It’s that time of year again, when sites the web-over compile helpful holiday shopping lists to guide you into the deepest, darkest pits of retail with a map that will hopefully get you out alive. Here now, without further ado, is the 2019 FRED Holiday Shopping Guide.

(If you see anything you like, please support FRED by using the links below to make your holiday purchases – it’s appreciated!)

I’m a tremendous fan of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and I had high hopes that the documentary What We Left Behind (Shout Factory, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) would pay proper tribute to the show and its creatives, both behind and in front of the camera. Thankfully, it delivered in spades, proving to be a loving tribute and celebration of the show and its dedicated fans, with participation from nearly everyone involved (sans the ever-elusive Avery Brooks). Bonus features include nearly an hour of additional interviews, a roundtable discussion, and featurettes.

A bona fide holiday classic, It’s A Wonderful Life (Paramount, Rated PG, 4K-$35.99 SRP) gets a stunningly pristine high definition upgrade in a release featuring both black & white & colorized versions of the film, original cast home movies, a featurette on the 4K restoration, and more.

Speaking of gorgeous high definition upgrades, The Wizard Of Oz (Warner Bros., Rated G, 4K-$41.99 SRP) has gotten its own eye-popping trip down the yellow brick road, with bonus materials including an audio commentary, featurettes, and more.

Hot Toys has done loads of stellar work over the years, but I still can’t help but be impressed whenever they drop a new figure. Holding their 1/6-scale Iron Spider (Sideshow Collectibles, $259) ““ aka the Stark-armored Spider-Man seen in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, & Spider-Man: Far From Home ““ it’s a marvel of screen-accurate reproduction, right down to finding a flexible suit material that has a metallic shine to it. You can pop the optional articulated spider-arms on or off, and he comes with two masked heads ““ one containing an LED light feature for the eyes ““ and an unmasked Peter Parker head that looks eerily like actor Tom Holland.

For many years now, Chronicle Books has been publishing a stellar line-up of Disney animation books. For contemporary fans, there’s The Art Of Frozen II (Chronicle Books, $40 SRP), loaded with production insight into the sequel. For deeper dive fans, they’ve continued their series chronicling the development art crafted at the studio during various periods in its history, the latest two volumes of which are They Drew As They Pleased – The Hidden Art Of Disney’s Mid-Century Era: The 1950s & 1960s (Chronicle Books, $50 SRP) & They Drew As They Pleased – The Hidden Art Of Disney’s Early Renaissance: The 1970s & 1980s (Chronicle Books, $50 SRP).

But those aren’t the only Disney books that should be on your holiday list. Disney Editions is releasing a few titles of note, including the tie-in to the Disney+ series One Day at Disney (Disney Editions, $50 SRP), Pete Docter & Christopher Merritt’s 2-volume celebration of a Disney artist & Imagineering legend in Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks (Disney Editions, $150 SRP), the revised special edition of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons (Disney Editions, $80 SRP), The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember (Disney Editions, $60 SRP), Walt Disney’s Ultimate Inventor: The Genius of Ub Iwerks (Disney Editions, $60 SRP), and former Imagineering president Marty Sklar’s Travels with Figment: On the Road in Search of Disney Dreams (Disney Editions, $26.99 SRP).

Yes, it is a Christmas movie, and you can celebrate the 35th anniversary of Gremlins (Warner Bros., Rated PG, 4K-$41.99 SRP) by watching it in 4K high definition, which means it’s never looked better. Bonus features include a pair of audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, galleries, and trailers.

Documenting his creative career in exquisite detail, Rick Baker: Metamorphosis (Cameron, $250 SRP) is a massive two-volume set containing a comprehensive visual archiving of nearly every creature, makeup, and effect crafted by the legendary cinema artisan. Listen, this thing is massive ““ And dense. Drop it and it’d break a foot.

Disney has been very kind to fans of both their theme parks and novelty vinyl, releasing a trio of picture albums featuring the complete ride-through audio and songs from Pirates Of The Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and It’s a Small World (Walt Disney Records, $21.98 SRP each).

If vinyl’s not your thing and you’re just keen on some CD stocking stuffers, you can also score the soundtrack albums for Toy Story 4, The Lion King, Frozen II, Dumbo, & Descendants 3 (Walt Disney Records, $10.99 SRP each).

Largely fallen off the radar, China Beach (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$149.95 SRP), while leaning more towards drama than comedy, is to the conflict in Vietnam what M*A*S*H was to the Korean War, and is a series worth your time to explore ““ or revisit ““ via this new box set, collecting all 4 seasons plus audio commentaries, interviews, and featurettes.

Years and years ago, the fine folks at Sideshow released a 1/6-scale “figure” of Han Solo in Carbonite (Sideshow Collectibles, $249.99), to the delight of Star Wars fans eager to fill out their displays (particularly their Jabba’s Palace). Fans frustrated that the original piece sold out years ago will be very happy with their new release, with full control panel light features. The main difference is in the display stand, where the original release was intended to represent the alcove in Jabba’s Palace, this new edition has the flooring found in Cloud City from Empire Strikes Back.

And because there’s a new Star Wars film, it also means we get the information & trivia filled Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker The Visual Dictionary: With Exclusive Cross-Sections (DK, $24.99 SRP).

Oh, and hey, Star Wars fans, while I have your attention, the actor inside one-half of your favorite droid duo, Anthony Daniels, has released a memoir ““ I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story (DK, $24.99 SRP), which contains all of the firsthand anecdotes and details you could hope for, along with a clutch of personal photos.

While I don’t think any of them have aged particularly well as films, there’s no denying that the Batman 4K Film Collection (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 4K Blu-Ray-$124.99 SRP each) ““ which contains 4K presentations of Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, & Batman & Robin – looks truly spectacular, from the gothic glory of the Burton films to the day-glo camp of Schumacher’s. Bonus features are all carried over from the previous special editions, including commentaries, documentaries, and more.

Over the course of its 5 seasons, Gotham (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$112.99 SRP) abandoned any pretense of being a somewhat serious Batman prequel series and instead leaned”¦ no, barreled into being a completely bizarre, totally unhinged meta goof that could more easily have been a prequel to the ’66 Batman series. You can now own the complete run, containing featurettes, deleted scenes, panels, and more.

When Batman Beyond (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$99.99 SRP) was announced as a follow-up series to the now-legendary Batman: The Animated Series ““ leaping forward decades from that show & featuring a teenager as the new Batman ““ I feared a shark-jumping in the making. But nope, instead it proved to be a brilliant extrapolation of the animated universe, and ended with one of the best Batman films ever crafted, Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker. The show is finally getting a high definition release via this box set, with bonus interviews and featurettes.

Speaking of comic books, there are a couple of hardcover tomes you might want to add to your shelves ““ DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle (DK, $50 SRP), Brave And Bold: Female DC Heroes Take On The Universe (DK, $16.99 SRP), and The Marvel Book (DK, $25 SRP).

More books? More books! Creator Rebecca Sugar has written a fully-illustrated storybook, Steven Universe: The Tale of Steven (Abrams, $14.99 SRP), a classic comic strip is celebrated in Art of Nothing: 25 Years of Mutts and the Art of Patrick McDonnell (Abrams, $40 SRP), and BoJack Horseman: The Art Before the Horse (Abrams, $40 SRP).

Insight editions has a dragon-sized and comprehensive The Art Of Game Of Thrones (Insight Editions, $75 SRP), which collects the awesome development art generated for the flawed series. Spider-Man: From Amazing To Spectacular ““ The Definitive Comic Art Collection (Insight Editions, $45 SRP) is an oversized spotlight on over 50 years of character artwork. Old school and new fans of the recent Netflix series will probably want to check out The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance ““ Inside The Epic Return To Thra (Insight Editions, $50 SRP). Those keen on process should find plenty of interest in Masters Of Comics: Inside The Studios Of The World’s Premier Graphic Storytellers (Insight Editions, $24.99 SRP). Finally, it may be small, but there’s one more bit of Star Wars fun to be had ““ the pocket-sized Star Wars: The Complete Marvel Comics Covers ““ Volume 1 (Insight Editions, $11.99 SRP).

In a post-Stranger Things world, the big-screen take on Stephen King’s It (Warner Bros., Rated R, 4K-$44.95 SRP) and its ragtag band of kids fighting a terrifying evil creature couldn’t help but feel a bit “been there, done that”, but the performances from all involved (including Bill Skarsgard as the monstrous Pennywise) made for a film that’s worth a watch. The completion of the story in It: Chapter Two (Warner Bros., Rated R, 4K-$44.95 SRP) doesn’t quite live up to part one, but it does expand the cast out with the adult version of the Losers’ Club. Bonus materials include audio commentary, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

The Warner Archive Collection continues to impress with catalogue titles both unexpected and appreciated. For animation fans, they’ve collected together the first high definition release of Popeye The Sailor: The 1940s Volumes 1-3 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP each), Jonny Quest: The Complete Original Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), Teen Titans: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$44.99 SRP), and Hanna-Barbera titles Wally Gator: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) & Lippy The Lion and Hardy Har Har: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP). On the TV side, they’ve put out Babylon 5: The Complete First Season (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$47.99 SRP) back into MOD print, along with the uncensored first season of Whose Line Is It Anyway? (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP). Finally, see the historical debut of a lot of elements we consider canon for the character in Superman: The Theatrical Serials Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP).

I mean, I really do love the Warner Archive, as they deliver deep dives and fan favorites from the vaults directly to fans who wouldn’t otherwise be able to get them if these niche titles had to reach a normal retail threshold to trigger release. On the theatrical side, you’ve got John Milius’ coming-of-age surfer film Big Wednesday (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), the Steve Martin comedies The Man With Two Brains (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP) & My Blue Heaven (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Harry Belafonte & Mel Ferrer in The World, The Flesh, And The Devil (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Lana Turner & Kirk Douglas in The Bad And The Beautiful (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Sophia Loren & George Peppard in Operation Crossbow (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Arthur Penn’s crime thriller Night Moves (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), the pitch-black cult comedy The Loved One (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), the pilot for film for the Patrick Duffy series Man From Atlantis (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), the legendary Cleopatra Jones (Warner Bros., Rated PG-$21.99 SRP), My Favorite Year (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP) and Bette Davis in the 1940 W. Somerset Maugham adaptation The Letter (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP).

Flicker Alley has carved out a wonderful niche for themselves in providing beautifully restored high definition releases of historical importance. Their latest is Melies Fairy Tales In Color (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$36.95 SRP), a selection of hand-colored films made between 1899-1909, the last silent Sherlock Holmes film ever made, Richard Oswald’s Der Hund von Baskerville (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), from 1929, 1922’s The Last Warning (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), and the film that was one of the inspiration’s for the Batman villain The Joker, 1928’s The Man Who Laughs (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP).

The folks at Flicker Alley have also been doing a fantastic job restoring, preserving, and presenting vintage large format films, including those shot for Cinerama, that would otherwise have been unavailable to film aficionados for home viewing. Their latest releases are the rarely-seen Cinerama film The Golden Head (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), a slapstick heist yarn about a pair of kids who run afoul of two thieves (Buddy Hackett & George Sanders), and the 70mm film Flying Clipper (Mediterranean Holiday) (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, 4K-$39.95 SRP), a documentary following a Swedish sailing ship as it navigates the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, Mill Creek has been consistently stepping up their catalogue title game, as their latest batch of cult titles attests ““ including the pitch-black Aykroyd/Belushi comedy Neighbors (Mill Creek, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), the 1985 Helen Slater-starrer The Legend Of Billie Jean (Mill Creek, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), and Pamela Anderson’s Barb Wire (Mill Creek, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP). They’ve also dipped into the 90s with the Van Damme/Rodman actioner Double Team (Mill Creek, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), Dana Carvey in Opportunity Knocks (Mill Creek, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), Alicia Silverstone & Benicio Del Toro in Excess Baggage (Mill Creek, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), Pauly Shore in Jury Duty (Mill Creek, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), and the double features Stepmom/The Deep End Of The Ocean (Mill Creek, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), Mo’ Money/High School High (Mill Creek, Rated R/PG-13, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), The Trigger Effect/Body Count (Mill Creek, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), and Mindwarp/Brainscan (Mill Creek, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$14.98

SRP).

And because this world contains more films than you can shake a stick at, Olive Films is also able to do some stellar cult catalogue releases, including the high definition debuts of How To Stuff A Wild Bikini (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), The Believers (Olive Films, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), and The Bells Of St. Mary’s (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$27.99 SRP).

For the cinephile on your list eager to expand their knowledge or just indulge their particular fandom, check out the books Tim Burton: The Iconic Filmmaker And His Work (White Lion Publishing, $25 SRP), Quentin Tarantino: The Iconic Filmmaker And His Work (White Lion Publishing, $35 SRP), Alien Vault (Epic Ink, $45 SRP), and Cult Filmmakers: 50 Movie Mavericks You Need To Know (White Lion Publishing, $16.99 SRP).

Oh, but those aren’t the only film & TV books that you should give serious gift consideration to, as Titan Books has a veritable bookshelf worth of titles to consider, including J.W. Rinzler’s definitive The Making Of Alien (Titan Books, $60 SRP), Alien: The Blueprints (Titan Books, $44.95 SRP), Joe Alves: Designing Jaws (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP), Star Trek: The Art Of John Eaves (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP), Alita Battle Angel: The Art & Making Of The Movie (Titan Books, $45 SRP), The Addams Family: The Art Of The Animated Movie (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP), Men In Black Films: The Official Visual Companion To The Films (Titan Books, $50 SRP), The Art And Making Of The Expanse (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP), Making Moon (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP), Orson Welles Portfolio: Sketches & Drawings From The Welles Estate (Titan Books, $50 SRP), and the gallery collection Rick And Morty: Show Me What You Got (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP). Quite the line-up, eh?

It’s always a surprise to find what subject Ken Burns has turned his documentarian eye towards, as it forever seems left field from where you’d expect him to go. I was certainly intrigued when I heard his next massive project would be Country Music (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$75.80 SRP), as it’s a rather sprawling, unwieldy topic. Leave it to Burns to pull off a miracle, then, by crafting a structure that explores its musical and cultural roots, personalities, and legacy, warts and all. The box set includes over 3 hours of additional content, including bonus video, featurettes, and more.

One of the most successful and longest-running sitcoms in television history, fans can now indulge their obsession with Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$179.95 SRP) with a deluxe collector’s boxed set containing all 12 seasons, plus featurettes, gag reels, and more.

It may not be awesome, but everything is pretty good in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (Warner Bros., Rated PG, 4K Blu-Ray-$ SRP), which captures enough of the fun and energy of the first film to make for an enjoyable return. The real highlight, though, is the musical numbers. So many musical numbers! Bonus materials include deleted scenes, featurettes, music videos, and more.

It says something about the declining influence of the show that revisiting the episodes contained within South Park: The Complete Twenty-Second Season (Comedy Central, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) felt like watching them for the first time. The show is still entertaining, but it’s moved beyond groundbreaking or culturally relevant. Bonus materials include mini-commentaries, #Socialcommentary, and deleted scenes.

Guillermo del Toro is probably the closest we’ve got to an inheritor of the unique visual world building ability of Terry Gilliam, and that claim was made decidedly clear with Pan’s Labyrinth (Warner Bros., Rated R, 4K-$44.95 SRP), whose visual splendor makes its way to 4K high definition in style. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, a gallery, and more.

While you’re in with the family this holiday season, why not partake of a pair of delightfully offbeat classics now bundled together on one release with The Addams Family/Addams Family Values: 2-Movie Collection (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$16.99 SRP)? It’s altogether ooky.

I’m not sure the world needed another remake of A Star Is Born (Warner Bros., Rated R, 4K-$19.96 SRP), but at least this one features a pair of incredible performances from Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, and lands its emotional core with devastating effect. Bonus materials include additional performances, a featurette, and music videos. Also available is the A Star Is Born: Encore Edition (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), which features an extended cut with extended musical performances, jam sessions, and scenes.

When it aired in 1983, V: The Original Miniseries (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP) seemed a revolutionary bit of television science fiction ““ Dark, caustic, and full of social commentary. It was as close to John Carpenter’s They Live as you could imagine network television getting. Bonus materials for this release include an audio commentary with writer/director Kenneth Johnson and a behind-the-scenes documentary.

To wrap things up on a fun note, for ages I’ve been praising the work that Diamond Select does with their Diamond Gallery PVC dioramas (Diamond Select, $50-70 SRP). Not only have they been exploring a deep bench of characters from Marvel, DC, and more – including film, TV, and animation ““ with solid sculpts and paint work, but they’re incredibly inexpensive compared to the more traditional resin or polystone statues. Here’s hoping they keep expanding the line into new and interesting directions, including pieces based on the artwork of specific artists”¦ If only so I can finally get some John Byrne Fantastic Four statues.

It’s that time of year again, when sites the web-over compile helpful holiday shopping lists to guide you into the deepest, darkest pits of retail with a map that will hopefully get you out alive. Here now, without further ado, is the 2018 FRED Holiday Shopping Guide.

(If you see anything you like, please support FRED by using the links below to make your holiday purchases – it’s appreciated!)

Glimpsed briefly but memorably at the end of Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 but coming into his own in Avengers: Infinity War, it was only a matter of time before the scale wizards at Hot Toys gave us a 1/6-scale Teenage Groot (Sideshow, $220). With a pair of swappable faces that perfectly capture the teenage indifference, his accessories are limited to a blaster and his handheld game, but we all know that’s all he cares about, anyway.

But, you know, if you’re more partial to the carefree (though occasionally brutal) plant that danced his way across Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, Hot Toys has the ideal desk display item ““ a 1:1-scale Baby Groot (Sideshow, $143). It’s an incredible replica, ridiculously poseable, with a perfectly realized paint job straight out of the film.

You know those things you never thought would see the light of day but are infinitely delighted by when they suddenly appear? Yeah, that’s a good way of describing the arrival of Community: The Complete Series (Mill Creek, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$ SRP), available for the first time in high definition. Making this set all the sweeter, it ports over all of the bonus features from the previous DVD sets, meaning audio commentaries on all 6 seasons, blooper reels, and featurettes. And every bit of it is worth a re-watch. Even the “gas leak” season.

I never in a million years thought that I would say one of the funniest films of the year ““ and a candidate for one of the best superhero films ““ would be Teen Titans Go To The Movies (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$22.65 SRP), but it’s a hilarious pic that manages to be joyously reverential to the source material in ways the live action arm of the DC cinematic universe just can’t seem to manage. Bonus materials include music videos, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

While there may have been a nagging fear in the back of my heart, Incredibles 2 (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) managed to not only meet my high expectations, but exceed them. Picking up right where the first film left off, you’d never know that nearly 15 years have passed, so effortlessly does Brad Bird bring us back into a world as close as we’re going to get to a proper Fantastic Four film. Bonus materials include the short “Bao”, featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

And speaking of Pixar, enough years ““ and films ““ have gone by that there’s more than enough content to fill Pixar Short Films: Volume 3 (Walt Disney, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.96 SRP), which contains 11 short subjects ““ from “Partysaurus Rex” to “Bao” ““ introductions and audio commentaries on all of the shorts, plus a pair of bonus mini-movies and featurettes.

I went in to Crazy Rich Asians (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) with the hope that it would blow me away, and it did. Brilliant fun with a wonderful cast and equal parts humor and heart, I look forward to whatever sequels the future may hold. My one regret, though, is that we somehow got a gag reel that’s only 2 minutes long. Surely there are hours more they could have put on the disc, along with the audio commentary and also-brief featurette.

There will come a day, sooner than I could ever want (which is never), when the great Billy Connolly will no longer be with us. So it was with great joy that I dove into Made In Scotland (BBC Books, £20), his delightful and intimate tour of the country that shaped him.

For a consistently reliable laugh, check out the latest releases from the fine folks at Rifftrax. If you’re in the mood for some easily-digestible shorts, you’ve got the latest collection ““ Rifftrax: The Walking Shorts (Rifftrax, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP), featuring 9 giddy gems. Or you could take in Rifftrax Live: Space Mutiny (Rifftrax, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$14.95 SRP), for an evening of awful movie roasting in front of a live audience.

Mini tchotchkes featuring fun licenses and great sculpts? Sold. The gimmick behind Domez (ZagToys, $5.99 RSP each) is that each of the small figurines is protected under a clear plastic dome, with a base that is constructed to allow both stacking and interlocking with other figures, making display easy. Granted, they are blind-bagged, so there is a bit of a chase involved if you want to assemble a full set, but they’re certainly appealing enough that you’ll want to get them all. They’ve done two series of Gravity Falls figures (one for each season of the show, with a handful of episode-specific variants), as well as a recently available series for Ralph Breaks The Internet and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse. They’re pretty darn nifty.

I get into very few video games these days, but Insomniac’s Spider-Man pushed all of my buttons ““ I mean, it’s Spider-Man, for criminy’s sake. While I enjoyed Paul Dini’s writing and the voice acting in the first two Batman Arkham games, I don’t have nearly the emotional attachment to the caped crusader as I do to the ol’ wall-crawler. For a bit more of what went in to crafting the game’s universe, there’s Spider-Man: The Art Of The Game (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP), detailing the process and visual development.

Every time the Warner Archive drops a new batch of titles, it’s a reminder of just how deep and eclectic the Warner catalogue truly is. I’m glad they’ve continued to not only mine their vault, but also give film fans new high-definition releases of cult faves that might not otherwise see the light of day ““ the latest bunch being Christopher Lee & Peter Cushing’s Horror Of Dracula (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Errol Flynn in The Sea Hawk (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Robert Altman’s Brewster McCloud (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Lucille Ball in Mame (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), and the 4-film Bogart & Bacall: The Complete Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) ““ which contains To Have And Have Not, The Big Sleep, Dark Passage, and Key Largo.

The CW DC Comics universe gets its own DC Comic Gallery PVC dioramas from Diamond Select with Green Arrow and The Flash (Diamond Select, $45 SRP each). These dioramas are great statues if you’re on a budget, featuring great sculpts at a reasonable price.

Even outside of the show itself, Gravity Falls has generated some decidedly inspired takes on standard tie-in products. Their take on a coloring book, Don’t Color This Book! It’s Cursed! (Disney Press, $12.99 SRP), actually has a narrative woven through it, as Dipper & Mabel are trapped in a coloring book by an other-dimensional “pigmentologist” who seeks to collect colors from our dimension ““ via your coloring. Ingenious, really. For more of a retro feel, Gravity Falls fans can also try to navigate Dipper And Mabel And The Curse Of The Time Pirates’ Treasure! (Disney Press, $12.99 SRP) ““ a “Select Your Own Choose-Venture” novel, that’s a whole heck of a lot of fun.

