Tag: Doctor Who

  • Contest Round-Up: 2011-04-05

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every week, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!

    In conjunction with Miramax/Lionsgate Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) sets of SCREAM, SCREAM 2, & SCREAM 3 on Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of BLACK SWAN on DVD.

    In conjunction with Nickelodeon Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of iCARLY: SEASON 2 VOLUME 3 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Adult Swim Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of VENTURE BROS: SEASON 4 VOLUME 2 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Adult Swim Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of VENTURE BROS. SEASON 4 on Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of DOCTOR WHO: THE ARK on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of DOCTOR WHO: THE SEEDS OF DOOM on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of THE ALAN BENNETT COLLECTION on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of JUDGE JOHN DEED: SEASON THREE on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DALZIEL & PASCOE: SEASON 3 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Underground Toys, we’re giving away five (5) DOCTOR WHO: AMY POND figures.

  • Win a DOCTOR WHO: AMY POND FIGURE!

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    In conjunction with Underground Toys, we’re giving away five (5) DOCTOR WHO: AMY POND figures.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 27th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 27th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win DOCTOR WHO: THE SEEDS OF DOOM on DVD!

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    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of DOCTOR WHO: THE SEEDS OF DOOM on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 27th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 27th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win DOCTOR WHO: THE ARK on DVD!

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    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of DOCTOR WHO: THE ARK on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 27th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 27th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 3/11/11: The Little Prince

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    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…)

    The Disney restoration team do another incredible job with one of their animated classics, making the new high definition release of Bambi (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) look like it was produced last year instead of 70 years ago. Bonus materials include all of the original DVD’s bonus materials, plus a new intro from Diane Disney Miller, deleted scenes, a deleted song, featurettes, and galleries. The release also includes Disney’s now-standard bonus DVD version.

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    I’m a big fan and longtime user of Zoom’s portable audio recorders, often using them while I’m the road to record live events and podcasts. Well, with the Zoom H1 Audio Recorder ($99.99), you get Stereo X/Y mic configuration, microSD memory (2GB card included), a ton of functionality and recording options, and all in a small case that’s half the size of older Zoom recorders.

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    It’s always a delight when another Mystery Science Theater box set comes down the pike, but even more delightful when it contains a bonus feature I produced and am actually in – Which is the case with Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XX (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$59.97 SRP), which contains not only Fugitive Alien I, Fugitive Alien II, The Magic Voyage Of Sinbad, & Project Moonbase, but also the Servo vs Servo panel that I hosted at last year’s DragonCon. If that weren’t enough MST3K, the fine folks at Shout are also re-releasing a pair of out-of-print releases as standalone discs – Beginning Of The End & The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living And Became Mixed-Up Zombies (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 each).

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    I’m beginning to think that the supply of classic Doctor Who adventures is inexhaustible, as we get another pair of old school releases in the form of the William Hartnell serial The Ark (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) and Tom Baker’s The Seeds Of Doom (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP). It should surprise no one that these bear a TARDIS-load of extras, including documentaries, featurettes, commentaries, and much more.

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    Just when you think the zombie genre has finally been exhausted, along comes something like The Walking Dead (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP), which manages to translate it all to an ongoing TV narrative, playing like an undead version of The Wire. The series 1 set contains making-of featurettes and deleted footage.

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    Let’s set aside his smug, off-putting hosting gig at the Oscars and concentrate on the rather remarkable performance James Franco gives in 127 Hours (Fox, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which is perhaps better known as the “guy cuts off his arm” film. Franco stars as the real life Aaron Ralston, whose adventuring in a remote Utah canyon comes to tragedy when a boulder pins his arm and prevents his escape. He has no ability to communicate, no one knows he’s down there, and he can’t extricate himself. Or can he? Errr… yes, he can. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

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    Miss the good ol’ days of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Well, two of the show’s strongest improvisers – Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood – have banded together into a touring partnership featuring an evening of those improv games, which has now been immortalized on DVD via Colin & Brad: Two Man Group – Live And Dangerous Comedy (Image, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP). It’s funny from start to finish, and makes me miss WLIIA even more. Bonus materials include an interview and a featurette on improve DOs and DON’Ts

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    The kids are covered this weekend as well, with a brand new Spongebob release, Spongebob Squarepants: The Great Patty Caper (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP) – featuring 7 episodes and a clutch of animated shorts – plus The Backyardigans: We Arrrr Pirates (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP).

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    What do the fine folks at the Warner Archive have for us now? How about Humphrey Bogart and Barbara Stanwyck in The Two Mrs. Carrolls (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95)? Or William Holden, Ryan O’Neal, & Karl Malden in the western Wild Rovers (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95).

