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 newest clutch of classic Doctor Who releases includes a special edition re-release of the much-requested – and actually pretty decent, despite what you might have heard – 1996 made-for-TV Doctor Who: The Movie (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP), starring Paul McGann in his only outing as the 8th Doctor. Also getting a release is the Jon Pertwee story The Mutants (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP). Both feature audio commentaries and a slew of featurettes, trailers, and more.
As a fanboy, you know you’re wont to get just about every doodad iteration of a favorite whatsit in existence, which is why I’m sure you’re likely to pick up the Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver LED Flashlights ($9.99-$12.99), which are flashlight versions of either the 10th or 11th Doctor’s signature multitool.
Periodically, the fine folks at Rifftrax gift us with another DVD-based collection of the short subjects that have been available for download over the past few months, which brings us Rifftrax: Order In The Shorts & Rifftrax: Shortstoberfest (Legend, Not Rated, DVD-$9.95 SRP each). Both contain 8 shorts, one of which even features a monkey.
Photography buffs will want to pick up Rebel Youth (Rizzoli, $45.00 SRP), which provides an overview and appreciation of the mid-50’s-60’s photography of Karlheinz Weinberger, in which he documented the rough-and-tumble leatherclad youth culture of his native Switzerland. And how can you not pick it up knowing it has an introduction by John Waters?
When I saw Paranormal Activity, I didn’t leave the theater thinking “Franchise!”, but that was obviously on the minds of the executives, as we’ve now got Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which introduces a new set of clueless people and adds a baby to the mix. The unrated edition features additional nutty footage.
It’s a shame the film doesn’t hang together better, because Middle Men (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) – loosely based on the real-life events around the formation of the internet’s first adult entertainment website – could have played like a carnal version of The Social Network. Instead, leads Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, and Gabriel Macht sort of meander a should-be-more-interesting tale involving sex, lies, and the Russian mob. Bonus features include deleted scenes, outtakes, and a slap montage.
Film buffs will probably want to pick up the DVD debut of writer/director Elia Kazan’s epic 1963 immigrant tale America America (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which sports a commentary from historian Foster Hirsch.
Yes, it’s been 20 years since the release of Thelma & Louise (MGM/UA, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP), which means we get a brand new special edition, now in high definition. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, the extended ending with optional commentary, deleted/extended scenes, storyboards, and a music video.
The Warner Archive collection drops another pair of catalogue titles to their on-demand service, bringing forth the Cliff Robertson/Jane Fonda romcom Sunday In New York (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95) and Gordon Parks’ adaptation of his own novel The Learning Tree (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$19.95).
Here’s You Again (Touchstone, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) in a nutshell – a young woman is forced to re-live her traumatic treatment at the hands of a mean girl when said mean girl gets engaged to her brother, which also brings their mothers into conflict (turns out they were rivals, as well!). And Betty White’s there, too! It’s an amiable enough comedy saved largely by the cast, which also features Kristen Bell, Sigourney Weaver, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.
It seems that I just really don’t like Katherine Heigl, which makes watching her star in the dramedy Life As We Know It (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) – about two quarreling people that must come together for the sake of their baby goddaughter – quite difficult. That it’s a turgid film that never quite knows if it’s a frothy romcom or a drama just adds insult to injury. Bonus materials include featurettes and additional scenes.
Thomas Jefferson was not only our 3rd president – He was also a pretty complicated man. You can find out just how complicated in the History Channel documentary Jefferson (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), which presents the man, warts and all.
Nickelodeon has done another of their theme releases pulling together episodes from a bunch of their shows, this time celebrating Brothers And Sisters (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP), which contains familial episodes of Dora, Diego, Blue’s Clues, Wonder Pets, and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan.
Fans of the 5th Doctor can get an action figure box set commemorating one of his most memorable adventures, Resurrection Of The Daleks (Underground Toys, $59.99 SRP), sporting the Peter Davison Doctor, Davros, a Black Supreme Dalek, and a gray Dalek. Underground Toys continues to release some amazing 7″-inche scale action figure work.
Medicom has been steadily expanding their 12″ Real Action Heroes line beyond the standard Star Wars offerings to include much more fan favorite heroes (who can forget last year’s wonderful Rocketeer?). Just added to the line and available from the fine folks at Sideshow is The One Who Lived himself, Harry Potter ($199), in his Half-Blood Prince-era garb/look. Fully articulated and accurately clothed, he also comes with his wand and Firebolt broomstick.
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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