I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
In this episode, I have a chat with comedian/musician Paul Williams, about Taskmaster, New Zealand, music, albums, Nelson rivalries, musicals, comedy, audiences, process, travel verses, airport residency, task dangers, writing, breaking codes, jealousy, brotherly love, Taika Waititi cuts, Bond musicals, Alex Horne’s blessings, Prime friends, Surf dancing, unfinished films, cookies, praising BJ’s, homemade Pizookies, roadtripping, Disney parks, Kiwi Burgers, a Rose Matafeo challenge, and more.
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 even a guilty pleasure, I am utterly delighted that Brian de Palma’s quirky glam rock epic Phantom Of The Paradise (Shout Factory, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.93 SRP) has made its high definition debut in a special edition befitting its oddball genius. Did I mention that all of the tunes are by the mighty Paul Williams, at the top of his power as a songwriter? Well, there you go. Sold. Bonus materials include a new audio commentary, interviews, alternate takes, a song outtake, the theatrical trailer, TV & radio spots, and a still gallery.
If there’s one thing that the folks at Sideshow and Hot Toys prove again and again, it’s that you can’t have too many of a given character, whether it be 50 different armor variations of Iron Man, or the now half-dozen variations of The First Avenger, Captain America. The reason they get away with it, and why fans continue to snap them up, is because they continue to look absolutely fantastic. Case in point is the Golden Age Captain America from The Winter Soldier (Sideshow Collectibles, $209.99), which is essentially a variant of the WWII era outfit featured in the first film, improving and streamlining various design elements, most noticeably the welcome addition of the central read stripe on the front of his costume (yes, these kind of things matter). It may not be loaded with accessories outside of his shield and some additional hands, but hey – that’s enough for me.
It is with remarkable speed and wondrous diligence that the fine folks at Shout Factory have continued their clockwork releases of classic MST3K on DVD, which means we’re already to Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXX (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$59.97 SRP). That’s right – We’ve actually gotten 30 4-episode volumes of riffing, with the latest containing the final 1st season episode The Black Scorpion, the 5th season episode Outlaw, the 9th season episode The Projected Man, and the 10th season episode It Lives By Night. Bonus materials include a special preview of Trace Beaulieu’s forthcoming short film The Frank and a clutch of featurettes.
Considering they had to deal with two major cast departures, a major new addition to the cast, plus re-piloting the premise all while bringing show creator Dan Harmon back to the fold for a truncated half-season, it’s no terrible surprise that the fifth season of Community (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$35.99 SRP) is an uneven ride. By the end of its 13 episodes, it feels like everyone involved have got their sea legs back, which should make the 6th season on Yahoo a more sure-footed affair. On the bonus feature front, there’s a great little featurette on the animated GI Joe episode, outtakes, and a brilliant documentary looking at the writing process of the D&D episode and the fallout of said process.
Some elements of the film haven’t aged quite so well, but the directorial debut of screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, The Big Chill (Criterion, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP) still packs a powerful emotional punch, as a group of old friends coming together after years apart will always resonate. The new Criterion edition features a new high definition transfer, a new cast reunion, a new interview with Kasdan, a 1998 making-of documentary, deleted scenes, a trailer, and the usual quite fine Criterion essay booklet.
The fine folks over at Warner Bros. have put together another of their fantastic themed film collections, this time providing a nice 6-film overview to an Academy Award-winning legend with the Grace Kelly Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$34.96 SRP), featuring To Catch A Thief, The Country Girl, The Bridges At Toko-Ri, Dial M For Murder, High Society, and Mogambo, plus the exclusive documentary Princess Grace De Monaco: A Moment In Time. Brilliant.
Like cars? Like cars going really fast? Like Aaron Paul? Don’t need much else from a film? Then Need For Speed (Touchstone, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is the fast car film starring Aaron Paul for you, as Aaron Paul drives cars fast throughout. Bonus materials include an audio commentary , deleted scenes, and featurettes.
Off most people’s radar thanks to the overwhelming nature of Pixar and Dreamworks, Fox’s Rio 2 (Fox, Rated G, 3D Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP) proves to be a charming continuation of a surprisingly appealing debut, as Blu & Jewel take their three kids on a journey down the Amazon. Bonus materials include featurettes, a deleted scene, and a music video.
As disaster porn goes, Darren Aronofsky’s ponderous biblical ballyhoo Noah (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) ranks right up there with the works of Roland Emmerich, with its equal balance between farcical heavy-handedness and memorably over-the-top visuals. Beyond that, it’s really not much to hang your hat on, but is perfect viewing for a lazy summer evening. Bonus materials include a trio of featurettes.
Jude Law as a short-fused safecracker out to collect on a debt after a stint in prison is what makes Dom Hemingway (Fox, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$27.98 SRP) and enjoyably cracking affair that has quite a bit of the same verve as Sexy Beast. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, interviews, and featurettes.
