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…)
It feels a little odd to be writing about a children’s picture from Martin Scorsese, so it’s probably easier to understand when you realize that one of the key figures in Hugo (Paramount, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$54.99 SRP) is pioneering French filmmaker Georges Melies, best known for his legendary “Journey To The Moon”. The film finds Georges as a toy shop owner in a railway station who aids the young title character’s attempt to unlock a mystery left by his father. The film is a fun and – yes – heartwarming pic that makes fine use of the 3D canvas, playing very nicely in the home theater. Bonus materials include making-of featurettes and a look at the real Melies.
If you’re looking for a purchase for both a Star Wars and a LEGO fan who may be too young for the more complicated sets, the LEGO TIE Interceptor and Death Star ($9.99) is perfect, as the Interceptor is an easy assembly, it comes with a pilot minifig, and the storage case is a hangable Death Star. Fun, right?
With the release of Top Gear 17 (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), the home video releases have finally caught up with the show, as the 18th season has just premiered. For this season, however, we find the terrible trio in Italy, Monte Carlo, and even South Africa. Bonus materials include intros, interviews, behind-the-scenes of the celebrity laps, and more.
Rowan Atkinson returns as the bumbling superspy in Johnny English Reborn (Universal, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP), which finds our Clouseau-esque hero called back to active duty after being disgraced, saddled with a partner (the wonderful Daniel Kaluuya), and facing down betrayal from within. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes/ a featurette, and a gag reel.
Written by the late Dwayne McDuffie, Justice League: Doom (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) is the latest in the animated DC comics direct-to-video movies, this time focusing on the devastation that hits the titular superteam when a group of supervillains steals Batman’s secret contingency plans on how to take down his teammates should any go rogue. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, bonus cartoons, and more.
Take Buffy and mix in heavy metal and The Evil Dead and you’ll get the gonzo horror/comedy of Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil (E1, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which finds the titular oversexed high-schooler as the world’s only defense against arcane evil unleashable by the also titular tome. The first season set sports audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, outtakes, and more.
It caused a controversy when it was released, probably because Anonymous (Sony, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) tackles, in a sadly ham-fisted way, the theory that William Shakespeare was not the author of the works history has credited him with. Still, it’s an engaging enough watch, particularly with a cast that includes Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Derek Jacobi, and Vanessa Redgrave. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a featurette.
Tween boys with their eyes glued to Cartoon Network will probably want to pick up the first release from the adventure series Redakai: The Journey Begins (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which finds our heroes racing around the world to keep Kairu energy from falling into evil hands. Ask your kids to explain it. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes.
This weekend, we’ve got another story-specific Doctor Who action figure set from the fine folks at Underground Toys. The Keeper Of Traken Collector’s Set (Underground Toys, $49.98) contains a story-specific version of Tom Baker’s 4th Doctor (with source manipulator sphere), the charred and decayed version of The Master, and the Melkur statue. Here’s to more of these themed sets in the future.
We got a Harry Potter figure last year, so it’s a welcome addition to Medicom’s Real Action Heroes line of 12″ figures that we get the none-Voldemort bane of the young wizard’s existence – Alan Rickman’s beautifully realized Professor Severus Snape ($219.99 SRP). The Rickman sculpt is just about as perfect you can get, matched by the fine detailing on the multiple layers of costuming, from black suit to black outer robes. And yes, he comes with his wand. How could he not?
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’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.