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…)
Not as noir-riffic as their take on Batman, Bruce Timm & Paul Dini still delivered a definitive version of the Man of Steel that trumps all but the original Donner film – and it can all be yours with Superman: The Complete Animated Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$53.98 SRP). Bonus features include audio commentaries and featurettes, plus an exclusive disc with an all-new retrospective. My one gripe? Warners cheaped out and used the abysmal double-sided discs on 3 of the 7 contained within. Haven’t you realized that they’re an abomination, Warners? Please. Stop using them.
If last year’s 20th anniversary set featuring the collectible Crow T. Robot figurine was anything to go by, I’d recommend snatching your copy of the limited edition Mystery Science Theater 3000: XVI (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$64.99 SRP), sporting a snazzy Tom Servo figurine, before they’re long gone – which will probably be pretty darn fast. The set itself contains the episodes The Corpse Vanishes, Warrior Of The Lost World, Santa Claus, and Night Of The Blood Beast. Bonus features include Turkey Day ’95 intros, a retrospective on Santa Claus, an interview with Warrior director David Worth, and trailers.
It’s quite rare to encounter a new sitcom that I not only like, but swiftly fall in love with. Well, I can now add Better Off Ted (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) to that exclusive list. Imagine if you combined the sensibilities of both Newsradio and Arrested Development and set it in the headquarters of an oppressively omnipresent megacorporation – and there you go. Hell, it’s even a little bit Brazil. Just get the first season, and devour all 13 episodes.
Get the bad taste of the US remake out of your mouth by re-watching the second (and final) season of the original UK Life On Mars (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP), which still holds up as one of the televisiual highlights of the last few years. The 4-disc set features all 8 episodes, plus behind-the-scenes footage, a documentary, and a featurette on the show’s finale.
I got exactly what I expected from Four Christmases (New Line, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP) – a largely by-the-numbers, inoffensive, lightly enjoyable holiday romp starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon as a couple whose cancelled getaway flight leaves them having to attend the quartet of Chrismtases thrown by their divorced parents. Mild hilarity ensues! A Blu-Ray edition ($35.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.
Lionsgate has just dropped a boatload of their catalogue titles into the high definition arena, with one big highlight for me. There was a time when it seemed Monster Squad (Lionsgate, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP) would never even make it to DVD, and here it is in snazzy Blu-Ray with a full port of all of the DVDs special features, including audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and more. Also making their Blu-Ray debut are Mel Gibson & Robert Downey, Jr. in Air America, Stephen King’s Cujo, the still-awkward Angel Heart, the cult favorite Near Dark, and the original My Bloody Valentine (Lionsgate, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP each).
No, I will not say it’s a good film, but there’s a lot of goofy fun to be found – at least my young nephew did – during Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian (Fox, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which brings Ben Stiller back as night watchman Larry Daley, as the magical exhibits that came to life during the original film get transferred to the massive archives of the Smithsonian… And wouldn’t you know it? More hijinks! Bonus features include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, a gag reel, and a DVD copy of the film.
A truly groundbreaking comic performer and television innovator that should be required viewing for anyone claiming to have an affinity for comedy gets a nice introductory set via Spike Jones: The Funniest Show On Earth (Infinity, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP). The 3-disc set is packed with classic bits and over 60 songs, plus 2 never-aired pilots.
If you go into Funny People (Universal, Rated R, DVD-$34.98 SRP) expecting another laugh-a-minute Apatow flick like 40-Year-Old Virgin or Knocked Up, you’ll probably be surprised and a bit disappointed to learn it’s actually a tale *about* funny people – comedians – in particular one played by Adam Sandler, who is given a second chance and decides to address some issues in his life, particularly the girl that got away. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, a production documentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, prank calls, a gag reel, and more. The Blu-Ray edition ($39.98 SRP) features additional deleted scenes and prank calls.