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    Yeah, I know it’s lowbrow, but so help me, I do enjoy the Jackass feature films, and the winning streak continues with Jackass 3 (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which features the return of Johnny Knoxville and the gang in full mental form, with stunts and a joie de vivre that manages to top the previous two entries. Bring on more, I say! Bonus features include deleted scenes, outtakes, and a making-of special.

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    The designs have been slightly updated, but the spirit of the classic series remains in Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated Season One Volume 1 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), featuring 4 adventures with the gang going up against beasts, creatures, ghosts, and monsters.

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    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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  • Contest Round-Up: 2011-03-10

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every week, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DOCTOR WHO: SEASON 5 on both Blu-Ray & DVD.

    In conjunction with Universal Home Video, we’re giving away ten (10) copies of LES MISERABLES: THE 25th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT on Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with History Channel Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of ICE ROAD TRUCKERS: SEASON 4 on Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with History Channel Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE: SEASON 2 on Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with History Channel Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of I AM ALIVE: SURVIVING THE ANDES PLANE CRASH on DVD.

    In conjunction with Warner Home Video, we’re giving away five (5) copies of ALL-STAR SUPERMAN on DVD.

    In conjunction with Lionsgate Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of WEEDS: SEASON 6 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Lionsgate Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of NURSE JACKIE: SEASON 2 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Image Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of COLIN & BRAD: TWO MAN GROUP on DVD.

    In conjunction with Underground Toys and Thinkgeek, we’re giving away two (2) DOCTOR WHO: LEVITATING TARDISes.

  • Win a DOCTOR WHO: LEVITATING TARDIS!

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    In conjunction with Underground Toys and Thinkgeek, we’re giving away two (2) DOCTOR WHO: LEVITATING TARDISes.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 30th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 30th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win DOCTOR WHO: SEASON 5 on Blu-Ray & DVD!

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    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DOCTOR WHO: SEASON 5 on both Blu-Ray & DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 30th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 30th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 2/18/11: Ebenezer Who

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    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…)

    Putting to shame all of the holiday specials before, Steven Moffat hit it out of the park with Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP), which brings the Matt Smith 11th Doctor face-to-face with the Scrooge-like Kazran Sardick, whose heart must be melted in time for a threatened interstellar cruise liner to land safely on his planet. What follows is a lovely timey-wimey adventure that encapsulates the irresistible fairy-tale nature of Moffat’s Who. Bonus materials include the Doctor Who Confidential episode and the Doctor Who At The Proms concert.

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    Leave it to the Japanese to marshal the mighty forces of science and engineering in order to craft a novelty Robotic Chick ($29.99), which cheeps, chirps, flaps its little wings, and even cries when you turn your back. This is what science should be doing, now and forevermore.

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    I am absolutely loving the rapid-fire release schedule of the beautifully remastered high definition seasons of The Twilight Zone (Image, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$99.98 SRP), the latest being the 3rd. While we still haven’t reached Shatner territory, the 3rd season I still packed with legendary episodes, from Bill Mumy’s creepy kid in “It’s A Good Life” to the aliens with a plan in “To Serve Man”. Bonus features are seemingly endless, including audio commentaries, featurettes, isolated music scores, a Liars Club segment with Rod Serling, a Tell It To Groucho clip, and much more.

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    Ignore the bastardized American version and dig into the only iteration worth watching – and the original, natch – with Top Gear 14 (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) & Top Gear 15 (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), which features the complete, unedited 14th & 15 seasons of the only car show I watch despite the fact that I hate cars. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, outtakes, and more.

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    It holds absolutely no interest for me, but I’m sure there are plenty of Michael Jordan fans still lurking about out there who will be keen to pick up the 4-disc, remastered, high definition edition of Ultimate Jordan (Image, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$69.98 SRP), full of highlights, 5 full games, his Hall of Fame induction speech, and more.

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    The fine folks at Mill Creek Entertainment are continuing to release a slew of budget-priced kids titles under their Cookie Jar banner, including Paddington Bear: The Complete Series (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), Sabrina: The Animated Series: Volume 1 (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), Johnny Test: The Complete First & Second Season (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), He-Man: Volume Two (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$9.98 SRP), and Cops: Volume 1 (Mill Creek, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP).

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    Mark my words – in 10 years, Rupert Grint will be one of our finest character actors. Wild Target (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) is one of those small little English films – actually a remake of a French film – that trades on a nice quirkiness and an tight cast, this time anchored by Bill Nighy as an assassin having a bit of a midlife crisis who finds himself falling for his target (Emily Blunt) with an unintentional protégé (Grint) in tow. Bonus materials are limited to a brief interview with Blunt.