While it incorporates some elements from his original graphic novel and animated version of her origin, Paul Dini and co-writer Pat Cadigan’s novel Harley Quinn: Mad Love (Titan Books, $24.95 SRP) greatly expands on the life of Harleen Quinzel, crafting a far richer tale about her the life and events that led to her breaking bad and carrying the story forward enough to tease her post-Joker future”¦ Which I hope is explored in more novels to come.

I’d be hard-pressed to say these are great films, even if I do have a nostalgic affection for a few of them, but kudos to Mill Creek for the clever, creative packaging on their new line of high-definition catalogue releases ““ Krull, Who’s Harry Crumb?, Hardbodies, Silent Rage, Happy Birthday To Me, and Last Action Hero (Mill Creek, $14.98 SRP each) ““ which reproduces the film’s original VHS box design, appropriately weathered, with a VHS cassette partially visible. You know, exactly like you might see them on the shelves of your local video rental store, warning stickers and all. Very cool.

Now you can binge all four seasons of Nathan Fielder’s unorthodox marketing via Nathan For You: The Complete Series (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), featuring audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

While a loving portrait of her comedy legend father, what most impressed me about Violet Ramis Stiel’s Ghostbuster’s Daughter (Blue Rider Press, $28 SRP) is that it’s also an honest, candid look at her father, Harold Ramis, without sacrificing her own voice and importance within the book.

Every time I watch a Mission Impossible, save for maybe the first, I think to myself, “This is what a modern James Bond film should feel like – Action, adventure, memorable characters, grand schemes, massive set-pieces, and a dash of humor.” All of that and more can be found in the latest outing ““ Mission Impossible: Fallout (Paramount, RatedPG-13, 4K-$37.99), which manages to pull together all of the mythology this series has built up about its world and Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, all without getting bogged down. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

Years after the show’s original DVD release, the new Kids In The Hall: The Complete Collection (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$35.99 SRP) corrects the problems of the old set by presenting the entire run completely uncensored in its original air form. Just that would be enough for me, but the set also includes the Death Comes To Town reunion series, the original HBO pilot, audio/video commentary, interviews, archival footage, original live performances, deleted/extended scenes, and bloopers.

Catherine Hardwicke’s Lords Of Dogtown (Mill Creek, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP) is most assuredly a sports movie, chronicling the game-changing approach to skateboarding pioneered by the trio known as the Z-Boys (played by John Robinson, Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk) in conjunction with board designer Skip Engblom (Heath Ledger). This high-def extended edition includes audio commentaries, featurettes, and a gag reel.

The third season of Laugh-In (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP) is the first where the show sits atop the cultural zeitgeist, adding Lily Tomlin as a castmember and an impressive roster of guest stars, including Ringo Starr, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Debbie Reynolds, Bing Cosby, Frank Sinatra, Sid Caesar, ¾ of The Monkees, and more. This 7-disc set contains all 26 episodes, plus a tribute to creator George Schlatter and an interview with Tomlin.

Flicker Alley has turned their restorative eye to George Melies legendary A Trip To The Moon (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), and the result is a beautiful presentation of a landmark film, presented in its original hand-coloration. Bonus materials include the 2011 documentary The Extraordinary Voyage, a pair of Melies shorts, and the restored Trip To The Moon in black & white.

Watching Justice League (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 4K-$14.96 SRP) is like finally coming upon a car wreck whose smoke you’ve seen from miles away. Through mediocre to abysmal outings like Man Of Steel and Batman v Superman, I’ve been dreading the final expression of this dank, inhospitable cinematic universe (I consider the wonderful Wonder Woman to be an outlier, and the tone deaf mistreatment of her character in this film proves my point), and my fears came to pass. It’s just an awful mess. Bonus features include a handful of featurettes, but no real insight into why these characters are lying in a ditch on the side of the road.

Featuring performances from Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Journey, Pearl Jam, Ringo Starr, and more, the 2-disc Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame: In Concert (Time Life, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) collects inductions and performances from the 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 ceremonies, and is a must-watch for any music fan.

While the storyline only becomes more and more problematic as time goes by, the brand new 4K 40th Anniversary Edition of Grease (Paramount, Rated PG, 4K-$22.95 SRP) certainly looks and sounds phenomenally good, and is sure to make fans of the film happy. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted/alternate/extended scenes, sing-alongs, and more.

A sci-fi classic, the original Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (Olive, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP) looks nearly pristine in this new special edition, featuring audio commentaries, featurettes, interviews, and more.

Just when I think Shout Factory can’t possibly top themselves and their gloriously eclectic catalogue of cult releases, you get a clutch of new titles from them, including the 1987 Dan Aykroyd/Tom Hanks Dragnet (Shout Factory, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), cattle-driving Billy Crystal in City Slickers (Shout Factory, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), William Castle’s The Tingler (Shout Factory, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), and the Hollywood-skewering Get Shorty (Shout Factory, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.93 SRP). And, because it’s Shout Factory, they’re all loaded to the gills with bonus features, including audio commentaries, featurettes, and more.

Robin Williams made a huge impression on my developing comedy mind, from his early stand-up specials to his starring role in Mork & Mindy. And now, just in time for the holidays, Time Life has assembled an incredible 2-volume set celebrating him ““ Robin Williams: Comic Genius (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$99.95 SRP). The 12-discs feature all 5 of Robin’s HBO stand-up specials, rare early stand-up footage, footage from his USO tours, interviews, raw promo shoot footage, the first 6 episodes of Mork & Mindy, a collection of late night appearances, and the 2018 documentary Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind.

I had zero expectations of Wreck-It Ralph when it arrived in theaters a few years back, and was duly surprised by how great a film it was. And that means I’m very excited about the sequel, and delighted by its fantastic new companion book ““ The Art Of Ralph Breaks The Internet (Chronicle Books, $40 SRP) ““ packed with development art and insight from the filmmakers.

Though if you want a general overview of the film and its characters, you’ll want to pick up Ralph Breaks The Internet: The Official Guide (DK, $9.99 SRP), a slim little compendium perfect to give you a primer.

It took a bit for the spigot to open, but tie-in products for the Ducktales reboot are finally hitting shelves. Ducktales: Solving Mysteries And Rewriting History (Disney Press, $12.99 SRP) is a journal chock-full of supplemental lore material presented from the characters’ point of view. Ducktales Doodles (Disney Press, $12.99 SRP) is a coloring/activity book that encourages you to doodle drawings to fill put the scenes presented. Finally, Ducktales: Woo-oo! (Disney Press, $6.99 SRP) is a Read-Along storybook & CD presentation of the show’s pilot episode, featuring the original voices and music.

That the folks at Shout Factory have pulled together a remarkably deep set for a cult favorite will come as zero surprise to anyone who has been following the fan magic they’ve been working over the years, so ““ SHOCK ““ their Saved By The Bell: The Complete Collection (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP) is delightfully comprehensive, right down to including the Hayley Mills-starring “first” season Good Morning, Miss Bliss. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, brand new documentaries, galleries, and more. The only thing that could possibly make it better was if they included every episode of “Zack Morris Is Trash”.

I’d definitely put Marvelocity: The Marvel Comics Art Of Alex Ross (Pantheon, $50 SRP) in the “What took this so long to happen” file, but once you flip through this big honkin’ hardcover volume packed with Ross’s artwork, you’ll just be happy it finally has. It’s a beautiful collection loaded with never-before-seen images, a new Spider-Man story, and more.

As a fan of the book, I was wary yet hopeful going in to the first season of Starz’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, and was relieved when it turned out to be a wonderfully weird season of television and a solid take on the material. The making of that first season is explored in Inside American Gods (Chronicle Books, $35 SRP), which is packed with insight and anecdotes from the show’s creators and cast, plus plenty of photos.

In another sign that the children of the 90s have wrested the nostalgia remote from 80s kids, you can now get a complete series set of the beloved-of-that-generation Nickelodeon classic Rocko’s Modern Life (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), in an 8-disc set featuring every episode, as well as Hey Arnold: The Ultimate Collection (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$47.79 SRP), which is packed with bonus materials.

Shout Factory isn’t just giving fans of cult film their hearts’ desires, but also delighting aficionados of classic TV. Repackaging into one set their previous 2-volume presentation, the Ernie Kovacs: Centennial Edition (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$69.97 SRP) is a 9-disc set featuring a healthy representation of what made Kovacs an eccentric innovator in the early days of television comedy.

The various Star Wars Visual Dictionaries have been a geeky joy to page through over the years, so it’s great that the concept has been expanded into the Marvel Studios Visual Dictionary (DK, $30 SRP), which follows the template with plenty of photos and trivia about the characters and gear found in Marvel’s films, right up through Infinity War, but I can only assume that the complicated rights issues denied Spider-Man his rightful place in the book.

It’s cold outside, you’re stuck inside, and you love Star Wars? Boy, do I have a book for you! Star Wars Maker Lab (DK, $19.99 SRP) features 20 craft and science projects inspired by the events in that galaxy far, far away, from Jabba slime to an R2 holoprojector.

Another theatrical installment in the “Wizarding World Of Harry Potter” franchise this year means a clutch of new tie-in books, running the full gamut of behind-the-scenes, art, and activity releases. If you’d like to learn about the nuts and bolts of the film’s production, there’s Lights, Camera, Magic! The Making Of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (Harper Design, $19.99 SRP). For loads of production art and what went into designing the film, there’s The Art Of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (Harper Design, $60 SRP). I’m a sucker for the mixed-media books that include paper reproductions of various props and ephemera, and that’s what you’ll find in the lavish The Archive Of Magic – The Film Wizardry Of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (HarperDesign, $50 SRP). For the younger set that wants more of a fun look at the making of the film and its characters, there’s Fantastic Beasts: Movie-Making News ““ The Stories Behind The Magic (HarperDesign, $19.99 SRP), which presents the material via page designs evocative of the wizarding world’s newspapers. Finally, you can get your zen on with the Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald: Magical Adventure Coloring Book (HarperDesign, $15.99 SRP).

J.W. Rinzler has already knocked out must-have books chronicling the making of the original Star Wars trilogy and all four Indiana Jones films, so it was a happy surprise to find that he had turned his eye (SPOILER!) closer to home with another definitive tome, The Making Of Planet Of The Apes (HarperDesign, $60 SRP). Including scores of never-before-seen photos and more insight than you can shake an angry fist at, it’s the book you weren’t aware you needed until now.

It takes a mighty effort to get me excited about new vinyl releases. I’m a sucker for secondhand vintage vinyl, just for nostalgia’s sake and an appreciation of certain musicians, interesting cover art, or just bonzo novelty. But, I have to say, the Star Wars: A New Hope 40th Anniversary 3-LP Collector’s Edition (Walt Disney Records, $150) is a simply incredible presentation. Arriving in a slick slipcase, the LPs are 180-gram vinyl, fully remastered, with pretty incredible Death Star holograms printed on the vinyl itself. If that weren’t enough, there’s also a 48-page hardcover book with information on the recording sessions, essays, photos, and more.

Disney has really gone all-in on vinyl releases, from modern animated films like Moana (Walt Disney Records, $21.98) to “Vinyl Vault” reproductions of their vintage classic releases like Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (Walt Disney Records, $21.98), to scores and soundtracks to their Marvel films like the deluxe edition of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (Walt Disney Records, $29.98).

When the title of the book is DC: Absolutely Everything You Need To Know (DK, $19.99 SRP), you certainly hope it can deliver on providing at least an approximation of ““ if not comprehensive ““ at least essential knowledge about all things DC Comics. And this book does, from all of the major heroes and villains to locations, gadgets, storylines, trivia, and more.

The folks at Flicker Alley have been keeping the silent film flame alive, crafting some incredible restorations and presentations of historically significant features from that era. Their latest are a pair of releases starring silent film legend Mary Pickford ““ Fanchon The Cricket and Little Annie Rooney (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP each).

There have been plenty of HD releases of the film over the years, but as we roll into the holidays, certainly the one most likely to inspire family fun is The Nightmare Before Christmas: Sing-Along Edition (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP). As you’d expect, this edition has optional on-screen sing-along prompting, plus bonus features including an audio commentary, deleted scenes, Tim Burton shorts, and featurettes.

Coming amidst a flurry of turn-of-the-century teen comedies, Can’t Hardly Wait (Mill Creek, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP) is one of only a handful that’s actually a decent film, with a solid cast and a zippy energy. This 20th anniversary edition brings the film to high definition, and includes audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and a Smash Mouth music video”¦ Because that was a thing then.

Need a mindless distraction from the family this holiday season? Nothing says “distraction” like a big giant shark, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with The Meg (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 4K-$38.46 SRP), which also stars Jason Statham. Who isn’t a shark. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes.

Packed with meticulously restored photographs documenting behind-the-scenes moments, deleted scenes, and bloopers from the original series, Star Trek: Lost Scenes (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP) is one of those books that comes out of left field and delivers material that fans were not expecting, but are sure to be giddy to pore over.

I never tire of seeing vintage photos of Walt Disney, and there are loads of previously unseen ones to be found in Travels With Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage Around The World (Disney Editions, $29.99 SRP), which pulls from personal family archives to document decades of Walt and his family’s global travel.

Celebrating his 90th anniversary, The Art Of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse (Disney Editions, $40 SRP) is a beautiful coffee table book that gathers together pieces from dozens of artists, all interpreting the iconic character in their own distinct styles.

I really didn’t know what to expect from Smallfoot (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$22.95 SRP), since it came and went from theaters in a flash, but having finally seen it, it’s a charmingly spry little family film with just enough wit in its tale of a Yeti community discovering an actual human to make it endearing. Bonus materials include a mini-movie, music videos, a Yeti Sing-Along, and more.

-Ken Plume

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”¦)

A decade ago, if you had asked me if I’d care a tinker’s whit for any merchandise based on Anakin Skywalker from the Star Wars prequels, I would have laughed in your face and thought you a fool. But here we are, and here’s me genuinely caring about the Hot Toys release of a 1/6-scale Anakin Skywalker (Sideshow, $267), as portrayed by Hayden Christensen in Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. And the only reason I care if the tremendous amount of solid character rehabilitation that took place during the Clone Wars animated series, which managed to redeem all of the elements the prequels managed to fumble. This edition is the deluxe Toy Fair exclusive, featuring Anakin after he’s turned to the Dark Side, red-eyed and angry. It even has an impressive display option ““ the flying platform he fought on while dueling with Obi-Wan on the lava planet of Mustafar (so, of course, the lava on the base is impressively lit via LEDs). I can’t wait to have the prequel Obi-Wan in hand to take the display high ground.

It certainly took a while to grow on me, but by the fourth and final season of Star Wars: Rebels (Walt Disney, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$45.99 SRP), I came to love the mythology and ragtag group of characters lovingly woven into the larger Star Wars universe. Bonus materials include audio commentaries and featurettes.

Not only were the folks at Shout Factory able to finally get Disney to agree to let an outside company release one of their shows on home video, but they were also able to hit it out of the park with a stellar high definition release of Gravity Falls (Shout Factory, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$99.99 SRP), which is positively packed with bonus features. One can only hope this opens the door for Disney to turn over the release of The Muppet Show and their Disney Afternoon properties to Shout, as well.

Speaking of Gravity Falls, the story continues with EVEN MORE STORIES in creator Alex Hirsch’s graphic novel Gravity Falls: Lost Legends (Disney Press, $19.99 SRP). I won’t spoil the quartet of new adventures, so just hurry up and read it already.

While Shout Factory gets most of the attention for their catalogue releases, Mill Creek has been steadily ramping up their game with their access to the Sony library. The latest shows to get proper high definition debuts are complete collections of Masters Of Sex (Mill Creek, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$69.98 SRP) and Happy Endings (Mill Creek, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). Bonus materials on Masters Of Sex include an audio commentary, featurettes, and deleted scenes, while Happy Endings gets interviews, parodies, deleted scenes, and outtakes.

I have to continue to give huge props to the folks at The Warner Archive for continuing to deep dive into their catalogue and serve up high definition releases of titles that may not have a wide appeal but make fans happy. Case in point is a quintet of recent releases, including the fun awful Supergirl (which even includes a bonus DVD of the extended Director’s Cut), Spencer Trace in Bad Day At Black Rock, the Blaxploitation classic Super Fly, John Huston’s The Life & Times Of Judge Roy Bean, and the still weird Village Of The Damned (Warner Bros., $21.99 SRP each).

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is about to make his television debut, so the timing is perfect for the 4k debut of the character’s feature films ““ The Hunt For Red October, Patriot Games, Clear And Present Danger, The Sum Of All Fears, and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit ““ all in the appropriately titled Jack Ryan Collection (Paramount, Rated PG/PG-13/R, 4K Blu-Ray-$69.99 SRP). As for bonus features, they all carry over from the previous Blu-Ray releases.

Ben Acker & Ben Blacker’s Star Wars: Join The Resistance trilogy concludes with Attack On Starkiller Base (Lucasfilm Press, $12.99 SRP), which finds Mattis Banz and the other members of J-Squadron attempting a daring rescue mission aboard a First Order ship and warn the Resistance about a deadly threat.

Are they lowbrow? Decidedly so. RIDICULOUSLY so. But I admit, there’s still plenty of guilty laughs to be had re-visiting the whole run of profoundly stupid stunts via the comprehensive Jackass: Complete Movie & TV Collection (Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$16.99 SRP). Not only do you get the original television series, but also all 3 feature films and Bad Grandpa, plus the unrated versions ““ All in one box.

It came and went in theaters, but Melissa McCarthy’s Life Of The Party (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$22.99 SRP) ““ about a housewife who decides to attend college alongside her daughter after her husband leaves her ““ is a fun romp in the way many McCarthy flicks are. Is it brilliant? No. Is it enjoyable? Yes. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

Yes, we’re already getting Halloween releases, and Nickelodeon has got kids covered with Spongebob Squarepants: The Legend Of Boo-kini Bottom (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), which features the show’s spooky stop-motion special, and PAW Patrol: Halloween Heroes (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP).

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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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”¦)

A few years back, the brilliant artisans at Hot Toys set the bar ridiculously high with their wonderful 1/6-scale take on Princess Leia from Star Wars: A New Hope, which featured not only a great sculpt of Carrie Fisher in her iconic double-bun-do, but also some fine tailoring on her costuming. But, as great as that was, Hot Toys has blown it out of the water with their brand new Princess Leia (Sideshow Collectibles, $219.99). I mean, the sculpt is perfect, the costuming is impeccably recreated, and the accessories are exquisite, right down to the breathing mask she wore while investigating mynocks. By golly, this figure is great. I can’t wait to see what they’ve gone with General Leia from the more recent films.

I’m a bit baffled that Armando Iannucci’s brilliant The Death Of Stalin (Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$14.99 SRP) is only getting a standard DVD release here in the US. Does high definition make the already uncomfortably identifiable events just too real? And where’s my audio commentary? At least the release does get a featurette and deleted scenes, but a future high-def version would be much appreciated.

Another Pixar movie means we get another incredible Art Of book from the fine folks at Chronicle Books, and it’s particularly fitting that this year’s incredible Art Of book from Chronicle is The Art Of The Incredibles 2 (Chronicle Books, $40 SRP), with an introduction by director Brad Bird.

I really had almost zero expectations for the comedy Game Night (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP) besides the hope that it would be a pleasant diversion in these deeply distressing times. And hey! It was. With a cast that includes Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Sarah Horgan, and the comedy award-worthy Jesse Plemons, it’s a lark worth watching. Bonus materials include a featurette and a gag reel.

The 21st season of South Park (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), following the 20th season’s election-themed, continuity-heavy debacle, is the first in a long while that I have pretty much zero memory of, all these months later. Re-watching them, the episodes are certainly strong, if entirely forgettable. Bonus materials include the usual batch of mini-commentaries from Matt Stone & Trey Parker.

The Angelina Jolie films were fine, but the rebooted Tomb Raider (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 4K-$29.96 SRP), starring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, delivers the franchise into a much more stable modern footing as a solid action film sans the cheese. Bonus materials include a quartet of featurettes.

I have mixed feelings about Forrest Gump (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 4K-$25.75 SRP), which is newly available in UltraHD. It’s a supremely affable film, almost inexplicably so, but it’s also the movie that gave Robert Zemeckis gold fever, winning the Best Picture Academy Award and setting him on a path far removed from the beloved comedy and genre flicks that had defined his career previously. Shame, really. Bonus materials include audio commentaries featurettes, and screen tests.

I had never heard of the film Cold Turkey (Olive Films, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$19.95 SRP). Written and directed by Norman Lear, it’s about a small, impoverished town in the Midwest who accepts a challenge to go tobacco-free for a month in exchange for $25 million. And it stars Dick Van Dyke, Bob Newhart, Jean Stapleton, Edward Everett Horton, Tom Poston, and Bob & Ray, with music by Randy Newman? I’m in.

Truly solid science fiction films are few and far between. The last one was probably The Arrival, and I’d certainly put Annihilation (Paramount, Rated R, 4K-$44.99 SRP) in that rarified air, with a stellar cast (Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tuva Novotny, and Oscar Isaac) and a wonderfully weird concept about exploring a bubble of unique evolution, see it. Bonus materials include a handful of featurettes.

A lot has been said about the satirical inspiration of A Day In The Life Of Marlon Bundo (Chronicle Books, $18.99 SRP) and its origin within John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight, so instead I just want to say what a beautiful children’s book bunny Marlon Bundo (with Jill Tweiss) has crafted, with lovely illustrations by EG Keller and an even more beautiful message of love and inclusivity.

The first Paddington film was an unexpectedly sweet outing for the marmalade-loving bear, and the simply named sequel Paddington 2 (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) manages to retain all of the charm and add substantially to it for a sequel that often exceeds already high expectations. It’s a deeply charming, fun, funny film. Bonus materials include featurettes and a music video.

In the mood for John Landis double feature this weekend? Well, a pair of his films are celebrating their anniversaries with brand new releases ““ the 35th anniversary edition of Trading Places (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP) and the 30th anniversary edition of Coming To America (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP). Bonus materials on Trading Places include featurettes, a deleted scene, and an industry promotional pieces, while Coming To America sports featurettes, an Arsenio/Eddie sitdown, and a photo gallery.

