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…

(Please support Quick Stop by using the links below to make any impulse purchases – it helps to keep us going…)

Often viewed as lesser entries in the series and the waning work of an animation genius, I’ve got a warm spot in my heart for the cartoons featured in Tom & Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), mainly due to their regular Saturday morning rotation during my childhood. The 2-disc set features all 34 theatrical shorts, fully remastered, plus a featurette on Jones’s Tom & Jerry work, plus the TCM special Chuck Jones: Memories Of Childhood.

Summer is hot. Very hot. And what can be more useful when determining whether to venture outside your air conditioned cocoon and onto the surface of the sun than to know just what temperature you’ll be encountering – which is easily accomplished with the La Crosse Outdoor LCD Window Thermometer ($12.99). It mounts to the outside of your window, and it’s large, clear display gives you not only the current temperature, but also the day’s high and low temps (for that Almanac you’re keeping).

If modern American satire and parody has a father, that man’s name is Harvey Kurtzman. From the founding of Mad through 60’s magazines like Humbug & Help, through Playboy‘s Little Annie Fannie and much more, Kurtzman was not only a vibrant artist, but also a sharp writer and editor. The man and his work is celebrated in a large, excellent tome that should be on your shelf, now – The Art Of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius Of Comics (Abrams Comicarts, $40.00 SRP).

Equal parts Neverending Story and Pagemaster, Brendan Fraser stars as Mo Fulchart, who has the rather awkward ability to bring fictional characters into the real world when he reads their story, and awkward adventures ensue. Inkheart (New Line, Rated PG, DVD-$29.98 SRP) is, like Fraser himself, a likeable lunk of a family flick. Bonus features are limited to a featurette. A Blu-Ray edition ($35.99 SRP) is also available, with additional bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes.

Even though it’s a sentimental favorite from my childhood, I’m a bit disappointed that the second Mel Brooks film to make it to Blu-Ray is Spaceballs (MGM, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP). Still, the hi-def picture looks good, and the bonus features from the standard edition are ported over, plus some new featurettes. Also included is the standard edition DVD.

We’ve seen fish-out-of-water adults trying to lead scout troops in the past (I’m looking at you, Troop Beverly Hills, and Mr. Troop Mom (Warner Bros., Rated G, DVD-$27.98 SRP) certainly doesn’t break new ground, but George Lopez is winning as the fish-out-of-water father leading his daughter’s scout troop on a camping trip. Bonus materials include featurettes, additional scenes, and a gag reel. A Blu-Ray edition ($35.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.

On the run from the Mexican Army, a vengeful killer (Leonard Nimoy), and his girlfriend, Yul Brynner’s Catlow (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$14.98 SRP) is a gun-for-hire who can’t even count on the loyalty of his best friend (Richard Crenna). The film is a hoot, but sadly the sole bonus feature is the theatrical trailer.

This truly is not saying much, but Pink Panther 2 (MGM, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is a better film than the first attempt by Steve Martin to replace the legendary Peter Sellers as bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau. It’s still hit or miss, but at least it’s tolerable this go-round. The 3-disc Blu-Ray edition contains featurettes, a gag reel, and 27 classic DePatie-Freleng Pink Panther cartoons.

Yes, Jerry Bruckheimer has produced a “chick flick”, an its name is Confessions Of A Shopaholic (Touchstone, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), starring Isla Fisher as a New Yorker eager to writer for a high-fashion magazine who instead lands a column at a financial magazine. The column becomes a hit, she becomes famous, and she falls for her boss. Complications ensue. Bonus features include deleted scenes, featurettes, music videos, and a gag reel.

A small town, a missing teen, a cryptic video message, and friends on the lookout make for a surprisingly entertaining thriller in Elsewhere (E1, Rated R, DVD-$24.98 SRP). Bonus features include an audio commentary, a featurette, deleted scenes, and a photo gallery.

Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas as a pair of thieves out to pull of an impossible heist in New York City? Sure, I’ll give The Code (First Look, Rated R, DVD-$28.98 SRP) a try. Add the KGB, the FBI, and the NYPD in to the mix? Certainly a popcorn flick. A Blu-Ray edition ($29.98 SRP) is also available with a behind-the-scenes featurette and cast/crew interviews.

Combine exec producers Tony & Ridley Scott and hosting duties from Terence Stamp with a horror anthology series, and The Hunger (E1, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) is at least worth a look. The 4-disc set features all 22 episodes, plus a look at the second season, hosted by David Bowie.

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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