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    Another series wrapped, as the second volume of the fourth and final season of The Fugitive (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) hits, bringing the tale of wrongly convicted Dr. Richard Kimble to a close. Will he finally catch the one-armed man and clear his name? YOU’LL HAVE TO SEE! Or just Wikipedia it. Either way. The 4-disc set also contains a brief featurette on the music of composer Dominic Frontiere.

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    Runaway train, never coming back. Wrong way on a one-way track. That could pretty much sum up the remarkable boring runaway train actioner Unstoppable (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which manages to make Denzel Washington and Chris Pine’s attempts to safely stop a runaway train full of deadly toxins into a tedious affair.

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    I have some issues with the picture being painted by Waiting For Superman (Paramount, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), but there’s no denying that it’s quite a stirring portrait of the state of public education in the United States. Bonus materials include a quartet of additional student/teacher stories, an interview with the film’s director, a featurette on the making of the John Legend title track, and more.

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    Hot Toys has been producing some incredible 12″-scale Iron Man collectibles over the past couple of years, featuring ridiculously intricate and incredibly screen-accurate versions of the various armors featured in the films. Straight from Iron Man 2 comes the Iron Man Mark IV ($179.99). Not only do you get a swappable Tony Stark head (with optional sunglasses, natch), but fully light-up chest/eyes/repulsors and base, and swappable hands & panels. Oh, and a box of donuts, for when you’ve had a long night of boozing it up.

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    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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  • Contest Round-Up: 2011-02-18

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every week, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away five (5) copies each of DOCTOR WHO: A CHRISTMAS CAROL on both Blu-Ray & DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DOCTOR WHO: THE MOVIE on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DOCTOR WHO: THE MUTANTS on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies each of TOP GEAR 14 on both DVD & Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies each of TOP GEAR 15 on both DVD & Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with History Channel Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of JEFFERSON on DVD.

    In conjunction with Lionsgate Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of GHOST HOUSE UNDERGROUND’S: STAG NIGHT on DVD.

    In conjunction with Lionsgate Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of GHOST HOUSE UNDERGROUND’S: PSYCH 9 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Rhino Records, we’re giving away three (3) copies of THE VERY BEST OF THE RAT PACK on CD.

    In conjunction with Underground Toys and Thinkgeek, we’re giving away three (3) DOCTOR WHO: 11th DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVERS.

  • Win a DOCTOR WHO: 11th DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVER!

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    In conjunction with Underground Toys and Thinkgeek, we’re giving away three (3) DOCTOR WHO: 11th DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVERS.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 9th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 9th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win DOCTOR WHO: THE MUTANTS on DVD!

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    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DOCTOR WHO: THE MUTANTS on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 9th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 9th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win DOCTOR WHO: THE MOVIE on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DOCTOR WHO: THE MOVIE on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 9th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 9th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win DOCTOR WHO: A CHRISTMAS CAROL on Blu-Ray & DVD!

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    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away five (5) copies each of DOCTOR WHO: A CHRISTMAS CAROL on both Blu-Ray & DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 9th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, March 9th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 2/11/11: Who Now

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    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…)

    The newest clutch of classic Doctor Who releases includes a special edition re-release of the much-requested – and actually pretty decent, despite what you might have heard – 1996 made-for-TV Doctor Who: The Movie (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP), starring Paul McGann in his only outing as the 8th Doctor. Also getting a release is the Jon Pertwee story The Mutants (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP). Both feature audio commentaries and a slew of featurettes, trailers, and more.

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    As a fanboy, you know you’re wont to get just about every doodad iteration of a favorite whatsit in existence, which is why I’m sure you’re likely to pick up the Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver LED Flashlights ($9.99-$12.99), which are flashlight versions of either the 10th or 11th Doctor’s signature multitool.

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    Periodically, the fine folks at Rifftrax gift us with another DVD-based collection of the short subjects that have been available for download over the past few months, which brings us Rifftrax: Order In The Shorts & Rifftrax: Shortstoberfest (Legend, Not Rated, DVD-$9.95 SRP each). Both contain 8 shorts, one of which even features a monkey.

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    Photography buffs will want to pick up Rebel Youth (Rizzoli, $45.00 SRP), which provides an overview and appreciation of the mid-50’s-60’s photography of Karlheinz Weinberger, in which he documented the rough-and-tumble leatherclad youth culture of his native Switzerland. And how can you not pick it up knowing it has an introduction by John Waters?