I own the stories in plenty of different volumes released over the years, but Fantagraphics has crafted the definitive edition of Carl Barks’ classic Disney Duck tales with their multi-volume Carl Barks Library, the latest volume of which is Donald Duck: The Lost Peg Leg Mine (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP), featuring a batch of stories from the late 1950s.

By the 5th season of Orange Is The New Black (Lionsgate, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.97 SRP), we’re dangerously close to the show becoming a bit too cartoonish, as characters become more removed from reality as a way of extending the series. It’s not quite there, but the warning signs certainly are, as we dive into a prison riot storyline. Bonus materials include commentaries, a featurette, and a gag reel.

A sixth film is headed to theaters, which makes the timing perfect for the first 5 Mission: Impossible films ““ Mission: Impossible, Mission Impossible 2, Mission Impossible 3, Mission: Impossible ““ Ghost Protocol, & Mission: Impossible ““ Rogue Nation (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 4K-$44.95 SRP each) – to make their UltraHD debut packed with new and vintage bonus materials, including featurettes, audio commentaries, galleries, and more. But really, after so many films, it seems the series should be more correctly called Mission: Improbable.

But, in a world where we have Tom Cruise Mission Impossible films, I’m not sure why we ever needed Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 4k-$44.95 SRP), which just seems a watered-down, joyless version of that other long-lasting franchise. Sure, there’s nothing awful about the Reacher films, they’re just forgettable. Bonus materials include audio commentaries and a trio of featurettes.

I thought the live action Suicide Squad was a boatload of hot garbage, so the animated Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay (Warner Bros., Rated R, 4K-$24.95 SRP) had only a subterranean bar to clear, which it does handily by at least being a watchable story that only runs less than 90 minutes. Bonus materials include featurettes and a sneak peek at the animated Death Of Superman.

Not only has Ashley Eckstein cemented herself in the hearts of Star Wars fandom for her portrayal of Ahsoka Tano, but she’s also gone on to carve out an empire with her fashion brand/fangirl community Her Universe. In It’s Your Universe: You Have The Power To Make It Happen (Disney Editions, $17.99 SRP), she charts her course from a young fangirl geeking on Disney to her current career as an actress and entrepreneur.

I do love a horror film that places more weight on suspense than on gore, and A Quiet Place (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 4K-$34.99 SRP) certainly falls into that paradigm, even if the concept itself ““ about a family having to remain absolutely silent in order to avoid detection by deadly aliens with acute hearing ““ doesn’t really hold up to too much scrutiny. But who cares? It’s a taut ride. Bonus materials include a trio of featurettes.

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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It’s that time of year again, when sites the web-over compile helpful holiday shopping lists to guide you into the deepest, darkest pits of retail with a map that will hopefully get you out alive. Here now, without further ado, is the 2017 FRED Holiday Shopping Guide.

(If you see anything you like, please support FRED by using the links below to make your holiday purchases – it’s appreciated!)

While we wait through the long winter for its return sometime in 2019, pass the time with a dive back into Game Of Thrones: Season 7 (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$ SRP), While the sets have the usual complement of audio commentaries and behind-the-scenes featurettes, the real stand-out remains the animated vignettes depicting the rich, deep history of Westeros, Conquest & Rebellion. I’ll never grow tired of those, and am delighted they continue to find their way onto these sets.

OT Luke is all well and good, but there’s something so wonderfully Star Wars about making a high-end figure for the epic return of a classic character that lasted all of about 30 seconds on screen. So it is that Hot Toys has crafted Luke Skywalker (Sideshow Collectibles, $229.99), which perfectly captures grizzled and skeptical Luke as played by everyone’s favorite uncle, Mark Hamill. We won’t be seeing much of Luke in this white outfit in The Last Jedi, but it’s captured here in all of its Kenobian glory. Considering the limited action involved in his glorified cameo, it should come as little surprise that the figure is light on accessories, save for some swappable hands.

It’s somewhat surprising that it’s taken this long to get a comprehensive tome about the making of Peter Jackson’s Tolkien adaptations, but when you peruse the absolutely massive Middle-Earth From Script To Screen: Building The World Of The Lord Of The Rings & The Hobbit (HarperDesign, $75 SRP), it’s easy to understand why. Packed with behind-the-scenes photos and interviews with all of the principal creatives, this is every bit the book equivalent of the exhaustive DVD supplements the 6 films are known for.

It really is remarkable what Diamond Select has been doing with their line of vinyl statues. For a fraction of the cost of other companies, they’ve been producing some truly stellar releases that are well-designed, dynamic sculpts, a high-level of paint quality, and characters fans care about. First to drop in a series that will eventually feature the whole cast, their Gamora & Rocket (Diamond Select, $45 SRP) is everything I just described. Grab this, and be sure to get ready for the rest of the Guardians, because you’re going to want them all.

For nearly four decades, a bootleg has floated around and found its way into the clutches of Superman: The Movie fans. When the film made its original television premiere, loads of deleted scenes were added back in to pad out its runtime, making for a 3+ hour version. It’s by no means a better version of the film, but it’s still great to see more material from such an iconic piece of pop cinema. And now, throw those bootlegs out, because the Warner Archive has decided to give fans the greatest gift of all by releasing a fully restored, high-definition version of Superman The Movie: Extended Cut (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP). Also included is Richard Donner’s special edition director’s cut from 2000, featuring an audio commentary a trio of documentaries, the deleted scenes that made it back into the Extended Cut, screen tests, and additional music cues.

Pixar’s Coco, besides being a joyful tearjerker, is also an absolutely beautiful film. That beauty also extends to the development process, which is explored in The Art Of Coco (Chronicle Books, $40 SRP), the latest in the long line of excellent Pixar “Art Of” books from Chronicle. It makes me want to see the film again.

Almost 20 years after episodes began making their way to home video, what very well may be the final box set of unreleased episodes is here. Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXXIX (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$37.79 SRP) doesn’t have the usual complement of 4 episodes, instead containing a trio – Girls Town, The Amazing Transparent Man, & Diabolik – plus a 4th disc containing the host segments for the 11 remaining unreleased episodes that still remain in licensing limbo. The set has a very nice selection of bonus featurettes and the vintage Last Dance Raw documentary from the filming of the final episode, while fans who order directly from Shout also get a bonus disc sporting all of the Poopie! blooper tapes. What a long, strange trip it’s been, and kudos to the amazing licensing team at Shout for being able to clear as many films as they did. A Herculean task, to be sure.

Providing context for the post-war enthusiasm that fueled American culture in the middle of the 20th century, Don Hahn’s Yesterday’s Tomorrow: Disney’s Magical Mid-Century (Disney Editions, $40 SRP) examines the explosion in creativity at the Disney company at the time, from animation and live action to theme parks and developing cities of the future.

The period covered in Peanuts Every Sunday: 1966-1970 (Fantagraphics, $49.99 SRP) is period where the strip had fully coalesced into the strip we hold in our collective memory. Charles Schulz’s had found the beats that would define the rest of its tenure on the comics page. And it’s brilliant to see these Sunday strips printed in full color in a large, beautiful format. These volumes can’t come fast enough.

I admit, another Cars film was probably the last thing I wanted to see Pixar do, particularly after the lackluster Cars 2, but color me pleasantly surprised by Cars 3 (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$ SRP), which tells quite a mature and nuanced tale about aging and obsolescence, pulling a rather deft narrative bait-and-switch. Bonus materials include a brand new short, featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

If you’ve not been following what Oni Press has been doing the last few years, the cold, dark nights of winter are the perfect time to curl up and dive into some of the brilliant visual storytelling they’ve been releasing. For the most mainstream, fans of Rick & Morty can dive into the first 6 volumes collecting their comic book misadventures (Oni Press, $19.99 SRP each), featuring writing that is just as painfully sharp as its animated counterpart. Or read about the offbeat world where worst of the worst kaiju monsters are locked away from the human world in Kaijumax (Oni Press, $9.99 SRP each). And, oh gosh, how much do I love the sublime Johnny Wander collection Our Cats Are More Famous Than Us (Oni Press, $39.99 SRP)? A lot.

Oh, you know there are spoilers a-plenty to be found within its pages, so avoid The Art Of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (HarperCollins, $40.00 SRP) until after you’ve seen the film. But then, once you do, you’ll be able to fully dive into all of the development artwork and information packed into this tome.

Sadly, a character we won’t be seeing on the big screen again is the focal point of Rogue One, Jyn Erso. She does, however, have a few iconic outfits in the film, which means Hot Toys was able to offer two separate figures without it feeling like a redundancy. The Jyn Erso Deluxe Edition (Sideshow Collectibles, $249.99) is your definitive version, which comes packed with enough accessories to give her the bulk of her clothing variations, including a scarf, helmet, and poncho. There are also a ton of weapons and even the data drive for the Death Star plans. Ah, but equally is great is they’ve also made her Jyn Erso (Imperial Disguise) (Sideshow Collectibles, $219.99), which is a substantially different outfit and comes with both a blaster and a swappable helmeted head.

Second only to the legendary Duck Man Carl Barks, Don Rosa’s adventures of Scrooge, Donald, and the denizens of Duckburg have been a true delight, and it isn’t until now that they’ve been collected in a single, definitive series which presents the material with the care and honor it deserves. Sadly, we’re fast approaching the end of Rosa’s output with the release of The Don Rosa Library Volume 7: Uncle Scrooge & Donald Duck – The Treasure Of The Ten Avatars (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP). In addition to the titular tale, the book contains 7 additional stories, plus behind-the-scenes commentary and context from Rosa.

The Warner Archive continues to do a tremendous service for film lovers hoping for niche titles to make their way out of the vaults and into high definition, with the latest batch including the adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), the 80s sci-fi thriller The Hidden (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), the Gene Kelly-starring adaptation of the musical Brigadoon (Warner Bros., Rated G, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), the schlock sci-fi film The Green Slime (Warner Bros., Rated G, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP) – which was also the film featured in the original pilot episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, by the way – and Christopher Guest’s Waiting For Guffman (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP).

A few years back, Disney Publishing released a deluxe box set featuring flip books of archival animation from Walt Disney’s legendary animators, the “Nine Old Men”. I’m delighted they decided to revisit the concept with a second set, Walt Disney’s Nine More Old Men: The Flipbooks (Disney Editions, $60 SRP), containing the works of Ub Iwerks, Art Babbit, Bill Tytla, John Sibley, Hal King, Grim Natwick, Norm Ferguson, Freddie Moore, and Ham Luske. I dearly hope this isn’t the end of this series, and it’s eventually extended to modern masters like Andreas Deja, Eric Goldberg, and Glen Keane.

There’s a strong argument for this year to be the year of Wonder Woman, and having a book like Wonder Woman: Ambassador Of Truth (HarperDesign, $50 SRP) to celebrate it is certainly a plus, as it’s the loving tribute the character deserves, including a nifty selection of ephemera reproductions.

Aww, geez, do I love the exquisite, almost magical skill involved in crafting a pop-up book. Combining that craft with a spotlight on films I adore makes for the must-have Pixar: A Pop-Up Celebration (Disney Editions, $65 SRP). Every film gets its own pop-up vignette, plus mini-vignettes for the company’s long history of shorts.

And speaking of their vinyl statues, not only do they have the license for Marvel characters, but Diamond Select has also been working their way through the DC Animated characters, with the (current) pinnacle of their potential being Batgirl (Diamond Select, $45 SRP), based on her streamlined redesign from The New Adventures Of Batman & Robin. I don’t know how anyone can see her bringing the hammer down on Clayface and not instantly want this figure on their shelf.

There’s a law – I’m sure it must be a law – dictating that every conceivable corner of the Star Wars universe will be fully explored in minute detail, which means we get Star Wars Stormtroopers: Beyond The Armor (HarperDesign, $45 SRP), which shines that spotlight on the Empire’s shocktroopers, from their Clone Trooper origins right through to the First Order, examining both the lore and nuts-and-bolts of their behind-the-scenes evolution and execution.

I love to decorate for the holidays, so when I chanced upon a neighbor’s incredible projected window display at Halloween a few years back – featuring what seemed like very real skeletons, zombies, and a grim reaper inside their home, visible through the window – I had to find out exactly how they accomplished the wondrous feat. Well, much to my surprise, the effect was incredibly easy, as it consisted merely of a vinyl static-cling projection screen on the windows, a digital projector, a DVD/Blu-Ray player, and digital animation files crafted by the fine folks at AtmosFX. As soon as I heard that, in addition to Halloween frights, they also have a line of festive winter animations – AtmosCheerFX – I had to give it a go. With Atmos’s spiffy animations and a brilliant digital projector package (their Digital Decorating Kit Plus, $299.99), I’m now stopping traffic in my neighborhood as rubberneckers can’t avoid being drawn in by the glorious display. The biggest joy of all, though? Just how easy it was to do.

While I can respect the craft behind them, Christopher Nolan films tend to lose me roundabout what feels like hour four. They tend to feel padded and pretentious, and I include his Batman films – particularly the last one – in that assessment, as well. So, imagine my surprise to find what a taut, unshowy narrative Dunkirk (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 4K UltraHD-$44.95 SRP) turned out to be, even though it features the usually bit of Nolan temporal shenanigans, but the interlocking narratives work together to bring the oft-overlooked but incredibly epic tale of the UK’s naval evacuation of troops from Dunkirk – using civilian craft – to propulsive life. Bonus materials include an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the film’s production. Oh, and speaking of Nolan’s previous films, they’ve also released a 4K edition of Interstellar (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 4K UltraHD-$31.99 SRP) to coincide.

Fans of Doctor Who wanting a bit of insight into the origins and evolution of The Doctor’s most fearsome foes will want to pick up a copy of Dalek (HarperDesign, $45 SRP), which details their history featuring rarely seen photographs, comics, and ephemera.

There have been a few releases of a 1/6-scale version of the venerable, and diminutive, Jedi master in the past, Hot Toys has decided to make their definitive version of Yoda (Sideshow Collectibles, $199.99), based on his puppet appearance in Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi. Because he’s such a tiny figure, it’s allowed them to make up for the size with a few substantial extras, including an alternate closed-eyes head sculpt (for when he’s communing with the force), an elaborate mossy base, rocks and stands (for floating with the force), and a crate and lamp (with light feature).

Digging into her unreleased archives just in time for the holidays, Carol Burnett has assembled The Carol Burnett Show: Carol’s Lost Christmas (TimeLife, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP), which contains a trio of uncut holiday episodes from the legendary show’s first 4 seasons.

Baseball fans hoping to re-live the excitement they must have as sports fans for the sports annual tournament will want to re-live it all with the World Series 2017: Collector’s Edition box set (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$79.97 SRP), featuring the entire run of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Houston Astros. Speaking of the (SPOILERS!) Astros, you can follow the highlights of their winning season with the single disc World Series Champions 2017 (Shout Factor, Not Rated, DVD-$ SRP).

With the film getting the 4K HDR treatment for its 40th anniversary, it’s no surprise that we get a complementary book, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: The Ultimate Visual History (HarperDesign, $50 SRP), filled with incredible behind-the-scenes photos (the miniature work is still incredible, especially when you get to linger on the detail) and information.

There are many films that slip through the cracks of time, undeservedly, so it’s always nice when one gets a chance to find a new audience, like director Elaine May’s A New Leaf (Olive, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), which stars Walter Matthau as man who is forced to repay a loan to his uncle (James Coco) after blowing through his inheritance, and schemes to do so by marrying into wealth. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and featurettes.

Herge remains a contentious figure. Revered for his creation Tintin, which contains a fair amount of problematic material, his personal history is also particularly complicated. Largely unseen in the west, he also produced a funny animal strip that is finally making its debut here, Peppy In The Wild West (Fantagraphics, $16.99 SRP), featuring a pair of anthropomorphic bears adventuring in a version of the American West informed by movie serials of the teens and twenties. Still, it’s nice to see the artist’s early work, even if it has to be placed in proper historical context.

All good things must end, and we’ve reached it with Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Final Chapters (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP), which brings together the last clutch of adventures for the wonderful 2012 iteration of our half-shell heroes. And now that we’ve wrapped the show, can we finally get a high definition release of the whole series? Please? It deserves the love.

Proving itself a powerhouse of the Great White Way, you can bring home a pair of books that document the development and legacy of the show with The Lion King: Twenty Years On Broadway And Around The World (Disney Editions, $50 SRP) and director Julie Taymor’s The Lion King: Pride Rock On Broadway (Disney Editions, $40 SRP).

Michael Bay’s seemingly never-ending run of sound & fury Transformers films are far from good – laughably bad, even – but they are jam-packed with the kind of visuals and sound design that are absolutely perfect for impressing friends and family with the new 4k Ultra HD TV set-up you just spent a pretty penny on. With that in mind, the first four films – Transformers, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, & Transformers: Age Of Extinction (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 4K UltraHD-$25.79 SRP each) – are now available in 4K to show off those TVs this holiday season. The new releases carry over all of the bonus features from the previous release, although none of them really do much to make any sense of what you’ve just watched.

Translated into English for the first time, legendary European Disney comics artist Romano Scarpa’s The Return Of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (Fantagraphics, $19.99 SRP) is a lovely sequel to the Disney animated classic that shows a reverence for the material while extrapolating the story beyond the film. And the artwork is pure Scarpa loveliness.

Before their April 2017 concert, one of rock’s most iconic bands had never performed what many consider their masterpiece live in its entirety. But on that date, they did, and it’s capture for posterity on The Who: Tommy – Live At The Royal Albert Hall (Eagle Rock, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.98 SRP). Still blistering as a band, it’s a tour de force performance. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette and footage from the in-house screens.

Sometimes, either through circumstance or hubris, art gets away from the artist. While I certainly think it’s the latter, the former could certainly account for whatever led to Darren Aranofsky’s painfully self-important Mother! (Paramount, Rated R, 4K UltraHD-$34.99 SRP), which stars Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem as a couple whose lives are upturned by unexpected guests Ed Harris & Michelle Pfeiffer. And it all is supposed to be a metaphor for something profound that I was too annoyed to care about after plodding through it. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes.

-Ken Plume

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…)

(Note: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-rays I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.)

As we barrel towards the release of a brand new Star Wars film, the wizards at Hot Toys continue to craft eerily lifelike 1/6-scale figures and release them at an almost cripplingly fast rate. I never thought I’d be so excited to see old man Luke Skywalker (Sideshow, $229.99), last seen in the final moments of The Force Awakens and soon to bring his wary world-weariness to The Last Jedi. And yes, while it’s great to have a Luke Skywalker figure, it’s even better to have a Mark Hamill figure on the shelf.

Diving back to the original trilogy, Hot Toys has continued to fill out their Imperial ranks with the iconic Death Star Gunner (Sideshow, $204.99), whose most recent appearance was manning an almost-fully operational Death Star in Rogue One. The costuming on this figure is exceptionally faithful, and also allows for a couple of different display options, minus the chest protector and quilted vest, variations which were seen in the films. As giving him a console would be a bit cost-prohibitive, the only real accessory he gets is a blaster.

Not to be outdone by Hot Toys, the fine folks at Sideshow have released an original trilogy 1/6-scale gem of their own, the reptilian bounty hunter Bossk (Sideshow, $210). Sideshow has been doing incredible work with the aliens in these films for years, and this is no exception. What’s truly impressive, though, is the work on his flight suit, and all of its attached tubing, wires, and geegaws. Incredible work all-around.

Even nearly a year from its debut, I’m still trying to process exactly what happened in the first season of WestWorld (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$54.97 SRP) and whether or not I enjoyed it. It is a show deeply enamored of its own clockwork, often to its detriment, but remains strangely, ofttimes annoyingly, compelling throughout. As we meander towards its second season, it’s worth a re-visit, if only to be enticingly frustrated all over again. Bonus materials include featurettes and a gag reel.

There are plenty of Christmas movies, but only a handful of Thanksgiving movies. The gold standard remains John Hughes’ Planes, Trains And Automobiles (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$12.96 SRP), which contains – for my money – John Candy’s finest scene. I’ll let you try and think of the one I’m referring to. The new special edition contains a handful of featurettes and tributes, plus a deleted scene.

I’m not entirely sure why The House (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$14.95 SRP) was a dud at the box office. It’s a comedy starring Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell, and that alone carries a heck of a lot of good will. The film itself is funny if unmemorable, finding Poehler and Ferrell as an empty nest couple who turn their suburban home into a casino to pay for their daughter’s high-priced college. Give it a spin. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted/extended/alternate scenes, and a gag reel.

If you’re wanting to fill up your lovely big HDTV with a beautiful nature documentary filled with stunning footage, try Big Pacific (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), which explores the body that covers one-third of the Earth’s surface.

One of the few Batman villains never to make the transition to the 1966 Batman television show finally gets his time in the spotlight via Batman Vs. Two-Face (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$16.99 SRP) – the second and, sadly, final animated film starring the late Adam West and Burt Ward reprising their roles as the Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder. And, taking a page from the stunt casting of the original live action series, the film has cast none other than William Shatner as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Bonus materials include a clutch of featurettes and the Adam West tribute panel from this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

While a fair amount of their direct-to-video animated adaptations of comic book stories have fallen flat for me, one of the highlights of Warner Animation’s past releases is getting a lovely new release via the Justice League: The New Frontier Commemorative Edition (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP), based on Darwyn Cooke’s award-winning graphic novel. As well as a steelbook case, bonus materials include audio commentaries, a quartet of featurettes, and a glimpse at the next animated movie.

Long absent from high definition and very much needing some TLC, the Warner Archive Collection has stepped up and given a beautiful release of the best Dark Knight film of them all, Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99). My only disappointment is that there are zero bonus features. Heck, they could have at least included the original HBO behind-the-scenes special.

To be sure, Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets (Lionsgate, Rated PG-13, 4K-$42.99 SRP) is a beautiful film that is a brilliant way to show off your high definition home theater. As a story, though, it’s a jumbled mess that never quite achieves escape velocity from the void of its two leads, Dane DeHaan & Cara Delevinge, who seem to sleepwalk through the whole affair, rarely alighting on anything approaching chemistry. But those visuals? Gorgeous. Bonus materials include featurettes and trailers.

Just when I think the Warner Archive Collection has run out of films to make available from the Warner vaults, they suddenly drop a massive bushel of new titles that make me go, “Hey! That’s great!” Their latest must-have batch includes The World According To Garp (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99), Seven Days In May (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99), The Gumball Rally (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99), Time After Time (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99), Victor Victoria (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99), S.O.B. (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99), Running On Empty (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$21.99), Midnight In The Garden Of Good & Evil (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99), Michael Collins (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99), and Joe Versus The Volcano (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99). I mean, come on! A funnyman Tom Hanks classic!

