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…)

Often overlooked in favor of the The Little Mermaid, I’d say that the Disney animation renaissance began with the still-fun Great Mouse Detective (Disney, Rated G, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which gets a special edition but sadly no Blu-Ray. Still, if you’ve never seen this Victorian adventure of Basil of Baker Street, do so. Bonus features include a making-of featurette and a sing-along.

I don’t know about you, but every once In awhile I remember to fear whatever creepy crawly organisms might be living in the bristles of my toothbrush. Or at least I used to fear them, before I got the Bacteria Assassin Ninja Toothbrush Sanitizer ($36.99), which is a nifty little sinktop device (made to look like a ninja) which uses UV light to kill all of those microscopic nasties. All you do is put the head of your toothbrush in, and then little it go to work.

It’s a button-pusher to be sure – as all Richard Curtis films are – but I’ve got admit, I did like his love letter to the illegal, ship-based rock broadcasters of late-60’s Britain in Pirate Radio (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$36.98 SRP). The plot is really secondary to the performances of the stellar cast – including Bill Nighy, Rys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Chris O’Dowd, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman – and the soundtrack. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and featurettes.

I’m not a terribly big fan of Ron Howard as a filmmaker, but the story of Apollo 13 (Universal, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP) is still incredibly compelling – not the least of which because I’m a sucker for the space program. The new Blu-Ray edition is a worthy upgrade, as the visuals are still incredible for the time that the film was made, in the still formative days of CGI when practical effects still had a firm place in filmmaking. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, and behind-the-scenes & historical featurettes.

They shine with a pale, pale light compared to the classic MGM short subjects, but if your kids absolutely have to have more cat & mouse adventures, then there’s Tom & Jerry Tales: The Complete First Season (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). The 2-disc set contains all 13 episodes.

Coming out of the theater with my 5-year-old nephew, I could tell that How To Train Your Dragon (available for PS3-$49.99 SRP, XBOX-$49.99 SRP, Wii-$49.99 SRP, & DS-$29.99 SRP), really sparked his imagination in the sort of a way that you know he could have walked right back in and seen it again. Well, lucky for my sanity, the video game tie-ins for the film are pretty darn fun across the board, combining both a story adventure and an instant gratification arcade ability to just control a pair of dragons waling on each other. As is usual with these releases, it’s available on every platform, and there no one that’s any more encouraged over the other (and even the DS edition is a hoot). Get at least one platform and have a blast.

Put memories of Platinum Dunes blah remake out of your head with the high-definition arrival of the original Nightmare On Elm Street (New Line, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), as you watch Freddy Krueger carve up his victims in sparkling detail. Bonus materials include a pair of commentaries, alternate endings, a trio of featurettes, alternate takes, and behind-the-scenes vignettes.

Since selling off The Muppets, the Jim Henson Company has been chopping and packaging the material they have left for DVD releases. The Song Of The Cloud Forest (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$12.98 SRP) was originally featured in the short-lived Jim Henson Hour, but is combined here with episodes of Fraggle Rock and Animal Show with Stinky and Jake. Speaking of the latter, there’s also the 5-episode collection Animal Show with Stinky and Jake: Lions, Tigers & Bears (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$12.98 SRP).

In one of the slowest turnarounds ever, you can now pick up the 2-disc special edition release of The Official Inaugural Celebration (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), containing the complete inauguration of President Obama, plus the concert celebration that followed.

I’m so happy to live in a world where a documentary has been made that looks at the fascinating – and odd – world of ventriloquism, which is called “venting” by its practitioners. I’m No Dummy (Salient Media, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) looks at a trio of ventriloquists – Jay Johnson, Jeff Dunham, and Lynn Trefzger – and the history of the form.

Let your impressionable children plunk themselves down in front of the 2-disc Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Chapter 1 (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), featuring another 13 episodes of flashy brawling action.

Every thing you can imagine hits the fan when J.R. Ewing reaches the 13th season of Dallas (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) and Ewing Oil is brought to the brink of destruction. Just another day in Texas, right? The 3-disc set contains all 27 episodes, which sadly continue to be released on those damned flipper discs. Come on, Warners!

Let your kids go on a bilingual jaunt around the world with Dora The Explorer: Explore The Earth! (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP). The single-disc release contains 4 episodes, plus a pair of Moose & Zee shorts.

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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