Tag: Chevy Chase

Weekend Shopping Guide 10/30/15: Meet Your Doom

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…)

Strike that godawful Fantastic Four film from your mind with a piece from the brill folks at Sideshow, who have managed to capture perfectly the might and majesty of the one true ruler of Latveria with their Doctor Doom Premium Format Figure ($389.99). This 1/4-scale mixed media monarch stands atop his high-tech battlements, surveying lording over his domain. Thankfully, this piece captures the classic styling of Doom, right down to his sidearm, and features a fully-poseable cape and hood (wire-lined) so you can adjust for your desired dynamic look. And, for the true comic book nerds, the exclusive contains a swappable head featuring his old-school facemask design.

Wow. The Complete Peanuts: 1997 to 1998 (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP) represents the 24th, and penultimate, volume collecting the entire 50-year run of Charles Schulz’s brilliant comic strip. No longer groundbreaking, by this point the strip was a warm blanket, comfortable in its humor and still very much able to bring a smile and a laugh. This volume also sports an introduction by Paul Feig, producer of the new Peanuts Movie.

While I’m still wary, I admit that my position on the upcoming Peanuts movie has softened considerably, to the point that I’m now actually looking forward to seeing it. A large part of the impetus for that change of heart can be found in the pages of The Art & Making Of The Peanuts Movie (Titan Books, $34.95 SRP), which does an excellent job of detailing just how much reverence the filmmakers had for adapting Charles Schulz’s style and tone.

The folks controlling the mighty Carson archive have dipped back into the vaults for the next batch of The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson: Featured Guest Series (Carson Entertainment, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP each), each volume of which devotes an entire disc just to episodes featuring a specific luminary. The second three volumes in the series spotlight Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and Burt Reynolds. These releases include the full, uncut shows, along with commercials. They continue to be truly wonderful time capsules. And once again, I repeat my request – Can we please, please, PLEASE get a Jim Henson-centric volume? PLEASE?

It’s been a crime of Biffian proportions that we’ve been without a proper book celebrating the making of the Back To The Future Trilogy, but now we’ve been gifted with two must-have volumes. First is the unauthorized, wholly candid We Don’t Need Roads, and the second is the officially sanctioned Back To The Future: The Ultimate Visual Guide (HarperDesign, $50 SRP), which is one of those keen making-of books that also incorporates reproductions of props and ephemera from the film, from the “Save The Clock Tower” flyer to the letter Marty wrote Doc Brown to warn him about the Libyans.

I think we’re all in agreement that NERF has pretty much gotten their whole NERF dart thing pretty well sorted when it comes to their various NERF guns. So how do they put a new variation on their delivery system? Howzabout a slingshot? With a pullstring release, the single-fire Nerf N-Strike Elite SlingStrike Slingshot (NERF, $10.99 SRP) is a pretty fun piece of kit. While it certainly isn’t a rapid-fire weapon, it has remarkable range and accuracy.

The key to measurement is accuracy, so the eTape16 (Thinkgeek, $34.99) is just what the anal-retentive DIY nerd ordered, because it makes accuracy easy. Accurate to 1/16″, or 1mm, it’s one of those great gadgets you’d never thought you’d need until you use it for the first time and can’t imagine what you’d do without it. Probably just sit in a sad stupor, probably.

It’s raining Rickles, as Time Life has gone and delivered The Ultimate Don Rickles Box Set (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP), featuring both volumes of The Don Rickles TV Specials and the complete two-season run of his 70s sitcom CPO Sharkey. Bonus materials include new introductions, outtakes, rarities, and more.

Featuring all 107 episodes completely unedited, My Favorite Martian: The Complete Series (MPI, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP) is exactly the kind of high-concept, loveably goofball show that somehow made it on to the small screen in the 60s, whose appeal lies squarely on the shoulders of the endearing chemistry of Bill Bixby and Ray Walston, as his Martian “uncle” Martin. Bonus materials include home movies, cast commercials, interviews, animation & effects reels, pilots, and more.

Based on the WWI memoir of Vera Brittain and starring Alicia Vikander and Kit Harrington, Testament Of Youth (Sony, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) paints a portrait of that conflict from a unique perspective not often seen in accounts of that period, namely a female perspective. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a featurette.

Have you ever wanted to see the three films of the original trilogy summed up in a dozen words with a dozen vignettes, all constructed out of felt? OF COURSE YOU DO. And that’s just what Star Wars: Epic Yarns delivers in the most delightful way in its trio of books, for A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return Of The Jedi (Chronicle Books, $9.95 SRP each).

And if that weren’t enough unbelievably cute Star Wars for you, then there’s also the special edition boxed release of Jeffrey’s Brown’s Darth Vader and Son & Vader’s Little Princess (Chronicle Books, $35 SRP), which also contains a pair of exclusive art prints.

You know, if it weren’t for Adam Sandler’s half-hearted performance, Pixels (Sony, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$45.99 SRP) would probably have been a big, goofy, totally fun popcorn flick. However, with Sandler barely managing to show up, any scene he’s in sucks the life from this high concept film about aliens attacking earth while in the form of old school video game characters. But Peter Dinklage is great. And the effects do look spiffy in 3D. Bonus materials include featurettes and a music video.

Combining comedy, drama, short films, commentary, music, animation, and a highbrow sensibility, PBS’s Great American Dream Machine (S’More, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) was experimental television both ahead-of-its-time and yet could never be done today. See for yourself, with this release of over 12 hours of material from its 1971-1973 run, with pieces from Charles Grodin, Chevy Chase, Kurt Vonegut, Albert Brooks, Martin Mull, Henry Winkler, Andy Rooney, and many more.

Few shows in recent memory have been as visually and artistically creative as Pen Wards Adventure Time, so it’s only right that fans can snag Adventure Time: The Original Cartoon Title Cards Volume 2 (Titan Books, $19.95 SRP), which collects together the memorable title card artwork featured at the front of every episode in seasons 3 & 4.

And speaking of the current renaissance on Cartoon Network, you should also definitely pick up The Art Of Regular Show (Titan Books, $29.95 SRP), which is jam-packed with designs, sketches, backgrounds, and more from Shannon O’Leary’s oddball series.

When a trained military dog is sent from Afghanistan to the U.S. and the family of his killed-in-action handler, the titular canine, Max (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) forms a bond with his handler’s younger brother. And then they solve a mystery. Really. It’s like an old-school live action Disney film. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes.

As his latest big screen adventure hits and the current actor portraying him has voiced his desire to move on, now’s the prefect time for Bond Vs. Bond: The Many Faces Of 007 (RacePoint, $28.00 SRP), author Paul Simpson’s unofficial guide to the actors who have played Britain’s number one spy, and their interpretations of the character, through the years.

Time and distance have done little to make 1999’s television fantasy miniseries event The 10th Kingdom (Mill Creek, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) any less of an odd duck, as the technology simply wasn’t there at the time to do such an ambitious fairy tale of magical lands meeting our world. Finally having it presented in high definition widescreen improves the experience, though. And it does have John Larroquette. And John Larroquette makes everything better. Bonus materials include a making-of featurette and an isolated score track.

I find her music disarmingly infectious and her live shows ridiculously energetic, and that’s all on display in her massive arena shows, captured on Katy Perry: The Prismatic Tour (Eagle Vision, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP), which also contains bonus behind-the-scenes featurettes.

We’ll probably never get a Pirates Of The Caribbean TV series, so the closest we’ll come is the pirates a-plenty series Black Sails (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.99 SRP), whose second series arrives with a chest of featurettes.