The Warner Archive has also have been continuing to do TV releases, so fans of iZombie (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP each) can now snag the first 3 seasons on Blu-Ray, featuring San Diego Comic-Con panels and deleted scenes.

I’m not going to spoil It Comes At Night (Lionsgate, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), because it’s rare for a truly clever thriller to come down the pike, and this most certainly is one. So, by all means, check out its tale of a family isolated and seemingly secure in the woods, who faces upheaval with the unexpected arrival of a couple with their young child. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and a featurette.

It may be hard to imagine that a show so intrinsically bleak could manage going even bleaker, but that’s exactly the feat accomplished in the seventh season of The Walking Dead (Lionsgate, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$42.99 SRP), as it picks right up from Negan’s bloody arrival and sends our demoralized “heroes” (yeah, that’s a parenthetical) through the ringer. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, and deleted/alternate scenes.

There is no doubt that Power Rangers (Lionsgate, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) exists. It is a film that was made. It also seems to have fallen into an uncanny valley between nostalgia and reinvention, never quite committing to either course of action, trying to be taken seriously while still speaking to the franchise’s camp origins. But hey, you get to see Elizabeth Banks chew scenery like a champ. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, alternate/deleted scenes, and outtakes.

There’s no denying that it survives as a certain bit of cultural kitsch, but 30 years ago, Richard Simmons’ Sweatin’ To The Oldies (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP) was a bona fide fitness sensation, encouraging and motivating those genuinely in need by representing them onscreen doing the activities they were being encouraged to participate in, cheered on by the ridiculously enthusiastic Simmons. Now, for the series’ 30th anniversary, this box set collects all 5 original programs, plus an interview with Richard, testimonials, and more.

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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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…)

Sometimes, it seems like Disney has a toybox that is positively overflowing with properties, which becomes abundantly and delightfully clear when two actual toys – well, high-end collectibles (SUPER-TOYS!) arrive hot on the heels of each other, each representing a circle in the Venn diagram of the company’s IP. Not only do these two figures come from powerhouse franchises Marvel & Star Wars, but Hot Toys has delivered them in the form of two of the best figures they’ve ever produced.

From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes Doctor Strange (Sideshow, $234.99), as portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch. From the exquisitely tailored reproduction of the film’s ridiculously intricate costume to the eerily lifelike head sculpt and paint-ops, this is magical realization as befitting Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme. In addition to numerous hands (including a few in spell-casting gestures, but sadly non in his more comics-accurate gloved form, as seen in the mid-credit sequence), you get his sling ring, two versions of the Eye Of Aggamoto (open & closed), and numerous spell attachments. This is a truly spectacular figure.

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Not to be outshone by Stephen Strange, we transition from the mystical to the mechanical for the breakout star of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, K-2SO (Sideshow, $229.99 SRP). I love me some robots, and the endearingly acerbic K-2SO immediately earned himself a place in my heart. The deceptively simple sculpt is a perfect scaled reproduction, and the engineering of the figure delivers a surprising range of movement and poseability. While he’s light on accessories (just a blaster and a grenade), the light he does get – adjustable light-up LED eyes – certainly makes up for it. And now, he can team up with Dr. Strange because, I don’t know, multiverse and dimensions and magic, or something. You figure it out.

It was inevitable that there were dark days ahead for its protagonists, but the third season of Star Wars: Rebels (Walt Disney, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$45.99 SRP) is when we finally get a sense that many of these characters would not have a particularly happy ending in their future, as the Empire closes in and we approach the show’s junction with Rogue One. Bonus materials include audio commentaries and featurettes.

Ten years in the making, Ken Burns & Lynn Novick’s 18-hour documentary treatise on The Vietnam War (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$129.99 SRP) is every bit as comprehensive and compelling as you’d expect from the documentary duo. It truly is a gripping, often harrowing account of a dark period in American history. Bonus materials include a making-of featurette and additional content.

While bootlegs and original vinyl rips have been floating around the internet for ages, I am giddy beyond measure that we finally have a fully remastered, expanded release of the songs and score to Robert Altman’s unjustly overlooked Popeye (Varese Sarabande, $12.99 SRP). Not only does it contain all of Harry Nilsson’s songs, but a bonus of all of his demos, including songs cut from the film.

Granted, the Zach Snyder DC superhero films have set the bar ridiculously low, but for all its faults (and there are plenty of faults), director Patty Jenkins’s Wonder Woman (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) succeeds in being a bright, colorful, and just plain enjoyable film that is unashamed to be unabashedly heroic. It’s a start. Bonus materials include an epilogue, featurettes, extended scenes, bloopers, and more.

And while we’re talking Diana, I can’t recommend enough the PVC statuette of Wonder Woman from Diamond Select Toys ($45.00 SRP). Based on her Bruce Timm-designed appearance in the [Justice League] animated series, it’s maquette quality sculpting at a ridiculously accessible price. All indications is that Diamond is going to continue this line, with an animated Flash on its way soon, and I hope the line dive even deeper, because it’s sterling stuff.

I love it when a book comes out and exhaustively explores a topic that has been oft-overlooked and profoundly underappreciated, and both can certainly be ascribed to the unsung artists chronicled in the exhaustive and engaging Ink & Paint: The Women Of Walt Disney’s Animation (Disney Editions, $60 SRP), which examines the roles women filled in the Disney studio from its inception to the modern age.

The cycle of release and re-release is the economic circle of life that Disney has seared in our collective consumer brains for generations, so it should come as no surprise that they’ve released a brand new edition of The Lion King (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) in their resent “Signature Collection”, which augments previous releases with new footage from the recording sessions, archival footage from the story room, an artistic view of the villain Scar, and a sing-along version of the film.

I admit that I had zero expectations for Kong: Skull Island (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$44.95 SRP), but damned if it didn’t turn out to be a fun-filled rollercoaster ride with definite style and a cast of character actors that made the whole thing pop. I’m not really concerned where this cinematic universe goes from here, but this was a great little film. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and featurettes.

You’d think that every nook and cranny of Walt Disney’s history and legacy would have been covered by now, but then along comes a book like Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World Of Disney Food (Disney Editions, $35.00 SRP)which details the cuisine that influenced Walt and what was served at the studio and Disneyland during his lifetime. Packed with vintage menus and scads of rare photos, it’s a feast for Disney fans.

Featuring 16 episodes from across its 11 seasons, The Best Of The Carol Burnett Show (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP) is a 6-disc set collecting the best of the best, complete uncut, including the 2-hour series finale. Packed with guest stars and newly-produced bonus featurettes and bloopers, it’s a great one-stop set.

And while we’re talking Burnett’s show, while most of the attention went to the always flashy Tim Conway, I think I liked the man he so often tried to crack up more – and who finally gets his proper spotlight with The Carol Burnett Show: The Best Of Harvey Korman (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP). The disc features 4 episodes of prime Korman.

As someone who revels in the ability to peek behind the creative curtain, I loved diving into They Drew As They Pleased: The Hidden Art Of Disney’s Late Golden Age – The 1940s Part Two (Chronicle Books, $45.00 SRP). The third volume in what I hope continues to be an ongoing series, it deep dives into the Disney archives to unearth and present the artwork drawn by studio artists that served as inspiration for Disney’s iconic films and shorts.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary with a collection of 40 short stories seemed like a fun and interesting way to mark the occasion, and Star Wars: From A Certain Point Of View (Del Rey, $35.00 SRP) delivers on that promise, focusing on characters central, side, and obscure and written by luminaries like Paul Dini, Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Wil Wheaton, Gary Whitta, and more.

Geared towards ages 10-and-up, the second volume of Ben Acker & Ben Blacker’s Star Wars: Join The Resistance series, Escape From Vodran (Lucasfilm Press, $12.99 SRP) manages the same tricky feat of the first volume, which is to craft a tale that manages to be an entertaining read for both kids and adults.

In the lead-up to the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, there are quite a few stories being released to fill in some of the canon. Claudia Gray’s novel Leia: Princess Of Alderaan (Lucasfilm Press, $17.99) follows a 16-year-old Leia as she prepares herself for a life in service to her homeworld and confronts a difficult choice regarding her future.

I’ve made it quite clear that I’m a sucker for “Art Of” books, and I would expect Steven Universe: Art & Origins (Abrams, $29.95 SRP) to be every bit as quirky and endearing as the show itself. To my un-surprised delight, it is, and is the perfect companion for fans of the show, chronicling not only its development, but also jam-packed with illustrations.

I remember enjoying watching the show every evening after it made its debut on Nick At Nite, and now I’m just as delighted to be able to watch the glorious comedy time capsule that is Rowan And Martin’s Laugh-In: The Complete First Season (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), totally uncut for the first time since its original late-60s airing. Bonus features include bloopers, 25th anniversary cast reunion highlights, an interview with creator George Schlatter, and the original pilot.

Both Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron are capable of making funny movies. Some, even unintentionally funny – but funny nonetheless. I don’t know how a meta nostalgia pic like Baywatch (Paramount, Unrated, 4K-$39.95 SRP) manages to be a largely unfunny affair, despite its best efforts. It’s a shame, really, because I was hoping for another 21 Jump Street surprise. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted/extended scenes.

Like a long-lost child finally coming home, Mickey’s older sibling was returned back to the Disney company (thanks to some corporate horse trading) and is celebrated in the gorgeous Oswald The Lucky Rabbit: The Search For The Lost Disney Cartoons (Disney Editions, $40.00 SRP). This book provides not only a history of the character, but also extant images and information on cartoons thought missing.

The time capsule aspect of the uncut shows released within the ongoing The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: The Vault Series (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$47.99 SRP) is what makes this series, which has been supplemented by a new 6-disc set, so incredibly appealing, with guests like Jack Benny, Dom DeLuise, Burt Reynolds, Paul McCartney, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, and more. Here’s hoping there are more of these lined up. And if that weren’t enough Carson – trust me, there’s never enough Carson – they’re also releasing the 10-DVD The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Johnny And Friends (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$79.68 SRP) features 28 uncut episodes with even more iconic guests, plus a plethora of bonus goodies.

After the explosive debut of its first season, Daredevil: The Complete Second Season (Marvel, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) stumbles a bit with a split narrative and a lackluster villain in The Hand, but redeems itself with a largely electrifying Elektra and the welcome return of Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk. The real gem, though, is the first season of Jessica Jones (Marvel, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), which is positively revelatory with a strong lead in Krysten Ritter and a powerful villain turn from David Tennant. Sadly, neither of these releases gets a single bonus feature, which is a real shame.

While their theatrical wing flounders from misstep to misfire (save for the glorious exception that is Wonder Woman), the television series based around the superheroics of the DC universe stable are a rather reliable bright spot. With their new seasons on the horizon, catch up on the complete third season of The Flash (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$54.97 SRP), the second season of Supergirl (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$54.97 SRP), and the complete third season of Gotham (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$54.97 SRP). Bonus materials include featurettes, audio commentary, gag reels, and deleted scenes.

For the first time since 1929, the complete, original 10-reel edition of the landmark film The Lost World (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP) – utilizing Willis O’Brien’s groundbreaking animation that would soon become immortalized in King Kong – has been found, restored, and made available to the public in a beautiful high definition Blu-Ray release, featuring an audio commentary, deleted scenes, additional shorts, and more.

Guy Ritchie tackling the King Arthur legends? Sure, I’ll watch it. King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) is ultimately disposable and largely forgettable, but while you’re on the ride, it’s enjoyable bombast anchored by a mostly-there Charlie Hunnam. Bonus materials include a handful of behind-the-scenes featurettes.

While the show as we loved it has now fallen, you can re-live the good times with The Great British Baking Show: Season 4 (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$13.99 SRP), in which Mary Berry and Mel & Sue are still pretending to like Paul Hollywood.

As a Disney fan who still holds a dear place in my heart for films like Mary Poppins and the songs of Disneyland, it’s delightful to watch a documentary featuring one half of the sibling duo responsible for that music, Richard M. Sherman: Songs Of A Lifetime (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP). Bonus materials include an additional interview and behind-the-scenes photos.

The 90s Nickelodeon nostalgia train has pulled into the station with another catalogue dive to delight the now-adult fans of that era – The Secret World Of Alex Mack: The Complete Series (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which contains all 78 episodes.

While there’s a strong visual flair that’s evocative of the Wachowskis and Ridley Scott, the chief problem with Ghost In The Shell (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$48.99 SRP) is that it’s just boring. Unrelentingly, forgettably boring. I’m not even sure I can pinpoint just why it’s so boring. The story? The direction> Even Scarlett Johansson seems bored. Bonus materials include a trio of featurettes.

When it comes to cult classic comedies, near the top of the list must surely come Bobcat Goldthwait’s alcoholic harlequin masterpiece Shakes The Clown (Mill Creek, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP), which is making its high-def debut with a brand-new audio commentary from Bobcat and stars Tom Kenny and Julie Brown.

If there’s one element I dearly wish were present for the new animated film set in the Batman: The Animated Series universe, Batman And Harley Quinn (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$17.96 SRP), it’s writer Paul Dini, because the painfully awkward story found here is something that could have been avoided with a defter, more mature hand. What we have instead is a rather superficial, juvenile take on presenting “mature” material that comes across as largely tone deaf, especially for poor Harley. Bonus materials include featurettes and a sneak peek at Batman: Gotham By Gaslight.

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

##

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…)

After the first Guardians Of The Galaxy, Hot Toys released stellar 1/6-scale figures of Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, and Rocket. Heck, they even released a separate potted Groot figure. But, whither Drax? Heck, they took the orders for him ages ago, but he remained a no-show for years – so long that even the film’s sequel was able to debut before he did. But the wait is over, as the 1/6-scale Drax The Destroyer (Hot Toys/Sideshow, $219.99) is here, and he looks great. Granted, he’s not a terribly complex character, but this is clearly Dave Bautista, and the paint work on the skin tone and tattoos is pretty darn impressive. As far as accessories, he comes with his knives, a big ol’ gun, hands, and a pair of red pants.

First Spock, then Kirk, and now we’ve got the third component of the Trek triumvirate, Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Quantum Mechanix, $179.99). The bar had already been set pretty high with the first two, but this is an excellent representation of DeForest Kelly, and it’s kitted out with a ridiculous amount of accessories, including a phaser, communicator, medical tricorder, and full medical kit (with hypo-spray and vials). This release just makes me all the more excited for QMx to finish the rest of the classic bridge crew.

The bar has certainly been lowered over the years, but The Lego Batman Movie (Warner Bros., Rated PG, 3D Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) really is one of the best representations of Gotham’s defender to ever hit the big screen, because it decided to focus on a part of the mythos that much of the grimdark takes ignore – the family aspect of the bat universe. It’s just a bonus that it’s also a pretty darn funny flick. Bonus materials include a quartet of new animated shorts, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

Disney’s high definition restorations of their classic animated films tend to be spectacular, and their digital clean-up for their Signature Collection Anniversary Edition of Bambi (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$29.89 SRP) is no exception – it’s stunning. Bonus materials on this new edition contain a recently discovered Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short, vintage Walt Disney recordings, deleted scenes, featurettes, and more. Is it worth another dip to pick up the new edition? Certainly.

I mean, even Matt Stone & Trey Parker have copped that the 20th season of South Park (Comedy Central, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.94 SRP) got away from them, as the absurdity of the real world far eclipsed their satirical continuity, winding up at a finale that seemed more of a white flag than a season capper. Bonus materials include commentary from Matt & Trey, deleted scenes, the Comic-Con 2016 panel, and #SocialCommentary.

I love that Carson Entertainment has opened up the vaults and continues to release more shows from Johnny’s 30-year run. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Johnny And Friends (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) is a 3-disc set containing 9 episodes spotlighting guests Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, and Robin Williams – 3 episodes apiece.

I know Disney is really keen to milk their seemingly bottomless well of IP, but their recent focus on producing live action versions of the r classic animated films feels as wrong-headed as Gus Van Sant’s Psycho. So, while the cast and visuals are often quite good, and the songs a re a proven delight, Beauty & The Beast (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$24.96 SRP) just feels perpetually wrong-footed, like a cover song that can’t hold a candelabra to the original. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted songs, an extended scene, and more.

A 3 disc collection spanning decades, Bob Hope Salutes The Troops (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP) collects the highlights of five globetrotting decades, as Hope carted himself and guests to entertain servicemen at home and abroad, through peacetime and conflict.

While The Brady Bunch movie proved that you could do a post-modern spin on a television show and have the result not be cringe-worthy, it’s a landing that Chips (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) simply can not stick. Starring Michael Pena and Dax Shepard as California Highway Patrol officers Jon Baker and Frank “Ponch” Pncherello, it’s a surprisingly listless film considering how loud and desperate it is for laughs. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted scenes.

Really, regardless of whether it wound up being good or not, I was going to watch Fist Fight (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) just for its cast, featuring Ice Cube, Charlie Day, Tracy Morgan, and Jillian Bell. The film itself, about a mild-mannered teacher (Day) who runs afoul of a colleague (Cube) on the last day of school and is challenged to the titular brawl after the school day wraps, is an enjoyable comedy that promises an R-rated romp and delivers accordingly. Bonus materials include a clutch of deleted scenes.

I had never before considered just how revolutionary the rise of music recording was in opening up an unimaginable future for many American across economic boundaries until watching the documentary American Epic (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$17.29 SRP), a 4-part series that chronicles just that.

The summer television drought is upon us, which means it’s the perfect time to catch up on all of the shows you may have overlooked – including a pair of UK imports. First up is the prequel series Prime Suspect: Tennison (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP), taking viewers back to the 1970s and the beginning of DCI Jane Tennison’s career. Also worth a catch-up is The Tunnel: Sabotage (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP), the second season of the geopolitical thriller starring Clemence Poesy and Stephen Dillane, as they investigate an abduction fraught with international tension.

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

##

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…)

After the first Guardians Of The Galaxy, Hot Toys released stellar 1/6-scale figures of Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, and Rocket. Heck, they even released a separate potted Groot figure. But, whither Drax? Heck, they took the orders for him ages ago, but he remained a no-show for years – so long that even the film’s sequel was able to debut before he did. But the wait is over, as the 1/6-scale Drax The Destroyer (Hot Toys/Sideshow, $219.99) is here, and he looks great. Granted, he’s not a terribly complex character, but this is clearly Dave Bautista, and the paint work on the skin tone and tattoos is pretty darn impressive. As far as accessories, he comes with his knives, a big ol’ gun, hands, and a pair of red pants.

.

First Spock, then Kirk, and now we’ve got the third component of the Trek triumvirate, Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Quantum Mechanix, $179.99). The bar had already been set pretty high with the first two, but this is an excellent representation of DeForest Kelly, and it’s kitted out with a ridiculous amount of accessories, including a phaser, communicator, medical tricorder, and full medical kit (with hypo-spray and vials). This release just makes me all the more excited for QMx to finish the rest of the classic bridge crew.
.

The bar has certainly been lowered over the years, but The Lego Batman Movie (Warner Bros., Rated PG, 3D Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) really is one of the best representations of Gotham’s defender to ever hit the big screen, because it decided to focus on a part of the mythos that much of the grimdark takes ignore – the family aspect of the bat universe. It’s just a bonus that it’s also a pretty darn funny flick. Bonus materials include a quartet of new animated shorts, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

Disney’s high definition restorations of their classic animated films tend to be spectacular, and their digital clean-up for their Signature Collection Anniversary Edition of Bambi (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$29.89 SRP) is no exception – it’s stunning. Bonus materials on this new edition contain a recently discovered Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short, vintage Walt Disney recordings, deleted scenes, featurettes, and more. Is it worth another dip to pick up the new edition? Certainly.

I mean, even Matt Stone & Trey Parker have copped that the 20th season of South Park (Comedy Central, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.94 SRP) got away from them, as the absurdity of the real world far eclipsed their satirical continuity, winding up at a finale that seemed more of a white flag than a season capper. Bonus materials include commentary from Matt & Trey, deleted scenes, the Comic-Con 2016 panel, and #SocialCommentary.

I love that Carson Entertainment has opened up the vaults and continues to release more shows from Johnny’s 30-year run. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Johnny And Friends (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) is a 3-disc set containing 9 episodes spotlighting guests Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, and Robin Williams – 3 episodes apiece.

I know Disney is really keen to milk their seemingly bottomless well of IP, but their recent focus on producing live action versions of the r classic animated films feels as wrong-headed as Gus Van Sant’s Psycho. So, while the cast and visuals are often quite good, and the songs a re a proven delight, Beauty & The Beast (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$24.96 SRP) just feels perpetually wrong-footed, like a cover song that can’t hold a candelabra to the original. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted songs, an extended scene, and more.

A 3 disc collection spanning decades, Bob Hope Salutes The Troops (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP) collects the highlights of five globetrotting decades, as Hope carted himself and guests to entertain servicemen at home and abroad, through peacetime and conflict.

While The Brady Bunch movie proved that you could do a post-modern spin on a television show and have the result not be cringe-worthy, it’s a landing that Chips (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) simply can not stick. Starring Michael Pena and Dax Shepard as California Highway Patrol officers Jon Baker and Frank “Ponch” Pncherello, it’s a surprisingly listless film considering how loud and desperate it is for laughs. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted scenes.

Really, regardless of whether it wound up being good or not, I was going to watch Fist Fight (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) just for its cast, featuring Ice Cube, Charlie Day, Tracy Morgan, and Jillian Bell. The film itself, about a mild-mannered teacher (Day) who runs afoul of a colleague (Cube) on the last day of school and is challenged to the titular brawl after the school day wraps, is an enjoyable comedy that promises an R-rated romp and delivers accordingly. Bonus materials include a clutch of deleted scenes.

I had never before considered just how revolutionary the rise of music recording was in opening up an unimaginable future for many American across economic boundaries until watching the documentary American Epic (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$17.29 SRP), a 4-part series that chronicles just that.

The summer television drought is upon us, which means it’s the perfect time to catch up on all of the shows you may have overlooked – including a pair of UK imports. First up is the prequel series Prime Suspect: Tennison (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP), taking viewers back to the 1970s and the beginning of DCI Jane Tennison’s career. Also worth a catch-up is The Tunnel: Sabotage (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP), the second season of the geopolitical thriller starring Clemence Poesy and Stephen Dillane, as they investigate an abduction fraught with international tension.