Packed to the hilt with guest stars like Steve McQueen and Walter Matthau and hosted by its titular master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 4 (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$30.99 SRP) keeps the quality level up across its 36 episodes, all of which are well worth a spin. There’s also a bonus featurette, “Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art Of Alfred Hitchcock”.
Maybe one day someone will find the closet that the real Robert Rodriguez has been locked in for the past few years. In the meantime, the Pod-riguez is delivering tepid kiddie cinema like Shorts (New Line, Rated PG, DVD-$28.98 SRP), which could have been a rollicking tale of kids finding a magic, wish-giving rock but is instead a tepid affair marked by occasional flashes of what could have been. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette and a mini-cooking school short. A Blu-Ray edition ($35.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.
If I had my druthers (which I do), I’d like to ignore that Torchwood ever existed as a Doctor Who spin-off and focus entirely on The Sarah Jane Adventures (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) as a worthy extension of the Who-niverse. Because it is. Made for the BBC’s children’s channel, it’s a fun, fast, but thoughtful and character-driven show. Don’t believe me? Check out the second season set, where everything comes together and gels. Bonus features include interviews, galleries, audio clips, TV spots, trailers, and more.
Animation makes the transition to live action with the made-for-TV Ben 10: Alien Swarm (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.97 SRP), which finds Ben taking on an alien menace intent on dominating the Earth. Bonus features include a making-of featurette and a music video. A Blu-Ray edition ($29.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.
Pull out all of the teeth of the original and make the sense of “Gotta keep the franchise churning” palpable, and you’ve got the not-terribly-interesting Terminator: Salvation (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$28.98 SRP). Further muddying the franchise’s continuity by flash-forwarding to the middle, Christian Bale era of humanity’s last hope, John Connor, and forcing him to keep safe the life of his own father. Yeah, it’s a mess. The 3-disc Blu-Ray edition ($35.99 SRP) features an extended director’s cut, a picture-in-picture exploration with director McG, and a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes.
It’s a little bit House, a little bit Chicago Hope, and a little bit Grey’s Anatomy – it’s Mental (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), about the new Director of Psychiatric Services at Wharton Memorial Hospital, Dr. Jack Gallagher, his quirky colleagues, and his unorthodox methods. The 4-disc set contains all 13 episodes, plus an alternate pilot and a featurette.
The lawyer with the golden briefs returns with the second volume of it’s 3rd season – otherwise known as Perry Mason Season 3: Volume 2 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP). The 3-disc set contains 12 episodes of high stakes legal wrangling.
I’ve become quite tired of Michael Cera, so I was pleased that Paper Heart (Anchor Bay, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP) is really a “documentary” about fellow Gen-Z’er Charlyne Yi’s search for love – a concept she doesn’t really believe in, at least in the fairytale, Hollywood sense. But yes, there is some Cera here. Bonus features include featurettes, interviews, deleted scenes, and musical performances. A Blu-Ray edition ($39.98 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus features.
In the mood for a middling little horror flick that’s at least an improvement over channel surfing? Wondering whatever happened to Thora Birch & Brittany Murphy? Well, you’ll find them both in Deadline (First Look Studios, Rated R, DVD-$28.98 SRP), about a screenwriter (Murphy) who retires to a Victorian house in the country after having a breakdown, hoping to finish her screenplay. Instead, she finds disturbing videotapes of the couple that used to own the house, and… well… you know where this is going. Ooooooooo. Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes footage. A Blu-Ray edition ($29.98 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.
What happens when you team up two of the most pigmentally-challenged humans on Earth and give them superpowers? You get Jim Gaffigan & Conan O’Brien (voiced by Gaffigan) in Pale Force (New Video, Not Rated, DVD-$14.95 SRP), an animated series where the pair face off against their archnemesis Lady Bronze. Bonus features include Gaffigan’s appearances on Late Night and making-of featurettes.
Guy Ritchie has been a scattershot writer/director over the years, but the film that put him on the map – Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP) is getting its high-def release, carrying over the featurette and expletive compilation from the last standard edition DVD release.
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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I never sparked to 