Because the success of The Fault In Our Stars means that every thing that author John Green wrote will get a green light, his Paper Towns (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) arrives, starring Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne as a pair of childhood neighbors whose burgeoning romance leads to an unexpected cross-country mystery that proves something or another in an utterly charming way. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, featurettes, and a gag reel.

If you’d expect George Miller’s visually memorable Mad Max: Fury Road to have an equally eye-popping book packed with the film’s visual development artwork, your expectations would be met with The Art Of Mad Max: Fury Road (Titan Books, $39.95 SRP).

While the film may have been DOA at the box office, there’s no denying that there’s enough Guillermo del Toro visual flair and attention to detail there to justify Crimson Peak: The Art Of Darkness (Insight Editions, $50 SRP), a full-on making-of book featuring loads of artwork and tons of interviews with everyone involved in the production.

From their turn-of-the-20th century rise in power to their height of control in the 50s, The Making Of The Mob (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP) charts the history of organized crime in the Big Apple, using archive footage, interviews, dramatic re-creations, and visual effects. Bonus materials include additional scenes and featurettes.

In 1946, Salvador Dali and Walt Disney began collaborating on an animated film. Postwar difficulties at the Disney studio eventually derailed the project and it was shelved, but it was revived decades later by Walt’s nephew Roy. The story of its origins, development, and revival are detailed in Dali And Disney: Destino (Disney Editions, $40 SRP), a lavish book filled with Dali’s production paintings, development artwork for the film, and more.

A streamlined relaunch of the venerable franchise, Transformers: Robots In Disguise – A New Autobot Mission (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$14.43 SRP) features the first 5 episodes of Bumblebee leading a team of Autobots tasked with rounding up Decpticons let loose on earth after the crash of their prison ship. The disc also contains a bonus behind-the-scenes featurette.

Frank Zappa was bizarre. His music was bizarre. But both were eminently compelling. See for yourself in the newly-recovered Roxy: The Movie (Eagle Vision, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$25.98 SRP), a document of 4 shows Zappa gave in 1973 which was thought lost to the ages due to massive technical problems with the sound, but now miraculously restored for your enjoyment.

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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October 30, 2015
Weekend Shopping Guide 5/24/13: Holiday Road

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…)

Two things to ponder – National Lampoon’s Vacation (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP) is 30 years old, and could probably not get made today. While the sequels hewed close to PG-13 sensibilities, the original westward adventure of the Griswold clan was an unapologetic, and genuinely funny, R. The new 30th anniversary Blu-Ray cleans up the picture and sound a bit, adds a new 90-minute retrospective documentary, and carries over the original DVD’s audio commentary and introduction.

While not in an accurate 1/4-scale, it’s still nice to be able to add NECA’s Smeagol Action Figure ($29.99) to the shelf, courtesy of the fine folks at Thinkgeek. Featuring a spot-on sculpt of the nicer side of Gollum with a lovely paint job (and even hair!) for such a low price point, this is a Lord Of The Rings figure worth adding to your collection.

A few years back, we were gifted with the first batch of high definition releases from the fine folks at Studio Ghibli. And then? A long, long, terribly long, wait. But rejoice! Two of director Hayao Miyazaki’s best are finally here – Howl’s Moving Castle & My Neighbor Totoro (Walt Disney, Rated PG/G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP each) – both looking and sounding a charm, and porting over all of the wonderful features from the previous DVD special editions.

Mel Brooks is an institution. And he also happens to be an institution in the midst of a well-deserved renaissance that includes the brilliant American Masters documentary Mel Brooks: Make A Noise (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$19.97 SRP). Featuring insight from the likes of Carl Reiner, Cloris Leachman, Nathan Lane, and more, give it a spin. Bonus materials include deleted segments.

The brilliant Ben Kingsley is not just on the big screen with Iron Man this week, but also starring in the taught thriller A Common Man (Anchor Bay, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), as a man who plants five bombs around a major metropolis and makes a single demand – that the government release a clutch of terrorists from prison. What follows is a cat-and-mouse chase with plenty of surprises.

So far, all of the LEGO movies have been fun, but with LEGO Batman The Movie: DC Superheroes Unite (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), they’ve managed to make a movie that captures the essence of the DC superhero universe better than the overwrought and grim live action films Warners has been cranking out in recent years. All of which is to say do watch this, and here’s hoping it’s the first of many. Bonus materials include a featurette and bonus cartoons.

For more years than I can recall, the amiable scholars at Twomorrows have been publishing a wide range of magazine and books chronicling every nook and cranny of the comics, creators, characters, and companies fans know and love. A few months back, they took that love and scholarly approach to the next logical step, by launching a must-have document of four-color history in the American Comic Book Chronicles (Twomorrows, $41.95 SRP), which will eventually chart from 1940 to today. The debut volume covered the 1960’s from 1960-1964, but the second release jumps ahead to the 1980’s, covering from 1980-1989 – a decade full of Crises, mutants, the direct market, and the rise of grim and gritty. Get this book, as well as the previous volume, and then start setting aside shelf space for the rest – which can’t come fast enough.

Oh, and while you’re at it, be sure to pick up another new magazine from the folks at Twomorrows – Comic Book Creator (Twomorrows, $8.95), featuring spotlights on Jack Kirby, Alex Ross, Frank Robbins, Kurt Busiek, and Todd McFarlane.

Events have escalated in True Blood: Season 5 (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$79.98 SRP) as the fate of humanity now lies in the balance, just as Sookie is trying to deal with her erratic faerie powers and Bill & Eric are called into action by the Vampire Authority. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, Authority Confessionals, and more.

Get all high and mighty with The BBC’s Royal Collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP), which contains 4 different documentaries focusing on the British monarchy through the years – Queen Victoria’s Children, King George & Queen Mary, The Coronation Of Queen Elizabeth II, and How To Be A Prince. Also included is a bonus reproduction of a vintage booklet from the Queen’s coronation day.

I’ll say this for Steven Soderbergh’s thriller Side Effects (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) – I don’t think I ever knew where it was going. For the most part, in a good way, as its tale of an anxiety-suffering woman is prescribed an experimental medication with deadly side effects mostly keeps to a successful high wire act. Bonus materials include featurettes and faux commercials.

Granted, it’s no sophomore effort like Jason Bateman’s, but the complete second season of MTV’s Teen Wolf (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) finds the much darker and angstier take on the tribulations of a teenage werewolf expanding its mythos as the war between hunters and werewolves heats up. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

For the show’s sixth season, they decided to move Laverne & Shirley (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) out of Milwaukee, and set in motion a decline that would see the once strong comedy limp to an awkward end minus Penny Williams. Still, this sunnyside season does feature one episode I still recall from my childhood, in which the dynamic duo experience their first earthquake in pure slapstick fashion. Bonus materials include episodic promos and a gag reel.

This week’s indie cinema spotlight falls on a pair of dramas – the pitch black comedy Charlie Casanova (Brink, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP) and the 70’s-evocative road comedy Robert Mitchum Is Dead (Brink, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP). Both are worth a spin, and sport a clutch of bonus materials including deleted scenes and featurettes.

If you’re ready for another quirky procedural, try the complete first season of Perception (ABC Studios, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), starring Eric McCormack as a neuroscience professor with visions who’s recruited by the FBI to help solve cases. Got that?

