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 didn’t think Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the tale about a WWI cavalry War Horse (Dreamworks, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$45.99 SRP) would be terribly interesting, but I shouldn’t have doubted Spielberg’s ability to at least ring a watchable flick out of material. And then make it into one of his strongest films in years, with a powerful sweep and emotional depth found in his best work. Bonus materials include an in-depth behind-the-scenes documentary, featurettes, and more.
What a brilliant geek alchemy the fine folks at LEGO unleash every time they release another their vehicle sets based on the classic Star Wars films, and all of the buttons are duly pushed with their new LEGO: X-Wing Fighter ($59.99), which perfectly replicates – in brick form – the workhorse starfighter of the Rebel Alliance. Not only do you get workable wings, but also minifigs of Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Jek Porkins (!), & R5-D8. Come on – As soon as you know you can get a Porkins minifig, how can you not get this set?
One of the biggest surprises of last year was Chris Elliott’s triumphant return to television with the Adult Swim take on Walker, Texas Ranger, Eagleheart (Adult Swim, Not Rated, DVD-$19.97 SRP), which stars Elliott as the cranked to 11 eponymous Federal Marshall. The disc features all 12 episodes of the first season, plus commentaries, deleted scenes, outtakes, and featurettes.
It doesn’t really address some of the stories I’ve heard about how ambitious he was in his rise to the top of the Sesame Street food chain, but Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey (New Video, Rated PG- DVD-$29.95 SRP) is really more about being a touchy-feely tale of how a Baltimore teenager named Kevin Clash followed his dream of working with Jim Henson and The Muppets and grew up to be the performer behind one of the most recognizable characters in the pop culture landscape. Bonus materials include featurettes, interviews, a Q&A, and more.
Short-lived and forgotten, who couldn’t love Bob Newhart as a superhero comic artist in the sitcom Bob (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). Audiences, it seems, as it only lasted a little over a season. Not even the incredible power of Betty White could save it, even though it is a fun show. The complete series set contains original Entertainment Tonight interviews with Bob & Betty, and a digital version of the “Mad-Dog” comic.
It’s always a delight when a classic piece of cinema makes its way to high definition, and so we have Roman Polanski & Robert Towne’s still brilliant Chinatown (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP), looking and sounding superb. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and the theatrical trailer.
Very few sitcoms have gotten the high definition treatment, and particularly not one that goes back over 10 years, but That 70’s Show: Season One (Mill Creek, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) looks pretty darn good, even more so because it’s presented for the first time in anamorphic widescreen. Certainly worth checking out, and here’s hoping they release the rest of the series. Bonus materials include featurettes and a new-to-Blu-Ray look at how the show’s signature transitions were created.
Shout Factory continues their noble mission of re-releasing Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes that have gone out of print with a pair of returns – MST3K: The Wild World Of Bat Woman & MST3K: Girl In Gold Boots (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$14.99 each). Here’s hoping they continue to release ’em!
Cartoon Network’s decidedly indie kiddie cartoon gets it’s first DVD release with Regular Show: Slack Pack (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$14.97 SRP), featuring 12 episodes of awesome plua s a bonus. Yeah. Even adults will dig it.
When he puts his mind to it, Cameron Crowe certainly knows how to make an affable – overly-so – film, and that’s exactly what he does with We Bought A Zoo (Fox, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which is based on the true story of a journalist who moves his fracturing family out of the city and to a dilapidated zoo. Which, yes, they restore – at the same time they restore their family. Guessed that, did ya? Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more.
As much as I thought Torchwood was a misguided, often frustrating, and even more often boring series (and regrettable spin-off from Doctor Who), it wasn’t until the recent Torchwood: Miracle Day (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.99 SRP) that I truly began to loathe it, as every character in the convoluted, ultimately insulting story about death taking a global holiday is a tone deaf parody of genre cliches. Don’t believe me? Watch at your own risk… And mourn the lost potential of the once-exciting Captain Jack Harkness. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes, and more.
Wil Wheaton fans eager to complete their collections of his cinematic output will want to thank MGM’s MOD Limited Edition Collection for the release of Fish Don’t Blink (MGM, Rated R, DVD-$19.98), while Freddie Prinze fans get the comedic heist pic The Million Dollar Rip Off (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98). Meanwhile fans of obscure, misguided attempts to be comedically hip in the 60’s will want to get Sergeant Deadhead (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98), and aficionados of dated 80’s drama will want Modern Girls (MGM, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.98).
