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…)
Not content with the arrival of a single much-requested title that would delight cinema aficionados no end, Universal has dipped into their vault for a double header of film noir classics with the high definition debut of both Touch Of Evil and Double Indemnity (Universal, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP each). First and foremost, both look truly stunning, certainly justifying their long absence from Blu-Ray. To add a cherry on top, both are packed with bonus materials, including featurettes, multiple commentaries, and more. So rejoice!
It’s easy to become a bit jaded by the releases from Hot Toys. One after another, they’re consistently amazing in everything from costuming to their eerily lifelike head sculpts and paint jobs. Ah, but then they go and unveil a truly stellar pair of figures that hit ya right in the nostalgic feels like Batman (Sideshow, $204.99) & Robin (Sideshow, $189.99) from the 1966 Batman TV series. Without a doubt, this is Adam West and Burt Ward as the caped crusader and his trusty sidekick, both garbed perfectly in their striking costumes that pop with all of the color that so exemplified that classic iteration. As this is Hot Toys, there are also a clutch of extras, which include a trio of swappable expressions for Batman, shark repellant, a giant bomb, batarangs, plenty of hands, and more. Get these guys while you can, because you’ll regret it if you don’t. Ya hear me? REGRET.
I still find her continued adherence to the Catholic faith incomprehensible in light of the emotional atrocity committed against her, but the tale and the performances (from Judi Dench and Steve Coogan) that bring the actual events to life in Philomena (Weinstein Company, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) make watching the film a worthwhile experience. That so many unwed mothers had their children forcibly removed by the Church is an unforgivable crime, and presenting the story framed by the comically prickly Coogan as journalist Martin Sixmith accompanying Dench’s Philomena on a journey to find her now-adult son is the spoonful of sugar necessary for this bit of strong medicine. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and interviews.
It’s sadly lacking in any bonus features whatsoever – usually a highlight of the BBC’s Who releases – but the fact that we have all but one of the formerly missing episodes after nearly 50 years is reason enough to pick up Doctor Who: The Web Of Fear (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), featuring Patrick Troughton’s 2nd Doctor up against the Great Intelligence and his fearsome Yeti.
The fine folks at Rifftrax dig into their very first blaxploitation film with Rifftrax: The Guy From Harlem (Rifftrax, Not Rated, DVD-$9.95), and the results are every bit as satisfyingly hilarious as you’d expect with a tale about a sensitive gangster locked in middling action and sexual situations. A real firecracker, that guy, but perfect riffing fodder.
While it’s a marked improvement over the lackluster seasons that came before it, the fourth season of Enterprise (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$129.99 SRP) does little to change my opinion of the show as a flawed beast improperly conceived and poorly executed, the fourth and final high definition release carries on the remarkable precedent set by the previous releases of containing fascinating and must-see in their candor bonus materials. So while it’s fine to have the episodes themselves of new showrunner Manny Coto’s valiant attempt to salvage a sinking ship, the true reason to pick this set up is for the feature-length documentaries that explore the show’s demise and also reunites the writing staff.
Considering the delightfully escapist Thurber story it’s based on, Ben Stiller’s take on The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (Fox, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) feels frustratingly inert, never seeming to reach the daydreamy, wish fulfillment quality it needs to click. Which is a true shame. Bonus materials include extended/alternate scenes, featurettes, a music video, and more.
It seems we haven’t gotten a full season set in ages, but there are still enough new episodes for another single-disc DVD collection – So we get Spongebob Squarepants: Spongebob, You’re Fired (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), collecting 14 adventures (including the titular tale).
Yes, you’ll laugh at Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed (Comedy Central, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$9.00 SRP). Because it’s Jim Gaffigan. And he’s funny. And this special is funny. So get it. And laugh. Just LAUGH. A lot. Okay?
They’re not quite Godzilla quality, but there’s a charm to be found in the turtle meat-filled Gamera: Volume 1 & Gamera: Volume 2 (Mill Creek, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP each), which brings together 8 of the Gamera flicks in high definition. And then watch the Mystery Science Theater 3000 versions via Shout Factory’s recent box set while you’re at it.
The BBC does some of the finest nature documentaries around, and they’ve just dropped a whole clutch of beauty-filled discs – a one-two punch of the ursine persuasion in Extreme Bears (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP) and The Bear Family & Me (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), and another double header of the avian variety in Winged Planet (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) and Earth Flight (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP).
Yeah, casting Helena Bonham Carter as the bitter spinster Miss Havisham was a brilliant move in Mike Newell’s pretty decent adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$22.98 SRP). Also having Ralph Fiennes and Robbie Coltrane on hand is also a plus. Bonus materials include a featurette and a trailer.
Though Jack the Ripper may be gone, his memory still casts a long shadow for Inspector Reid and the residents of Whitechapel in the second season of Ripper Street (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP). Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette.
Even if you have the previously release Ultimate Collection, if you’re a fan of Carol Burnett and her eponymous show, you’ll definitely want to pick up The Carol Burnett Show: Carol’s Crack Ups (StarVista, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP), which features 17 new unedited episodes plus over 2 hours of bonus features across 6 discs.
An Angry Birds cartoon? Sure. Why not. And honestly, the 90+ minutes of Angry Birds Toons (Sony, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$26.99 SRP) found on their second volume are actually pretty enjoyable, and will certainly appeal to fans of the franchise. And they look gorgeous… But that’s what having a ton of money to spend will get you. Bonus materials include featurettes and an Easter special.
Fox expands their MOD Cinema Classics slate with a quartet of brand new releases from their immense vaults – Esther And The King, I’d Climb The Highest Mountain, The Gay Deception, and Bachelor Flat (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP each). All are sadly featureless, but at least they’re available.
Diamond Select continues to provide nerds with cool products they never even knew they wanted, but once they see them, simply must have. Case in point? The visceral, “Yeah. That’s cool. LOVE.” reaction I had to their Godzilla 1989 Bank (Diamond Select Toys, $34.99 SRP). Standing over a foot tall and perfectly sculpted, this vinyl monster is pure pop perfection.
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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