Hey hey, film music fans! It’s another soundtrack round-up, this week featuring Eric Neveux’s score to Tom Fontana’s Borgia: Season II (Silva Screen Records, $16.42 SRP), James Newton Howard’s After Earth (Sony Masterworks, $10.79 SRP), Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott’s Stuck In Love ($9.99, Varese Sarabande), Haiam Mazar’s The Iceman (Relativity Music, $9.49 SRP), Bear McCreary’s Da Vinci’s Demons (Sparks & Shadows, $9.99 SRP), and Music From The Films of Ridley Scott (BSX Records, $8.99 SRP).

How the mighty have fallen. Were you even aware that Arnold Schwarzenegger releases a new film? You wouldn’t be the only one that didn’t know about The Last Stand (Lionsgate, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which finds Arnie the sheriff of a sleepy town who must stop an escaped drug cartel kingpin who wanders into his jurisdiction. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted/extended scenes.

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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May 24, 2013
Weekend Shopping Guide 11/25/11: When The River Meets The Sea

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’m still not entirely sure I understand everything that happened in the 6th season of Doctor Who (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$79.98 SRP), but you have to admire the narrative chutzpah that showrunner Steven Moffat brought to the table as we dealt with the Doctor’s march toward death and the unraveling story of River Song. The 6-disc set contains all 13 episodes plus the Christmas special, plus newly-filmed additional scenes, audio commentaries, Confidential featurettes, the Comic Relief sketches, prequels, monster files, and trailers.

Having a high capacity external battery source handy is always a good thing, which is why the New Trent iCruiser Power Pack ($79.99) is pretty darn nifty, as the rechargeable battery provides hours of power with overheat/overcharge/over-discharge/short-circuit protection.

Borne of dozens of cable TV viewings in my youth, Three Amigos (HBO, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP) is one of those comedies that holds a warm place in my heart, much like Trading Places, Blues Brothers, Caddyshack, and Vacation. So yes, it’s nice to see it in high definition, looking great, and even sporting newly discovered deleted scenes, a cast interview, and a cast reunion booklet celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary.

As the big screen feature makes its debut, I’m a little disappointed that we’re only getting the first season of the fun, and faithful, animated Adventures Of Tintin (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$19.93 SRP) instead of the complete run. The 2-disc set contains 13 episodes, and is well worth giving a spin.

Has it really been 10 years since the debut of the original – and still far superior – version of The Office (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP)? It must be, because there’s a brand new 10th anniversary special edition set available, sporting both seasons and the Christmas special, plus brand new episode introductions, extended interviews with Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant (and celebrity fans), the Comedy Connections documentary, and the original pilot. If that weren’t enough, the set also ports over all of the special features from the original set. So yeah, a must have.

I’m baffled as to why the beautiful Prep & Landing (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) shorts are only making their seasonal debut on standard DVD and not in glorious high definition Blu-Ray, but at least they’re available, along with bonus materials including elf training reels, commercials, and more. But please, Disney – high definition. Stat.

It could be a lot shorter, but My Fair Lady (Fox, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) is one of my favorite film musicals, owing mainly to the charming chemistry between Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn. Now, it’s made its way to Blu-Ray, all spruced up and looking and sounding loverly. Bonus materials include a making-of documentary, featurettes, an audio commentary, alternate Audrey Hepburn vocals on the songs, and more.

I couldn’t shake the feeling while watching JJ Abrams’ Super 8 (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$44.99 SRP) that I was watching an homage to classic Spielberg films so slavish as to be completely off-putting in how it tries so hard with an effort that keeps shoving itself in your face. Say what you like about Spielberg’s button pushing ways, in the films that made him a legendary director, that button-pushing came from a genuine place. It’s as if Abrams doesn’t quite understand what he’s trying to capture (the same problem his lamentable Star Trek had). For a point of comparison, see how effortlessly yet completely Attack Of The Block captures the feel of a classic John Carpenter film. Well, at least this had a halfway interesting train crash. Almost balanced out the lens flare. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, and a deconstruction of the train crash sequence.

It’s no great shakes, but kids will probably enjoy the 4th film in director Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids trilogy, Spy Kids: All The Time In The World (Anchor Bay, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP). The film introduces a new pair of kids (with supporting roles given to the old guard) taking on a maniacal villain (Jeremy Piven) bent on time-based world domination. Ricky Gervais even shows up. As a talking robot dog. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

For all of the little princesses in your life, Disney has released a new special edition of the direct-to-video Beauty And The Beast: Belle’s Magical World (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP) and the high definition debut of the holiday-themed Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (Walt Disney, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP).

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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November 25, 2011
Weekend Shopping Guide 9/16/11: Rosebud

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…)

For a long time, I’ve looked to the original DVD edition of Orson Welles’ legendary Citizen Kane (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$64.99 SRP) as a brilliant representation of just how night and day loving restoration can make a film look and sound. Well, the new Blu-Ray trumps even that. This film has never, ever looked and sounded better than it does here. And if getting the film weren’t enough, the 3-disc collector’s edition also contains the 1995 documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane and the mostly-factual TV movie RKO 281, along with audio commentaries from Roger Ebert & Peter Bogdanovich, interviews, newsreels, featurettes, one-sheet/lobby card/correspondence reproductions, and a 48-page book. Truly a must-have set.

If you’d like to organize your life a bit more like Dolores Umbridge, you can leave yourselves reminders and declarations via the Harry Potter Proclamation Board ($49.99), which is a scale replica of the ones featured in Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix, but features a white board (and hidden dry erase markers and an eraser).

Oh, Community (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP). You really are the best written and performed show on television right now, and your second season has cemented you a position in the golden annals of comedy. From your epic Halloween show to your emotional Christmas Show, from pens and conspiracies to babies and paintball, every single episode brings it. BRINGS IT. And your new DVD set’s commentaries, deleted scenes, outtakes, and featurettes are just icing on the cake. Get this set. Get it now. AND CELEBRATE IT.

It’s by no means a perfect film, and doesn’t reach the level of the first Iron Man film, but Thor (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$54.99 SRP) is an enjoyable adaptation of Lee & Kirby’s take on Norse mythology and its god of thunder. My one real regret is that it didn’t stay in Asgard more and away from the borderline dull Earth. Oh, and Volstagg wasn’t nearly big enough. The 3D presentation of the limited edition set is pleasing, particularly during the aforementioned Asgard sequences, when the depth has epic territory to play with. Bonus materials include an audio commentary with director Kenneth Branagh, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

Speaking of Marvel films, another admirable effort makes its way to home video – X-Men: First Class (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). Considering I thought the previous 3 X-Men films were complete garbage, this retro rethink of the franchise is a welcome change, even if I wish it had just been a complete reboot that set the original core group – including Cyclops, Iceman, & Jean Grey – back in the swinging 60’s. Maybe they’ll do the right thing and retro-rethink the Fantastic Four, too. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted/extended scenes.

It’s been quite a few year since Rhino released what many consider to be the series’ finest episode, but Shout Factory has decided to turn their release of Mystery Science Theater 3000: Manos The Hands Of Fate (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$24.97 SRP) into a truly special occasion. The 2-disc set contains the episode itself, and un-MSTied version of the film, a retrospective featurette (with Joel, Trace, Frank, & Mary Jo), MST Hour wraps, a documentary about the making of the film, a presentation of the shorts “Hired!” Part 1 & 2 back-to-back, and more. This one’s worth picking up even if you already own the original release. And speaking of re-releases, Shout is also making available single-disc releases of The Unearthly & Red Zone Cuba (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$14.99 each).