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

##

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…)

Many folks are enamored with Funko’s Pop figures, but I’ve always found their stylistic sameness and beady Coraline eyes to be both boring and disturbing. For my money, I’ll go with the Q-Figs from Quantum Mechanix ($14.95 SRP each). Not only are the stylization of the designs infinitely more appealing to me, but they also allow for much more dynamic poses. These are beautiful pieces that look perfect on a desk or shelf. Just take a gander at the cross-section of pieces below, from Spider-Man’s mid-photo street lamp dangle to Mr. Freeze’s frustrated attempt to eat an ice cream cone, these are just spectacularly fun. Come on, look at how dynamic that Harry Potter is! I can’t wait to see where this line goes from here… And I hope some classic-costumed members of the Fantastic Four – and a Doctor Doom! – are in the offing soon.

I continue to follow Game Of Thrones and a I stuck through an increasingly-baffling Westworld, but the real joy of the HBO year is the one-two return of Veep & Silicon Valley (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP each), which also means the welcome arrival of their respective previous season box sets just before the new seasons hit. And considering the density of the writing on both, it’s quite enjoyable to have a refresher binge. While Silicon Valley only sports some deleted scenes, Veep packs on both deleted scenes and audio commentaries, every one of which is worth a listen.

Over the course of 25 volumes released over the past 13 years, Fantagraphics has done a truly incredible job presenting the complete 50-year run of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts. It was no small amount of surprise and delight that they tacked on a 26th volume of The Complete Peanuts (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP), which gathers together rare comics, advertising art, and drawings produced during the strip’s half-century run. A lovely end for a brilliant presentation of a legendary strip.

When Thinkgeek designs products in-house, it’s a fair bet that the final result will be something you didn’t even know you wanted until you saw it, and then you must absolutely have it. Case in point are a pair of cookery items sure to make the kid – or adult – enamored with all things Pokemon absolutely giddy. Have a party coming up? Use the Pikachu Cake Pan (Thinkgeek, $19.99) to bake an electrifying treat. Or, if you’ve come in from a hit day of wandering the wastelands to fill out your Pokedex in Pokemon Go, chill your drink with ice cubes made from a Pikachu Silicon Mold (Thinkgeek, $9.99). See? How can you resist ’em!

Generational nostalgia is a linear beast, which means everything will eventually get its moment, which brings us to the release of the complete first and second season of Nickelodeon’s beloved Rugrats (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP each). The shows have never looked better on home video, and while there are sadly no bonus features to speak of, it’s nice to have them available.

The plate may now be empty, but there was once a glorious confection of a British import that you can savor again with the release of The Great British Baking Show: Seasons 1-3 (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP each). While the future holds a radically different program, we can still taste the sweetness of the original version.

I’m a sucker for ephemera books – you know, the kind that feature reproductions of rare historical materials – and in their eternal quest for new revenue streams, we get Monty Python’s Flying Circus: Hidden Treasures (Abrams, $40 SRP), featuring tons of the aforementioned ephemera to delight fans.

Sure, there’s a fair bit of Saturday Night Fever (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$16.99 SRP), but the remastered director’s cut proves that the aspirational tale remains timeless and Travolta’s performance is still a career-defining marvel. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and a deleted scene.

While I’m not particularly enthusiastic about Pixar’s vehicular franchise, I very much adore the Art Of books that the company does with the fine folks at Chronicle, the latest of which is The Art Of Cars 3 (Chronicle Books, $40 SRP). As usual, it’s positively packed with concept art and behind-the-scenes insight.

In an age where facts are being assailed and history denied, now more than ever we need the objective, quality programming being produced by PBS. You can do that by catching up on the scores of excellent documentary and news programs they’re releasing on home video. For the politically and socially minded, there’s Frontline: Divided States Of America (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) about the polarization in the U.S., a sobering look at the rise of 45 in Frontline: President Trump (PBS, Bot Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), Frontline: Battle For Iraq/Hunting ISIS (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), the battle against the film The Birth Of A Nation in Birth Of A Movement (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), The Talk: Race In America (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), John Lewis: Get In The Way (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), American Experience: Ruby Ridge (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), and the history of modern martial justice in Dead Reckoning (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP). For the science-minded, you’ve got storms galore in Wild Weather (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), plant behavior in Plants Behaving Badly (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), engineering the Ultimate Cruise Ship (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), Nova: Search For The Super Battery (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), the Himalayan archeological mysteries in Nova: Secrets Of The Sky Tombs (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), the applied science of Nova: The Origami Revolution (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), and the fascinating medical advances of Military Medicine (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP).

Sketch comedy is hard to do, and when you set the bar as high as Amy Schumer had with the first three seasons of Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), not hitting that high-water mark is more easily noticed. That’s the case with the often strained but still funny 4th season. Bonus materials include a writers room featurette and outtakes.

The 1957 police drama Decoy (Film Chest Media, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) was significant for a trio of firsts – the first police drama to shoot in NYC, the first to feature a police woman as the main protagonist, and the first to feature stories based on real-life subjects. Starring Bevery Garland as Office Casey Jones, you can now rediscover this forgotten series via this set, featuring all 39 episodes.

The nicest thing I can say about Vin Diesel’s pet resurrection of a franchise, XXX: Return Of Xander Cage (Paramount, Rated PG-13, UltraHD 4K-$49.99 SRP), is that he’s really, really good as Groot in Guardians Of The Galaxy. As for this – I’m still trying to figure out who was asking for it, and why. I assume it was Vin. It was probably Vin. Bonus materials include featurettes and a gag reel.

There’s a lot of tension to be found in the drama of a diamond-dealing family dragged into the underworld in Ice (eOne, Not Rated, DVD-$40.99 SRP), but the real draw of watching the show is its cast, which features Donald Sutherland, Ray Winstone, and Jeremy Sisto. Bonus materials include featurettes and a music video.

There’s a lot of fun to be found in Warners new franchise push – DC Superhero Girls: Intergalactic Games (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which finds the female superheroes in friendly competition that runs afoul of a bevy of baddies. Bonus materials include 7 featurettes and a music video.

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

##

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…)

This week saw the home video release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and amongst the many familiar elements from the period just before A New Hope were a handful of new characters added to the mythos. Perhaps the most striking were the personal Storm Trooper squadron of Director Krennic, the imposing, black-clad Death Trooper (Hot Toys/Sideshow, $234.99). And, of course, Hot Toys has leapt at the chance to render the new Trooper in 1/6-scale form, and he looks like he just marched right off the screen. To add to the fidelity, he also sports a light-up feature, as you can flip a switch and illuminate the green chin nodules on the helmet. Now, if only we could get a Director Krennic for them to back up.

You can break out your crayons and pencils for the newest entry in Jeffrey Brown’s charming take on Star Wars‘ Skywalker clan, Darth Vader And Family Coloring Book (Chronicle Books, $14.95 SRP), full of images adapted from previous books plus all-new material.

Largely overlooked in favor of louder fare, Lion (Anchor Bay, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) is worth giving a spin at home, as it features an inspiring true story of a young Indian boy who gets separated from his family while on a train, winds up at an orphanage thousands of miles away, is adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman & David Wenham), and decides, as an adult (Dev Patel), to try and find the family he lost. Bonus materials include deleted scenes and a music video.

I was there at the first midnight showing of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$ SRP), and I dearly wanted to love it. I was a Harry Potter fan, after all, and to be able to journey back into J.K. Rowling’s fictional world was an unexpected treat. Or so it should have been. Sadly, for all of the wonderful potential to be had in the premise, the film never quite delivers on the magic. It’s no disaster, certainly, but it doesn’t provide a firm foundation for the further adventures of Newt Scamander. Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted scenes.

I’d never seen it before, but once I found out that the new-to-HD release of the film Blast-Off (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP) starred Burl Ives as P.T. Barnum, I was sold. That it also stars a handful of delightful vintage character actors all on a globetrotting farce is just icing on the cake.

The DC animated adaptations have been hit or miss, but their adaptation of Marv Wolfman & George Perez’s legendary Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is largely a hit, despite some very odd hoops that had to be jumped through in regards to the team line-up. The tale of betrayal remains largely intact, however, and is worth a spin. Bonus materials include featurettes, bonus cartoons, and a sneak at the upcoming Batman And Harley Quinn movie. Oh, and if you pick up the gift set, it comes packed with a Blue Beetle figurine.

In an age where Broadway shows inevitably get lovely coffee table books to accompany their productions, it’s no surprise that Disney would celebrate their most recent Great White Way success with Aladdin: A Whole New World – The Road To Broadway And Beyond (Disney Editions$40 SRP). It’s a lush behind-the-scenes look at the development of the show from animated feature to stage hit.

I watched it once, and enjoyed its commitment to being an unsettling post-modern Kubrick, but I’ve never felt the desire to re-watch Donnie Darko (Arrow Films, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$49.95 SRP). But, for those who are devoted to it, and its disappointing director’s cut, a brand new special edition is available, loaded with bonus features as well as both cuts of the film.

Let me preface this by saying that the film was interesting, and Michael Keaton’s performance was nice, but The Founder (Anchor Bay, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is a film about a jerk who succeeds wildly by being a jerk who screws over his business partners. That’s the story of Ray Kroc, and it feels particularly dirty in the times we find ourselves in, to encourage this kind of behavior. Yes, he was successful, but by being absolutely McAwful as a human being. Bonus materials include a press conference and galleries.

A 1933 vampire film starring Fay Wray from 1933? Yeah, that’s what you get with the newly-restored The Vampire Bat (Film Detective, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP), about mysterious vampire attacks in a small village, and all of the eccentric suspects who may be perpetrating them. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and a featurette.

It’s difficult to watch Patriots Day (Lionsgate, Rated R, 4K Ultra HD-$42.99 SRP), as the events at the center of its dramatization of the manhunt following the Boston Marathon bombing still feel raw. It’s a solid film, to be sure, but an awkward viewing experience. Bonus materials include featurettes exploring the events and people involved.

In the grand pantheon of video game-to-film adaptations, Assassin’s Creed (Fox, Rated PG-13, 4K Ultra HD-$39.99 SRP) is definitely another one, almost entirely disposable, but very, very pretty looking in 4K. So, if you want a fine action adventure somehow starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard to show off your new TV, this film’ll work a charm. Bonus materials include a documentary, interviews, deleted scenes, and a gallery.

The fine folks at Flicker Alley continue their remarkable silent film restoration program with a unique film I’d never seen before, 1919’s Behind The Door (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), a WWI-fueled tale of vengeance about a working class American persecuted for his German ancestry who enlists to go to sea but loses his wife after she stows aboard his ship and is captured by a U-boat captain. Bonus materials featurettes, outtakes, and the Russian export version of the film.

You could almost make a double feature – a turgid double feature – out of Collateral Beauty (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$22.21 SRP) and Live By Night (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP), two forgotten films of 2016 starring big names – Will Smith and Ben Affleck, respectively. The stories couldn’t be more different – one’s a super-serious drama, and the other is a violent period gangster flick – but they are both, again, sadly forgettable. Collateral Beauty contains a single making-of featurette, while Live By Night sports a handful of featurettes, a commentary, and deleted scenes.

So. Monster Trucks (Paramount, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). A kiddie film about trucks that are also monsters. Or monsters that are also trucks. And they costar with Matthew Lillard. Because, of course they do. It’s just… I mean… I am not the audience for this. I assume that kids are. Kids who love monsters who are trucks. And Matthew Lillard. This, then, is for them. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

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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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…)

It took his arc in Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels to make Darth Maul an actual character rather than the cardboard villain of The Phantom Menace, and without that character work I wouldn’t have nowhere near as interested in the new 1/6-scale Darth Maul ($239.99). But I do have a newfound respect for ol’ Maul, and it’s fortuitous that it coincides with the release of what I consider to be one of Sideshow’s finest 1/6-scale figures, from the sculpt and paint ops to the tailoring of the outfit, he’s positively sublime. Kudos to the folks at Sideshow for a stellar effort.

There was a time when Disney’s in-house CG-animated future was looking downright bleak compared to Pixar (I’m looking at you, Chicken Little, but they’ve managed to find a modern voice and style and maturity in recent years, all culminating in Moana (Walt Disney, Rated PG, 3D Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), a powerful tale that feels new even while trading on the we-trod tropes of Disney’s past. Bonus points for a great collection of tunes and a positively stunningly rendered world (see it in 3D). Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, a deleted song, and more.

Charlie McDonnell is brilliant. I’d say that even if he weren’t my friend. My proof? His new book, Fun Science (Quadrille, $22.95 SRP), in which he manages to distill and infuse his absolute joy in science into a tome that acts as a handy primer for life, the universe, and everything. Science is awesome, and Charlie presets scores of reasons why. Get this book, and gift it to everyone you know. Hell, gift it to people you don’t know.

That creator Derek Waters has crafted a series that smuggles genuine lessons in history into a comedy show full of drunk people is why I’m terribly impressed that we’ve made it to a 4th season of Drunk History (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$22.98 SRP), because surely such a positive work can not long persist in the this world. Bonus features include an election special plus deleted/extended scenes.

It’s ostensibly a canonical all-ages novel taking place in the post-Return Of The Jedi era of Star Wars, but the must-read fun of Star Wars: Join The Resistance (Disney Lucasfilm Press, $12.99 SRP) is that it’s written by the team of Acker & Blacker, of Thrilling Adventure Hour fame, and their wry sensibility and crackerjack story sense permeate would could otherwise be pedestrian juvenile fare.

Golly, but I sure did have a lot of the stickers collected in the Star Wars: Topps Classic Sticker Book (Abrams, $12.95 SRP) plastered on every nook and cranny of my existence while growing up. Which is probably why this book – which collects 250 vintage stickers (actual stickers!) plus newly-produced ones for The Force Awakens – is such an evocative journey down memory lane. And boy, were those tickers hard to remove.

Like me, I’m sure you’ve been spending nearly every waking moment playing through Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. If you want to take a brief break and solve a puzzle of a different kind, try assembling the beautiful stained glass image in the Zelda: Windwaker Puzzle (Thinkgeek, $10.99). And THEN you can go back to playing.

While we wait for the television adaptation of his modern mythology American Gods, revel in Neil Gaiman’s spin on Norse Mythology (W.W. Norton, $25.95 SRP), in which he distills the legendary tales of gods and men and presents those timeless raw elements in a supremely engaging form.

I don’t care what it is – a film starring Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleason? I’ll watch it. Trespass Against Us (Lionsgate, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) stars Fassbender as a reluctant criminal on the run from the law after a heist goes south, complicated by the fact that Gleason is Fassbender’s fearsome outlaw father-in-law.

Laika has a history of producing visually stunning stop-motion animated films, which is why devouring the behind-the-scenes tome from their latest – The Art Of Kubo And The Two Strings (Chronicle Books, $40 SRP) is such an utter treat. Chronicle knows how to put together a solid Art Of book, and this is a perfect entry in their ever-growing library.

The second volume of what I hope will be a continuing series, They Drew As They Pleased: The Hidden Art Of Disney’s Musical Years (Chronicle Books, $40 SRP) uncovers and presents dozens of pieces produced during the development process of Disney’s musical features in the 1940s by the studio’s concept artists. Truly beautiful and a marvelous insight into the creative process of a landmark period.

I daresay that the current – and soon to be ending – animated version of the heroes in a halfshell is the best. For proof, simply dive into the episodes contained in the latest collection from the show’s fourth season, Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Shredder (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP) and experience a level of nuanced and mature storytelling and artistry that will be sorely missed when this show comes to a close next season.

As alternate history tales seem to be all the rage now, check out Resistance (Film Movement, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), about an occupied Britain after D-Day was lost, and the inhabitants of a valley forced to collaborate with the occupying Germans when a harsh winter sets in.

I admit, I always enjoyed Vicki Lawrence’s Carol Burnett Show spin-off Mama’s Family when I used to watch it as a kid, and there’s no better primer than The Mama’s Family Favorites Collection (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$669.95 SRP), which brings together episodes from all 6 seasons, specially chosen by Lawrence.

It’s no surprise that they were able to craft a special volume of The Carol Burnett Show dedicated entirely to The Best Of Tim Conway (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP) is of little surprise, as there is such a surfeit of material to choose from that it’s shocking there just a single disc. Now, here’s hoping we also get a “Best Of Harvey Korman” volume, as well.

Stressed? Want to color? Disney has a batch of new Art Of Coloring books, each featuring a 100 images, ready to calm you. The new batch features The Muppets, Tsum Tsum, the new live action Beauty And The Beast, and even The Golden Girls (Disney Editions, $15.99 SRP each).

For a kick ass lead character, look to Eve Thorogood in Wolf Creek (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), an American college student who decides to hunt down the serial killer who brutally murdered her family in the Australian outback. Bonus materials for the first season include a clutch of featurettes.

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

##

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…)

Before we kick off this edition of the Weekend Shopping Guide, a brief note – This edition is a big one. With a lot of catching up to do. Mainly because I spent the latter part of last year and beginning of this year recovering from surgery. So, naturally, things stack up, but consider this a clearing of the backlog and a return to regular service. So, having said that, let’s kick this off…

While Hot Toys has crafted numerous Stormtroopers from the film, as well as Kylo Ren and Finn, there’s no denying that they weren’t the Force Awakens characters we were all waiting for. Ah, but now we’ve got our 1/6-scale Rey & BB-8 set (Sideshow/Hot Toys, $289.99), and they were both worth the wait. The Rey perfectly captures Daisy Ridley in her Jakku togs, including the ability to wrap her in her full scavenging gear of goggles and scarf. As for accessories, she’s got her staff, blaster, and Luke’s lightsaber. And BB-8? I mean, he’s BB-8! He’s a ball with a magnetically-attached head, which also includes a light feature. What’s not to love?

There have been many a memorable book released about the Star Wars universe, from its creation and inception to its execution, but none are as impressively incredible as the absolutely mammoth Star Wars: Ralph McQuarrie (Abrams, $250.00). If you’re unfamiliar with McQuarrie, he’s the conceptual artist hired by Lucas to help visualize the now-familiar galaxy far, far away, and his work carried through all three of the iconic original trilogy. For the first time ever, all of his artwork, much of it unseen, has been collected together in this two volume hardcover set. Weighing over 20 pounds, it’s difficult to really impress upon you just how wonderful this set truly is. So, juat get it and see.

I saw it three times in the theater, so it’s safe to say that I have the latest Star Wars adventure firmly lodged in my noggin. That makes my brain fertile ground for The Art Of Rogue One (Abrams, $40.00 SRP), which is loaded with all of the developmental artwork and designs for the film (including many unused concepts).

From their visual guides to their vehicle schematics, DK has published some truly definitive reference books detailing the minutiae of the Star Wars universe, and Star Wars: Complete Locations (DK, $35.00 SRP) fills in another chunk of detail, from Rey’s home on Jakku to the mines of Mustafar, and Bespin’s Cloud City to the Mos Eisley Cantina, it is full of incredible cross-sections. The only thing missing? Anything from Rogue One.

For that, you’ll have to get Star Wars: Rogue One – The Ultimate Visual Guide (DK, $30.00 SRP), which has got all of the character, location, weapons, props, and vehicle information you could ask for, and also merges in the info that used to feature in a separate “cross-sections” release, making for a nicely comprehensive volume. It’s all of the exquisite detail minutia you crave, straight from Pablo Hidalgo and the Lucasfilm Story Group.

Ever wonder how you win the people’s hearts & minds in a galaxy far, far away? Look no further than the images contained within Star Wars Propaganda (HarperDesign, $40.00 SRP), which features dozens of posters targeting both citizens of the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. It’s a nicely tongue-in-cheek exercise fans are sure to dig.

If you’re not a regular subscriber and just want handy volumes featuring the best interviews and articles that the magazine has to offer, pick up The Best Of Star Wars Insider (Titan Books, $19.99 SRP each). Four jam-packed volumes are currently available, and are certainly worthy additions to any geek’s library.

If you’d like to a breakfast treat from a galaxy far, far away to your table and you’re a little short on blue milk, then Thinkgeek has you sorted with their nifty BB-8 Waffle Maker (Thinkgeek, $39.99). Yes, it only makes a single waffle at a time, but it is in the shape of everyone’s favorite spherical droid, so how can you possibly deny the tractor beam of its appeal?

Of all the characters that Marvel has adapted into their cinematic universe thus far, the diciest proposition to make the leap from comic to film was probably Doctor Strange (Walt Disney, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$49.98 SRP), as it’s a character and premise that could certainly devolve into nonsensical goofiness *and* pretentiousness rather easily. Mercifully, Marvel managed to pull it off, yet again, in a film that practically requires you to view its trippy vistas in their proper 3D presentation. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, a brand new “Thor & Darryl” short, and a view into the near future of Marvel’s big-screen plans.

Hot on the heels of the film, explore The Mysterious World Of Doctor Strange (DK, $24.99 SRP) in this handy reference guide that, much like the Marvel book above, takes a fast and furious journey through the comics lore of Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme.

There is a zen joy to be found in coloring, as the proliferation of adult coloring books in recent years attests. Disney has thrown their hat into the ring with some truly beautiful hardcover entries into their Art of Coloring series – Disney Villains & Disney Animals (Disney Editions, $15.99 SRP each). Both contains 100 images “to inspire creativity and inspiration”, and also a fair bit of relaxation. And, while it’s not hardcover, they’ve also released an Art Of Coloring book for Moana (Disney Editions, $15.99).

And while we’re on the subject of Disney’s most recent feature and art, you should also pick up The Art Of Moana (Chronicle Books, $40.00 SRP), which maintains the wonderful relationship between Disney and Chronicle in producing absolutely wonderful journeys through the process of creating their animated features.

While we must weight a half-year longer than we normally would to get our fix of new episodes, HBO was at least kind enough to make that wait a little easier by moving up the home video release of the 6th season of Game Of Thrones (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which means we can dive in to the numerous audio commentaries and featurettes, and spend a fair amount of time with the always-welcome “Histories & Lore” section, which delves into the various backstories behind the events on screen.

After living in Brooklyn for a few months, I can state that not only is Broad City (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) an exquisite comedy series, but it also beautifully captures the look, vibe, and delightful eccentricity of that Manhattan borough. The 3rd season set contains deleted scenes, featurettes, and more, but sadly no chicken & rice soup from Little Purity.

The latest cinematic entry in J.K. Rowling’s cinematic Harry Potter universe – the prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them – has generated not one, but a trio of lavish books exploring the world within the film and the creation of the movie itself. The illustration-filled The Art Of The Film Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (Harper Design, $50.00 SRP) delves into the design process, while Inside The Magic: The Making Of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (Harper Design, $19.99 SRP) takes a more comprehensive overview of the film’s creation. The most spectacular, though, is The Case Of Beasts: Explore The Film Wizardry Of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (Harper Design, $45.00 SRP), an absolutely wonderful tome filled with prop reproductions and blink-and-you-miss-it documentation of all of the stunning prop and design work that goes into realizing such an immersive world.

