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…
The American version is often an over-produced mess, but the original UK version of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) – which finds uber-chef Gordon Ramsay attempting to save failing restaurants often in the face of obstinence and incompetence – is a real gem. Ramsay genuinely tries to help these troubled businesses, and his sound advice is just as engaging as the passion with which he delivers it. Now you can get the entire 8-episode first season of the UK version, and I highly recommend it.
I love gadgets, and tools that feel like gadgets. That’s certainly the case with the Third Hand Adjustable Parts Holder with Magnification ($7.99 SRP). As the overly technical name implies, this weighted stand contains clamps and a magnifying glass, making it perfect for doing close-up work with everything from electronics to painting.
I would have preferred it have been A Shot In The Dark, but I guess the high definition arrival of the original The Pink Panther (MGM, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) is a good sign that I’ll soon be getting my favorite comedic turn by Peter Sellers as the memorable Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The Blu-Ray edition features an audio commentary with Blake Edwards, and five behind-the-scenes and retrospective featurettes.
Released in separate packages previously, MGM has brought together all 9 volumes Pink Panther cartoons into The Pink Panther Collection (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$69.98 SRP). Not only do you get the Panther cartoons, but you also get Depatie-Freleng’s Inspector, Ant & The Aardvark, and The Man cartoons. So, really, the whole shebang, plus behind-the-scenes featurettes, all of the title sequences for the Panther features, an even a tribute to Friz Freleng.
I’m not entirely sure why these DC animated direct-to-DVD titles abandoned the much-refined and wonderful Bruce Timm-syled designs of JLU in favor of clunkier, uglier, more angular designs unless the sole reason was (sad) change for change sake, but that is a major “ugh” point in the not-exactly-stellar animated Wonder Woman (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which finds Princess Diana going up against the evil Ares, God of War. The 2-disc set features an audio commentary, a pair of in-depth documentaries on Wonder Woman and the mythology behind her, a pair of bonus Bruce Timm-chosen JLU cartoons, and a first-look at the upcoming Green Lantern animated movie. A Blu-Ray edition ($29.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus features.
Although I find the subject matter interesting, you’ve gotta love a book title like Hippo In A Tutu (Disney Press, $30.00 SRP). The reference is to the “Dance Of The Hours” sequence of Disney’s Fantasia, wherein alligators dance with hippos. The book takes an in-depth look at the role of dance, choreography, and reference for both in the animated films of Walt Disney, and it’s well worth picking up.
Fans have been clamoring for it for years – well, they’ve been clamoring for anything from the band, really – but they’re surely dancing a happy jig at the release of Phish: The Clifford Ball (Rhino, Not Rated, DVD-$99.99 SRP). The 7-disc set features the entirety of the band’s 2-day concert happening held on August 16 & 17, 1996. It’s an incredibly musical document, and now you can have it to play again and again.
Though the stories comprising it are being released separately, the best and easiest way to get the entire arc is to just pick up the Doctor Who: Key To Time Special Edition (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP), as the 7-disc set has got the whole kit and kaboodle. Each disc is like a TARDIS, loaded with the usual complement of commentaries, featurettes, and archive materials.
Not many cartoons can boast a guest turn by Johnny Depp, but a certain spongy yellow character can in the episode collection Spongebob Squarepants: Spongebob Vs The Big One (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP). In addition to the Depp ep, the disc also sports 6 more, plus an audio commentary and a music video.
You can see every drop of sweat in the new Blu-Ray edition of Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull (MGM, Rated R, DVD-$34.98 SRP), and the clarity adds a certain punch to the proceedings. The disc features a trio of audio commentaries, a 4-part feature-length documentary, a behind-the-scenes featurette, vintage newsreel footage, and a shot-by-shot comparison of DeNiro & La Motta.
If you’ve got a lot of free time, are really jonesing for the Watchmen movie, and are a huge fan of those late 60’s Marvel cartoons, then you’ll probably want to give a spin to Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which adds motion, voice actors, and sound effects to Dave Gibbons’ original artwork. A Blu-Ray edition ($35.99 SRP) is also available, for those who crave high definition.
If you want to find a little bit more about the author behind Watchmen, V: For Vendetta, From Hell, and League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, you can’t do wrong in picking up a copy of the re-released and expanded The Extraordinary Works Of Alan Moore: Indispensable Edition (Twomorrows, $29.95 SRP).
Though my nephews lap it up, I still watch Chowder (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) mainly for the sterling voicework of my erstwhile comedy partner, Dana Snyder, who handles the lumbering, memorable Gazpacho. This second volume contains 5 episodes.
I know it made money. I know that people went to go see it. Intellectually, I know these things. I still can’t rationalize that knowledge into any semblance of an endorsement for Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney, Rated PG, DVD-$29.99 SRP). I guess it’s like a latter-day That Darn Cat. But with Chihuahuas. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, an animated short, and bloopers. The Blu-Ray edition ($34.99 SRP) contains additional behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted scenes not on the standard release.
I prefer to believe the awkward director’s cut doesn’t exist, but I did love Donnie Darko (Fox, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) when I first saw it, and now you can pick it up in high definition in a 2-disc edition that includes both cuts, audio commentaries, a production diary, featurettes, and more.
Make sure your young ones get to Sesame Street for Elmo & Friends: Tales OF Adventure (Genius, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP), featuring a trio of tales featuring Elmo, Big Bird, and Telly as they go on thrilling adventures in learning. Can you say “Texas Telly and The Golden Triangle Of Destiny”?
Baz Luhrman’s epic story of love between an English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) and a rough-&-tumble cattle driver (Hugh Jackman) in the Outback is certainly big and sprawling, but Australia (Fox, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.99 SRP) is also big and bloated, dragging on and on and on until it just sort of ends. It’s a shame, because there’s a good flick in there someplace. Bonus features include deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes featurettes. A Blu-Ray edition ($39.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.
Oh, The Hills (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) – how I loathe your very existence. And I don’t know why, exactly, as its existence should not bother me in the least, and shouldn’t even be on my radar. And yet it is. And it does bother me so. For those who are unbothered, the complete 4th season set contains all 20 episodes, plus interviews, deleted scenes, featurettes, photo shoots, 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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