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    When I saw Paranormal Activity, I didn’t leave the theater thinking “Franchise!”, but that was obviously on the minds of the executives, as we’ve now got Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which introduces a new set of clueless people and adds a baby to the mix. The unrated edition features additional nutty footage.

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    It’s a shame the film doesn’t hang together better, because Middle Men (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) – loosely based on the real-life events around the formation of the internet’s first adult entertainment website – could have played like a carnal version of The Social Network. Instead, leads Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, and Gabriel Macht sort of meander a should-be-more-interesting tale involving sex, lies, and the Russian mob. Bonus features include deleted scenes, outtakes, and a slap montage.

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    Film buffs will probably want to pick up the DVD debut of writer/director Elia Kazan’s epic 1963 immigrant tale America America (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which sports a commentary from historian Foster Hirsch.

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    Yes, it’s been 20 years since the release of Thelma & Louise (MGM/UA, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP), which means we get a brand new special edition, now in high definition. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, the extended ending with optional commentary, deleted/extended scenes, storyboards, and a music video.

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    The Warner Archive collection drops another pair of catalogue titles to their on-demand service, bringing forth the Cliff Robertson/Jane Fonda romcom Sunday In New York (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95) and Gordon Parks’ adaptation of his own novel The Learning Tree (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$19.95).

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    Here’s You Again (Touchstone, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) in a nutshell – a young woman is forced to re-live her traumatic treatment at the hands of a mean girl when said mean girl gets engaged to her brother, which also brings their mothers into conflict (turns out they were rivals, as well!). And Betty White’s there, too! It’s an amiable enough comedy saved largely by the cast, which also features Kristen Bell, Sigourney Weaver, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

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    It seems that I just really don’t like Katherine Heigl, which makes watching her star in the dramedy Life As We Know It (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) – about two quarreling people that must come together for the sake of their baby goddaughter – quite difficult. That it’s a turgid film that never quite knows if it’s a frothy romcom or a drama just adds insult to injury. Bonus materials include featurettes and additional scenes.

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    Thomas Jefferson was not only our 3rd president – He was also a pretty complicated man. You can find out just how complicated in the History Channel documentary Jefferson (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), which presents the man, warts and all.

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    Nickelodeon has done another of their theme releases pulling together episodes from a bunch of their shows, this time celebrating Brothers And Sisters (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP), which contains familial episodes of Dora, Diego, Blue’s Clues, Wonder Pets, and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan.

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    Fans of the 5th Doctor can get an action figure box set commemorating one of his most memorable adventures, Resurrection Of The Daleks (Underground Toys, $59.99 SRP), sporting the Peter Davison Doctor, Davros, a Black Supreme Dalek, and a gray Dalek. Underground Toys continues to release some amazing 7″-inche scale action figure work.

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    Medicom has been steadily expanding their 12″ Real Action Heroes line beyond the standard Star Wars offerings to include much more fan favorite heroes (who can forget last year’s wonderful Rocketeer?). Just added to the line and available from the fine folks at Sideshow is The One Who Lived himself, Harry Potter ($199), in his Half-Blood Prince-era garb/look. Fully articulated and accurately clothed, he also comes with his wand and Firebolt broomstick.

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    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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  • Weekend Shopping Guide 2/4/11: A Very Merry Unbirthday

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    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 can take your high definition Beauty & The Best and Lion King – I’ve been patiently waiting to see Disney do another stem to stern remaster of one of their classic titles, and I’m happy to say that their refurbishment of Alice In Wonderland (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) looks absolutely stunning… I’d even go as far as to say “pristine”. The bonus features – including vintage TV specials, a deleted song, and pencil tests – are carried over from the original DVD release, with the exclusive addition of a Walt Disney introduction to the 1959 TV showing, reference footage introduced by Kathryn Beaumont, and a companion’s guide to Wonderland.

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    So, what if you’re a Doctor Who fans who wants any fannish material you own to be practical, as well? You get the Doctor Who: 11th Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Screwdriver ($19.99), which houses an honest-to-gosh screwdriver within its diecast shell, featuring both phillips and flathead tips. See? Now you can be a DIY nerd.

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    It’s been years since I saw the film – probably since the director’s cut was released on DVD – but I still like Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous (Dreamworks, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP), even if it is too often sugar-coated and cute in its period nostalgia and reverence for the music of the era. The high-def Blu-Ray edition of the aforementioned Director’s Cut has finally been released, but only as a Best Buy exclusive, which features an intro & audio commentary from Crowe, featurettes, a music video, an interview with Lester Bangs, Crowe’s Rolling Stone articles, and more.

