Tag: Snoopy

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 5/19/17: Q-Figure It Out

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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…)

    Many folks are enamored with Funko’s Pop figures, but I’ve always found their stylistic sameness and beady Coraline eyes to be both boring and disturbing. For my money, I’ll go with the Q-Figs from Quantum Mechanix ($14.95 SRP each). Not only are the stylization of the designs infinitely more appealing to me, but they also allow for much more dynamic poses. These are beautiful pieces that look perfect on a desk or shelf. Just take a gander at the cross-section of pieces below, from Spider-Man’s mid-photo street lamp dangle to Mr. Freeze’s frustrated attempt to eat an ice cream cone, these are just spectacularly fun. Come on, look at how dynamic that Harry Potter is! I can’t wait to see where this line goes from here… And I hope some classic-costumed members of the Fantastic Four – and a Doctor Doom! – are in the offing soon.

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    I continue to follow Game Of Thrones and a I stuck through an increasingly-baffling Westworld, but the real joy of the HBO year is the one-two return of Veep & Silicon Valley (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP each), which also means the welcome arrival of their respective previous season box sets just before the new seasons hit. And considering the density of the writing on both, it’s quite enjoyable to have a refresher binge. While Silicon Valley only sports some deleted scenes, Veep packs on both deleted scenes and audio commentaries, every one of which is worth a listen.

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    Over the course of 25 volumes released over the past 13 years, Fantagraphics has done a truly incredible job presenting the complete 50-year run of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts. It was no small amount of surprise and delight that they tacked on a 26th volume of The Complete Peanuts (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP), which gathers together rare comics, advertising art, and drawings produced during the strip’s half-century run. A lovely end for a brilliant presentation of a legendary strip.

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    When Thinkgeek designs products in-house, it’s a fair bet that the final result will be something you didn’t even know you wanted until you saw it, and then you must absolutely have it. Case in point are a pair of cookery items sure to make the kid – or adult – enamored with all things Pokemon absolutely giddy. Have a party coming up? Use the Pikachu Cake Pan (Thinkgeek, $19.99) to bake an electrifying treat. Or, if you’ve come in from a hit day of wandering the wastelands to fill out your Pokedex in Pokemon Go, chill your drink with ice cubes made from a Pikachu Silicon Mold (Thinkgeek, $9.99). See? How can you resist ’em!

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    Generational nostalgia is a linear beast, which means everything will eventually get its moment, which brings us to the release of the complete first and second season of Nickelodeon’s beloved Rugrats (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP each). The shows have never looked better on home video, and while there are sadly no bonus features to speak of, it’s nice to have them available.

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    The plate may now be empty, but there was once a glorious confection of a British import that you can savor again with the release of The Great British Baking Show: Seasons 1-3 (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP each). While the future holds a radically different program, we can still taste the sweetness of the original version.

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    I’m a sucker for ephemera books – you know, the kind that feature reproductions of rare historical materials – and in their eternal quest for new revenue streams, we get Monty Python’s Flying Circus: Hidden Treasures (Abrams, $40 SRP), featuring tons of the aforementioned ephemera to delight fans.

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    Sure, there’s a fair bit of Saturday Night Fever (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$16.99 SRP), but the remastered director’s cut proves that the aspirational tale remains timeless and Travolta’s performance is still a career-defining marvel. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and a deleted scene.

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    While I’m not particularly enthusiastic about Pixar’s vehicular franchise, I very much adore the Art Of books that the company does with the fine folks at Chronicle, the latest of which is The Art Of Cars 3 (Chronicle Books, $40 SRP). As usual, it’s positively packed with concept art and behind-the-scenes insight.

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    In an age where facts are being assailed and history denied, now more than ever we need the objective, quality programming being produced by PBS. You can do that by catching up on the scores of excellent documentary and news programs they’re releasing on home video. For the politically and socially minded, there’s Frontline: Divided States Of America (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) about the polarization in the U.S., a sobering look at the rise of 45 in Frontline: President Trump (PBS, Bot Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), Frontline: Battle For Iraq/Hunting ISIS (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), the battle against the film The Birth Of A Nation in Birth Of A Movement (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), The Talk: Race In America (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), John Lewis: Get In The Way (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), American Experience: Ruby Ridge (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), and the history of modern martial justice in Dead Reckoning (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP). For the science-minded, you’ve got storms galore in Wild Weather (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), plant behavior in Plants Behaving Badly (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), engineering the Ultimate Cruise Ship (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), Nova: Search For The Super Battery (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), the Himalayan archeological mysteries in Nova: Secrets Of The Sky Tombs (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), the applied science of Nova: The Origami Revolution (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), and the fascinating medical advances of Military Medicine (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP).