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 certainly seems to take quite a long time between Disney’s high definition releases from their animation catalogue, but when you look at the stunning, absolutely pristine restoration done for the new release of Peter Pan (Walt Disney, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$44.99 SRP), the wait makes perfect sense, because this film has never – NEVER – looked better than it does here. In addition to all of the bonus materials from the previous DVD release, the Blu-Ray ups the ante with a pair of deleted songs (“Never Smile At A Crocodile” is a wonderful earworm), a pair of deleted sequences (presented in storyboard form), featurettes, and even an introduction from Diane Disney Miller. Brilliant, and a must-get.
As I am terribly old and can remember playing the original Legend Of Zelda on my original NES system when it was a new release before battling the ferociously difficult Zelda II and immersing myself for days into A Link To The Past, the arrival of the massively geeky The Legend Of Zelda: Hyrule Historia (Dark Horse, $34.98 SRP) is a cause for celebration. Collecting creator interviews, information, production artwork, and even an official timeline of the series, it’s everything a Zelda fan could hope for in one tome, made even more special via the limited edition being stocked by the fine folks at Thinkgeek, which presents the book with a faux-leather cover that would not look out of place in any of the games.
Eugene Mirman may not be a national treasure now, but he deserves to be. Or, at the very least, a fami9liar face to a much wider audience, which would certainly be the case if you gave a copy of his special Eugene Mirman: An Evening Of Comedy In A Fake Underground Laboratory (Comedy Central, Not Rated, CD/DVD-$ SRP). Because it’s very, very funny.
From the first time I heard “Rainbow Connection” as a small child, I had an affinity for the songs of Paul Williams. As I got older, I would hear his music all over the place, usually in the form of immensely successful interpretations by some of the most popular artists of the day, as well as seeing him in films and on TV. And I liked him there, too. Come to find out, I’m not alone in liking Paul Williams, as filmmaker Stephen Kessler shared the same love and decided to make a film about him called Paul Williams: Still Alive (Virgil Films, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.99 SRP). Give it a spin. Tis brill.
For more years than I can recall, the amiable scholars at Twomorrows have been publishing a wide range of magazine and books chronicling every nook and cranny of the comics, creators, characters, and companies fans know and love. They’ve now taken that love and scholarly approach to the next logical step, by launching a must-have document of four-color history in the American Comic Book Chronicles (Twomorrows, $39.95 SRP), which will eventually chart from 1940 to today. The debut volume, The 1960’s: 1960-1964, looks at the origins of the Silver Age, from its launch at DC to its true blossoming in the halls of the newly-rechristened Marvel Comics. Get this book, then star setting aside shelf space for the rest – which can’t come fast enough.
It had a built-in expiration, but that – and a cast that includes the great Hugh Bonneville & Jessica Stevenson – is what makes the comedy series Twenty Twelve (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP) so great. Imagine The Thick Of It, but focused on the planning committee for the London Olympics, and you know exactly what you get from this gem.
Bit by bit, Criterion is revisiting its deep library of world cinema greats and giving them full-blown high-def audio/visual upgrades that make them a must to repurchase. The latest is Volker Schlondorff’s adaptation of Gunter Grass’s acclaimed satire The Tin Drum (Criterion, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), about a highly intelligent boy who refuses to grow older past his third birthday as the world crumbles into the folly of a world war around him. Bonus materials include new interviews, featurettes, Grass reading experts from the novel, and more.
The wait is over, as you can now watch the entirety of the Gotham crusader’s last stand now that Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: Part 2 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) has hit. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes, 3 bonus cartoons, and a preview of Superman: Unbound.
Surprisingly, there’s nothing cloying about Celeste And Jesse Forever (Sony, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP), about separated couple (Rashida Jones & Andy Samberg) on the path of divorce who also happen to be the best of friends. But just as they begin to re-assess what they really mean to each other, a wrench is thrown into the works. There’s actually a strong genuine streak to the whole affair too often missing from traditional “romcoms”. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and featurettes.
Fox inaugurates their 2013 Studio Classics catalogue initiative with a trio of titles that certainly fit the bill – Wild River, How Green Was My Valley, & Gentleman’s Agreement (Fox, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP each). All are beautifully restored, with bonus features including audio commentaries, featurettes, trailers, and more.
I have to say, Flight (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is the first enjoyable Robert Zemeckis film in years. It’s like he’s woken from a vegetative state, returning with a tight drama about a drunken, drugged-out airline pilot (Denzel Washington) who manages to perform a heroic landing after an equipment failure, and the awkward situation that comes from it. I could have done without the tacky, heavy-handed religious angle, but the rest of it makes up for it. Bonus materials include a clutch of featurettes and a Q&A.
Fancy a bit of a starry nosh this weekend? Then look no further than the Dead Celebrity Cookbook (HCI, $19.95 SRP), in which Frank DeCaro collects dozens of recipes from the stars of yesteryear, from John Ritter’s favorite fudge to Bea Arthur’s vegetarian breakfast.
Anyone who’s ever been to a nice theater in a nature museum knows that seeing a beautifully-shot 3D nature film is just this side of actually being there, and a trio of new home video releases bring that experience right into your living room – Fascination Coral Reef 3D, Fascination Coral Reef 3D: Mysterious Worlds Underwater, and Amazing Ocean 3D (Universal, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP each).