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    I found the film itself to be overlong and a bit plodding, but I can find no fault in Jamie Foxx’s performance as the legendary Ray Charles in Ray (Universal, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP), which makes its high definition debut with a special edition featuring all of the bonus materials from the original DVD release, including an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, and an introduction from director Taylor Hackford.

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    Boy, it’s been years since the last season release, but out of the blue comes the complete fourth season of the only helicopter action show of the 80’s, Airwolf (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The 5-disc set contains all 24 episodes.

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    In the past year, the Saturday Night Live: Best Of discs have been getting a refresher release, featuring additional bonus content like outtakes, dress rehearsal sketches, and just plain more regular sketches. The two newest additions to the refresher course are Saturday Night Live: The Best Of John Belushi & Saturday Night Live: The Best Of Chris Farley (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP each).

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    In the 8th volume of MI-5 (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), we find the team off to recover a kidnapped teammate after they thwarted Russia’s planned London attack, but as you might expect, things aren’t quite what they seem. Bonus materials include audio commentaries and a pair of featurettes.

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    While Warners has been a clear forerunner in releasing beautiful high definition special editions of their catalogue classics, but other studios are catching up, and Fox has done so with a pair of very nice releases in An Affair To Remember and All About Eve (Fox, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP each). Both films look and sound great, and both feature audio commentaries and a clutch of featurettes and documentaries.

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    Warner’s Archive Collection dips into the vaults and pulls up a collection that just so happens to coincide with the 100th birthday of its star, Ronald Reagan – the Brass Bancroft of the Secret Service Mysteries Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, $19.95), which contains a quartet of B-movies wherein Reagan’s Agent Bancroft thwarts spies and smugglers.

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    I’m not a fan or horror films, but I did enjoy the almost sublime terror that builds up within the vampire flick Let Me In (Anchor Bay, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which is due almost entirely to the performance of the preternatural Chloe Moretz (last seen in Kick Ass). Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, and galleries.

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    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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  • Weekend Shopping Guide 1/28/11: The Full Bull

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    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’s been a quite a few years, but fans of moose & squirrel can now get all 59 hours of Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends (Classic Media, Not Rated, DVD-$99.99 SRP) in one massive box set, featuring all 163 episodes, bonus clips, a nice book, and even a special “Loyal Viewer” award. That’s right – you can spend the next couple of days watching all 163 episodes. In one sitting. You must. Boris & Natasha command it.

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    Those geek-friendly folks at Underground Toys have expanded their electronic Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver line to include the spirally sonic employed by the 3rd Doctor, Jon Pertwee. You can get your very own electronic 3rd Doctor Sonic Screwdriver ($26.99) from our good friends at Thinkgeek.

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    There have been plenty of films exploring the early days of The Beatles, but what sets Nowhere Boy (Sony, Rated R, DVD-$28.95 SRP) apart is Aaron Johnson’s performance as the teenage Lennon, in a story about John’s confused home life and, of course, the formation of the band. Bonus materials includes deleted scenes and a pair of featurettes.

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    Some may dismiss it, and it certainly falls on the cusp of the age of lesser Spielberg, but I’ve always been a fan of The Color Purple (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP), so I was looking forward to seeing it in this new high definition release. The picture and sound are superb, while the bonus features carry over from the DVD special edition of a few years back, with a retrospective documentary, featurettes, and a look at the musical.

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    It’s not the classic Disney series, but there are still plenty of fans who came back for the much more recent television exploits of Don Diego de la Vega’s masked exploits, now available in Zorro: The Complete Series (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$99.95 SRP)which collects all 5 seasons from the early 90’s, plus a bonus disc w/ Douglas Fairbanks in the silent Mark Of Zorro, chapter 1 of the 1939 theatrical serial, trailers, and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

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    If you have the high-end technology, you can watch The Universe: 7 Wonders Of The Solar System (History Channel, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP) in 3-D. If you don’t, you can watch in regular high definition, sans all of the cool celestial objects floating in front of your face.

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    I love Criterion for its consistent release of quirky little cult films – You know, films like Byron Haskin’s Robinson Crusoe On Mars (Criterion, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), which has been given a full high definition remastering. Added to this tale of a US astronaut stranded on Mars with nothing but a pet monkey to keep him company comes a ton of bonus features, including an audio commentary, a featurette, a music video, a stills gallery, and the theatrical trailer.