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    Sketch comedy is hard to do, and when you set the bar as high as Amy Schumer had with the first three seasons of Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), not hitting that high-water mark is more easily noticed. That’s the case with the often strained but still funny 4th season. Bonus materials include a writers room featurette and outtakes.

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    The 1957 police drama Decoy (Film Chest Media, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) was significant for a trio of firsts – the first police drama to shoot in NYC, the first to feature a police woman as the main protagonist, and the first to feature stories based on real-life subjects. Starring Bevery Garland as Office Casey Jones, you can now rediscover this forgotten series via this set, featuring all 39 episodes.

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    The nicest thing I can say about Vin Diesel’s pet resurrection of a franchise, XXX: Return Of Xander Cage (Paramount, Rated PG-13, UltraHD 4K-$49.99 SRP), is that he’s really, really good as Groot in Guardians Of The Galaxy. As for this – I’m still trying to figure out who was asking for it, and why. I assume it was Vin. It was probably Vin. Bonus materials include featurettes and a gag reel.

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    There’s a lot of tension to be found in the drama of a diamond-dealing family dragged into the underworld in Ice (eOne, Not Rated, DVD-$40.99 SRP), but the real draw of watching the show is its cast, which features Donald Sutherland, Ray Winstone, and Jeremy Sisto. Bonus materials include featurettes and a music video.

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    There’s a lot of fun to be found in Warners new franchise push – DC Superhero Girls: Intergalactic Games (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which finds the female superheroes in friendly competition that runs afoul of a bevy of baddies. Bonus materials include 7 featurettes and a music video.

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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 6/10/16: Expecto Peanuts

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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 1/6-scale Harry Potter figures from Star Ace have, to this point, been pretty darn good. Their young Harry and Ron are by far their best of the line, rivaling anything – from sculpt to materials to paint ops – that bigger fish like Hot Toys and Sideshow have been producing. However, their Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone Hermione Granger (Star Ace/Sideshow, $209.99) easily outstrips them all, and is as close to perfect a figure as you can get. This is clearly a young Emma Watson, benefiting from a perfectly realized sculpt and the best use of rooted hair I’ve seen in this scale to date. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, but this figure? Wizard.

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    By the end of its first season, the show had clearly found its footing beyond just the shock value that early episodes relied far too heavily on, and the second season of Rick And Morty (Adult Swim, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP) cements it as a modern classic, deftly weaving comedy and science fiction together with a well-defined cast of characters. And yes, all without losing the shock value. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, animatics, a featurette, and deleted animatic sketches.

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    It seemed like a far-off goal when it started, but with The Complete Peanuts: 1999 to 2000 (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP), we now have all 25 volumes comprising the entirety of the 50 year run of Charles Schulz’s iconic strip. In addition to the final year of strips, it also contains the Li’l Folks strip that Schulz created before launching Peanuts, plus an introduction by President Barack Obama. As a special bonus, Fantagraphics will be releasing an additional volume this Fall, containing rarely seen stories and images.

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    It took a few years of middling pictures, but Disney Feature Animation has most certainly gotten their groove back in recent years, and no where is that more evident than in the self-assured and frankly wonderful Zootopia (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). It also manages the difficult feat of striking the perfect balance of being genuinely funny and entertaining while also managing to impart a strong message with a sincere emotional core. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

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    I loved Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel so much that, sure, I’ll watch The Martian: Extended Edition (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) and enjoy its extra 10 minutes of footage and clutch of documentaries on both the science and making of the film, plus additional deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more.

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    Yes, the episodes themselves are truly, truly masterpieces of modern comedy, but the real reason to pick up the fourth season of Veep and the second season of Silicon Valley (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP each) is so you can get more sublime moments via the clutch of deleted scenes featured on both sets. Yes, you’ll end up wanting more, but that’s why you’re watching their new seasons.

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    Even 30+ years on, the second film in the series of Kirk & Co.’s cinematic adventures resonates as a glorious outing for Trek and just a great film, and the Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan Director’s Cut (Paramount, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$22.98 SRP) finally brings Nicholas Meyer’s expanded cut of the film to high definition with the added bonus of a brand new retrospective featurette. The film holds up perfectly, has never looked better, and is the perfect way to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary.