A feature film usually works as a catalyst to unleash a flood of tie-in projects, but for the adaptation of a legendary stage musical, the options are somewhat limited. So, in lieu of action figures, we get a beautiful collectible tome like Les Miserables: From Stage To Screen (Applause, $45.00 SRP), which chronicles the history of the show from its earliest roots on the French stage to its massive success in London and Broadway, on to the recent big screen take. Additionally, the book contains reproductions of ephemera from original tickets and promotional flyers to posters and concept art.
Considering how inexpensive they are to produce, it should come as little shock that we’re already up to Paranormal Activity 4 (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), which returns with an all new malevolent spirit and a fair share of genuine scares. So think of it as an anthology series! As for bonus materials, you get 30 minutes of additional footage.
The second season of Misfits (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) finds our 5 reluctant heroes on community service, all of which is being observed by a mysterious new figure with a secret that could affect them all. Bonus materials include additional scenes and featurettes.
Made on a shoestring but with verve to spare, All Superheroes Must Die (Image, Not Rated R, Blu-Ray-$29.97 SRP) is a pulpy little film about a quartet of superheroes stripped of their powers and under the gun in a plot orchestrated by a villain from their past. Give it a spin.
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…
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
Not even a guilty pleasure, I am utterly delighted that Brian de Palma’s quirky glam rock epic 
It is with remarkable speed and wondrous diligence that the fine folks at Shout Factory have continued their clockwork releases of classic MST3K on DVD, which means we’re already to 
Considering they had to deal with two major cast departures, a major new addition to the cast, plus re-piloting the premise all while bringing show creator Dan Harmon back to the fold for a truncated half-season, it’s no terrible surprise that the fifth season of 
Some elements of the film haven’t aged quite so well, but the directorial debut of screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, 
The fine folks over at Warner Bros. have put together another of their fantastic themed film collections, this time providing a nice 6-film overview to an Academy Award-winning legend with the 
Like cars? Like cars going really fast? Like Aaron Paul? Don’t need much else from a film? Then 
Off most people’s radar thanks to the overwhelming nature of Pixar and Dreamworks, Fox’s 
As disaster porn goes, Darren Aronofsky’s ponderous biblical ballyhoo 
Their cleverness varies, but there is a basic level of fun to be had in 
Jude Law as a short-fused safecracker out to collect on a debt after a stint in prison is what makes 
Mark the 100th anniversary of the Great War with the 5-disc 
It certainly seems to take quite a long time between Disney’s high definition releases from their animation catalogue, but when you look at the stunning, absolutely pristine restoration done for the new release of 
As I am terribly old and can remember playing the original Legend Of Zelda on my original NES system when it was a new release before battling the ferociously difficult Zelda II and immersing myself for days into A Link To The Past, the arrival of the massively geeky 
Eugene Mirman may not be a national treasure now, but he deserves to be. Or, at the very least, a fami9liar face to a much wider audience, which would certainly be the case if you gave a copy of his special 
From the first time I heard “Rainbow Connection” as a small child, I had an affinity for the songs of Paul Williams. As I got older, I would hear his music all over the place, usually in the form of immensely successful interpretations by some of the most popular artists of the day, as well as seeing him in films and on TV. And I liked him there, too. Come to find out, I’m not alone in liking Paul Williams, as filmmaker Stephen Kessler shared the same love and decided to make a film about him called 
For more years than I can recall, the amiable scholars at Twomorrows have been publishing a wide range of magazine and books chronicling every nook and cranny of the comics, creators, characters, and companies fans know and love. They’ve now taken that love and scholarly approach to the next logical step, by launching a must-have document of four-color history in the 
It had a built-in expiration, but that – and a cast that includes the great Hugh Bonneville & Jessica Stevenson – is what makes the comedy series 
Bit by bit, Criterion is revisiting its deep library of world cinema greats and giving them full-blown high-def audio/visual upgrades that make them a must to repurchase. The latest is Volker Schlondorff’s adaptation of Gunter Grass’s acclaimed satire 
The wait is over, as you can now watch the entirety of the Gotham crusader’s last stand now that 
Surprisingly, there’s nothing cloying about 
Fox inaugurates their 2013 Studio Classics catalogue initiative with a trio of titles that certainly fit the bill – 
I have to say, 
Fancy a bit of a starry nosh this weekend? Then look no further than the 
Anyone who’s ever been to a nice theater in a nature museum knows that seeing a beautifully-shot 3D nature film is just this side of actually being there, and a trio of new home video releases bring that experience right into your living room – 
A feature film usually works as a catalyst to unleash a flood of tie-in projects, but for the adaptation of a legendary stage musical, the options are somewhat limited. So, in lieu of action figures, we get a beautiful collectible tome like 
Considering how inexpensive they are to produce, it should come as little shock that we’re already up to 
The second season of 
Made on a shoestring but with verve to spare,