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    I think we both know that the title is a lie, and in no way will Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (Lionsgate, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP) be the end of this lucrative gorefest, so dip into this 3D edition (you know, for those of you who love body parts flying out from your expensive TV in the privacy of your own living room) safe in the knowledge there will be more to come. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and featurettes.

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    We’ve reached the halfway point of the season, which means those marketing mavens looking for a quick buck at Fox are leasing Glee: Season 2 Volume 1 (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), containing the first half of the current season, plus a jukebox, a making of the awful Rocky Horror episode, the Comic-Con panel, and more.

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    It seems Disney has carved out a niche for soft-focus inspirational sports movies in recent years, and you can add the tale of the legendary racehorse Secretariat (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) to that list, starring John Malkovich and Diane Lane. Sadly, at no point does Secretariat dance. There are, however, featurettes, deleted scenes, and an audio commentary.

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    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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  • Contest Round-Up: 2011-01-28

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every week, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of MI-5: VOLUME 8 on DVD.

    In conjunction with A&E Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of ZORRO: THE COMPLETE SERIES on DVD.

    In conjunction with Lionsgate Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of SAW: THE FINAL CHAPTER on Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with Underground Toys and Thinkgeek, we’re giving away two (2) DOCTOR WHO: 10th DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVERS.

  • Win a DOCTOR WHO: 10th DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVER!

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    In conjunction with Underground Toys and Thinkgeek, we’re giving away two (2) DOCTOR WHO: 10th DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVERS.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, February 9th.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, February 9th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 1/21/11: I’m The Doctor

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    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…)

    We’re still a season behind the broadcast episodes, but we’ve finally got the 3rd season of The Sarah Jane Adventures (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which includes the last recorded scenes with David Tennant as the Doctor in a nice little 2-part story that reunites him with his former companion. Bonus materials are limited to an audio book excerpt.

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    New to Who? Get a handle on the ins and outs of the Doctor’s universe with Doctor Who: The Visual Dictionary ($24.99), which is filled with loads of pics and information on everything from the Time Lords to the TARDIS. Did I mention all the pretty pictures?

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    No one was really clamoring for it, but it’s nice that Ving Rhames got work out of Death Race 2 (Universal, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP). Other than that, it’s an exact duplicate of the first, only with a “2” after the title this time. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and featurettes.

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    Denis Leary rounded up a few of his friends to raise money for the Leary Firefighters Foundation, with the resultant special being Denis Leary & Friends Present Douchebags & Donuts (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP), with the friends being Lenny Clarke, Whitney Cummings, and Adam Ferrara. Bonus materials include additional music performances and featurettes.

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    After a long absence from TV screens, the orange cat with the pasta fixation returns with a brand new series, and the first DVD is here – The Garfield Show: All You Need Is Love And Pasta (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$14.93 SRP), featuring six episodes plus a clutch of shorts.

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    I wasn’t terribly impressed with the first season, but there was certainly enough of a positive response to garner a second season for the BBC’s Merlin (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.98 SRP), in which our young wizard hones his skills, fights off monsters, and tries to protect the headstrong young Prince Arthur while avoiding discovery and prosecution under King Uther’s laws against magic. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, an introduction, featurettes, and a gallery.

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    It was an attempt to emulate the recent success of The X-Files, but the alien conspiracy series Dark Skies (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$44.99 SRP) only managed to squeak out a single season before being consigned to the history books. Well, now you can watch the whole run in a set packed with commentaries, featurettes, promos, and more.

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    It’s taken years to get here, but we’ve finally reached the release of the 14th and final season of Dallas (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), which includes the feature-length finale which finds J.R. discovering what everyone’s lives would have been like without him, with surprising results.

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    After years of waiting, Fox has finally wrapped up the release of Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) with the second volume of season 4, containing 13 episodes plus the unaired pilot and the broadcast pilot (complete with original commercials).

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    Underground Toys has been releasing the Doctor Who toys here in the US over the past year, increasing their offerings as the show has really begun to take hold during the Matt Smith/11th Doctor era. I’ve combined the ultimate one-two punch of their offerings – the Entertainment Earth exclusive Eleven Doctors Figure Set ($99.99), which contains figures of all 11 Doctors in a TARDIS box, and the absolutely massive TARDIS playset ($69.95 SRP), which is based on the look of the set from the 11th Doctor era and features multiple levels all focused around the elaborate command console.

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    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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  • Contest Round-Up: 2011-01-21

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every week, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of MERLIN: SEASON 2 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Thinkgeek, we’re giving away three (3) DOCTOR WHO: TARDIS TALKING COOKIE JARS.

