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…)
You wouldn’t think a comedy like Caddyshack (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) would benefit so much from high definition, but the new Blu-Ray benefits from a crystal clear picture that looks better than it ever has previously. To add even more incentive, there’s a new feature-length 30th anniversary documentary featuring most of the principals (sans Bill Murray and Chevy Chase) reminiscing, as well as the half-hour featurette from the original DVD release. The film is also available via iTunes & Amazon On Demand.
Who wouldn’t want a radio controlled robot you can fit in the palm of your hand? I know! Well, the dream you never thought you had has come true with the line of Zbit Mini R/C Robots ($14.99 each). There’s a whole line of the little buggers to choose from, and each one is just as nifty as can be.
Launched in the wake of Raiders Of The Lost Ark and clearly playing in the same ’30s adventure sandbox, Tales Of The Gold Monkey (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$49.97 SRP) was TVs attempt to cash in with a pretty damn fun series starring Michael Collins as a young American transporting people on the run in the South Pacific in 1938 via his Grumman Goose seaplane. Felled by high costs after one season, you can now own it all in a set packed with commentaries, featurettes, and more.
It’s only in hindsight that you realize the entire season you spent watching Ice Road Truckers (History Channel, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.95 SRP) on the edge of your seat worried about a truck (and trucker) falling through the ice was really just an entire season of watching trucks drive. Back and forth. Because nothing deadly has happened yet. Really, you’re just watching a soap opera. In trucks. On ice. The 3rd season set contains all 13 episodes, plus additional footage.
It’s a shame that we can only get it divorced from the Jim Henson Hour, within which it was originally presented, but it’s worth picking up Jim Henson’s Dog City (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) just to support the release of more Henson specials.
While most of the attention went to Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, the other magician film, The Illusionist (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), is a fun little love story wrapped up in a mystery, with a cast that includes Ed Norton, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewell, and Jessica Biel. The new 2-disc Blu-Ray features the original standard edition DVD, containing the bonus materials.
Abandoning the 2-disc half-season sets in favor of the single disc episode collection familiar to fans of Spongebob, iCarly: iSaved Your Life (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP) contains an extended director’s cut of the titular episode, plus a trio of episodes and the movie “iQuit iCarly”. Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes featurettes.
Many doubted it would happen, but it turns out that Larry David did return for a 7th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), and he brought with him a holy grail of a storyline for comedy fans – a meta Seinfeld reunion, bringing all of the principals together for a the shooting of a special within season. Bonus materials in the 2-disc set includes interviews and behind-the-scenes featurettes.
For those keeping score, the Charlie Chan TCM Spotlight Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), features the final three films starring Sidney Toler as the legendary sleuth who makes solving crimes a family affair. Those three films are Dark Alibi, Dangerous Money, & The Trap, with Roland Winters debut as Chan rounding out the set in The Chinese Ring.
Proving once again that their purpose is to really dig into the vaults and release titles that otherwise wouldn’t get a DVD release, the Warner Archive has added the Red Skelton Whistling Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.95), which contains a trio of flicks starring Skelton – Whistling In The Dark, Whistling In Dixie, & Whistling In Brooklyn.
On the heels of the success of Hercules and Xena, Warners waded into the fray with The New Adventures Of Robin Hood (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$34.95), which aimed for the same kind of tone but never caught on like the others did. For the dedicated fanbase, though, the Warner Archive has made the first season available, which makes me think the rest of the series will be coming in due course.
How many of you remember that Family Matters (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) didn’t start out with Urkel? No, the nasally ubernerd was nowhere to be found at the beginning of this spin-off from Perfect Strangers, which began as a simple family sitcom. If only they knew what the were about to be engulfed by in just a few short episodes. The first season set contains all 22 episodes.
Tween & teen girls are the intended audience for the extended edition release of the Disney Channel movie Starstruck (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$28.99 SRP), about a small town girl who hooks up with a pop star after a chance encounter. Bonus features include music videos, an additional song, and the soundtrack CD.
Talk about a show that just limped along to the end – you can now own the 6th and final season of Nip/Tuck (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), a guilty pleasure of a show that became guiltier and less pleasurable as things wound on. Bonus materials are limited to a featurette on the psychology of plastic surgery.
Featuring over 22 points of articulation, 2 sets of interchangeable posing hands, an openable chest with positive “blue” energy inside, battery-operated illuminated eyes, interchangeable arm cannons, interchangeable rocket boots, and a display base, Hot Toys’ 12-inch Astro Boy figure ($104.99) is not only a fine collectible, but also a great gift for a kid (the ones that take care of their toys, naturally). Unlike their recent vinyl Astro Boy display, this one is fully poseable. Ridiculously so. Get it while you can.
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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