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    And because the celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary is in full swing, the J.J. Abrams Nu-Trek films are also getting into the act with their debut in 4K Ultra HD. The new 4k editions of Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 4K Blu-Ray-$47.99 SRP each) port over all of the bonus features from the previous collector’s editions of both titles. Say what you want about the merits of the films themselves, there’s no denying that they look truly impressive in 4K.

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    Did you know that Dr. Seuss wrote a live action film in the 50s? Well, he did, and while toned down from the fantastic flights that would define his storybooks, there are more than enough elements that smack of pure Seuss to make The 5,000 Fingers Of Dr. T (Mill Creek, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$14.98 SRP) worth a spin.

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    Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell in a comedy about an unlucky in love woman who hooks up with a man who turns out to be an assassin? Yes, that’s a movie I’ll watch, and you’ll probably get a kick out of Mr. Right (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP), too. Bonus materials are limited to a single featurette, but you can always just watch the movie over again.

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    I’m finding it terribly difficult to resolve my conflicted feelings about 10 Cloverfield Lane (Paramount, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). On the one hand, it’s a gripping bunker drama with the always-watchable John Goodman as a man who either saved a young woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) from a mysterious catastrophe or has kidnapped her . And that part is great. But on the other hand… well, it’s where it all winds up. And I don’t want to spoil that, so I’ll leave it to you to judge. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and featurettes.

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    The practical effects work of the original Independence Day (Fox, Rated PG-13, 4K Ultra HD-$39.99 SRP) looks pretty darn astonishing remastered for 4K presentation in this new anniversary release (timed, of course, for the debut of the sequel). In addition to the extended cut of the film and bonus features from pervious editions, this adds a brand new 30-minute documentary.

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    The release of the live action Alice Through The Looking Glass has triggered the nifty book Alice In Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time (Disney Editions, $29.99 SRP) is a look back at the history of Lewis Carroll’s creation with the focus, obviously, being on Disney’s connection, from Walt’s earliest Alice shorts to Mickey to the animated and live action adaptations.

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    I feel that Gods Of Egypt (Summit, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is a misunderstood film. Many have attacked it, but I think its over the top but thoroughly committed cornball nature is actually meant to be a wholly evocative homage to the Cannon films of the 80s. You remember those B-movie fantasy epics like Masters Of The Universe, right? Yeah, this is that, but with a bigger budget. Just big ol’ goofy fun. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted storyboards.

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    The original Zoolander film manages to exist and largely succeed in a small pocket of absurdity. The sequel, Zoolander No. 2 (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), never manages to find that pocket, and instead manages to just be a bit of a self-indulgent mess. Perhaps some things shouldn’t be revisited. Bonus materials include a trio of featurettes and a Youth Milk Beauty Ad.

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    When you start counting them, there have been loads of Disney dragons – a short list of which includes Maleficent, Elliott, Mushu, Figment, and many more, all of which can be found in The Art Of Disney’s Dragons (Disney Editions, $29.99 SRP), a lovely little tome filled with sketches from the company’s archives.

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    Although it often feels like a DVD bonus feature, Elstree 1976 (MVD Visual, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP) is full of enough untold anecdotes from the production of an unknown little science fiction film shot in Elstree Studios in 1976 – a little film called Star Wars – that it’s well worth a watch. Those untold tales come courtesy of the background actors who had little idea of what a momentous film they were working on.

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    Oh, I’m sure there are thousands of films from over 100 years of cinema I’ve never heard of that, if I finally watched them, I would probably love. Maybe that’s why I love companies like Olive Films, who on e a monthly basis have been releasing clutches of catalogue titles from the vaults of studios like Paramount and MGM. The quartet this month includes the Mel Stuart-directed 1969 farce If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (Olive Films, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), original Doctor Who William Hartnell as a thief in Appointment With Crime (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Bob Hope & Tuesday Weld in I’ll Take Sweden (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), and the coming-of-age drama Cornbread, Earl & Me (Olive Films, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP).

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    Even when I don’t enjoy the film, I always get a kick out of diving into an “Art Of” book for a film and getting to view the design process. The Art Of The Jungle Book (Insight Editions, $45.00 SRP) is absolutely crammed full of great artwork and insight into the development process of Disney’s surprisingly enjoyable live action re-take.