The arrival of another Dalek storyline from the classic Doctor Who archives is always most welcome, including the dastardly mutants’ first arrival in the Jon Pertwee years in Day Of The Daleks (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP). In addition to the original version of the storyline, this 2-disc special edition also features the storyline with revamped special effects, sound, & Dalek voices, plus the usual complement of audio commentary and in-depth behind-the-scenes featurettes and rarities.

I’m certainly not a member of the cult of Scarface (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP), seeing it instead as a nice of enough piece of violent 70’s crime filmmaking with a memorably over-the-top performance from Al Pacino. But for those slavishly devoted, this new high definition transfer is ace, as are the bonus features and the inclusion of the 1932 version of Scarface.

Even over 25 years later, the Coen Brothers’ debut Blood Simple (MGM, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP) is still a landmark piece of modern film noir, and it’s a pleasure to finall6y have it in high definition – even if the Brothers are nowhere to be found in the bonus commentary track.

The 3rd season of Fringe (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$69.97 SRP) cranks up the drama as the team escapes from the parallel universe sans Olivia, whose double upsets things here before the original’s return makes things decidedly more awkward. Oh, and there’s lots of secrets. Lots. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, promos, a gag reel, and more.

Those gents over at the MOD MGM Limited Edition Collection are still churning out the catalogue titles, with the newest batch featuring Orson Welles in Tomorrow Is Forever (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98), Vincent Price in the Jules Verne adaptation Master Of The World (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98), and the big screen reunion of Bill Cosby & Robert Culp in the awkwardly titled Hickey & Boggs (MGM, Rated PG, DVD-$19.98).

Continuing their stellar run of TV licensing, the fine folks at Shout Factory are releasing the first season of the groundbreaking 1970’s cop show Police Story (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$39.97 SRP). The 6-disc set contains all 22 episodes plus the pilot film, a movie of the week, and an interview with show creator Joseph Wambaugh.

While it’s nowhere near as polished as the most recent big-screen adventure, the 1992 Captain America (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP) is at least more polished than the laughable late 70’s attempt at the character. Although, for the life of me, I still can’t figure out why the producers of this film made the Red Skull Italian.

I think it’s about time for me to be quite plain in saying, as we come to the 7th season of The Office (Universal, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.98 SRP) and the departure of Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott, that I really don’t like what the show has become. In fact, I haven’t liked its overblown, disingenuine cartoonishness for the last couple of seasons. Now, however, enough is enough. In the UK original, a fine line was walked between the humanity and the comedy, and you never lost sight of those people as real. In the US version, and realism has been sacrifices at the altar of pure farce for the sake of keeping the show going. Sad, really. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, webisodes, a blooper reel, and more.

You can certainly see a career ahead of him when you view the new high definition special edition of Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes (Image, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$17.97 SRP), about an all-American family who enter a nightmare when their car breaks down in the desolate southwest near a clan of cannibals. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, an alternate ending, TV spots, and more.

Try as I might, even three seasons in I still can’t get into Parks And Recreation (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), which still feels likes its trying too damn hard to be The Office (which, considering how interminably goofy that’s become, really shouldn’t be a goal). The 3-disc set contains extended episodes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, featurettes, and more.

I’m not much of a fan – no matter how many times I try – but I there are plenty who will eagerly devour The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fourth Season (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$54.97 SRP), which sports all 24 episodes plus featurettes, a live taping, and a gag reel.

Not content to let other studios ramp up their catalogue high definition releases, the folks at MGM have dropped another pair of much-requested titles with Dustin Hoffman in Sam Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs (MGM, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) and Michael Caine in Brian de Palma’s Dressed To Kill (MGM, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP). While Dogs only gets a trailer & TV spots, Dressed To Kill sports a making-of documentary, a featurette, and the theatrical trailer.

The mild, inoffensive comedy of it all is nothing compared to the fact that the 8th season of Two And A Half Men (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP) is the swan song for Charlie Sheen, during which his mind went bye-bye. See if you can spot the moment!

Amanda Tapping and her crackerjack team of scientists continue to track down, study, and protect a whole new lot of off creatures in the complete third season of Sanctuary (E1, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$64.98 SRP), containing audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and outtakes.

I’ve always been a fan of her witty, acerbic writing (and yes, her many film roles), so it’s a special treat that Carrie Fisher’s first live show is such a delight. Wishful Drinking (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) is a biographical one-woman show based on her most recent book, and the DVD also contains an interview with her mother, Debbie Reynolds, and deleted footage.

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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September 16, 2011
Weekend Shopping Guide 10/1/10: Great Ape

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…)

Like Citizen Kane and Casablanca, the original King Kong (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) is one of the many gems in the Warner Bros. library. While we don’t have our high definition Kane yet, the restoration and mastering done on this new Kong is simply breathtaking, and give me high hopes for their treatment of Welles’ legendary flick. Bonus features on this new edition include an audio commentary, a 7-part documentary, test footage with Ray Harryhausen commentary, the lost “Spider-Pit” sequence, a spotlight on producer Merian C. Cooper, and the theatrical trailer.

Most geeks love pizza. Most geeks love Star Trek. Well, the fine folks at Thinkgeek have realized both of these truths and constructed an item which melds the two together – the Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter ($24.99). That’s right – you can now cut your Italian pie with the forward section of the USS Enterprise, fashioned in laser-etched stainless steel.

It’s quite depressing to realize, while re-watching the DVD of the brilliant second season of Party Down (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$29.97 SRP), that Starz cancelled the series, and this is the last we’ll see of the dysfunctional caterers. Bonus materials are limited to a promo and a gag reel, which is a shame.

It’s not as strong a comedic romp as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but the Aldous Snow spin-off Get Him To The Greek (Universal, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP) – about a junior record exec (Jonah Hill) tasked with delivering the off-the-wagon Snow to a concert at the titular theater – is an enjoyable vehicle for Russell Brand, and actually makes me look forward to his take on Arthur. Also, Colm Meaney plays Aldous’s father. More Colm Meaney, I say. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, alternate intro/ending, featurettes, deleted scenes, gag reels, and music performances.

It seems to be taking forever, but slowly but surely the US DVD releases are catching up with the new episodes, so picking up Top Gear 13 (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) beings you that much closer. The 3-disc set contains all 7 episodes of the only car show that could make someone as apathetic about cars as I am a diehard fan. Bonus materials include additional footage and interviews.

The Warner Archive collection has been great about releasing some deep catalogue titles, but also some much-desired flicks that have limited commercial appeal because, to put it kindly, they weren’t that good. Of the fantastic deep catalogue material, we have something like The Robert Benchley Miniatures Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.95), which brings together all 30 of the brilliant, hilarious observational shorts that Benchley did for MGM from 1935-1944. On the not-so-good-but-people-still-want-it side, you’ve got the Chevy Chase/Carrie Fisher/Billy Barty little people comedy Under The Rainbow (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$19.95), the Peter Sellers/Brit Ekland bullfighting dud (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95), and Paul Simon’s painfully boring (but with a great soundtrack) The BoboOne Trick Pony (Warner Bros., Rated R, DVD-$19.95).

It’s not the Blu-Ray set that some of us were hoping for, but Secret Agent AKA Danger Man: The Complete Collection (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$99.95 SRP) is a comprehensive gathering of Patrick McGoohan’s pre-Prisoner spy series, containing all 86 episodes, including the two-part color finale.