Watch as a franchise already on thin ice gets in trouble in the tropics with Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Fox, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which finds the singing animal trio saddled with the Chippettes on a remote island after a cruise trip goes wrong. Bonus materials include featurettes, extended scenes, music videos, 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
##
For all its desperation to make itself a loving homage to Spielberg, Super 8 is a crass wannabe next to Nick Frost & Simon Pegg’s alien road trip 
Adding to the mystery presented to viewers all those years ago, the introduction of River Song in the episode “Silence In The Library” found the enigmatic Dr. Song in possession of her very own Sonic Screwdriver, given to her by The Doctor in the future and an advanced version, no less. Now you can own your very own 
If you tend to think of Mickey Mouse as nothing more than a bland corporate spokesman, prepare to be both fascinated and delighted by the incredible comic strip adventures of the 30’s by Floyd Gottfredson, collected for the first time in 
Oh, they’re coming fast & furious now. What, you ask? More classic Doctor Who adventures – this time the Tom Baker story 
Let’s all forget about the American abomination and just re-watch the from-front-to-back enjoyable 16th season of the original UK 
Although only one of them was made as a period piece, enough time has passed that both 
If you’re a big fan of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett’s post-MST3K endeavor Rifftrax, you owe it to yourself to partake of the heightened energy of a pair of recent live show releases that were originally beamed to theaters around the country – 
With the recent resurgence in popularity of Nickelodeon’s 90’s line-up – or, at least Nickelodeon’s acknowledgement that there is a fanbase out there – it should come as no surprise that those fans will now be able to pick up the complete first season of 
I’ve made no secret of my intense hatred – borne of even more intense disappointment – in 
If Pineapple Express was a stoner action flick, than the rather obviously named 
While Pixar and Dreamworks get most of the attention, let’s not overlook the equally enjoyable films from other studios that don’t get the attention, like Blu Sky Studios fun, funny tale of a domesticated macaw intent on returning to his roots in South America in 
I admit, there’s a fondness in my heart for 
Get your fix of manly-man movies in high definition with the release of both 
I’m a big fan of Berkely Breathed’s children’s book 
During that period when Hanna-Barbera was just crankin’ out feature-length specials of just about all of their characters, George & Jane Jetson’s eldest daughter got her own, featuring a witch, a teen idol, aliens, and even Elroy. And the folks at the Warner Archive Collection have made 
Oh, the 80’s was just packed full of mediocre animated series that inspired dedicated fans who’ve grown up to have disposable cash and a desire to relive their rose-tinted memories – Which is why we have 
It’s still not The Hudsucker Proxy, but I’m still happy about the high definition arrival of 
Get your literary drama on with a pair of releases from A&E sure to delight the higher-brows amongst you. The first is the 
Curious how timing works out such that the 5th season of 
See Brits survive a post-apocalyptic wasteland and make the journey to a distant planet to make a new start in 
My nephews will be delighted to see another volume of the Frosty Freezy Freeze fans and crime-fighting duo back for another batch of episodes in 
Some are fascinating, but I’m not one for re-living that horrible day, but from a historical perspective the documentaries collected in the 
If I were to choose the giant robot cartoon that left the biggest mark on my childhood psyche (after Transformers), it would have to be Voltron. Watching the 7 remastered episodes contained in 
After what has seemed like an endless series of delays, the mother of all mockumentaries has finally made its way to high-def with the release of 
As someone who prefers quiet walks at night when traffic isn’t quite as busy, it’s nice to have a practical hat like the 
If you’re only exposure to 
The episodes have been released in single-disc releases thus far, but now you can get 
It’s the beginning of the end as the first of showrunner Russell T. Davies’ four telemovie swan songs comes to DVD in the form of 
Oh, Torchwood– you are such a flawed little spin-off. So desperate to be adult and differentiate yourself from parent Doctor Who, you’re just a mess of poorly realized characters, awkward writing, and unrealized potential. Still, fans can pick up 
It’s my second favorite Irwin Allen disaster flick (after the wondrous Poseidon Adventure, but 
Ever since being informed of its existence by the great Graham Linehan, I’ve been dying to see 
Joss Whedon lost my trust during the abysmal final season of Buffy. I never got into Firefly, and every time I tried to watch his latest, 
Weaving seldom-seen interviews, footage, and interviews with those who knew him, 
Though many will get their stuff in a bunch, I thought the finale of Battlestar Galactica was a big, awkward disappointment that jumped from “Huh?” to “What?” moments with reckless abandon. Still, fans are sure to snap up the final set, 
There are a lot of catalogue titles making their way into the Blu-Ray roster, but it’s always nice when the films of a personal favorite filmmaker get a spin – such as Terry Gilliam’s 
Quirky and fun, 
I guess the best way to describe 
Before Polanski went mainstream with Rosemary’s Baby, he was spending the 1960’s making chilling cinema like 
Of all the direct-to-DVD DC animated adventures to come down the pike thus far, 
It went out with a bit of a whimper, but fans at least can now pick up the wrap-up with 
Besides featuring an early TV performance from a young Ian McKellen, 
I never cared for The Fast & The Furious, but even I could see diminishing returns in its sequels. So, too, did the studio, who decided to go back to basics – cast and all – with the cleverly named 
When 
Oh, relaunched Knight Rider. You were so very hopeful that your self-important, lackluster new take on the 80’s hit would actually have a future, you didn’t even bother to call your DVD release The Complete Series even though you’ve been cancelled. So now people can buy 
The film is one of those cult faves, and Lalo Schifrin’s score to 
Gary Hobkins and his rather unique ability to foresee and hopefully avert the future – literally, he’s delivered the next day’s edition of the newspaper – returns with the complete second season of