    In conjunction with Underground Toys and Thinkgeek, we’re giving away seven (7) DOCTOR WHO: 3rd DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVERS.

  • Win a DOCTOR WHO: 3rd DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVER!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with Underground Toys and Thinkgeek, we’re giving away seven (7) DOCTOR WHO: 3rd DOCTOR SONIC SCREWDRIVERS.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, February 2nd.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, February 2nd.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win a DOCTOR WHO: TARDIS TALKING COOKIE JAR from Thinkgeek!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with Thinkgeek, we’re giving away three (3) DOCTOR WHO: TARDIS TALKING COOKIE JARS.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, February 2nd.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, February 2nd.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 1/14/11: Lucky Louis

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    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…)

    Louis CK proves yet again why he’s one of the finest practitioners of stand-up today with Hilarious (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP), a feature-length exploration of life after 40, newly-divorced with a pair of young daughters, in a world of increasing frustration. Get this disc. Get it now.

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    I love desktop gadgets, if only because they provide a welcome – and inherently evil – distraction from actually getting down to the mounds of work at hand. So imagine my delight when I learned I could get a desktop item that not only provides a visual lure, but also a geeky one? That’s what you get with the Doctor Who Levitating TARDIS ($34.99), which features a tiny floating TARDIS (the magic being the battery powered magnets in the stand). Spin it and watch it go round and round and round and round, and realize that you’re traveling forward in time… with no work getting done whatsoever.

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    I don’t think it’s his best, but there’s no denying the brutal power of Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull (MGM/UA, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), a lot of which is conveyed by its amazing cinematography. That’s what benefits the most from the new high definition special edition, with every spot of black blood brutally crisp. New bonus materials include audio commentaries, a clutch of featurettes, a feature-length documentary, newsreel footage, a shot-by-shot comparison of the real fight to the film’s version, and Cathy Moriarty’s appearance on The Tonight Show.

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    Whoever thought to assemble a Rat Pack of female television comedy greats – Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick & Betty White – into a sitcom of their own should be given a promotion. In the meantime, you can pick up the complete first season of Hot In Cleveland (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP) and see for yourself. Bonus materials include the original pilot, featurettes, and bloopers.

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    Sergio Leone’s epic Once Upon A Time In America (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) makes its long-awaited high definition debut, and the wait will vanish from your mind as soon as you lay eyes on this truly stunning transfer of a film that has to be seen by anyone in the least bit interested in cinema. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, the theatrical trailer, and an excerpt from the documentary Once Upon A Time: Sergio Leone.

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    Some doubted it would ever happen, but they were all proven wrong when Futurama (Fox, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) returned to the airwaves with 13 brand new episodes, all of which are contained in this 5th Volume set, complete with audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

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    The new year brings a pair of new classic Doctor Who releases from the seemingly bottomless catalogue, this time reaching all the way back to Patrick Troughton’s Doctor for The Dominators (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) and then on to Tom Baker for Meglos (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP). Bonus features are the usual complement of commentaries, featurettes, interviews, and more.

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    Of all the companies with deep TV catalogues, Paramount/CBS has been the most consistent in releasing their titles, often sticking by and finishing runs while other companies left theirs by the wayside. All this is to say they’ve released another clutch of deep catalogue titles, including Vegas: The Second Season Volume 1 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$36.98 SRP), Hawaii Five-O: Season 10 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$54.99 SRP), Gunsmoke: Season 4 Volume 2 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP), The Lucy Show: Season 3 (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) – which is loaded with a bonus documentary, clips & commercials – and The Andy Griffith Show: 50th Anniversary (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), which includes 17 classic episodes plus the Danny Thomas Show episode that acted as a pilot and the TV movie Return To Mayberry.

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    Continuing to fulfill its remit to release deep catalogue titles sure to make cinephiles happy, the Warner Archive just dropped Two-Faced Woman (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95), a romantic comedy which is also the last film of the great Greta Garbo.

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    The further we get away from it and the more I try and revisit it over the years, I find myself less and less impressed with Kevin Costner’s Oscar-winning Dances With Wolves (MGM/UA, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), which plays as being far too impressed with itself and its own perceived greatness. Still, it looks nice, and it looks even better in high definition. The new special edition contains audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, and a retrospective documentary.

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    As cringeworthy as both the original Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm could be, the comedic situations of Peep Show (Channel 4, Not Rated, DVD-£19.99 SRP) easily trump them both in sheer awkwardness. Don’t believe me? Watch the Christmas dinner episode of series 7. So delightfully sour.

