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…)
Much has been made about Bridesmaids (Universal, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) being a female answer to naughty male-centric R-Rated comedies like The Hangover, but the simple truth – and reason for the success – of Bridesmaids is that it’s simply a very, very funny film. That, ultimately, is all that matters. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more.
You can never have too much Bender, so how can you not want the 9″ Talking Bender Figure ($24.99), which features interchangeable eyes and a clutch of phrases – from “Bite my shiny metal ass!” to “Would you kindly shut your noise hole!” See? You want it. Now go get it.
While you’re awaiting the next full season box set, satiate your thirst with the latest single disc release Spongebob Squarepants: Spongebob’s Runaway Roadtrip (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP), which finds out heroes taking a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. The disc also includes a pair of bonus episodes.
It’s always a delight to see a loving restoration of a Technicolor age film make its way to high definition, and Breakfast At Tiffany’s (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) certainly lives up to those high expectations with a beautiful edition supplemented with an audio commentary, featurettes,, galleries, and more.
You know what? I’m not even going to attempt to tell you what Patton Oswalt talks about in his newest album, Finest Hour (Comedy Central Records, $10.84 SRP). By now, you should just trust that whatever it is, you’re going to enjoy it. I did. TRUST REWARDED.
The high definition Lionsgate releases of the Miramax catalogue are still coming fast and furious, with another clutch of titles to fill those gaps in your collection, including the toilet bowl cautionary tale Trainspotting (Miramax, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP), Nicole Kidman & spooky kids in The Others (Miramax, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$14.99 SRP), and both Scary Movie 2 & Scary Movie 3 (Miramax, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$14.99 SRP each).
Ken Burns turns his documentary lens towards America’s drunkest “sober” hour, Prohibition (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP). The 3-disc set contains outtakes, bonus scenes, and a featurette – plus more shots of people doing things with alcohol than you can possibly imagine.
I could hours watching Darren McGavin star as Mickey Spillane’s bareknuckle gumshoe Mike Hammer – which makes the release of Mike Hammer: The Complete Series (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$89.95 SRP) perfect. The 12-disc set contains all 78 episodes. Now you can watch, too.
Here we are, with the penultimate 11th season of the long-running Hawaii Five-O (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP), starring Jack Lord as ever Aloha criminals worst enemy, Steve McGarrett. The 6-disc collection features all 21 episodes. Now bring on the end!
Oh, Warner Archive collection. Yet again, you unleash a clutch of titles the only a very few would ever think to ask you about, but at least they are now available to all. First you’ve got Michael Gough siccing his big cats on people in Black Zoo (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95), then Martin Sheen kidnapping Linda Blair in Sweet Hostage (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95), and finally a dying Hollywood curiosity The Phantom Of Hollywood (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95).
Yeah. I really can’t stand Glee (Fox, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$69.99 SRP). Who new that they could find a way in its second season to make it even more artificial and cloying. I suspected they could, and those suspicions were born out. But I know the Gleenoids will eat this set up, featuring all 22 episodes plus a jukebox, featurettes, a bonus song, and more.
Oh, Danny Devito. Sure, the rest of the cast is ace and the show is funny, but I’m only really watching the 6th season of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (Fox, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP) for that fun-sized comedic genius. Bonus materials include an extended cut, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, podcasts, a blooper reel, and more.
Billie Piper has one last go as high-class escort Hannah “Belle” Baxter in the 3rd and final season of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), which finds are at the cusp of a dilemma – keep selling herself or settle down with her best friend?
The 200th anniversary specials focusing on the American Civil War continue with the documentary Lee & Grant (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), which focuses on the two opposing generals, and an in-depth look at the battle that changed the course of the war, Gettysburg (History Channel, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.95 SRP), from producers Ridley & Tony Scott.
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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