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    And while the film was blah, Warcraft: Behind The Dark Portal (HarperDesign, $45.00 SRP) is a fascinating tome that at least provides plenty of interesting artwork to look at even if the film that eventually came out of it didn’t work.

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    Nick Kroll takes his often bizarre and more-often-than-not deeply funny sketch show out on a high note with the 3rd and final season of Kroll Show (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). To try and describe it any further… I mean, words can not possibly hope to capture just how truly mental it all is. Bonus materials include a trio of additional character bits.

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    If you need the perfect antidote to the grimdark cinematic DC Comics universe, look no further than Teen Titans Go: Eat. Dance. Punch (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.97 SRP), which collects the first 26 episodes of the show’s 3rd season in all its brightly colored, upbeat glory.

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    If you watch Washington being targeted in the bombastic actioner Olympus Has Fallen, you know exactly what to expect for ol’ blighty in London Has Fallen (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP), which finds Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) trying to protect US President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) from a terrorist organization systematically picking off world leaders in town for the funeral of the British Prime Minster. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes.

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    After a massive storm off Cape Cod rips a tanker ship in half, one of the greatest small-boat rescue missions in Coast Guard history is undertaken, all of which is dramatized in The Finest Hours (Walt Disney, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), starring Casey Affleck as the Chief Engineer of the tanker and Chris Pine as the Coast Guard captain risking all to save the survivors. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted scenes.

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    You would almost expect Charlie Kaufman to be the mind behind such a beautifully told, traditional yet experimental movie like Anomalisa (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), in which a chance encounter on a business trip upends the life of a middle-aged family man. And it’s all told through stop-motion animation. Bonus materials include a quartet of featurettes.

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    The story of Queen Elizabeth’s courtship and the royal family’s concern with young Philip Mountbatten is chronicled in the fascinating documentary Prince Philip: The Plot To Make A King (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP). From his uncouth manners to concerns about his German heritage, it’s a candid portrait of an unlikely marriage.

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    Binge on the ocean’s most iconic predators with Discovery’s Shark Week (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), a 3-disc collection of 13 documentaries from the channel’s iconic annual celebration of all things swimmy-toothy-bitey.

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    After 6 seasons of Workaholics (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), I think we’re reaching the point where Adam, Blake, and Ders are moving squarely into a far sadder territory as they transition into their 30s and the bleak reality of their futures becomes an ever-closer present. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, bloopers, and deleted scenes.

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    There’s a blatant air of an agenda that drags down the none-too-subtle approach of Michael Bay’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), although anyone who thought Bay might have an informed, nuanced approach to such a sensitive event must not be terribly familiar with his oeuvre. Bonus materials include a clutch of behind-the-scenes featurettes.

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    For the younger set, you’ve got the educational Super Why: Goldilocks And The Three Bears (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$9.99 SRP), featuring four reading adventures, and the fun Strawberry Shortcake: Campberry Stories (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), which also comes in a DVD case that smells like strawberries. Which is both awesome and unsettling.

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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 3/11/16: A Bad Motivator

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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 are spoiled for 1/6th-scale greatness, particularly with the Star Wars license. In just the last year, we’ve gotten stunningly pitch-perfect takes on Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3PO. The latest bit of wonderfulness is Hot Toys’ take on A New Hope‘s Luke Skywalker (Sideshow, $229.99). From the spot-on Mark Hamill sculpt to the uniformly exquisite tailoring of his Tatooine togs, this is the best Luke we’ve gotten, bar none. It also features Hot Toys signature swappable LED lightsaber arm, which sports a healthy blue glow. In addition to that, we’ve got the blast helmet (with swappable under-helmet hair) and training remote, binoculars, a droid caller, and his deleted scenes bucket hat and poncho. Oh, and while you’re at it, be sure to also snag the latest delightful droid release, R5-D4 (Sideshow, $139.99). It even comes with a bad motivator, which you can trigger by pushing one of his visual sensors. Those 1/6-scale Jawas can’t come fast enough.

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    If Inside Out was Toy Story, then The Good Dinosaur (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is A Bug’s Life – a lovely, enjoyable film wholly overshadowed by its juggernaut predecessor. But now you can rectify your oversight with a viewing of this gorgeous, heartfelt little gem at home, which is packed with bonus features, including the theatrical short Sanjay’s Super Team, featurettes, deleted scenes, and much more. In fact, the copious bonus features hearken back to the heyday of the Pixar special edition DVDs.