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    Another in The History Channel’s long line of “historical” series that have only the slightest of historical content to justify their claim that there’s historical content, Top Shot (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$34.95 SRP) drops a team of marksmen into challenges based on “historical” feats, from gunfights to sniper missions. The 4-disc set contains the entire first season, plus additional footage and interviews.

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    I admit, after the departure of the original cast, my interest has declined from season to season of Skins (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), as the current batch of actors and storylines in season 4 just don’t seem to have the same freshness. Shame, really, as the show continues to use great guest stars. The 3-disc set contains audio commentaries, featurettes, interviews, and trailers.

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    Ostensibly launched as a way of highlighting positive news stories, Russell Howard’s Good News (Channel 4, Not Rated, DVD-£19.99 SRP) is really just a nice excuse to collect funny clips from the news and the internet and provide a pleasant vehicle for comedian Russell Howard. This best-of collection also sports the unaired pilot, deleted scenes, audio commentary, and a featurette.

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    Sadly, the massive Looney Tunes: Golden Collections are a thing of the past, which leaves us with single disc releases Looney Tunes Super Stars: Foghorn Leghorn & Friends & Looney Tunes Super Stars: Tweety & Sylvester (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP each) the only releases of classic Warner cartoons, but at least we can take solace that these contain cartoons previously unavailable.

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    We’re nearly at the end with the release of the penultimate fourteenth season of ER (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), in which the staff of County General starts to remember some of the ghosts – of both patients and staff – that are still lingering around in a place which has had such a long history. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, a Paley Q&A for the 300th episode, and a gag reel.

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    The comedy talent may be plentiful, but the quality of the sketches are just as scattershot as your average episode of Saturday Night Live in the first season of Funny Or Die Presents (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which plays as the collection of web shorts it really is.

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    Originally released on DVD nearly a decade ago, the epic TV miniseries Shogun (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$79.99 SRP) – starring Richard Chamberlain as a stranded English navigator who finds himself swept up into feudal conflict in 17th century Japan – has been fully refreshed both visually and aurally, and loaded with a select scene commentary by director Jerry London, a multi-part making-of documentary, and a trio of historical featurettes.

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    If you can get past some of their garbage shows about aliens and the end of the world, History does still manages to put out some real gems that should be seen, including the 5th season of their astronomical wonderfest, The Universe (History Channel, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), which is best seen in high-def.

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    As it stars both Patrick Warburton and David Spade, I always hope that Rules Of Engagement (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP) will be a better sitcom than it actually is – Which, granted, is my problem, not theirs. I just wish the material lived up to the performer’s ability. The fourth season set contains all 13 episodes.

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    While The Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP) is exactly the kind of mildly entertaining ranch fest we’ve come to expect from these outings, it’s a bittersweet affair as it features the last recorded appearance of a great comic (and truly nice guy), Greg Giraldo. Bonus materials include featurettes and interviews.

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    Sadly, Yogi’s Great Escape (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.95) was one of the low-budget, haphazard TV movies that Hanna-Barbera produced starring their classic characters, and looks and feels every bit its cheapness. But hey, at least The Warner Archive has allowed completists and the curious to get it.

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    Ben 10 has moved beyond Alien Force with the first volume of Ben 10: Ultimate Alien – Escape From Aggregor (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which sports 10 episodes plus a look at the making of the video game.

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    I’ve long been a fan of the animated maquettes being produced by the fine folks at Electric Tiki, which are distributed by the equally fine folks at Sideshow Collectibles. When they got the Disney license a few years back, I was quite excited to see exactly whet characters they’d tackle, and so far I haven’t been disappointed. Case in point is their beautifully sculpted Roger Rabbit ($124.99), which features a swappable hand holding either a balloon or a hot dog on a stick. You know you want to get this.

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    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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  • Contest Round-Up: 2011-01-14

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every week, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!

    In conjunction with Scribner, we’re giving away three (3) copies of Patton Oswalt’s ZOMBIE SPACESHIP WASTELAND.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of DOCTOR WHO: MEGLOS on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of DOCTOR WHO: THE DOMINATORS on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES: SEASON 3 on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of SKINS: VOLUME 4 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Nickelodeon Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of iCARLY SEASON 2: VOLUME 2 on DVD.

    In conjunction with History Channel Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of THE UNIVERSE: SEASON 5 on Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with History Channel Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of TOP SHOT: SEASON 1 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Cartoon Network Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of BEN 10 ULTIMATE ALIEN: VOLUME 1 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Thinkgeek, we’re giving away five (5) STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE PIZZA CUTTERS.