As long as you’re reading about the adventures of Newt Scamander, you might as well dress as him, too, with Thinkgeek’s exclusive Newt Scamander Scarf & Pin set (Thinkgeek, $32.99), which features your very own Hufflepuff scarf (with Newt’s monogrammed label) plus Newt’s monogrammed pendant pin.

Though, if you want to dip back into the world of the original films featuring Harry Potter, HarperDesign has released another volume of their exhaustively illuminating vault series, Harry Potter: The Artifact Vault (HarperDesign, $45 SRP), which focuses on the myriad props and set dressing found in the cinematic Potterverse, from wizarding world cereal boxes to Voldemort’s Horcruxes.

We’ve bought the films dozens of times in various formats, but Disney can always find a new bit of tat to make fans leap towards another purchase of on of their classic films. Case in point is the new Signature Collection edition of Pinocchio (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP)plusses the bonus materials from previous editions with newly-discovered artwork for an alternate version of the “Pleasure Island” sequence, Walt’s thoughts on the film (via rare interviews and recordings), a remake of a classic Oswald The Lucky Rabbit short, and more.

As a massive fan of their theme parks, to have a book like Maps Of The Disney Parks (Disney Editions, $40.00 SRP), which finally collects and curates the dozens of maps created for the parks over the last 60 years, is truly a delight. With a gatefold layout that perfectly complements their proper presentation, this is a must-have for anyone who’s ever stepped into a magic kingdom made for the young at heart.

As our world seems to regress into backwards thinking, it’s important to have films like Loving (Universal, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP), which remind us of both a time we should never allow ourselves to go back to, when interracial marriage was illegal in the state of Virginia, and the brave people who stood up against that injustice, in this case Richard and Mildred Loving, who took their case against Virginia’s law all the way to the Supreme Court. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and featurettes.

Having spent time in London and New York – two incredibly dense cities – I find a book like the Smithsonian’s Great City Maps (DK, $30.00 SRP) to be a geeky rabbit hole, as it is filled with historical maps, plans, and illustrations from throughout history. With context throughout, it tells a fascinating tale of the hows and whys cities have evolved in the way they have, both logically and illogically.

Sure, I’ll watch an animated tale featuring Batman leading a gang of DC’s mystical superheroes – Constantine, Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Deadman, and Etrigan – against a supernatural foe that threatens Gotham and Metropolis. Justice League Dark (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) also includes a handful of featurettes, the 2016 Comic-Con panel, bonus cartoons, and a sneak peek at Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. Oh, and if you get the collector’s set, you also snag a nifty John Constantine figurine.

Want to get a handle on the characters of the DC Comics universe? Your definitive, fully-illustrated guide is The DC Comics Encyclopedia (DK, $40.00 SRP). Encompassing over 75 years of continuity through DC” most recent confusing company-wide reboot, it’s the fully-updated reference you need to try and make sense of who’s who now.

That the film adaptation of Carrie Fisher’s novel Postcards From The Edge (Mill Creek, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP) should make its high-def debut so soon after her passing is a bittersweet coincidence, with the real highlight being the inclusion of an audio commentary she recorded in 2001. The film is great, but hearing Fisher speak is the real joy.

With a title like Marvel: Absolutely Everything You Need To Know (DK, $19.99 SRP), you hope that it’s more than just a boast, but this book is the perfect (inexpensive) introduction to hand to a young kid to answer their questions in a fun, engaging fashion, as its laid out in a hyperkinetic, nuggety style that makes it easy and fun to dip into and find out how many Green Goblins there have been.

Though overlooked due to all of the drama in his personal life at the time, home video is the perfect way to give Allied (Paramount, Rated R, 4K Blu-Ray-$27.99 SRP) another shot, as it’s a great romantic spy thriller starring Brad Pitt as a WWII intelligence officer who learns his wife (Marion Cotillard) may be working with the enemy. Bonus materials include featurettes and more.

In an age of empty spectacle, Arrival (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 4K Blu-Ray-$48.99 SRP) is a gloriously mature science fiction film that hearkens back to Day The Earth Stood Still and Contact, as it revolves around an elite team sent to make contact with an alien craft while global fears and tensions mount. Bonus materials include a clutch of featurettes.

Sometimes, the nerd in my is so easily pleased, as with the decidedly geeky appeal of Thinkgeek’s Star Trek: The Next Generation Transporter Pad LED Coasters (Thinkgeek, $29.99). Each set contains four coasters that, when you set your drink on them, illuminate your beverage with a colored LED glow. See? So geeky. So wonderful.

Cheers to the fine folks at Fantagraphics for continuing to make this Disney duck fan deliriously delighted by continuing their prestige releases of not only classic Carl Barks material, but also the works of the modern duck man, Don Rosa. From their ongoing Carl Barks Library comes Donald Duck: The Ghost Sheriff Of Last Gasp (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP), featuring 21 stories and plentiful background. Meanwhile, The Don Rosa Library Volume 6 (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP) contains 7 tales, plus copious notes from Rosa himself.

Telling the true story of a pacifist medic (Andrew Garfield) at the front lines of Okinawa during the Korean War who managed to save 75 men while never carrying a weapon, Hacksaw Ridge (Summit, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is a solid-if-uninspired war film from director Mel Gibson. Certainly history buffs will eat it up. Bonus materials include deleted scenes and a making-of documentary.

It’s certainly not my favorite Mike Judge show – that would be King Of The Hill – but there’s no denying the cultural impact of his first success, the totality of which is now collected in Beavis And Butt-Head: The Complete Collection (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.99 SRP), which contains the TV episodes, the movie, and music videos.

Mill Creek’s releases are a godsend for pop culture fans desperate to scratch a nostalgic itch on a budget. Not only have they released the complete first season of a personal favorite of mine, 227 (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), but also the complete 13-episode run of Jim Varney’s It’s Ernest! (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$9.98 SRP).

You can also take a one-way ticket back to the 80s with complete series box sets of both Miami Vice (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP) and Knight Rider (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), which are now available for a ridiculously low price for a full-series box set. So, really, you have no excuse not to snatch them up.

There have been a lot of mediocre Stephen King adaptations, and Cell (Lionsgate, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) doesn’t sink that low, it’s certainly not amongst the best. What merits it does have is mainly due to the presence of stars Samuel L. Jackson and John Cusack, who do a remarkable job being Samuel L. Jackson and John Cusack in this tale of cell-signal that turns people into killers. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and a making-of featurette.

Remember when 2016 showed us that there was such a thing as hope, and even when things looked bleakest, there could be a come-from-behind victory? Yeah, the Cubs winning the world series really set up false hopes for the election disaster right around the corner, but if you want to relive happier times, dive in to the Chicago Cubs: 2016 World Champions Collector’s Edition (Shout Factory, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.99 SRP), an 8-disc set containing all 7 games of the series, plus additional highlights.

With a string of legendary TV shows to his name – including All In The Family, Maude, The Jeffersons, and Good Times – the American Masters documentary Norman Lear: Just Another Version Of You (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) explores the career and extraordinary social activism that defines his legacy as a still-working nonagenarian.

Forty years later, and Nicolas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell To Earth (Lionsgate, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) is still a bizarre piece of cinema, anchored by an otherworldly performance from the late David Bowie. Now, it’s celebrated in a brand new 3-disc anniversary edition, featuring loads of bonus materials plus a commemorative booklet, postcards, poster, and more.

The fine folks at Quantum Mechanix have boldy gone where fans have been hoping that a company would go by finally securing the rights to produce 1/6-scale figures from the Star Trek universe. It’s fitting that their first two releases are the iconic duo of Kirk & Spock (QMx, $179.99 each). While I may have some quibbles with Kirk’s height in relation to Spock, there’s no denying that the Shatner and Nimoy likenesses are impeccable, complemented by exquisite costuming and a sublime array of scaled accessories, including phasers, communicators, and Spock’s tricorder. Heck, they’ve even replicated Shatner’s paunch. THAT is an endearing level of detail.

Sadly, Star Trek Beyond (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP) can’t even get beyond its poorly-conceived reboot universe in its third time at bat, as it remains hobbled by a still-inadequate set up for its characters and their new-continuity relationships, all while still trying way-too-hard to be seen as “cool” and “hip” without bothering to tell a good story. Bonus features include featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

Celebrating a half century of storytelling, Star Trek: 50 Artists 50 Years (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP) is exactly what its title states, presenting artwork that spans the franchise’s 50-year history in an eclectic collection of pieces.

I mean, I just… I just don’t know what to do with Star Trek Cats (Chronicle Books, $14.95 SRP), a book of illustrations which re-interpret classic Star Trek: TOS scenes, but with cats. Yes. With cats. Except for Mugato. He’s a dog.

Well, Bad Moms (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP), you had me at a cast that includes Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis, but then the film – about a trio of overworked moms who decide to go on a wild freedom binge – is a fun, funny romp that lives up to their comedic potential. Bonus materials include cast interviews, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

I had high hopes that the quirky, visually-bizarre subject matter of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children (Fox, Rated PG-13, 4K Bluc-Ray-$39.98 SRP) might spark a return to the glory days of director Tim Burton rather than the stiff, overly-precious films he’s been making in the past 2 decades (with the exception of Big Fish and Big Eyes), but this outing never really delivers on the potential to be found in a secret world for children with unusual powers. Bonus materials include featurettes, a music video, and a gallery of Burton’s sketches.

Snag yourself The Carol Burnett Show: The Lost Episode – Classic Carol (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$34.99 SRP), you can watch 14 original, uncut episodes from the legendary, rarely seen first 5 seasons, hand-selected by Carol herself. Bonus materials include a writers’ roundtable, interviews, and bonus The Garry Moore Show episodes.

While not as praised as Ridley Scott’s inaugural film, the design work that went into its sequel is every bit as impressive, as spotlighted in Aliens: The Set Photography (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP), which shines a light on the production of one cinema’s most effective cinematic continuations.

It’s unfortunate that it took a tragic loss of a music icon to get the release of his films in a single high-definition set, but at least the Prince Movie Collection (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) now exists, collecting Purple Rain, Under The Cherry Moon, and Graffiti Bridge. Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes featurettes, music videos, and more.

With a show that sports such a unique design and animation process, it should come as little surprise that there is plenty of interesting information to be found in The Art Of Archer (Dey St., $29.99 SRP), in addition to all of the behind-the-scenes info on the writing process and insight into the characters. But for me? The true fascination lies in that aforementioned animation process.

If you can’t get enough Star Wars even with Rogue One and Rebels, you’ll probably get a kick out of LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures (Walt Disney, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$36.99 SRP), a rollicking, heartfelt adventure that takes place between Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi and follows a family of scavengers as they run afoul of the Empire. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes.

I wasn’t expecting much from War Dogs (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP), so when I got a fast-moving cross between Goodfellas and Three Kings based on the true story of a pair of twenty-something gun runners (Jonah Hill & Miles Teller), I was pleasantly surprised. Bonus materials include a trio of featurettes.

George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road was an incredible film, and Miller’s intended black & white presentation of the film gets its debut in the Mad Max: Fury Road – Black & Chrome Edition (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP), and it certainly is a unique way of viewing the flick. Is it better? No, but it’s different enough to be worth a spin. Bonus materials include an all-new introduction, plus featurettes, and deleted scenes.

Although a failed format, Cinerama was a truly incredible visual experience, and you can get a home approximation of the kind of epic productions that were produced to show off the format with The Best Of Cinerama and the Bing Crosby-hosted Russian Adventure (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP each). Both are beautifully restored in high definition, and presented in the “smilebox” framing that best approximates the curved shape of the Cinerama screens.

Meryl Streep stars as the eponymous Florence Foster Jenkins (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP), a New York socialite whose husband Hugh Grant) indulges her fantasy to be a world-class opera singer, despite the fact that she lacks any talent whatsoever. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, featurettes, and a Q&A.

It seems ludicrous that it’s taken this many years to get a proper retrospective tome, but that glaring oversight has finally been rectified with the oversized Batman: A Celebration Of The Classic TV Series (Titan Books, $50 SRP), an in-depth look at the creation, production, and legacy of the 1966 series, including an introduction and commentary from Adam West.

I love animation maquettes, but don’t love the massive price tag often associated with them. I’m also a fan of the animated universe based on the Bruce Timm style, particularly the Batman and Superman animated series. The vinyl figures being produced by Diamond Select scratches the itch of getting absolutely perfect statuary but at a reasonable price. Just take a look at the pics of their Batman, Batgirl, Superman, and Joker (Diamond Select, $45.00 SRP each) below. They’re great. I just hope this line expands for years to come.

The long-awaited and much-requested animated adaptation of Alan Moore & Brian Bolland’s legendary Batman/Joker story The Killing Joke (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) is a pretty strong case for “be careful what you wish for”, as it manages to take an already problematic story and make it even more uncomfortable through numerous wrongheaded attempts to expand the slight story out to feature length.; For a much better, brighter tale of the Caped Crusader, instead dive into Batman: Return Of The Caped Crusaders (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), an animated feature set within the 1966 TV series continuity, featuring the return of Adam West and Burt Ward to their iconic roles.

While the second season of Gotham (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$44.98 SRP) went just full-on into batshit insane territory, the fourth season of Arrow (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$44.98 SRP) seemed to course correct some of the creative misdirection of the previous season. And if you want a show that swings wildly for the “let’s just have fun” fences, there’s the first season of Legends Of Tomorrow (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which doesn’t quite work, but I’m rooting for them to sort it out.

There was a fair amount of concern about how well any follow up to Avatar: The Last Airbender could live up to the long shadow of its predecessor, but The Legend Of Korra (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP) certainly managed to live up and then some. Now, you can experience the entire series in beautiful high definition, along with audio commentaries, featurettes, and more. The box set even includes an exclusive, condensed mini-version of the show’s Art Of book.

While The Legend Of Tarzan (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$44.95 SRP) is not a terribly good film, it’s enjoyable enough to see any film with Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz chew scenery while Alexander Skarsgard Lord Of The Apes it up. Bonus materials include a handful of featurettes.

Yeah, X-Men: Apocalypse (Fox, Rated PG-13, 4K Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is an awful film, even if it looks pretty good in full 4k HD. However, if it also means that we get a beautiful 4K release of the vastly superior X-Men: First Class (Fox, Rated PG-13, 4K Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), then I’ll take it. Bonus materials on both carry over all of the special features from the previous Blu-Ray releases.

Often overlooked in light of his more memorable outings, Orson Welles’ cinematic adaptation of MacBeth (Olive, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP) is worth taking a look at, as it’s certainly infused with iconic visual and dramatic flourishes. The 2-disc set contains both the original 1948 cut and the edited 1950 version, plus additional archival interviews and clips.

My gosh, Suicide Squad (Warner Bros., Not Rated, 3D Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is an awful film. And awful, ugly film, filled with awful, ugly characters being awful and ugly in an awful plot that is equal parts lazy and cynical. And then there’s Jared Leto’s Joker, which is the awful and ugly capper to it all. It’s just all so… awful. And ugly. And on this disc, you get an extended cut, which adds even more awful, ugly nonsense. Bonus materials include featurettes, a gag reel, and more.

The 5th edition of the incredibly dense Disney A to Z (Disney Editions, $40.00 SRP) adds an additional 10 years of history to the already massive archive of all things House of Mouse, thanks to the meticulous curation of author Dave Smith, Chief Archivist Emeritus of the Walt Disney Archives. Want to know all about the original Pete’s Dragon? This is your book.

Often overlooked in favor the cartoons starring Mickey & friends, Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies: A Companion To The Classic Cartoon Series (Disney Editions, $40.00 SRP) finally gives full and in-depth exploration to the animated shorts where the Disney company did most of the innovation that would inform their feature films, from color to the use of the multiplane camera.

I’ve been a huge proponent of the continual releases we’ve been getting, and now we get another brand new collection from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: The Vault Series Archive Classics (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$35.99 SRP), a 6-DVD set featuring 12 never-before-released full shows, plus a collection of bonus clips. My favorite? Vincent Price cooking.

An iconic classic gets a beautiful high definition treatment courtesy of the new “Olive Signature” edition of High Noon (Olive, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) from a 4k master. Bonus materials include a handful of brand new featurettes plus the original theatrical trailer.

Originally banned by South Africa’s Apartheid government, cult flick Joe Bullet (Film Detective, Not Rated, DVD-$14.99 SRP) makes its DVD debut. Think of it as a South African Billy Jack, with a focus on soccer.

It seems Shondaland has become the newest Disney theme park, and the latest park expansion is The Catch (ABC Studios, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), about a world-class investigator (Mireille Enios) who finds herself both romantically and financially the victim of a conman (Peter Krause) who manages to draw her into his world as he tries to stay ahead of her colleagues and his associates. Bonus materials include bloopers and deleted scenes.

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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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…)

While they’ve been concentrating on plenty of stellar releases featuring characters from the original trilogy, plus more Storm Troopers than you can shake a bushel of sticks at, Hot Toys has turned their sights back on Star Wars: The Force Awakens with a trio of figures that actually comprise only a pair of releases, as two of the figures are bundled in an exclusive two-pack. First up is a character that became legend for her visuals long before anyone saw the film, Captain Phasma (Sideshow/Hot Toys, $249.99). Despite whatever happened with her character in the film, the figure is an imposing realization of her instantly-iconic design, from the chrome armor to the mighty match of actress Gwendolyn Christie’s mighty height. Of course, what would Phasma be without her failed former cadet, FN-2187, who is available in the aforementioned two-pack of Finn and First Order Riot Control Stormtrooper (Sideshow/Hot Toys, $359.99). And really, how could you not get Finn, replete with lightsaber, together with his Stormtrooper sparring partner of the memorable exclamatory “TRAITOR!”, with his unique energized riot control club? That’s right, you simply must, or else be branded a fanboy TRAITOR!

Even if you’re louse at catching Pokemon, you can at least learn to sketch ’em all with the Pokémon How to Draw Kit (Thinkgeek, $16.99). Not only does it come with the how-to book with detailed instructions, but also the paper, pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpener to sketch with. It’s your all-in-one poke-sketching pokestop.

If Batman V Superman was the absolute nadir of this year’s superhero films, then the pinnacle is Captain America: Civil War (Walt Disney, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), a film which managed to juggle a massive cast in a well-established cinematic universe without any of the participants seeming superfluous, in a story that cranks along. Oh, and Spider-Man. It gave us a right and proper Spider-Man. Did I mention Spider-Man? I probably should. Spider-Man. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes, a peek at Doctor Strange, a gag reel, and a making-of documentary.

The 5th volume of Fantagraphics’ brilliant Uncle Scrooge And Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP) brings to a conclusion his epic “Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck” storyline in a suitably beautiful presentation, fully loaded with supporting materials and insights, plus a pair of stories that fit within Rosa’s output chronology, “Guardians Of The Lost Library” and “From Duckburg To Lillehammer”. The next volume can not come fast enough.

After years of being overlooked and underappreciated by the studio going all the way back to its unceremonious theatrical release, Warner Bros. has finally treated The Iron Giant (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$14.97 SRP) as the classic it is, releasing it for the first time in high definition, fully restored, including an alliterate expanded cut. It also includes an audio commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes, and a brand new documentary charting the journey of the film.

If you’re looking for a definitive document of the cultural phenomenon that is the Back To The Future trilogy, featuring interviews with Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and more, look no further than Back In Time (MVD, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP), a great documentary that does just that.

Tilda Swinton is a rock star vacationing in the Mediterranean whose quiet vacation with her lover is disrupted by the arrival of a former flame (Ralph Fiennes) and his seductive daughter in the potboiler A Bigger Splash (Fox, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). Seeing Swinton and Fiennes together onscreen is more than enough reason to give this a spin. Bonus materials include featurettes and the theatrical trailer.

Olive’s deep dive into the MGM catalogue brings up the high definition debut of Cecil B. DeMille’s thought-to-be-lost 1915 silent film The Captive (Olive, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.95 SRP), while their stroll through Paramount’s catacombs brings up the pre-Brady Bunch tale of a massive blended family, Yours, Mine And Ours (Olive, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.95 SRP), starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda as widowers who bring together their combined 18 kids.

If you’re watching the 13 specials featured within the 6-disc Thanks For The Memories: The Bob Hope Specials (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP) looking to laugh, you’re going to find genuinely funny jokes and performances few and far between. No, the brilliance of this set is in their time capsule nature, capturing a bygone era of vaudeville relics and old school celebrity, spread across very much of their time spotlights. The best example of this is the painfully unfunny special Joys, which gathers together dozens of celebrities, from Don Knotts to Phil Silvers and Groucho Marx to Charo, for a whodunit that is somehow also a parody of recent hit Jaws, but really isn’t, but is instead a stunning collection of an entire generation’s worth of entertainers. In addition to the specials, the set also contains the gold documentary Shanks For The Memories.

I love jigsaw puzzles. I love The Legend Of Zelda. So, how could I not love Legend of Zelda 550pc Puzzles (Thinkgeek, $9.99), which combines both of those in a single box? The quartet of images currently available include Majora’s Mask, Link on horseback, and a pair of stained glass pictures from Windwaker.

The adult coloring book craze will one day consume all pop culture properties, which means you can now color your way through the Seven Kingdoms and beyond in the Game Of Thrones Coloring Book (Chronicle Books, $15.95 SRP). Be sure to crack out the white crayons, because winter is here.

Having grown up on that base, even seeing the name Quantico (ABC Studios, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP) piques my interest, and this series, about an FBI recruit framed for a terrorist attack who must try and clear her name while exposing the true traitor within their ranks, is a wild, engaging ride that delivers on that pique. Bonus materials include video commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, and outtakes.

For those curious about where to find deeper scholarship of every nook and cranny of comics history, the best place to turn is two the always unique output of Twomorrows Publishing. Case in point? Their latest tome is The MLJ Companion (Twomorrows, $34.95 SRP), which explores the complete history of the Archie Comics superheroes from the Golden Age up to the present day. Never heard of The Mighty Crusaders? Read on!

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren in The Conjuring 2 (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP), a genuinely scary sequel that finds them engaged with the malicious spirits of the Enfield Haunting, known as England’s Amityville. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted scenes.

