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’m going to go as far as to say that my favorite film last year was Chris Morris’s brilliant balance between satire, comedy, and drama – Four Lions (Magnolia, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP) – which focuses on a motley quartet of English Jihadi suicide bombers. Yes, you heard me. Not since Dr. Strangelove has comedy been so dark, so relevant, and so pitch-perfect. Bonus materials include interviews, featurettes, and deleted scenes.
I’m a sucker for movie vehicle replicas, particularly when they’re diecast and well done, which the 1:43-scale Back To The Future Part II DeLorean ($24.99) being sold by the fine folks at Thinkgeek most certainly is. The detailing, even at this small scale, is exquisite, and it even comes packaged in an acrylic display case.
The unstoppable Ben 10 franchise continues with Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Power Struggle (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), as Ben reaches a final showdown and a bit of a twist of fate.. The 2-disc set contains 10 episodes plus an alien database feature.
It seems that Disney/ABC hasn’t only been licensing their TV catalogue to Shout Factory, as Lionsgate also has a pair of series they’re continuing on DVD, as well as a first season entry. The returning series are the 3rd season of the Jim Belushi juggernaut According To Jim (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) and the 5th season of fan-favorite Boy Meets World (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), while the new-to-DVD is the inaugural season of Eddie Murphy’s claymation family sitcom The PJs (Lionsgate Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP).
A ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf couple looking to conceive a baby… Yeah, we’re talking about the third season of the original UK version of Being Human (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.98 SRP). The 3-disc set contains all 8 episodes, plus cast interviews, deleted scenes, and a set tour.
Based on Raymond Chandler’s The Little Sister, James Garner stars as the famous private eye in Marlowe (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$19.95), which is the latest release from the fine folks at the Warner Archive Collection.
With all of the recent British Royal Family foofarrall, dive back into their distant past with The BBC Tudor Collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$149.98 SRP), which brings together a trio of the Beeb’s classic dramas focusing on that royal line, including The Shadow Of The Tower, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII, and Elizabeth R. Bonus features include pilots, interviews, and historical profiles.
When a shallow size zero supermodel dies in an accident and finds herself given the body of the recently-deceased Jane – a plus-sized attorney – you get Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP), whose second season is now available. Surprisingly, it’s an affable, often funny series, even though I’d much rather have just seen a show about Jane. The second season set contains featurettes, deleted scenes, and a music video.
Roy Clarke’s long-running (and recently ended) series gets another classic release with Last Of The Summer Wine: Vintages 1988 & 1989 (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP), featuring more misadventures from those loveable geriatrics.
If you’re in the mood for a traditional BBC period drama (you know the type), you can now pick up the complete collection of Lark Rise To Candleford (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$179.98 SRP), the faithful adaptation of Flora Thompson’s ode to late-19th century rural England. The set contains all four seasons, plus behind-the-scenes featurettes.
If you’re a movie fan and would like some nice background music to play while you’re slogging through your work day, Stephen Edwards’ Piano Music From The Movies (Music For Moving Images, $9.99 SRP) – which features piano versions of 20 cinema themes & cues, from To Kill A Mockingbird to Little Children.
Fill another hole in your Hanna-Barbera animation library thanks to the fine folks at the Warner Archive Collection, who have added Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.95) to their on-demand offerings. The 2-disc set contains all 18 episodes.
Based on the best-selling books by Eric Hill, entertain your kids with the animated Spot’s Birthday Party (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$9.98 SRP), featuring 9 episodes of the rambunctious puppy’s adventures.
With his garish track suit and shady dealings, Greedo must have been from the Jersey of the Star Wars universe, and his shot by Han Solo visage is captured perfectly via Sideshow Collectibles 12″ Greedo ($89.99)Not only does he have his blaster (poor guy), but also swap out hands and the drink he never got to finish.
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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