While we’re all waiting for the release of the next full season set, let’s relive some of the finest adventures of South Park‘s most naÃ¯ve little boy with A Little Box Of Butters (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), which collects 13 remastered episodes (now in widescreen), plus a lost chapter of Butters’ “The Poop That Took A Pee”, a WWBD bracelet, an Inspector Butters badge, a necklace, and more.

If you’d like to see an absolutely superb performance by David Bowie, look no further than Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Criterion, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), wherein he plays a British officer held prisoner by the Japanese in World War II in a film that’s like a more intense, slightly erotic Bridge On The River Kwai. Now presented in high definition, bonus materials include a vintage featurette, a 1996 documentary, interviews, the trailer, and a booklet.

One would have hopes that the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP) held in 2009 to commemorate the museums birthday would have been an event to remember, but nothing seems to really click, from lackluster performances to a line-up that makes you miss those that couldn’t (or wouldn’t) be there all the more.

The 10th season of CSI (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$79.99 SRP) marks the arrival of Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Ray Langstrom, shaking up the calcification process that has been overtaking the show over the past few years. The 7-disc set includes audio commentaries, featurettes, and the crossover episodes with the Miami & New York CSIs.

Soundtrack fans have a trio of new titles to fill out their collections this week, courtesy of the fine folks at Silva Screen Records. The newest is Ben Affleck’s The Town, with music by Harry Gregson-Williams & David Buckley, followed by Brad Fiedel’s score for Terminator 2 and Paul Giovanni’s soundtrack to the original Wicker Man (Silva Screen Records, $16.98 SRP each).

I remember loving them as a kid, so I’m eager to show my nephews the animated adaptations of Beverly Cleary’s beloved stories included in the Ralph Mouse Collection (Scholastic, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), because how could they not like a mouse riding a motorcycle?

After the abysmal eighth season, I had some hope that the bonus, ultimately final ninth season of Scrubs (ABC Studios, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP) might be a streamline return to the blend of comedy and drama that had attracted me to the show in its early, wonderful seasons. Sadly, the goofball, live action Family Guy antics continued, and the replacement cast, bolstered by some returning faces and a lingering Zach Braff, never really gelled into anything worth watching. A shame. Bonus features include featurettes, deleted scenes, and bloopers.

I’ve been less-than-impressed with the ever-changing visual style of the DC Universe direct-to-video animated films, but at least they’ve reversed a further negative in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) by having the good sense to reinstate Kevin Conroy and Tim Daly as the voices of the legendary superheroes (even if they still insisted on recasting Apocalypse). The story itself finds everyone fighting over a mysterious girl who crashes to Earth in a Kryptonian ship. If you guessed she’s to become Supergirl, you’d be right. Bonus materials include a look at the character of Darkseid, a Green Arrow short, a featurette on the New Gods, 4 bonus cartoons featuring Darkseid, and more.

It’s easy to look back at it as a piece of soul kitsch, but the one thing you can say about The Best Of Soul Train (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP) is that the show, over its 35 year history, did include an incredible array or performers, from Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield to James Brown and Aretha Franklin.

I fell out of love with Family Guy years ago, so I really haven’t been enthused enough to dip into its spin-off, The Cleveland Show (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), but for those who have and enjoyed it, you’ll want to pick up the first season set, featuring all 21 episodes, audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, a music video, a table read, and more.

Leaving box stores behind but not abandoning fans, Warners has shifted the second season of Falcon Crest (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$49.95) over to their on-demand Warner Archive Collection, so if you’re hooked and want to find out what happens next to the Channing wine dynasty, look no further than the 22 episodes on this 6-disc set.

Using CG recreations, both Battle 360 (History Channel , Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.95 SRP) & Patton 360: The Complete Season One (History Channel, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.95 SRP) take an in-depth, comprehensive, in-the-thick-of-it look at the battles that defined the second World War.

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

##

October 1, 2010
Weekend Shopping Guide 9/24/10: Priority Registration

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…)

To get even one show to premiere in any given season that proves an instant favorite is a sad rarity. That there were two shows last season which swept me away is unprecedented, and should be seen as a sign of something. What, I have no idea. One of those shows is Community (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP), which has introduced a level of meta-surrealism and true ensemble storytelling not seen since the heyday of Newsradio. The first season set contains audio commentaries on ever episode, nearly an hour of outtakes, featurettes, and more. If you’ve yet to see this series, what in the hell are you waiting for?

Yeah yeah yeah, I know what you’re thinking. “What am I thinking?”, you say… Well, I knew that you’d say that, too. You’re thinking, “Why would I ever need a flashlight that looks like The Doctor’s sonic screwdriver?” Well, you don’t really. But still, it is kinda nifty to have a Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver LED Flashlight ($12.99). It just is.

The other show that grabbed me by the collar is Modern Family (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) – Which I will state, in no uncertain terms, is the finest family sitcom ever produced. Hyperbolic? A little bit, but it really has managed to walk a tightrope of being grounded enough to be relatable but far enough out there to be exciting. And it’s brought Ed O’Neill back to comedy. We must celebrate that. The box set includes deleted scenes, featurettes, and a gag reel. A Blu-Ray edition ($69.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.

While some fell out of love with the 3rd season of 30 Rock (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), I’m still firmly in love with it, though. The 3-disc set contains extended versions of a pair of episodes, plus audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, and a photo gallery.

There have been a few attempts in the past to collect his incredible body of work in book form, but the one to finally make it out of the gates is The Art Of Drew Struzan (Titan Books, $34.95 SRP). Sadly, it’s not as comprehensive as some of the prior efforts, but it’s still a large, lovely overview of one of the most recognizable film poster illustrators…well, ever… whose work can be seen on everything from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Blade Runner to Back To The Future and An American Tail. The book is narrated by Struzan, who takes you on a guided tour of the pieces and the process behind them.

HBO’s Jonathan Ames created/inspired sitcom Bored To Death (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) is just as precious and cute as you would expect a project borne of Brooklyn hipster intellectualism to be, equal parts entertaining and painfully cooler than thou. The 2-disc set contains all 8 first season episodes, plus audio commentaries and featurettes. A Blu-Ray edition ($49.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus features.

I can’t watch the ludicrously over-the-top Spartacus: Blood And Sand (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$59.97 SRP) without immediately thinking of Charlie Brooker’s brilliant take down of it, and illumination of its aforementioned ludicrous over-the-top nature. I mean, the blood isn’t just blood – it’s BLOOD. And lots of it. And maimings, and mutilations, and copious amounts of awkward nudity. Bonus features include audio commentaries and a clutch of featurettes. A Blu-Ray edition ($79.97 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.

I think I may be tiring of How I Met Your Mother (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$38.98 SRP) and its increasingly off-putting avoidance of the its titular quest. For the first few seasons it was a cute mystery, but now we can’t invest on anything because there’s always a sense of an impending bait and switch. The 5th season set contains all 24 episodes, plus featurettes, music videos, and gag reel.

Taking an in-depth study of middle America – Munice, Indiana, to be exact – in 1982, the 6-part documentary series Middletown (Icarus, Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP) is a brilliant snapshot of the culture, values, prejudices, hopes, and fears of an average American town. Give it a spin.

Taking a fictionalized look at the events that brought the infamous alien autopsy footage to the public eye in 1995, Alien Autopsy (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$14.98 SRP) is best when its two leads – Britain’s presenting duo Ant & Dec – are onscreen as the pals that found the “footage). Bonus features include an audio commentary, alternate opening, deleted scenes, and outtakes.