While a standalone version has been previously released, the legendary anniversary special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$79.95 SRP) has been expanded for a brand new collector’s box set that includes an extended version of the concert, over 14 hours of bonus materials across 3 additional discs beyond the original release, and a 48-page collector’s book. With reunions by the Miracles, Supremes, and Jackson 5 to host Richard Pryor, it remains an incredible evening.

The first Michael Bay-produced film was disappointing in myriad ways, but its sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$45.99 SRP) manages to eke out even more disappointment just by dint of being, well, boring. Well and truly so. Which is sad, because it manages to bring Bebop & Rocksteady in, and fix some of the first film’s Shredder problems. The turtles themselves still look like steroidal monstrosities, but nothing is unfixable, but it remains unfixed here. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted scenes.

The folks at Mill Creek continue to make catalogue content available at ridiculously low prices, which means you can now get the first and second seasons of the beloved shows Coach (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.95 SRP) and Friday Night Lights (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP each) for far less than their original DVD releases.

This weekend, dive into a clutch of documentaries from the public broadcasting purveyors of premiere programming, PBS, with 9/11: Inside The Pentagon (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), Nazi Mega Weapons: Season Three (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), and Frontline: Policing The Police (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP).

I think we all knew it was inevitable that even the 80s direct-to-VHS filler from Vestron Video would eventually be seen through enough nostalgia that we’d get high definition releases of those titles (collector’s editions, even!), and the first batch includes the gore fests Chopping Mall and Blood Diner (Lionsgate, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.97 SRP each). Bonus features include audio commentaries, featurettes, and archival interviews and trailers.

It’s been many, many years since the death of the much-missed Palisades line of Muppets action figures. Just when fans feared we may never see its like again, the whatnots at Diamond Select made a rainbow connection and gifted us with a brand new line of Muppets Action Figures (Diamond Select, $23 SRP each). The scale is smaller than the Palisades line, but the massive size of those figures is part of what made the line untenable. So, here we get what should hopefully be a more sustainable run, which kicks off with Kermit (with Robin & Bean Bunny), Gonzo (with Camilla), Fozzie & Scooter, Beaker & Bunsen, Statler & Waldorf (with their elaborate theatre box), and Animal (with his drum kit). I can’t wait to see how deep this line will go.

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

##

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…)

Hot on the heels of their various must-have droids, the fine folks at Sideshow have decided to grace fans with Tatooine’s favorite droid merchants with their brand new 1/6-scale Jawas (Sideshow Collectibles, $219.99). Their release comes as a two-pack, one slightly taller and featuring different accessories and costuming (vest/rifle). What’s really great about these guys, though, is the light feature, allowing you to re-create the screen accurate glowing eyes. So, unless you’ve got a bad motivator, snap up these guys right quick.

Over 30 sets in, Shout Factory has proven itself to be a miracle worker when it comes to sorting out the ridiculously tangled web of rights-holders that make releasing episodes to home video a daunting task, so they should be praised mightily for getting us to Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXXVI (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$59.97 SRP). The 4-episode set contains Stranded In Space, City Limits, The Incredible Melting Man, and Riding With Death, plus a handful of bonus features. And, if you order directly from ShoutFactory.com, you’ll get an exclusive bonus disc containing the 1st And 2nd MST3K Summer Blockbuster Review specials from the Sci-Fi Channel Era. If that weren’t enough, they’re continuing to re-release the long out-of-print Rhino sets with Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume II (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$44.99 SRP), which adds MST Hour wraps for Cave Dwellers and Pod People. Shout, you are doing an incredible job. KEEP IT UP.

I’ve never been keen on the Olympics, but I do love a solid comedy, and so what alternative to Rio could I possibly get than that solidly funny comedy The Bronze (Sony, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$25.99 SRP), starring Melissa Rauch as a washed-up Olympic Bonze Medal winner who risks losing her hometown hero status when she’s asked to mentor a promising young gymnast. Bonus materials include deleted scenes.

Over the course of 7 years after the film’s release, a trio of 11-year-olds in Mississippi attempted to film a shot-for-shot re-creation of Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure Raiders Of The Lost Ark. For years, their production remained unfinished. The documentary Raiders: The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (Drafthouse Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.95 SRP) chronicles the story behind their film, as well as their attempts to reunite and finish the scene they were never able to film. It’s a touching love letter to friendship and the pop culture ties that bind us together. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, a Q&A, and trailers.

Certainly Disney has tried to develop their theme park IP in feature films over the years, but they’ve recently begun to exploit their iconic rides in publishing. For fans of the Haunted Mansion that want a beautifully illustrated, straightforward presentation of the tale as told within the ride, check out The Haunted Mansion storybook (Disney Press, $17.99 SRP), which comes with a bonus CD featuring the ride’s song, “Grim Grinning Ghosts”. For a deeper dive, though, there’s Tales From The Haunted Mansion Volume 1: The Fearsome Foursome (Disney Press, $14.99 SRP), a chapter book series which attempts to tell the story of one of the attraction’s 999 ghosts.

I don’t think Danny DeVito gets nearly the praise he should as a director. As a performer, he’s like a focus magnet, and then when you combine the two, as in the little-seen gem The Ratings Game (Olive, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP) – newly available in high definition – you get a sly, sharp satire about a New Jersey trucking magnate who wants to be a bigtime Hollywood producer. Also on the disc are a collection of rare short films directed by DeVito, a featurette, and deleted scenes.

Finn & Jake get swept up in Adventure Time: Card Wars (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$18.98 SRP), with 16 episodes of the ever-deepening mythology including the titular tale of flooping the pig. Sadly, we’ll have to wait for the eventual Blu-Ray season release for bonus features, but this will tide you over until then.

Be sure to pack your lunch for the post-apocalypse with your very own Fallout Lunch Box (Thinkgeek, $14.99), featuring the retro iconography of the game and a classic metal construction sure to keep your lunch safe from robots.

How would you like 50 comedies from the first half of the 20th century, starring everyone from W.C. Fields and Laurel & Hardy to Buster Keaton & The 3 Stooges? You’ll get them and more in the ridiculously affordable Icons Of Comedy: 50 Movie Collection (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$17.99 SRP). Included with purchase is the ability to stream the entire collection via watch.millcreekent.com. So, affordable and convenient.

If nothing, the 5th season of Once Upon A Time (ABC Studios, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$79.99 SRP) has fully embraced its crazy, and has decided to dump every Disney character it possibly can into its crazy, so if you’re a fan of the more is more school of storytelling, than this is the season for you. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and bloopers.

Shailene Woodley blank-facedly ambles her way over the wall in Allegiant (Summit, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), the latest chapter in the Divergent Series of dystopian future fic. Bonus features include an audio commentary and a clutch of featurettes.

The 9th volume of Fantagraphics fab collections of Floyd Gottfredson’s Mickey Mouse (Fantagraphics, $34.99 SRP) have reached the post-WWII years, with this edition covering the period between mid-1946 to mid-1948, as well as introducing the charmingly bizarre character Eega Beeva. Full of the usual bevy of insightful contextual essays and information, this is another great installment in a wonderful archival series.

The theme song is still an earworm in my brain, and now you can dive into both the first and second season of The Rockford Files (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP each), which still holds up as a great detective show largely to the charisma of star James Garner, thanks to the economy-priced re-release from the folks at Mill Creek.

It’s not often you see Kevin Costner in full-on action mode, and that’s what we get in Criminal (Summit, Rated R, 4K-$42.99 SRP), which finds the memories and skills of a deceased CIA agent placed into the body of Costner’s death-row inmate, in the hopes that the Franken-personality that emerges will be able to complete the operative’s mission. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and a music video.

Though it’s unfortunate that they decided to end the show, at least we can deep dive back into modern comedy gold with a marathon re-watch of Key & Peele: The Complete Series (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$55.98 SRP), which contains all 5 seasons plus “The Van and Mike Show”, “The Super Episode” best of Seasons 1 & 2, and outtakes.

While it’s enjoyable enough, I was really hoping that Key & Peele’s debut feature, Keanu (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.96 SRP) would well and truly hit it out of the park. Sadly, it’s just a collection of scenes that vary wildly in how well the comedy hits, largely from how strong the improvisation on display wound up being. It’s a fun film, but could have been so much more. Bonus features include a featurette, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

If you’re a fan of deep diving into all corners of the Disney creative process (as I most assuredly am), you’ll probably dig Disney Villains: Delightfully Evil (Disney Editions, $40.00 SRP), a lavish hardcover book that catalogues the foul antagonists of Disney’s animated canon, with trivia, behind-the-scenes info, and copious amounts of rare development and production art.

Let’s just all collectively ignore Zack Snyder’s grimdark universe and embrace a far more inviting feature for the DC Comics pantheon courtesy of LEGO Justice League: Gotham City Breakout (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.95 SRP), which finds the JL policing Gotham when Batman decides to take a vacation. And even better? It comes with a Nightwing Minifig.

Ten years on from the last installment, Barber Shop: The Next Cut (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP) retains the franchise’s fresh, funny, and decidedly relevant strengths without in any way succumbing to fatigue. Maybe that’s because it manages to stay topical with a cast you enjoy visiting again. Bonus materials include a featurette, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

I don’t want to ruin Sing Street (Anchor Bay, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) for you, because I’m hoping you’ll just go ahead and watch it cold like I did, so you can be just as swept up in its tale. Do you love music? Does it define the moments of your life? Then watch this. Bonus materials include featurettes and cast auditions.

It’s a great show, sure, but we all know the reason you absolutely must watch The Blacklist (Sony, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$75.99 SRP) is for the absolutely mesmerizing performance from James Spader. The rest is all fine and dandy, but he’s the gravy that makes the potatoes truly spectacular. As for bonus features, the 3rd season set contains audio commentaries, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

LEGO cartoons are usually fun romps, and that’s true of their new show, Nexo Knights (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$18.98 SRP), the first season set of which contains all 10 episodes of this medieval sci-fi mash-up.

I’m a sucker for a political thriller, and the mini-series The Tunnel (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.99 SRP) certainly delivers with its tale of the murder of a prominent French politician along the UK/France border, and the resulting joint investigation by a pair of detectives (Stephen Dillane & Clemence Poesy). Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes footage, cast interviews, and more.

I’m really struggling to say something nice about Batman V Superman (Warner Bros., Rated R, 3D Blu-Ray-$44.95 SRP), a film I well and truly loathed. A dark, depressing affair that managed to suck excitement, heroism, and even sense out of what should have been a slam-dunk big-screen pairing of two cultural icons. But, no. No, it wasn’t a slam-dunk, unless that slam-dunk was into a garbage pail full of fetid slop. But hey, the rain looks pretty in 3D. But then you also get an expanded director’s cut that adds in more. Just more. Bonus materials include a massive clutch of featurettes, and more.

Summer’s great for a great many things, but sometimes you just want to escape the ridiculously overwhelming heat by retreating into the AC and watching TV. That’s probably why I spend my summer cool-down time indulging in my love of documentaries, including a new batch hitting DVD from the fine folks at PBS. There’s history, with The White House: Inside Story (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP and Teotihuacan’s Lost Kings (PBS, Not Rated, DVD- $24.99 SRP). How about history and architecture, with Operation Lighthouse Rescue (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP). Or nature, with The Great Polar Bear Feast (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), Nature’s Perfect Partners (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), and Wild Ways (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP). Maybe just watch food being made in season 16 of America’s Test Kitchen (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP). It’s all great.

With all of the drama that swirls around the Supreme Court, particularly in this heated election year, the story behind Anita Hill’s testimony and the confirmation hearings of Judge Clarence Thomas, as depicted in Confirmation (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP), is both timely and fascinating. Bonus features include featurettes and character spots.

All the late Garry Marshall sought to deliver with his Day films were an amiable, heartwarming time, and Mother’s Day (Universal, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) certainly delivers on that remit, with a cast including Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Julia Roberts, and Kate Hudson delivering a schmaltzy, affectionate, inoffensive good time. Bonus materials include deleted scenes and outtakes.

Everyone is vacationing this summer, including Mummy, Daddy, George, and Peppa in Peppa Pig: Sunny Vacation (E1, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), and kiddies can join them in this 4-part special. The disc also includes 8 bonus episodes that will keep them entertained.

Director Volker Schaner’s documentary about reggae godfather and the innovator of dub, Lee Scratch Perry’s Vision Of Paradise (Cadiz Music, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) is as unique an exploration of the man and his music as it is a piece of filmmaking, blending animation within its footage. The DVD comes packaged in a 24-page hardcover book featuring photos and writings.

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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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 can state unequivocally and without doubt that Stan Lee is an icon. Whether it be guiding the birth of the Marvel Comics universe or by being that selfsame universe’s biggest booster, he truly is “The Man”. And considering how many cameos he’s had in Marvel films over the years, it is any wonder your toy shelf can now have its very own special guest appearance from the 1/6-scale Stan Lee ($199.99). Dressed in Stan casual, it features a sculpt that perfectly captures the genial quality of ol’ Stan, right down to the tinted (and alternate clear) glasses perched above his grin. In addition to an number of hands (some of which are in Spidey web shooter position), his chief accessory is a folding director’s chair, very similar to the one packed with Hot Toys’ Bruce Lee figure ages ago. So, bottom line, this figure is great. ‘Nuff said.

There is absolutely no denying its iconic status, so it was inevitable that Criterion would eventually get around to delving a definitive high definition presentation of Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (Criterion, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP). Featuring a newly restored 4K transfer and a remarkable bounty of rare and rarely seen extras, it’s the ultimate edition of a classic.

Another new Pixar film means another wonderful new book to devour, and so it goes with The Art Of Finding Dory (Chronicle Books, $40.00 SRP), which does the usual bang-up job of packing its pages with development artwork and interviews chronicling the creation of the much-anticipated sequel.

Patrick Stewart as a monstrous neo-Nazi club owner who holds a young band hostage after they inadvertently witness a crime? That powerful performance and white knuckle tension makes Green Room (Lionsgate, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) make it a thriller worth checking out. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and a featurette.

The kids today. What do they love? We know they love the Minecraft. Oh, how they love the Minecraft. What else do they love? Getting the bejeezus scared out of them while playing the game Five Nights At Freddy’s, whose sole purpose seems to be making kids periodically scream in the dark while playing on for another 17 consecutive hours. Now, those kids can bring the trauma right into their homes with Five Nights At Freddy’s Plush (Thinkgeek, $29.99 each). You can snag either Freddy or Foxy, and each stand a pretty massive 20″ tall.

Two thespianic titans as an aging actor and his dresser in a tale of friendship and loyalty? Who would not want to watch Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen share the screen for two hours in The Dresser (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP).

With Everybody Wants Some!! (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), writer/director Richard Linklater moves his Dazed and Confused coming-of-age nostalgia from high school in the 1970s to college in the 1980s, as a group of friends navigate their way through girls, parties, and problems in the summer of 1980. Bonus materials include deleted scenes and featurettes.

While there are showier examples of his filmmaking style, like Conan and Red Dawn, the high-def debut of his John Milius’s first directorial effort, Dillinger (Arrow Films, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$27.99 SRP) is a great way to discover this oft-overlooked little gem about the legendary outlaw.

There was always a crazy quality to the Shakespearean machinations at the core of House Of Cards (Sony, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$65.99 SRP), but the fourth season takes the scheming and backstabbing to a frontstabbing new level as it pits the team of Frank and Claire Underwood squarely against each other in a bloody winner-take-all battle.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). I mean, a film starring Tina Fey as a journalist who trades her desk job in New York for an assignment in Afghanistan? Co-starring Martin Freeman, Margot Robbie, and Billy Bob Thornton? You’d think it’d be a slam dunk, and while it’s certainly amiable, it never quite clicks. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted/extended scenes.

The adult coloring book market is awash with dozens upon dozens of options, including a fair number based on licensed properties. Two of my favorites, though, are decidedly offbeat. To The Ocean Deep (Chronicle Books, $14.95 SRP), which touts itself as the longest coloring book in the world, unfolds to 15 feet packed with intricate sub-aquatic imagery. The other is The Bicycle Coloring Book: Journey To The Edge Of The World (Chronicle Books, $16.95 SRP) which, as you can well surmise, features fantastical illustrations of bicycles around the world.

Slowly but surely, we’re getting affordable Star Trek prop replicas that are well-constructed, screen-accurate, and affordable. They’re perfect as either a fun collectible or the final bit of your cosplay. The latest addition is the Star Trek III: The Search For Spock Phaser (Thinkgeek/Diamond Select, $39.99). Featuring authentic lights and sounds, it’s a must-have before you head down to the Genesis planet to face the Klingons.

Like Star Trek before it, syndication success helped the castaways of the S.S. Minnow find their way back onto television via a cartoon. In the case of our 7 stranded seafarers, it was The New Adventures Of Gilligan (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), which featured the return of all of the original cast members except Dawn Wells and Tina Louise. The 3-disc set contains all 24 episodes, plus the original bumpers.

It’s still a very ugly film, but in watching the new anniversary edition of Shrek (Dreamworks, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP), there’s no denying that its success is because it was a very funny film that still managed a decent amount of heart. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

There’s no denying that Ice Pirates (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP) is an awful, awful film. But it’s awful in that great, pure cheese cult fashion that makes watching it an enjoyable journey into ersatz mediocrity. I mean, this is a film that actually cast Bruce Vilanch in an onscreen role. Ridiculous.

Diamond Select has put out a lot of great figures over the years, mainly through their Marvel license, but they’ve recently picked up the license to produce 6″-scale figures from the original Ghostbusters (Diamond Select, $24.99 SRP each). And boy, have they been going to town. With at least 15 figures planned in the line, we’ve already seen the release of Peter, Egon, Ray, and Winston, as well Keymaster Louis and Gatekeeper Dana. What’s even more impressive about their plans is that each figure comes with a piece of what can eventually be constructed into a massive set piece of the rooftop temple from the film’s finale. Add to that copious amounts of accessories and attention to detail, including the sculpts, and you’ve got a line that begs to be completed.

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

##

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…)

The 1/6-scale Harry Potter figures from Star Ace have, to this point, been pretty darn good. Their young Harry and Ron are by far their best of the line, rivaling anything – from sculpt to materials to paint ops – that bigger fish like Hot Toys and Sideshow have been producing. However, their Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone Hermione Granger (Star Ace/Sideshow, $209.99) easily outstrips them all, and is as close to perfect a figure as you can get. This is clearly a young Emma Watson, benefiting from a perfectly realized sculpt and the best use of rooted hair I’ve seen in this scale to date. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, but this figure? Wizard.

By the end of its first season, the show had clearly found its footing beyond just the shock value that early episodes relied far too heavily on, and the second season of Rick And Morty (Adult Swim, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP) cements it as a modern classic, deftly weaving comedy and science fiction together with a well-defined cast of characters. And yes, all without losing the shock value. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, animatics, a featurette, and deleted animatic sketches.

It seemed like a far-off goal when it started, but with The Complete Peanuts: 1999 to 2000 (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP), we now have all 25 volumes comprising the entirety of the 50 year run of Charles Schulz’s iconic strip. In addition to the final year of strips, it also contains the Li’l Folks strip that Schulz created before launching Peanuts, plus an introduction by President Barack Obama. As a special bonus, Fantagraphics will be releasing an additional volume this Fall, containing rarely seen stories and images.

It took a few years of middling pictures, but Disney Feature Animation has most certainly gotten their groove back in recent years, and no where is that more evident than in the self-assured and frankly wonderful Zootopia (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). It also manages the difficult feat of striking the perfect balance of being genuinely funny and entertaining while also managing to impart a strong message with a sincere emotional core. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

I loved Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel so much that, sure, I’ll watch The Martian: Extended Edition (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) and enjoy its extra 10 minutes of footage and clutch of documentaries on both the science and making of the film, plus additional deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more.

Yes, the episodes themselves are truly, truly masterpieces of modern comedy, but the real reason to pick up the fourth season of Veep and the second season of Silicon Valley (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP each) is so you can get more sublime moments via the clutch of deleted scenes featured on both sets. Yes, you’ll end up wanting more, but that’s why you’re watching their new seasons.

Even 30+ years on, the second film in the series of Kirk & Co.’s cinematic adventures resonates as a glorious outing for Trek and just a great film, and the Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan Director’s Cut (Paramount, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$22.98 SRP) finally brings Nicholas Meyer’s expanded cut of the film to high definition with the added bonus of a brand new retrospective featurette. The film holds up perfectly, has never looked better, and is the perfect way to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary.

And because the celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary is in full swing, the J.J. Abrams Nu-Trek films are also getting into the act with their debut in 4K Ultra HD. The new 4k editions of Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 4K Blu-Ray-$47.99 SRP each) port over all of the bonus features from the previous collector’s editions of both titles. Say what you want about the merits of the films themselves, there’s no denying that they look truly impressive in 4K.

Did you know that Dr. Seuss wrote a live action film in the 50s? Well, he did, and while toned down from the fantastic flights that would define his storybooks, there are more than enough elements that smack of pure Seuss to make The 5,000 Fingers Of Dr. T (Mill Creek, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP) worth a spin.

Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell in a comedy about an unlucky in love woman who hooks up with a man who turns out to be an assassin? Yes, that’s a movie I’ll watch, and you’ll probably get a kick out of Mr. Right (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP), too. Bonus materials are limited to a single featurette, but you can always just watch the movie over again.

I’m finding it terribly difficult to resolve my conflicted feelings about 10 Cloverfield Lane (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). On the one hand, it’s a gripping bunker drama with the always-watchable John Goodman as a man who either saved a young woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) from a mysterious catastrophe or has kidnapped her . And that part is great. But on the other hand… well, it’s where it all winds up. And I don’t want to spoil that, so I’ll leave it to you to judge. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and featurettes.

The practical effects work of the original Independence Day (Fox, Rated PG-13, 4K Ultra HD-$39.99 SRP) looks pretty darn astonishing remastered for 4K presentation in this new anniversary release (timed, of course, for the debut of the sequel). In addition to the extended cut of the film and bonus features from pervious editions, this adds a brand new 30-minute documentary.

The release of the live action Alice Through The Looking Glass has triggered the nifty book Alice In Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time (Disney Editions, $29.99 SRP) is a look back at the history of Lewis Carroll’s creation with the focus, obviously, being on Disney’s connection, from Walt’s earliest Alice shorts to Mickey to the animated and live action adaptations.

I feel that Gods Of Egypt (Summit, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is a misunderstood film. Many have attacked it, but I think its over the top but thoroughly committed cornball nature is actually meant to be a wholly evocative homage to the Cannon films of the 80s. You remember those B-movie fantasy epics like Masters Of The Universe, right? Yeah, this is that, but with a bigger budget. Just big ol’ goofy fun. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted storyboards.

