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…)
Nothing like the getting a film you’ve desperately wanted on Blu-Ray from a given director dropping alongside a misfire from said director to really set up the cognitive dissonance. I’m ecstatic to finally have Tim Burton’s Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP), replete with an audio commentary from Burton & Paul Reubens, a commentary with Danny Elfman, additional scenes, and production art. But then Burton’s misguided Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP), which is just an odd, unnecessary remake of a true classic. And this disc is actually loaded with bonus materials, including an audio commentary, featurettes galore, and much more. Swings and roundabouts.
You know me. You know I love multi-tool gadgets, just for their design awesomeness in secreting away a bunch of tools in a simple, straightforward, often practical form. Such is the case with the 23 tools found in the Kelvin 23 ($24.99), which bills itself as an urban super-tool. And it is, with everything from a screwdriver and measuring tape to a hammer and spirit level.
I admit, I wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of the return of Pee Wee Herman. I wanted it to happen, but feared that after all this time and an awful lot of water under the bridge, the charm that made the show so iconic could not be recaptured. Well, my fears vanished when watching The Pee Wee Herman Show On Broadway (Image, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), which brilliantly combines elements of the original live show, the TV show, and new material into a magical evening of theatre that this special perfectly captures. The disc also features a raucous audio commentary that’s well worth a listen.
It walks a fine line of quirkiness, but Richard Ayoade’s Submarine (Anchor Bay, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is the offbeat coming-of-age film that Wes Anderson so desperately wanted Rushmore to be. I can’t recommend you dropping everything and watching it as soon as possible highly enough. So do it. Bonus materials include a making-of featurette and deleted scenes.
With the release of both the deluxe Beauty And The Beast 3D & Lion King 3D sets (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP each), you can delight in truly special editions of both films, loaded with bonus features, and also make your own judgement on whether the process of retroactively making 2D animated films into 3D is a wise one. Personally, I’m still on the fence. While the technology and skill involved in pulling it off are certainly impressive, and there are plenty of “wow” moments while watching both at home, it doesn’t really add much to what were already solid, classic films. But hey, for the price you’re paying to get the 3D sets that contain the regular Blu-Ray and DVD versions as well, you’d be a fool not to pick them up that way. The bonus features on the Beauty and the Beast set are identical to the previous Blu-Ray release, while the new-to-disc Lion King comes loaded with an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, a deleted song, bloopers, and more.
And while you’re watching the animated versions cavort, why not see how the real live felines act and interact with the Disneynature documentary African Cats (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). As you can expect from Disney’s documentary history, it’s got a narrative structure, but the footage is absolutely stunning. Bonus materials include filmmaker annotations and featurettes.
If you’re a fan of the era and creators that truly solidified Marvel as the premier comic book company, pick up a copy of Pierre Comtois’ excellent overview Marvel In The 1970s (Twomorrows, $27.95 SRP), which takes an issue by issue look at the House of Ideas comics the defined the decade, and the writers and artists behind them.
For the past few years, when I’ve wanted to show off the incredible quality of Blu-Ray – and my massive TV – I’ve popped in the BBC’s landmark nature documentary Planet Earth (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$79.98 SRP). Well, they’ve gone and made it better with a brand new special edition, featuring a re-encoded and improved picture, plus four brand new bonus programs in addition to the features carried over from the previous release. Is it worth the upgrade? Yes. Yes it is.
The show’s overcome a rough start and solidified into a quirky delight, but the main reason I’ve stuck with Bored To Death (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP) through its second season is that they very wisely amped up the presence of the one-two punch of Oliver Platt and John Hodgman. In fact, I’d like a spin-off series starring just them. Solving mysteries. Around the world. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and outtakes.
What’s the easiest way to tell a series has caught on? The obligatory special edition re-release of an already existing release, this time being the new edition of the first season of The Walking Dead (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.97 SRP). The new edition adds a 3rd disc featuring the black & white version of the pilot, audio commentaries, more featurettes, and interviews with Greg Nicotero and (now-fired) showrunner Frank Darabont.