It’s quite a daunting – some would say foolish – idea to jump in and attempt to do an overview and analysis of the history of film comedy, but Saul Austerlitz’s Another Fine Mess: A History Of Film Comedy (Chicago Review Press, $24.95 SRP) is an admirable, enjoyable stab at doing just that. Fans of film comedy will enjoy it as a refresher course, as well as an introduction to some pieces they may have overlooked.

Joseph Campbell’s influential PBS series The Power Of Myth (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP) gets a new 2-disc special edition upgrade, featuring a conversation with Campbell, selections from host Bill Moyers’ interview with George Lucas, galleries, and a viewer’s guide.

In viewing it again after a quite a few years, the best way I can sum up how American Beauty (Dreamworks, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP) feels is by saying it all feels so precious. I think it’s a kinder way of pointing how pretentiously artificial its middle class suburban drama feels, from Kevin Spacey’s midlife crisis to the high school kids’ fumbling flirting… Really, just all of it. The new Blu-Ray features an audio commentary, a featurette, a storyboard presentation, and a pair of theatrical trailers.

How many of you remember that the first live action film ever released by Dreamworks was the George Clooney & Nicole Kidman action thriller The Peacemaker (Dreamworks, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), in which the pair had to track do0wn a clutch of stolen Russian nukes before the thieves can do something really nasty with them. Newly on Blu-Ray, bonus features include deleted scenes, stunt footage, and the theatrical trailer.

I was shocked – SHOCKED – when Drea de Matteo arrived on Wisteria Lane harboring secrets. Secrets? On Wisteria Lane? Unheard of! And then a plane crashed on the lane, which is probably the most normal thing that’s happened there the entire series. Desperate Housewives: Season 6 (ABC Studios, Not Rated, DVD-$45.99 SRP) contains featurettes, deleted scenes, bloopers, and a poorly-written set of interviews featuring the current Miss Piggy.

The folks at the Warner Archive dip into the vault for a pair of rarely seen George Pal productions sure to make completionists happy – Atlantis: The Lost Continent & The Power (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 each). The condition of the prints isn’t the greatest, but at least they’re available.

It should come as no surprise that the main draw of Castle (ABC Studios, Not Rated, DVD-$45.99 SRP) is star Nathan Fillion, whose charisma managed to make even the mediocre Firefly almost watchable. The complete 2nd season set contains all 24 episodes, plus featurettes, deleted scenes, outtakes, and more.

A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost walks into a second season. You know, that sounded a lot better in my head. No, really, it did sound a lot better there. Seriously. Anyway, the second season of Being Human (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.98 SRP) is out, and it finds our three supernatural roomies are being hunted by a group of religious nuts bent on their destruction. Bonus features include a whole clutch of behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Explore the first family of NASCAR racing via the documentary Petty Blue (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), which looks at the four generations of racing Pettys – from Lee to Richard to Kyle to Adam – as they helped define a national pastime. Bonus features include featurettes, bonus interviews, and deleted scenes.

Their owner still won’t license them for the Mystery Science Theater 3000 DVDs, but the restored Gamera films continue to roll out with a new pair of double feature releases – Gamera vs Guiron/Gamera vs Jiger and Gamera vs Gyaos/Gamera vs Viras (Shout Factory, Not Rated. DVD-$19.93 SRP).

Witness a little bit of your soul die if you dare to partake of Disney’s latest awkward exploitation of their catalogue characters with Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which is basically Peter Pan by way of Spice World – or Tink In The City. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, featurettes, and a music video.

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

##

September 24, 2010
Weekend Shopping Guide 6/11/10: I’m Alright

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

##

June 11, 2010
Weekend Shopping Guide 11/6/09: Billy & The Boingers

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 Quick Stop Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

(Please support Quick Stop by using the links below to make any impulse purchases – it helps to keep us going…)

When I interviewed Berke Breathed a few years back, I asked him if there would finally by a comprehensive Bloom County collection like the recently available Calvin & Hobbes and Peanuts volumes. Breathed was dismissive of the idea, claiming that no one wanted to read the strip, that it was no longer relevant, and it just wasn’t going to happen. Well, a few years have gone by, someone talked a bit of sense into him, so we have the first, glorious volume of The Bloom County Library (IDW, $39.99 SRP), collecting the first two years. Granted, those first two years bear more resemblance to Doonesbury than the Bloom County we know and love, but the strip quickly evolves and finds its way, so by the end of the volume, we’re into familiar territory. Breathed also provides commentary, which places the strips into their historical context. Overall, the presentation is exactly what fans have been waiting for, and volume 2 can’t come fast enough.

Ever wish you had the ability to switch something on and off with a regular ol’ wall switch? Like a lamp, or a game system? But without having to have the switch be on the wall? And have it be wireless? Well, now you can, with the Instant Switch ($24.95), which allows you to do just that. Ain’t technology grand? AIN’T IT?!?!

I’m often baffled by their selection process, but the one thing the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame manages to impress with on a rather consistent basis is the musical performances of the inductees – and tributes from other artists who perform their work. With a roster that includes everyone from Paul McCartney and The Doors to John Lee Hooker and Little Richard, it’s an eclectic bunch, to be sure. For those who’ve never caught the ceremonies in the past – or just want to relive the music – Time Life has delivered an incredible collection across 9 volumes – Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame + Museum: Live (Time Life, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), featuring literally dozens of artists in an equal amount of unique, memorable performances from these ceremonies. Get it.

Hitchcock’s classic North By Northwest (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.82 SRP) will be delighted by just how stunning the restored picture and sound looks and sounds, as the film has never, ever looked this good (even during its theatrical run). The 2-disc set includes a pair of brand new documentaries, plus carries over the audio commentary, featurettes, galleries, and TV spots from the previous special edition release. It’s also available in a Blu-Ray edition ($34.99), which – as you can imagine – looks just that much better.

Another strip which IDW has begun collecting is Bil Keane’s precocious kids via the Family Circus Library: Volume 1 (IDW, $39.99 SRP). Every bit as high quality as their other deluxe releases, hardbound and premium, the premiere volume contains the first year of the strip, running from 1960-1961. Is it worth it? Yes, it’s worth it.

A very close second to the original cross-country trek of the Griswold clan, I’m a big fan of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP). It still holds up as a comic joy and a true holiday perennial, and it’s been given the deluxe special edition treatment just in time for this holiday. The film itself has been given a high-definition release with an audio commentary and the theatrical trailer, and the collectible tin comes packed with a Wally the Moose Santa Hat, miniature replica of the Wally mug, fake snow, and a badge.

It’s the holidays, which means some classic perennials are getting an upgrade and re-release just in time for seasonal viewing. Getting the high definition treatment is Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), which lands as a quite spiffy looking 2-disc set containing both the must-see black & white and best to avoid colorized versions, plus the making-of documentary and original theatrical trailer found on the original standard DVD special edition. Sadly not in HD (it would have been quite a visual feast) is the new 2-disc anniversary edition of White Christmas (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$ SRP), which sports an audio commentary with Rosemary Clooney, a half-dozen featurettes, and a pair of theatrical trailers.

There are unique minds, and then there are uber-unique minds… Minds which create their own sphere of reality, daring others to step within the range of its influence and be swept away. One of those minds is Tony Millionaire, whose work has been given a must-have hardcover tome in The Art Of Tony Millionaire (Dark Horse Books, $39.95 SRP). Packed with art and anecdotes, this volume should be on your shelf. Right next to that Michael Kupperman book. You know the one… Yeah, that one. So just get it.