The original Zoolander film manages to exist and largely succeed in a small pocket of absurdity. The sequel, Zoolander No. 2 (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), never manages to find that pocket, and instead manages to just be a bit of a self-indulgent mess. Perhaps some things shouldn’t be revisited. Bonus materials include a trio of featurettes and a Youth Milk Beauty Ad.

When you start counting them, there have been loads of Disney dragons – a short list of which includes Maleficent, Elliott, Mushu, Figment, and many more, all of which can be found in The Art Of Disney’s Dragons (Disney Editions, $29.99 SRP), a lovely little tome filled with sketches from the company’s archives.

Although it often feels like a DVD bonus feature, Elstree 1976 (MVD Visual, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP) is full of enough untold anecdotes from the production of an unknown little science fiction film shot in Elstree Studios in 1976 – a little film called Star Wars – that it’s well worth a watch. Those untold tales come courtesy of the background actors who had little idea of what a momentous film they were working on.

Oh, I’m sure there are thousands of films from over 100 years of cinema I’ve never heard of that, if I finally watched them, I would probably love. Maybe that’s why I love companies like Olive Films, who on e a monthly basis have been releasing clutches of catalogue titles from the vaults of studios like Paramount and MGM. The quartet this month includes the Mel Stuart-directed 1969 farce If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (Olive Films, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), original Doctor Who William Hartnell as a thief in Appointment With Crime (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Bob Hope & Tuesday Weld in I’ll Take Sweden (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), and the coming-of-age drama Cornbread, Earl & Me (Olive Films, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP).

Even when I don’t enjoy the film, I always get a kick out of diving into an “Art Of” book for a film and getting to view the design process. The Art Of The Jungle Book (Insight Editions, $45.00 SRP) is absolutely crammed full of great artwork and insight into the development process of Disney’s surprisingly enjoyable live action re-take.

And while the film was blah, Warcraft: Behind The Dark Portal (HarperDesign, $45.00 SRP) is a fascinating tome that at least provides plenty of interesting artwork to look at even if the film that eventually came out of it didn’t work.

Nick Kroll takes his often bizarre and more-often-than-not deeply funny sketch show out on a high note with the 3rd and final season of Kroll Show (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). To try and describe it any further… I mean, words can not possibly hope to capture just how truly mental it all is. Bonus materials include a trio of additional character bits.

If you need the perfect antidote to the grimdark cinematic DC Comics universe, look no further than Teen Titans Go: Eat. Dance. Punch (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.97 SRP), which collects the first 26 episodes of the show’s 3rd season in all its brightly colored, upbeat glory.

If you watch Washington being targeted in the bombastic actioner Olympus Has Fallen, you know exactly what to expect for ol’ blighty in London Has Fallen (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP), which finds Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) trying to protect US President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) from a terrorist organization systematically picking off world leaders in town for the funeral of the British Prime Minster. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes.

After a massive storm off Cape Cod rips a tanker ship in half, one of the greatest small-boat rescue missions in Coast Guard history is undertaken, all of which is dramatized in The Finest Hours (Walt Disney, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), starring Casey Affleck as the Chief Engineer of the tanker and Chris Pine as the Coast Guard captain risking all to save the survivors. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted scenes.

You would almost expect Charlie Kaufman to be the mind behind such a beautifully told, traditional yet experimental movie like Anomalisa (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), in which a chance encounter on a business trip upends the life of a middle-aged family man. And it’s all told through stop-motion animation. Bonus materials include a quartet of featurettes.

The story of Queen Elizabeth’s courtship and the royal family’s concern with young Philip Mountbatten is chronicled in the fascinating documentary Prince Philip: The Plot To Make A King (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP). From his uncouth manners to concerns about his German heritage, it’s a candid portrait of an unlikely marriage.

Binge on the ocean’s most iconic predators with Discovery’s Shark Week (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), a 3-disc collection of 13 documentaries from the channel’s iconic annual celebration of all things swimmy-toothy-bitey.

After 6 seasons of Workaholics (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), I think we’re reaching the point where Adam, Blake, and Ders are moving squarely into a far sadder territory as they transition into their 30s and the bleak reality of their futures becomes an ever-closer present. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, bloopers, and deleted scenes.

There’s a blatant air of an agenda that drags down the none-too-subtle approach of Michael Bay’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), although anyone who thought Bay might have an informed, nuanced approach to such a sensitive event must not be terribly familiar with his oeuvre. Bonus materials include a clutch of behind-the-scenes featurettes.

For the younger set, you’ve got the educational Super Why: Goldilocks And The Three Bears (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$9.99 SRP), featuring four reading adventures, and the fun Strawberry Shortcake: Campberry Stories (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), which also comes in a DVD case that smells like strawberries. Which is both awesome and unsettling.

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

##

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…)

While Captain America: Civil War is bring up theaters (and burning out the awful memories of Batman vs. Superman, the fine folks at Hot Toys are still releasing figures from the last major outing of Earth’s mightiest heroes, Avengers 2: Age Of Ultron Making their debut in that film (and returning in Civil War), you can now get the Age Of Ultron 1/6-scale The Vision (Sideshow, $219.99) & Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch (Sideshow, $229.99). We’ve come to expect miracles on these figures, and neither of these disappoint, as the likenesses and costuming are spot-on. And even though he didn’t make it out of Age Of Ultron alive, you’ll also want to make sure you complete your set of Maximoff twins with Pietro himself, Quicksilver (Sideshow, $209.99). Really, there’s something wonderfully precious about a figure wearing a perfect set of 1/6-scale running shoes. Truly, we live in an age of miracles.

A half-century ago, film legend Vincent Price and his wife Mary released what they termed A Treasury Of Great Recipes (Calla Editions, $50 SRP) which, in what may very well be the first celebrity cookbook, collected together recipes gathered from the couple’s globetrotting. From European cuisine to American hot dogs, the recipes run the gamut of tastes, all presented with introductory context of their travels. This new 50th anniversary edition features a retrospective preface from Vincent Price and a brand new foreword from Wolfgang Puck.

It’s brilliant that Abrams is genuinely committed to seeing that all 3 films will eventually get a book celebrating the iconic trading cards of our youth, as evidenced by the release of their second Star Wars volume, The Empire Strikes Back: The Original Topps Trading Card Series (Abrams Comicarts, $24.95 SRP), which reproduces all of the images, and also includes a clutch of brand new cards exclusive to the book.

I dearly miss the Batman: The Animated Series maquette series that the Warner Bros. Store released years and years ago. But thankfully, that fine tradition has been carried on by Diamond Select with their stellar Mad Love Harley Quinn Resin Statue (Diamond Select, $150), which fits into that classic scale and perfectly captures Bruce Timm’s artwork from that Paul Dini/Bruce Timm masterpiece. And do yourself a favor and also keep an eye on their Batman: TAS bust releases, including their Almost Got ‘im Harley Quinn and Laughing Fish Joker (Diamond Select, $60 each). More!

While it’s a bit of cognitive dissonance to see Jennifer Lawrence playing a middle-aged woman, she’s just such an ace performer that she carries Joy (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) on her shoulders, as the titular real-life creator of the Miracle Mop, Joy Mangano, who faces nearly-insurmountable obstacles before establishing her personal and professional legacy. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes and a gallery.

As a prelude to giving her the legendary variety show that would cement her place in comedy history, CBS gave Carol Burnett a prime time special in 1966. Now you can watch the Carol +2: The Original Queens Of Comedy (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP) special, in which Carol reached out and secured an equal legendary guest star in Lucille Ball. Also included on the disc is the 1972 television movie version of Once Upon A Mattress, in which Carol reprised her original Broadway role, and a Burnett-introduced sketch from the 1963 special Carol & Company featuring the 1st appearance of her “charwoman” character.

The thing that I love most about Thinkgeek is that so many of the products that they develop in-house fall into the category of “Well, that’s pretty nifty and I think I want one”. Case in point? Their Star Wars Death Star Waffle Maker (Thinkgeek, $39.99). It’s exactly what it says it is – a waffle maker that makes Death Star waffles. Because who doesn’t love waffles? Thinkgeek knows you do. And they love you.

Roger Corman’s low-budget cult classic ghost story The Terror (Film Detective, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$14.99 SRP) benefits from stars Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson, plus five uncredited directors, including Francis Coppola and Nicholson himself. It also benefits from a brand new high definition restoration.

It’s been 30 years since Maverick took the highway to the danger zone, so that means it’s the perfect time to release a brand new 30th anniversary edition of Top Gun (Paramount, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$22.98 SRP), the film that launched Tom Cruise into the stratosphere. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, multi-angle storyboards with optional commentary, music videos, TV spots, and interviews.

Spanning two decades of travels and containing a trio of specials, Bob Hope: Entertaining The Troops (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP) find the legendary comic traveling the globe and bringing his show packed with comedy and special guests to servicemen.

It’s been quite a few years since Michael Moore’s last documentary, but his latest, Where To Invade Next (Anchor Bay, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) is one of his most positive, as it takes a tongue-in-cheek but sincere look around the world for how other countries have tackled some of America’s greatest problem and could help re-inspire the American dream.

The co-creator of Supergirl, Brainiac, and The Legion Of Super-Heroes, Al Plastino was a golden age artist who worked on characters including Superman, Nancy, Joe Palooka, and Batman, and is now the subject of the illustrated biography Al Plastino: Last Superman Standing (Twomorrows, $17.95 SRP). Packed with art, author Eddy Zeno’s tome is a fine celebration of a great artist.

Cut off from the world, the stranded residents of Haven (E1, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.98 SRP) face challenges across time and space as a cataclysm looms in the show’s final season. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, interviews, and more.

It’s a fair trick for a comedian to be able to bring his well-established stage persona to a sitcom and be able to build a viable show around it, but Jim Gaffigan manages to pull it off with the affable first season of The Jim Gaffigan Show (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP).

One of the greatest Blaxploitation films of all time gets a truly wonderful high definition restoration with the release of Dolemite (Vinegar Syndrome, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP), which has been mastered in 2k from a newly-discovered 35mm print. Bonus features include an audio commentary, a making-of documentary, featurettes, and more.

The Criterion high definition mastering for David Lean’s powerfully moving adaptation of Noel Coward’s play about doomed romance, Brief Encounter (Criterion, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP) is as beautiful to behold as it is to experience again. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, documentaries, an interview with Coward scholar Barry Day, and a trailer.

Betty White, Wendie Malick, Jane Leaves, & Valerie Bertinelli return for the 6th and final season of TV Land’s surprise hit Hot In Cleveland (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), featuring an impressive roster of guest stars including Craig Ferguson, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett, Robert Wagner, and Huey Lewis.

Dakota Johnson doesn’t deserve the awfulness of 50 Shades Of Grey. If you’d like a much better vehicle for a charming actor, check out How To Be Single (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP), which teams her up with Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, and Leslie Mann in a comedy about lonely hearts in New York City. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and outtakes.

In order to prevent the destruction of the Earth, our heroes on the half shell journey into the farthest reaches of space in the 12 episodes found on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Beyond The Known Universe (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP). And best of all? Their guide is a robot voiced by The 10th Doctor himself, David Tennant. Oh, and we also get a full-fledged crossover with the old school animated turtles. Pretty nifty.

Mash up Sons of Anarchy and Deliverance and you pretty much have the show Outsiders (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$45.99 SRP), about an isolated clan in the mountains of Kentucky that live an insular, pagan lifestyle that becomes threatened by the outside world. Bonus materials include deleted scenes and featurettes.

If you’ve ever wondered about the ludicrously complex mechanisms that control how we remember, dive into the Nova special Memory Hackers (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), in which neuroscientists attempt to determine the mechanisms that make it all work.

Olive Films continues to drop “thank goodness someone finally released them” catalogue titles in HD, with this month’s pair being Russell Crowe in The Sum Of Us (Olive, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP) and John Lithgow in the Robert Altman-produced Rich Kids (Olive Films, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP).

Your toddler picks for this week are a pair of new Nickelodeon releases – Bubble Guppies: Fun On The Farm (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) and preschool education friendly Let’s Learn STEM: Volume 2 (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), containing episodes from Team Umizoomi, Blaze And The Monster Machines, PAW Patrol, and Dora And Friends.

Those catalogue mavens at Mill Creek have mined the vaults for another batch of reasonably-priced releases, including complete series sets of the shows Dog House (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$9.98 SRP), and 10 Items Or Less (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), the multi-film Hammer Films Collection (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$8.99 SRP) & The Randolph Scott Round-up (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), and Doomsday (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), which collects a trio of apocalyptic miniseries (Blackout, Meteor, Pandemic).

It’s no Pixar production, but there’s more plenty of charm in Norm Of The North (Lionsgate, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP), an animated feature about a polar bear who heads to New York City in order to save his arctic home. Bonus materials include featurettes, and deleted scenes.

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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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…)

There have been quite a few attempts to get a definitive, or at the very least accurate, sculpt of Harrison Ford in his iconic role as that most memorable to adventuring archeologists, Indiana Jones. Some have come close, but not even the mighty Hot Toys was able to crack it with their take on Indy from Raiders. Ah, but Sideshow, with their brand new 1/6-scale Temple Of Doom Indiana Jones ($229.99) has finally done it. The head sculpt is the best Harrison Ford we’ve ever gotten, and that’s including the numerous takes on Han Solo, as well. Thankfully, the costuming is just as spot-on, capturing the ragged, late-in-the-film sleeveless version of the character, ready to take on Mola Ram on the suspension bridge as the villain tried to reclaim the Sankara stones. And yes, you do get those three stones, plus the machete that Indy uses to cut the rope bridge, a pair of whips (coiled and uncoiled), his pistol, a satchel, and his trusty fedora. If that weren’t enough, the exclusive edition packs in an additional trio of Sankara stones, crafted of translucent plastic to give the look of the stones glowing.

From the “New Bacon-ings Burger” to the “Baby You Can Chive My Car Burger” and dozens more, The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book (Universe Publishing, $19.95 SRP) manages to take all of those wonderfully groanworthy background puns found on Bob’s dry-erase board in every episode and turn them into actual, honest-to-goodness, you can totally make these burger recipes, courtesy of Cole Bowden. There’s also plenty of show-worthy linking material and artwork from the creator Loren Bouchard, and the show’s writers and artists. Get this book. Get it.

When I was a kid, one of the things I always wanted to have was a Darth Vader Mask (Thinkgeek, $119.99). Now, thanks to Thinkgeek, I’ve been able to realize that childhood dream dark lord of the sith-ing it up. The most surprising thing? Just how massive the screen-scale mask is. Almost ludicrously so. It certainly drives home just how large a man actor David Prowse had to have been in order to pull it off without it looking ludicrous. Which it does on me. But who cares? It’s a Darth Vader mask! I may even be wearing it as I type this! I’m not. But I might be.

While I tend to gravitate towards their more comedic work, like The Hudsucker Proxy and O, Brother, Where Art Thou?, I can still appreciate the Coen Brothers’ more solemn, reflective works, like Inside Llewellyn Davis (Criterion, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), their somber ode to New York’s early 60’s folk scene. Now it’s gotten the Criterion treatment, with a brand new audio commentary, a conversation between the brothers and Guillermo del Toro about their process, documentaries, and more.

It’s not an instant classic, but I don’t care – I love seeing Amy Poehler and Tina Fey on screen together, and Sisters (Universal, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) delivers on that magic, as they play a pair of sisters intent on one last house party after they find out their parents are selling their childhood home. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted/extended scenes, and a gag reel.

While he was a major focus in Ken Burns’ epic Baseball documentary series, there was more than enough left to craft the new documentary Jackie Robinson (PBS, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), from humble beginnings to his legendary career and continued influence to this day. Bonus materials include featurettes and outtakes.

Caught between his mentor and his friends, Robin is in the unenviable position of being the focal point of the latest DC animated feature, Justice League vs. Teen Titans (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP). This is certainly an adult take on the material, so best kept away from young Teen Titans Go! fans. Bonus materials include featurettes (including a look at the upcoming adaptation of Batman: The Killing Joke), and a pair of bonus cartoons. Oh, and if you buy the gift set, you get a nifty Schleich Robin figurine.

It’s an acceptably creepy horror film starring Game Of Thrones‘ own Natalie Dorner, which is enough of a reason to give The Forest (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) a spin if you’re in the mood for either of those things. The titular forest is creepy, too. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, storyboards, and galleries.

Keen on a musical kaleidoscope this weekend? Give a gander and a listen to Johnny Winter With Dr. John: Live In Sweden 1987 (MVS, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP, CD-$11.99 SRP), which features a concert pairing of the two titans, now available on both DVD and CD.

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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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…)

Sure, the prequels showed that petulance runs deep in the Skywalker bloodline, but even Anakin never reached the levels of pure emo we saw in href=”http://affiliates.sideshowtoy.com/Tracker.aspx?aid=1303&href=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sideshowtoy.com%2fcollectibles%2fstar-wars-kylo-ren-hot-toys-902538%2f” target=”_blank”>Kylo Ren ($224.99), who has now been immortalized in 1/6th scale form by the fine folks at Hot Toys. Sadly, we don’t get an Adam Driver portrait, so the detail level comes from the way they’ve scaled down the textured fabric in the numerous layers of his deceptively simple looking outfit, as well as his weathered facemask. As with their recent release of Obi-Wan and Luke, he sports a swappable right forearm that contains an LED light feature for his unique cross-hilted lightsaber.

If you’re lucky, life is full of pleasant surprises. The arrival of the incredible modern television classic Freaks And Geeks (Shout Factory, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$119.00 SRP) in high definition? That, my friends, is the very epitome of a pleasant surprise. Not only do we get a fully remastered version of the original presentation, but we also get a 16×9 version, which I surprised to find out was the format (save for the pilot) that the show was actually shot in. And it looks great. All of the bonus materials from the stellar “Yearbook” DVD release have been carried over, with the addition of a brand new conversation with creator Paul Feig & producer Judd Apatow.

It’s a bit pointless to try and offer up a review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Walt Disney, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). Everyone’s seen it. Everyone has an opinion on it. So how does what is sure to be the first of many home video releases meet up with expectations? We’re going to have to wait until later in the year for a 3D release, but the bonus features this go round are marked by a singular great one, which is the extended making-of documentary which charts the creation of the film from the sale of Lucasfilm through the production. Admittedly, it feels like the first of what could be many documentaries, as there are plenty of aspects of production that are only touched upon, even in the clutch of additional featurettes the disc contains. And the deleted scenes only total less than 5 minutes, leaving tons of filmed material still unseen, including scenes with the mysterious Constable Zuvio, who got an action figure even though all trace of him was cut. So, yes, this is not the Peter Jackson-level special edition we were hoping for, but you know you’re impatient and are going to buy this first release regardless. So here it is. Now start saving your pennies for the special edition at the end of the year.

Oh, how I love nifty multi-task devices, and the UCO Trinity LED Lantern (Thinkgeek, $49.99) certainly falls into that sweet spot. Not only is it a perfect little handheld LED flashlight, but you can extend the housing and transform it from a unidirectional light into an omnidirectional lantern. Ah, but that’s not the end of its powers, because the last bit of wow actually has to do with power, as it manages to triple as a USB power charger. How’s that for a great emergency device?

I continue to marvel at the notion that, after this set, there are 25 episodes left until the entire run is available on home video. Thanks to the miracle workers at Shout Factory, Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXXV (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$59.97 SRP) brings us four episodes closer to that seemingly impossible goal. Whizzes at clearing up rights red tape, this set continues the Joel/Mike episode split, with 12 To The Moon, Teenage Cave Man, Being From Another Planet (aka Time Walker), and Deathstalker And The Warriors From Hell, plus a quartet of featurettes.

I had very little expectations one way or the other from it, but wound up enjoying Disney’s latest animated feature immensely, which made digging into The Art Of Zootopia (Chronicle Books, $40 SRP) even more of a delight. As we’ve come to expect with these lovely hardcover tomes, it’s packed with design and development artwork and insight into the creation of the film.

The end of a cinematic series means fans can finally snap up a comprehensive collection containing all of the flicks and usually a load of extra bonus materials, and The Hunger Games: Complete 4-Film Co0llection (Lionsgate, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$64.97 SRP) brings together the entire quadrilogy, including all previously-available bonus features plus an exclusive bonus disc packed with additional documentaries, deleted scenes, and more.

There’s much to love and much to hate about Quentin Tarantino’s 8th film, The Hateful Eight (Anchor Bay, Rated, R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). For every beautifully evocative piece of dialogue, performance, or visual flourish, there’s a feeling that it’s the Olive Garden of spaghetti westerns. And much like every other Tarantino film before it, I like it for what it is, wish it lived up to its own potential, and will probably not get around to watching it again. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes.

Written as a gift to his young son Tenzin on the boy’s 5th birthday, Avatar: The Last Airbender – Legacy (Insight Editions, $24.95 SRP) is a combination memoir and scrapbook of Aang’s tale, written in the first person and collecting numerous pieces of ephemera from his many adventures. Where else are you going to get mementos like a Fire Nation Royal Palace postcard and a guide to waterbending?

It’s not a film you’ll probably ever find yourself watching again, but Daddy’s Home (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is a comedy that coasts on the amiable likability of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as a dad and step-dad facing off against each other for the affection of their kids. Bonus materials include deleted/extended scenes and featurettes.

No one would consider any of these titles classics, but the latest clutch of high-def catalogue debuts to make their way out into the world via Olive Films certainly contains flicks that many would consider guilty pleasures, including the A Christmas Story sequel My Summer Story (Olive Films, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Peter Fonda in Jack Nicholson & Roger Corman’s The Trip (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Judd Nelson in Making The Grade (Olive Films, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Bette Midler in Jinxed (Olive Films, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Chuck Norris in Breaker! Breaker! (Olive Films, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Bruce Willis & Cate Blanchett in Bandits (Olive Films, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Val Kilmer & Michael Madsen in Kill Me Again (Olive Films, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), and James Woods & Sean Young in The Boost (Olive Films, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP).

The best I can say about the wholly unnecessary Point Break (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$44.95 SRP) remake is that the surfing footage looks awfully pretty. Other than that, it pretty much just exists. Is it offensive? Nah. It’s a fine watch if you run across it. With pretty waves. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted scenes.

They make money, so there will continue to be quickie franchise sequels like Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip (Fox, Rated PG, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which finds the titular threesome taking the title pun’s road trip to Miami. Bonus materials include a featurette and a song playlist.

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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