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    I admit, I had my worries about The Peanuts Movie (Fox, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) after seeing the first trailer. Without the creative input of Charles Schulz and Bill Melendez, would they take these cherished characters down a crass path? Well, crisis averted, because the film turned out to be a delight that beautifully captured the spirit of Charlie Brown’s neurotic universe. Bonus materials include featurettes, music videos, and more.

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    You know to start ticking off the days to the new season when the previous season hits shelves, so let the arrival of Game Of Thrones: The Complete Fifth Season (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$ SRP) kick things off with a refresher course on all of the myriad and very near confusing plotlines. Where this 4-disc set really shines, though, is in the incredible bonus features, with the usual complement of audio commentaries and featurettes being bolstered by the endlessly fascinating animated histories of the show’s mythology. With a world as rich as the one crafted by George R. R. Martin, it’s a welcome dive into a deep well.
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    When you think of catchphrases for Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Captain Jean-Luc Picard. One is “Make it so.” Then you’ve got “Engage.” Sure, maybe “Shut up, Wesley.” Makes the cut, too. But certainly on that list is one that involves a certain beverage the good captain was fond of, and now the fine folks at Thinkgeek have made it so by offering a tin of Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. (Thinkgeek, $14.99). So now you too can sip the tea of a Starfleet legend while you contemplate your next negotiation.

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    That its true story of a group of canny investors that saw the mortgage crisis looming and gamed a system about to self-destruct plays like an ink-black farce makes The Big Short (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) both painfully funny and a painful reminder of just how precariously stacked upon the backs of fools our financial system truly is. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted scenes.

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    If there’s one thing that Drunk History (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$26.99 SRP) has taught us, it’s that we all would have learned a lot more in school if our teachers had been fall-down smashed. The 3rd season covers subjects ranging from the Civil War to the Cold War and more, and makes a great thing even better. Bonus materials include 5 unblurred episodes, extended/deleted scenes, hiccups, and more.

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    While the packaging tries to make the finality ambiguous, it certainly feels like the long, odd journey that has brought us to the 6th season of Community (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$45.99 SRP) comes with a true sense of closure for both the characters and the audience. And as a fan of the show from the very start, I’m fine with that. All things must end, right? Unless you’re The X-Files. Which really should have stayed dead. Well and truly. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, a featurette, and a gag reel.

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    Following on his Oscar-winning performance as Stephen Hawking, Eddie Redmayne pulls off another remarkable turn in The Danish Girl (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) as a young man who begins to express his long-repressed desire to live as a woman after his artist wife asks him to fill in as a portrait model. Bonus materials include a making-of featurette.

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    However, if you want a genuinely enjoyable show that exquisitely captures the awkwardness of its characters and the situations they find themselves in, try the first season of Togetherness (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP), from Jay & Mark Duplass. Bonus materials include a pair of featurettes and deleted scenes.

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    While I have zero interest in seeing what the live action cinematic take will be on DC Comics’ mightiest heroes, I have nothing but love for the endearingly goofy LEGO adventure Justice League: Cosmic Clash (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), which finds the League teaming with the Legion Of Super Heroes against Brainiac. Bonus materials include a featurette and a gag reel.
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    Why get a wimpy rinkydink lunch box when the R&D braintrust at Thinkgeek have devised a heavy-duty Tactical Lunch Kit (Thinkgeek, $29.99). The black nylon bag has a waterproof lining, an adjustable shoulder strap, and comes with a 12oz button-flow thermos with cup lid. Oh, and it’s finished off with a massive velcro patch that says “LUNCH”, because that’s what’s in it.

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    Continuing their genuinely wonderful partnership of chocolate and peanut butter fun, LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP) brings C-3PO and R2-D2 front and center as they relate the Star Wars saga from their perspective following the Battle of Endor, with all of the off-kilter LEGO sensibility we’ve come to love.

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    The madcap misadventures of the prisoners of Germany’s most inept Stalag are yours for the taking in this massive 27-disc collection of Hogan’s Heroes: The Complete Series (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$79.99 SRP). In addition to all of the Colonel Klink-thwarting escape attempts, bonus features include audio commentaries, a photo gallery, and a gag reel. Now you’ll know everysink!