Long, long after the release of the penultimate 3rd season and a poorly-packaged complete series box set, everything is made right with the release of Fraggle Rock: The Complete Final Season (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$28.98 SRP), containing interviews and featurettes galore. Also getting a re-release is a more intelligently packaged Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP) and a holiday-centric Fraggle Rock: A Merry Fraggle Holiday (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), containing a trio of festive episodes, an episode of the animated series, an Emmet Otter sing-along, and a look at The Christmas Toy.

More so even that ET, Forrest Gump (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$38.98 SRP) is a completely manipulative, exquisitely crafted piece of Hollywood feel good prize-pumping cinema. And yes, I did enjoy it when I first saw it in the theater, way back in 1994 – it pushes buttons quite well, thank you, and it pushed mine, even if I have felt dirty about it ever since. Well, it’s now gotten a release in high def via Paramount’s new deluxe Sapphire Series as a 2-disc special edition featuring a pair of audio commentaries, a featurette on the soundtrack, 9 behind-the-scenes featurettes, and screen tests. I feel so dirty, AND I want a box of chocolates.

By its 3rd season, Spin City (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP) was a well-oiled machine, with the entire cast on equal footing with star Michael J. Fox (particularly the dynamic between Alan Ruck and Michael Boatman). The 4-disc set contains all 26 episodes, but sadly no bonus features.

Whereas the live action film was a mess, I thought that GI Joe: Resolute (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) was a faithful, entertaining update of the GI Joe cartoon I loved as a child, and was able to introduce a more adult approach without coming off as a violent, wrongheaded attempt at being “adult”. Don’t believe me? Check out the disc for yourself, which features additional scenes, behind-the-scenes interviews, storyboards, and the teaser.

You know that great Saturday Night Live book from a few years back – the one by Tom Shales that features dozens of interviews telling the tale of the show’s history in a remarkably candid way? Well, Author Mike Thomas has done the same thing for the legendary improvisational group which spawned many an SNL castmember – and comedy icon – with The Second City Unscripted (Villard Books, $26.00 SRP). Every comedy fan should get this. Now.

While it’s not the educational films I would have liked to have seen in the series (or Song Of The South), I welcome the Walt Disney Treasures release of both Zorro: The Complete First Season & Zorro: The Complete Second Season (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP each). The show looks better than it ever did in the long ago Disney Channel reruns, and both sets contains intros from Leonard Maltin. The sets also feature the Walt Disney Presents episodes and newly-produced featurettes (even a collectible pin). As always, the Walt Disney Treasures series delivers a treat. Here’s to more…

I’m not exactly sure what the concept is behind Adult Swim In A Box (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$69.98 SRP). In a nutshell, it’s a big ol’ boxset containing a mix of various Adult Swim shows. The odd thing is it’s different seasons of the shows, with no real logic behind their inclusion. Was the boxset just a way to unload a bunch of sets that were sitting around in inventory? Included in the set are Sealab 2021: Season 2, Metalocalypse: Season 1, Robot Chicken: Season 2, Space Ghost Coast To Coast: Season 3, Moral Orel: Season 1, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume 2. So what’s the incentive to buy the set? The clever inclusion of an exclusive bonus disc, containing a handful of pilots – The Best Of Totally For Teens, Cheyenne Cinnamon And The Fantabulous Unicorn Of Sugar Town Candy Fudge, Korgoth Of Barbaria, Perfect Hair Forever, and Welcome To Eltingville. Clever bastards.

Bit by bit, we’re getting DVD releases of all of the various Saturday morning animated iterations of the DC superheroes, and the latest to get its time on plastic is the short-lived Ruby-Spears Superman (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), which was the pre-Dini/Timm but post-Crisis version of the Man of Steel, that actually used reorchestrated versions of John Williams’ theatrical theme. The 2-disc set contains all 13 episodes, plus a featurette on Lexcorp.

There’s nothing quite so electrifying as Muhammad Ali in interviews, even those when he was in the early years of his decline, and you’ll find plenty of them in Champions Forever: The Definitive Edition – Muhammad Ali the Lost Interviews (Image, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which contains unused footage shot in 1990 for the Champions Forever documentary.

Really – it seems like there are an unlimited number of classic Doctor Who adventures. Are we even close to getting them all on DVD? They just keep coming and coming. Latest is an arc from the Peter Davison years – Doctor Who: The Black Guardian Trilogy (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP), a 3-disc set containing Mawdryn Undead, Terminus, and Enlightenment. Bonus materials are the usual Who potpourri of commentaries, featurettes, galleries, and more.

I know I should be swept up in its formulaic, rom-comminess, but there’s an unavoidable charm to Richard Curtis’s Love Actually (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP). The film has just found its way to high definition, with an audio commentary, featurettes, and music videos.

It may not be a very well-written or executed superhero cartoon, but I have find childhood memories of the episodes contained in Plastic Man: The Complete Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP). The 4-disc set contains all 36 episodes of the pliable one’s adventures, plus a retrospective featurette and the original pilot episode.

It may not be as polished as the films of Pixar, but there’s a lot of charm and energy in the Ice Age series, and I was surprised to find out that there was still some steam in Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (Fox, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which finds our heroes discovering a lost world and interacting with dinosaurs – I mean, it was inevitable they’d find a way to bring them in to the mix. Does it work? Yeah, it does. Fox has taken a cue from Disney and have crafted a Blu-Ray/DVD combo package, with bonus features including an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, Scrat shorts, and more.

How do you make sure the DVD re-release of Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed In At The House Of Mouse (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$26.99 SRP) sells? Make sure the cover has a trio of Disney Princesses (Snow White, Cinderella, and Ariel) joining Mickey, Donald, and the gang. Crass? Sure, which is a shame, since it’s actually a pretty decent holiday special. Bonus features include the premiere episode of House of Mouse, a featurette on sound effects, and sing-along songs.

It’s certainly not the holidays without penguins, right? Right. Which makes The March Of The Penguins: Limited Edition Giftset (Warner Bros., Rated G, DVD-$39.98 SRP) a nice gift, as it comes with not only the titular documentary, but also a new documentary about warm-weather penguins and a plush penguin toy.

In the vein of goofy babysitter flicks of the 80’s like Batteries Not Included and Spaced Invaders comes the kids & extraterrestrials romp Aliens In The Attic (Fox, Rated PG, DVD-$29.99 SRP). Can you guess there are aliens in the aforementioned upstairs area? Bonus features include featurettes, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, a bonus animated short, and a gag reel. A Blu-Ray edition ($39.99 SRP) is also available with identical bonus materials.

It’s not the sharpest, most clever of political commentary, but there’s a certain closure to Will Ferrell’s Broadway outing You’re Welcome America: A Final Night With George W Bush (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.97 SRP). The show had a limited run on the Great White Way, and found Ferrell performing the impression formed during his SNL days, summarizing the man behind two Presidential terms. Bonus features include a pair of featurettes and a game.

The TV show releases are wrapped, which brings us to the first volume of The Rockford Files: Movie Collection (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), which finds James Garner back on the case in a quartet of TV movies.

As a tour guide into the work of Charles Darwin and his landmark theory of evolution, one couldn’t hope for a better, more engaging host than Sir David Attenborough, who takes by the hand on Charles Darwin And The Tree Of Life (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP).

