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…
(Also, please support Quick Stop by using the links below to make any impulse purchases – it helps to keep us going…)
You only have to view the unedited, unadulterated, original episodes of the UK’s Top Gear to understand why the idea of making an “American edition” and jettisoning hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond is such a pig-ignorant idea. For one, it’s their interplay that makes the show – not the car talk. Secondly, it’s foolish to think it doesn’t translate to the US in its original form – because it does. Which is all to say that I highly recommend you pick up Top Gear 10: The Complete 10th Season (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) and see my case being made before your eyes.
Sometimes, life is about the simple pleasures. Sometimes, those simple pleasures have been shrunk down and conveniently made USB-powered. Such is the case with the USB Plasma Ball ($12.99), which is 6″ of Tesla-crafted joy. Stare into it, and you’ll swear you actually see… A plasma ball. A really, really cool plasma ball.
DC continues to deliver top-notch collections of the post-Marvel work Jack Kirby did for the company in the 70’s with the release of his ragtag group of war heroes fighting at the height of World War II, The Losers (DC Comics, $39.99 SRP). When it comes to archive editions, DC is the company setting the bar.
Unlike most of Ron Howard’s filmic output, which often suffers from being uninspired and drab, I thought his adaptation of (Universal, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP) succeeded in translating the energy and performances that made the stage version such a success to the big screen. Maybe that’s because it takes a lot of effort to stamp out the skill that Michael Sheen and Frank Langella bring to their performances as David Frost and the disgraced but defiant Richard Nixon. Bonus features include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, a look at the Nixon Library, and footage from the actual Frost/Nixon interviews. A Frost/NixonBlu-Ray edition ($39.98 SRP) is also available, with additional footage of the original interviews and background information.
If you were to take the wonderfully candid wrestling documentary Beyond The Mat and fictionalize it, you’d have the story of broken down wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a former superstar up against the ropes in The Wrestler (Fox, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP). Physical and emotional pain etched across his haggard face, Mickey Rourke turns in a stunning performance as a guy who feels he’s gotten one more good match left in him, both inside and outside the ring. Bonus materials include a documentary spotlighting actual wrestlers, a roundtable discussion with same, and a Bruce Springsteen music video. A Blu-Ray edition ($39.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.
Although the bulk of it doesn’t really hold up (the 90’s references shoveled throughout certainly make it less than timeless), I still have some affection for the episodes featured in Tiny Toon Adventures: Season 1 Volume 2 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP). Of special note, however, is that this set does contain the still-wonderful music videos episode, which featured many kids’ first introduction to the work of They Might Be Giants.
The second season of the ADD Freakazoid (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP) hits DVD, with all 11 episodes spread across two discs. Bonus features include commentaries, a featurette, and an archival tape of composer Richard Stone at work.
Ian McKellen is truly incredible in the recent RSC production of King Lear (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) – so much so that I’d say it’s a must see. So get it and do so. The disc also contains a bonus interview with McKellen.
Yes, I admit it – I watch iCarly (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). Don’t get me wrong – I don’t watch it of my own volition. I watch it alongside my nephew, as its often sandwiched between episodes of Spongebob. And as kiddie fare go, it’s a decent show – funny and well-acted. So there. The second volume of the show’s first season contains 12 episodes and behind-the-scenes featurettes.
Peter Bogdanovich fans can get not only the director’s cut of his Last Picture Show, but also the new-to-DVD release of Nickelodeon in a two-disc Director’s Choice: Nickelodeon/The Last Picture Show double feature (Sony, Rated PG/R, DVD-$24.96 SRP). Bonus features include commentaries on both films, plus interviews & featurettes on Picture Show.
I’m no fan of rap and only marginally aware of the various rifts within its community, but I found Notorious (Fox, Rated R, DVD-$34.98 SRP) – about the life of The Notorious B.I.G. – to be a fascinating watch simply for the wonderful young actor filling the title role, Jamal Woolard. Bonus features include audio commentaries, making-of featurettes, concert footage, and deleted scenes. A Blu-Ray edition ($39.99 SRP) is also available with identical bonus materials.
I thought Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller’s adaptation of Miller’s Sin City (Miramax, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) was fine for what it was, but its slavish visual adherence to the original art grew tiresome after a bit, and the gimmick became more important than the characters or the story itself. Shame, really, because what could have been an interesting piece of neo-noir has instead become this generation’s Dick Tracy. The new Blu-Ray edition treats those gimmicky visuals nicely, and ports over the bonus materials from the standard DVD, plus an additional exclusive Cine-Explore feature.
Having moved on from saving the planet, Elmo is back to promote literacy with Sesame Street: Elmo And The Bookaneers (Genius, Not Rated, DVD-$14.93 SRP), about pirates who love to read. What’s more important, though, is its special guest – Tina Fey. Yes… Tina Fey.
If you’ve been anxiously awaiting the return of hillbilly squids, then you’re prayers are answered with the arrival of Squidbillies: Volume 2 (Adult Swim, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP). The 2-disc set features 20 episodes, plus oodles of bonus materials including featurettes, art, music, and more.
Ewing Oil was left a shambles at the end of season 10, but the eleventh season of Dallas (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) finds J.R. down but certainly not out, as he claws his way back from disaster, even if it means stepping on a few people along the way. The 3-disc set contains all 30 episodes.
If the leaked Wolverine workprint hasn’t extinguished your enthusiasm for all things hairy mutant, also being released is the animated Wolverine & The X-Men: Heroes Return Trilogy (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), I’m not entirely sure I understand the story they’re trying to tell, but the animation and character design is decent (even though the supposed-to-be-short Wolverine is now about 6’4). Bonus features include commentaries and behind-the-scenes featurettes.
We’ve made it to the halfway mark with the release of Hawaii Five-O‘s sixth season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP). Steve Garrett and his crack team are back on the sunny streets of the Pacific jewel in this 6-disc set, featuring all 24 episodes plus the original promos.
The Stuart Little animated series is an innocuous, affable affair that managed to hold my nephews’ attention (no small feat). Two volumes are now available – A Little Family Fun! & Going For The Gold! (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$12.99 SRP each). Each disc contains a quartet of adventures.
The rich socialites of Knots Landing return for the complete second season (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), which features a very special visit from not only Bobby Ewing, but J.R. himself. The 4-disc set features all 18 episodes.
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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