberg without two things coming to mind now – his abysmal performance in The Happening and Andy Samberg’s scathing impersonation on SNL. With those both in mind, watching Wahlberg in Max Payne (Fox, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP) – the videogame adaptation – is like high farce. Check it out and enjoy. Bonus features include an audio commentary, a documentary, featurettes, a graphic novel, and more.
The Douglas family are back with the second volume of their first season, and I challenge you to get the theme song to My Three Sons (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) out of your head. The 3-disc set features 18 episodes full of crotchety William Frawley goodness.
Though I still think of him as the 5th Doctor, Peter Davison also starred as Detective Constable “Dangerous” Davies in The Last Detective, the complete collection of which is now available (Acorn Media, Not Rated, DVD-$99.99 SRP). The 9-disc set features all 17 full-length mysteries, plus the 1981 movies starring Bernard Cribbins as Davies.
It’s not nearly as groundbreaking or funny as his previous landmark specials, but Chris Rock’s Kill The Messenger (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) is still a pointed, funny concert. What’s also unique – if you pick up the 3-disc special edition – is it contains not only the Apollo show that aired, but also the full editions of his South Africa and London performances, plus interviews with Rock.
John Frankenheimer’s still compelling portrait of George Wallace (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) starring Gary Sinise as the Alabama Governor, segregationist, and eventual presidential candidate finally comes to DVD in a 2-disc special edition. The sole bonus feature is a fascinating look back at the film ad Frankenheimer by the cast.
Anyone interested in cinema history would do well to pick up a copy of the mega documentary MGM: When The Lion Roars (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP). Originally produced in 1992, it chronicled the incredible history of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio, with narration from Patrick Stewart.
Crytozoology nuts probably eat up the sensationalist style of Monster Quest (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$44.95 SRP) and it’s investigations of bizarre animal reports, but every once in awhile it provides some interesting zoological information and discoveries. Take a grain of salt and then dive into the complete second season, featuring all 20 episodes plus additional featurettes.
The spooks of MI-5 return in the complete 6th season (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$79.98 SRP), which finds the team recovering from the bombing of the Thames barrier only to face a far more virulent threat (literally). The 5-disc set features audio commentaries, a video diary, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and cast interviews.
The film is still an overwrought tearjearker, but The Notebook (New Line, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP) has enough of a dedicated fanbase as to warrant the opportunistic release of a deluxe giftset, featuring the film, a photo book, bookmarks, a stationary set, and decorative stickers.
Sound the alarms and rouse the kids, as the 5th season of Emergency (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) hits DVD packed to the gills with decades old danger in Los Angeles. The 5-disc set features all 24 episodes, plus the crossover episode with Adam-12.
The Cold Case Unit is back on the case (yes, I wrote that) in the 3rd season of the UK’s excellent answer to CSI, Waking The Dead (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP). The 2-disc set features 4 episodes.
Another blink and you missed it series comes to DVD with Moonlight: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), starring Alex O’Laughlin as LA PI (and vampire) Mick St. John. Think of it as a watered down Angel. The 4-disc set features all 16 episodes.
It holds no sway for me, but I have known my nephew’s eyes to be glued to Nick’s Back To The Barnyard, so I’m sure he’ll delight in the 5-episode collection Cowman: The Uddered Avenger (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP). The disc also features an animatic.
It’s time for this week’s classics corner, as the BBC release another of their literary adaptations sets – The Henry James Collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), featuring The American, The Portrait Of A Lady, The Spoils Of Poynton, The Wings Of The Dove, & The Golden Bowl.
Oh, National Lampoon. Your brand means absolutely nothing now. Nothing at all. My proof? National Lampoon’s Stoned Age (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP). Shame on you. Shame. Bonus features include an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, viral videos, outtakes, 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
##
Comments: None
Leave a Reply |