I admit, there was a schlocky appeal to the first Wrong Turn, and it’s always worth watching Eliza Dusku (well, except in Dollhouse – there’s nothing about that worth watching. But with Eliza long gone, there’s very little to Wrong Turn 3: Left For Dead (Fox, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) worth watching, as it becomes just another of those direct-to-video franchises. A franchise! Whoda thunk 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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November 6, 2009
Weekend Shopping Guide 8/22/08: Snuff Times

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 Quick Stop Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

See, I remember watching Daily Show correspondent John Oliver on UK shows like Mock The Week long before he crossed the pond to take up residence on US TV. With that in mind, I was delighted when Comedy Central decided to give him a stand up spotlight with John Oliver: Terrifying Times (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), which hits DVD in an extended/uncensored edition replete with bonus features galore. Snag yourself a copy and see why I like Brit comedians so much.

I love a good gadget. We all do. What better gadget is there for the average geek than one that potentially makes you look absurd when its in use? Such is the case with the Helmet Camera ($99.99) – a cordless, battery-powered, waterproof, and mountable camera that allows you to look like a giddy moron while running around with a camera strapped to your head. The camera can be upgrades from 32mb onboard flash memory to 2gb with the purchase of an SD card, which means 60 minutes worth of decent quality video of you doing… stuff. It’s fun!

If you thought that Mr. Show was an endearingly bizarre collection of surreality in sketch form, then – like me – you will revel in (and laugh at) Matt Berry and Rich Fulcher’s Snuff Box (BBC/2 Entertain, Not Rated, Region 2 DVD-Â£15.99 SRP). Yes, you will laugh – even if occasionally that laughter takes the form of a gurgling sputter of disbelief at Berry & Fulcher’s… unique sensibilities as a pair of bickering hangmen. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, a behind-the-scenes featurette, outtakes, and the show’s fantastic soundtrack, by Berry.

My only real disappointment with the Blu-Ray arrival of the uneven-but-still better-than The Batman first season of the animated Justice League (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.98 SRP) is that they yet again chose to present the made-for-widescreen episodes in their full frame format, without the alternative available. Still, you get all 26 episodes across 3 discs, plus a trio of audio commentaries, featurettes, a never-before-seen promo, and a music video. I hope we get the even more superior 2nd and 3rd seasons post haste.

After far too long an absence – and numerous health problems – Dana Carvey has returned with a brand new stand-up special – his first in almost 12 years – Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Not only is he looking hale and hearty, but he’s managed to do what few comics can do after so long an absence – come back with a funny act. The special delivers, and here’s hoping his next one comes a little faster. The 2-disc set features additional footage, a Q&A, and his 1995 HBO special Critics’ Choice.

Showtime’s loveable sociopath returns for a second season, and I have to agree with most of the fans – there was something off about season 2 of Dexter (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The tone just didn’t seem as deft as its inaugural run – but maybe that was because the new car smell began to wear off. I will say that this season ratcheted tension nicely, as the FBI began investigating the murders of his victims, while he began having some self-doubts. The 4-disc set features all 12 episodes, plus interviews and sampler episodes from other Showtime series.

Get a healthy reminder of what to avoid this election season by picking up the extended “Election Year Edition” of Oliver Stone’s flawed-but-riveting Nixon (Hollywood Pictures, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP), a complicated man brought to complicated life by Anthony Hopkins. The 2-disc set features an all-new documentary, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, a Charlie Rose interview with Stone, and the theatrical trailers.

Why is it that we get bucketfuls of tripe on TV here in the US, but the UK gets a wonderfully quirky rom-sit-com like Gavin & Stacey (BBC/2 Entertain, Not Rated, Region 2 DVD-Â£19.99 SRP)? Gavin & Stacey are a pair of twenty-somethings who have been talking with each other for months while at work – in different offices. You see, they’ve never met face-to-face. It’s when they do that we pick up their story, as we see their relationship develop through the eyes of their friends and family – including Rob Brydon and James Cordon. It truly is a little joy, and is worth importing. Bonus features include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and outtakes.

If only more lawyers were like Perry Mason and less like they actually are, the world would probably be a better place. Judge for yourself with the first volume of Perry Mason‘s third season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP). The 3-disc set features 12 episodes of just jurisprudence.

It’s 8 years later, and time and perspective make Recount (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) – and its dramatization of the events surrounding the Florida recount and the battle for the Presidency – a startling portrait of a political system gone wrong. Watch it and draw your own conclusions. Bonus features include an audio commentary, conversations between the actors and the men they portrayed, and an additional inside story of the 2000 election.

A new Fletch film seems permanently grounded, but both of the original Chevy Chase-starring vehicles starring Gregory McDonald’s investigative reporter – Fletch and Fletch Lives – are now available in The Fletch Collection (Universal, Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Bonus features include a trio of featurettes, plus the theatrical trailers.

Tweenie heads will combust with excitement as a pair of Disney flicks hit DVD – the big screen Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$34.99 SRP) and the Disney Channel’s Camp Rock (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP). Both discs sport a clutch of bonus materials, including behind-the-scenes featurettes and bonus songs.

The doctor is back with a bunch of bizarre, incredibly rare maladies and the increasingly tedious grumpy manner in the fourth season of House (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP). The best thing about the fourth season is probably the addition of Kal Penn to the cast, as yet another new hospital staffer. The 4-disc box set features all 16 episodes, plus an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and interviews.

I’m all well and good with the Terminator franchise – I consider the first two films classics – but I found 3 to be a mediocre money grab and I simply can’t get into Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP)… even though it pretends the events of Terminator 3 never happened, gives us yet another John Connor, and a Terminator played by Summer Glau. The 3-disc set features all 9 first season episodes, plus a trio of audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, audition tapes, unaired scenes, rehearsal footage, a gag reel, and more.

Yeah, that whole Gossip Girl (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) thing? Complete passes me by. I’m sure it’s just some younger-skewing replacement for Sex And The City. Regardless, the complete first season is now on DVD in a 5-disc set with all 18 episodes, plus unaired scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, music videos, a gag reel, and more.

Like a delightful throwback to smallish, enjoyable flicks of the 40’s and 50’s, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP) stars Frances McDormand as the titular Miss, who decides to jump into the deep end and becomes the “social secretary” to a glamorous singer/movie star Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) – and turns her whole humdrum life upside down in the process. Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted scenes.

What started out as a promising show has become largely forgettable with the third season of Prison Break (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), as we get Michael Scofield trapped in a Panamanian prison, his brother plotting his rescue, more conspiracy layered in, and plot twists that just make you go “eh”, I can only hope the 4th season course-corrects. The 4-disc set features all 13 episodes, plus behind-the-scenes featurettes.

You know, it’s the ninth season of Married With Children (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP) – you pretty much know what to expect. This season does, however, feature a wonderful guest appearance from the late Wolfman Jack, so that’s something. The 3-disc set features all 28 episodes of Bundy goodness.

Not since the feature film itself have I seen something so horribly, awkwardly designed as the new Transformers: Animated series (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). Honestly, the design sensibility is the visual equivalent of tone deaf. I’d suggest avoiding this mess and revisiting the original 80’s series. The 2-disc box set features all 16 first season episodes.

Raise your hands, anyone who voiced – or even felt – a desire for a sequel to The Scorpion King. You will now be shot. Yes, there is now Scorpion King 2: Rise Of A Warrior (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP). Yeah. Bonus features include a featurette, deleted scenes, a gag reel, 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

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August 22, 2008