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 the bulk of Mel Brooks’ catalogue has been available in high definition, there’s been one title that’s been devastatingly absent – until now. The fine folks at Shout Factory have pulled out all the stops to give comedy fans a brilliant special edition of The Producers (Shout Factory, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.93 SRP), looking and sounding better than ever. Bonus materials include the documentary from the original DVD release, a brand new interview with Mel, the theatrical trailer, a sketch gallery, and a deleted scene.
Directed by a young John Landis and crafted by the even younger Zucker Brothers, Kentucky Fried Movie (Shout Factory, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.97 SRP) is the pop culture-skewering prototype that would eventually be fully realized in Airplane! and Police Squad, but there works as a still-funny collection of comedy sketches. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and a feature-length interview with David & Jerry Zucker.
Those expecting a farce might be pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the comedy to be found in Admission (Universal, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP), about an overworked Princeton admissions officer (Tina Fey) who thought she had her life well-structured but is thrown for a loop when a former classmate (Paul Rudd) brings a brilliant student to her attention. Bonus materials include a featurette.
Already a quirky little gem, Fred Armisen & Carrie Brownstein’s Portlandia: Season 3 (VSC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.95 SRP) is when the little indie sketch comedy that could gelled into a fully realized offbeat world, proving its staying power. Bonus materials include the winter special, a Portland tour, and a pair of deleted scenes.
While the original animated adaptation was never terribly great, nostalgia made me leery of the new animated reboot of the Ninja Turtles. Well, my fears have been wiped away by the fun, funny modern take which perfectly preserves all of the necessary elements to the Turtle mythos. Want proof? Look no further than the latest episode collection – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Enter Shredder (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP). Would you believe Shredder is involved?
Taking the same sensibility once focused on Star Wars and applying it to the superheroes and villains of the DC universe? Sold. Luckily, that pre-sale was proven correct with the hilarious Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special (Adult Swim, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$19.89 SRP). At a too-short 22 minutes, luckily the release is padded out with commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and bloopers.
It’s not the equal of the beautifully executed Avatar, but there’s still plenty to recommend in the premiere volume of The Legend Of Korra: Book One – Air (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$35.98 SRP), which throws viewers into the future of the Avatar spirit which now exists within the titular teenage girl. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, animatics, and a bonus short.
A victim (Noomi Rapace) seeking retribution for a crime blackmails a professional killer (Colin Ferrell) into aiding her plan for revenge in the tense thriller Dead Man Down (Sony, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP). Bonus materials include a trio of featurettes.
Take a soaring high definition view of the northeast United States in the Smithsonian Channel’s Aerial America: New England Collection (Inception, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP), which takes a birds-eye view of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
This week’s TV release from Paramount bring one old and one new. For the new, we get the complete first season of Unforgettable (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), about a woman with an otherwise flawless memory who teams up with an NYPD detective to solve her one blind spot – the murder of her sister. The vintage TV release is the ninth and final season of Matlock (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP), starring the great Andy Griffith.
Hot Toys’ already stellar work seems to consistently shine the most in their various representations of Tony Stark’s Iron Man armor. The latest is the suit featured in The Avengers – specifically the Iron Man Mark VII ($249.99). Exquisitely engineered and screen accurate in every detail, it features working LED lights in the eyes, palms, and chestplate, a separate Robert Downey Jr. head, 3 sets of swappable hands, and a full complement of swappable battle-damaged armor pieces. If you’ve yet to take the plunge and get your own, there” no better figure to start with. You won’t regret it.
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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