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 FRED Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…
(Please support FRED by using the links below to make any impulse purchases – it helps to keep us going…)
I have nothing against the Coen Brothers’ remake, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the original Ealing version of The Ladykillers (Lionsgate, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which has arrived in high-definition in a deluxe special edition featuring an introduction from Terry Gilliam. Not only that, its also go an audio commentary, featurettes, interviews, and the theatrical trailer. If you haven’t seen this film – See it.
Do you have a bunch of old albums lying around that no one’s bothered to release either on CD or digitally? I do. A ton of ’em. I’ve tried different digitizing solutions, but all have been rather awkward or delivered poor sound quality. With the Briefcase USB Turntable ($69.99), I think I’ve finally found a solution that sounds good, has a dead simple interface, and – seeing as how it’s all in a nifty briefcase – is portable. Add to that the brilliance of built-in speakers, and you’ve got a one-stop solution. Ain’t clever technology grand?
There are some films that I can watch again and again – not by choice, but if I stumble upon them, I’m instantly drawn back in. Goodfellas (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) is a film like that. Now, it’s made its way to high definition, in a 2-disc edition that carries over the bonus features from the standard special edition – a pair of audio commentaries, a trio of featurettes, and storyboard-to-scenes comparisons. The second disc is the feature-length documentary Public Enemies: The Golden Age Of The Gangster Film.
It’s been attempted before, but it’s taken Black Dynamite (Sony, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.95 SRP) to finally nail a truly funny satire of the blaxsploitation flicks that dominated 70’s cinema. The script is sharp, and Michael Jai White is pitch perfect as the titular former CIA agent out to avenge his brother’s death. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and deleted/alternate scenes.
Also arriving in high-def is Akira Kurosawa’s take on King Lear, Ran (Lionsgate, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). Besides a spiffy respiration, the disc also includes an interview with a Japanese Art-Of-War expert, and a trio of documentaries.
I do believe the packaging for the second half of the second season of Cannon (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$36.98 SRP) is making a weight joke about star William Conrad when it says “LA’s biggest crime fighter returns!” Yeah, I think they are. Either way, the 3-disc set contains 12 episodes, plus the episodic promos.
Stephen Fry returns in the 3rd and final series of Kingdom (BFS, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) as the titular solicitor who finds himself representing the eccentric folk in the small English town of Market Shipborough. It’s a fun, funny series that reminds me of the US’s Boston Legal.
Exploring exactly how Adolf Hitler was able to survive over 40 assassination attempts, Hitler’s Bodyguard (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$79.99 SRP) pieces together a portrait of the elite staff who swore oats of allegiance to the Fuhrer himself. The 3-disc set collects all 13 episodes of this fascinating series that weaves interviews, documents, recreations, and virtual tours of his various homes, bunkers, and strongholds.
What’s the sign of a good documentary? It’s one that makes you interested in a subject you never fathomed that you would ever find interesting. Chris Rock accomplishes this feat with Good Hair (Lionsgate, Rated PG-13, DVD-$27.98 SRP), which looks at the way hairstyles impact multiple facets of the black community. Give it a spin and you’ll dig it, too. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and the theatrical trailer.
The final Bourne film arrives in high-definition as the latest of Universal’s new line of flipper single-disc Blu-Ray/DVD combos. I loathe flipper discs with a passion, so even though I understand the cost-cutting thought behind it, I can’t get behind the concept. Looking at the Blu-Ray side, The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP) features a load of featurettes, an audio commentary, and deleted scenes. Great flick, shame it’s a flipper.
Over here! The big wheel keeps on turning out more direct-to-video Scooby-Doo movies, the latest of which is Scooby-Doo!: Abracadabra-Doo (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which finds the Mystery Inc. crew trying to unravel the sinister forces at work inside a school for magicians. As for bonus materials, there’s a featurette on how to make your very own scary puppet.
Abby Cadabby and Elmo travel down the rabbit hole in the newest Sesame Street release, Abby In Wonderland (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.93 SRP). Is it worth it just to see Grover as the Mad Hatter? Sure. The release also contains a bonus CD of 5 classic Sesame Street tunes.
As some series wrap their release on DVD, there are still plenty of others waiting in the wings, which is why we’ve got the complete first season of Barnaby Jones (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), starring Buddy Ebsen as the titular PI forced out of retirement to solve the murder of his son. The 4-disc set contains all 13 episodes, plus the episodic promos for each.
I didn’t think I would, but I actually found the female-centric comedy Women In Trouble (Screen Media, Rated R, DVD-$24.98 SRP) to be quite a fun little flick. In fact, it’s what The Women should have been – an all-star cast backed by a strong script. This one centers around a group of LA women who collide on one unique day. Bonus features include deleted scenes and trailers. A Blu-Ray edition ($29.98 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.
With a cast that includes Gary Coleman, Ron Jeremy, Jason Mewes, and Scottie Pippen, it’s not without a small amount of embarrassment that one watches the sensationally titled documentary Midgets vs Mascots (First Look Studios, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). I mean, you’re either gonna watch it or you’re not. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted scenes.
I’m sure you’ll agree that Raiders Of The Lost Ark is loaded with iconic props (although I’d consider Indy’s hat to be costuming and his whip to be a weapon). Of those iconic props, there’s one that remains attached to one of the most dynamic, tension-filled opening sequences in cinema history – the golden Fertility Idol ($169.99). Sideshow has created a chrome-plated, expertly recreated piece complemented by a polystone base evocative of the pedestal from the film. It’s a fantastic piece, a conversation starter, and irresistible to evil French archeologists. The piece is limited to 1500, so get yours now.
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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