While it’s not as abysmal as Back In Action, Space Jam (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP) was still a painfully awkward and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to make the classic Looney Tunes characters “hip” to modern audiences – ignoring the obvious fact that the characters’ original cartoons are eternal because they are actually *funny* and not a disingenuous attempt to make them supporting players to Michel Jordan. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and music videos.
It’s not exactly high brow cinema, but I have a fondness for the farce Soapdish (Paramount, Rated PG-13, DVD-$12.98 SRP), featuring an all-star cast in the ludicrous world of network soap operas, where the drama behind the scenes is even more insane than what’s in front of the cameras. Hell, it’s worth seeing just for Kevin Kline’s performance. Really, it’s just a shame this 20th anniversary edition didn’t get a Blu-Ray release. Bonus materials are limited to a making-of featurette and the theatrical trailer.
It doesn’t hold a candle to actually seeing him live, but you can get a pretty good, and pretty enjoyable sense, of the tour-de-force fun with Weird Al Yankovic Live: The Alpocalypse Tour (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$22.98 SRP), filmed during his most recent tour. Bonus materials include additional live performances, music videos, YouTube videos, and more.
I’m not sure I fully appreciate the material generated for and presented on Hit Record’s Recollection Volume 1 (Hit Record, $29.95 SRP), which is a book/DVD/CD collection of essays, short films, songs, poems and more, brought together by the collective founded by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. To be sure, I appreciate the creative freedom and exploration evident in its very existence, and hope they can continue doing it for years to come.
The story behind Fast Five (Universal, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) is really not terribly important. Are you really watching the Fast And The Furious movies for the story? Really? Of course not. You’re watching them for the cars, and the things the cars do. Often in a fast, dangerous manner. You’re also keeping Vin Diesel off the streets. So you remember that. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes, and a gag reel.
When I was a kid, during visits to her house on Long Island, my aunt used to occasionally play us her favorite song – Bette Midler singing “The Rose”. Since then, and because of seeing Better be pretty damn funny during appearances on Johnny’s Tonight Show, I have an affection for The Divine Miss M, so much so that I actually got a kick out of her bombastic, camp, yet joyously showbizzy return to the stage in Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On (Image, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), in which she sings her hits.
I don’t particularly think anyone was clamoring for a new installment in the Scream franchise, but Scream 4 (Anchor Bay, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP) has arrived regardless, and manages to be a not-embarrassing bow on the continuing adventures of Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette in slasher-land. Oh, and they added Emma Roberts to the mix this time. And Rory Culkin. Everything’s better with Rory Culkin. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted/extended scenes, a gag reel, featurettes, and more.
Besides the obvious double entendre in the title, Elvira’s Haunted Hills (E1, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.98 SRP) is a fun enough little flick, even if it lacks the powerhouse that drove the Mistress Of The Dark’s first feature – Edie McClurg. Still, this one does deliver Richard O’Brien as a creepy widower with eyes on Elvira, who just so happens to be the ringer for his late wife. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, outtakes, and more.
I know I had misgivings at the time, but it’s not until all these years later, revisiting it for its high definition release, that I realize just how cloyingly caramel apple sweet The Cider House Rules (Miramax, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$14.99 SRP) is. That, and Prince of New England Tobey Maguire really has the emotive skills of a wood plank. At least Michael Caine is there to remind you that Michael Caine is there. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, a making-of featurette, a deleted scene, and the theatrical trailer.
How do you know a new season of Beavis And Butt-Head is on the horizon? You get the release of Beavis And Butt-Head: Mike Judge’s Most Wanted (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), featuring 20 cartoons selected by Judge, plus a featurette, a preview of the new season, and the uncut “Frog Baseball”.
Gabriel Byrne returns as therapist Dr. Paul Weston in the 3rd season of In Treatment (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP), which finds the good doctor coping with his recent divorce, a move to a new city, and a medical scare, as well as a batch of new patients. The 4-disc set contains all 28 episodes.
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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