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    As a parody of the sweeping, bombastically self-important miniseries events that defined TV in the 70s and 80s, The Spoils Of Babylon (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) comes awfully close to being a sublime success, but it never quite manages to gel into that sweet spot. Which is a shame, because so many of the elements are there, from its eclectically star-studded cast to many of the story beats.

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    After numerous duds at NBC, Fox got the live musical on TV right by realizing you had to have an audience present to keep the energy up, and that’s why Grease: Live! (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$21.99 SRP) is a fun romp of an awkward book with memorable songs. Bonus materials include a clutch of featurettes providing a fascinating look at what a logistical nightmare it is to pull off a live show on network TV.

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    I have a love/hate relationship with Ron Howard as a filmmaker. While the stories he directs tend to be powerful, I find the film’s themselves to often be sterile affairs that never quite achieve a launch velocity. His latest, In The Heart Of The Sea (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$44.95 SRP), is based on the true-life tale of a rogue whale that inspired Melville to write Moby Dick. The tale is mighty, the visuals are pretty darn nifty in 3D, and the cast, led by Chris Hemsworth, bring their all, but it feels more a small curio than a truly great film. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted/extended scenes.

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    It was always a mess of truly unlikable characters, but it’s in the fourth season of Girls (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) that the wheels really come off the bus, as plots just kind of devolve into indifference-inducing masses of dialogue. But it does have a lovely turn by Kylo Ren, laying the groundwork of his obvious family issues. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, and deleted/extended scenes.

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    The second season of Turn (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) finds the Patriot capitol of Philadelphia fallen to the hands of the British and General Washington besieged both without and within, as conspirators infiltrate his ranks. His closest ally? Benedict Arnold. Bonus materials include featurettes and deleted/extended scenes.

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    The franchise has become, much like Ice Age, a quick way to generate amiable enough stories sure to entertain the kids, and Open Season: Scared Silly (Sony, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$30.99 SRP) certainly fits into that mold as forest-dwellers Boog and Elliot return with an all new adventure about overcoming fear. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and a blooper reel.

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    Want a goofball sword and sorcery romp this weekend? With a name like Dudes & Dragons (Momentum Pictures, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP), you can pretty much suss out exactly what you’re getting when a ragtag bunch of unlikely heroes go up against a wizard (James Marsters) intent on ridding the land of love. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and a blooper reel.

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    Because it’s a massive IP, it was inevitable that Nick Jr. would want its share of the Turtle pie, so we get the younger-skewing animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Half-Shell Heroes – Blast To The Past (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.99 SRP), which finds our younger, pluckier foursome rocking to the dino past.

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    Strawberry Shortcake and her berry berry good pals return for more adventures in a pair of brand new releases – Strawberry Shortcake: Sweet Sunshine Adventures & Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Bake Shop (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP each).Bonus materials include printable recipes, coloring pages, a music video, and a featurette.

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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 12/4/15: X-Wing Tramp

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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…)

    Between Sideshow and Hot Toys, this year has been an endless cascade of riches for any red-blooded Star Wars nerd, with some truly exceptional releases coming down the pike. Hot on the heels of Hot Toys’s ridiculously neat 1/6-scale Obi-Wan Kenobi comes Sideshow’s take on the Luke Skywalker: Red Five X-Wing Pilot ($239), as seen in A New Hope. The outfit itself is spot-on, with fine detailing and tailoring and plenty of little fiddley bits and tools. The real highlight, though, is Sideshow’s strongest actor portrait to date, with a pretty good take on pre-accident Mark Hamill. He looks great either helmeted or unhelmeted, and the process of swapping is pretty painless. The figure is accessories light, with the main bonus being ungloved hands and a pair of folded gloves that are a Sideshow exclusive.

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    While Criterion has been releasing the features that he helmed himself, a similarly wonderful and much-needed restoration of Charlie Chaplin’s earlier work at other studios has been neglected over the years, even though there have been plenty of releases of the material. Finally, though, a definitive edition of both Chaplin’s Essanay Comedies (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.95 SRP) and Chaplin’s Mutual Comedies (Flicker Alley, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP) has been produced, remastered and lovingly restored in high definition. The results? Revelatory. The 27 films spread across the two sets chart the rise of Chaplin as an artist and the development of his most iconic character, The Tramp, after the end of his Keystone contract. Each set also contains a selection of bonus films and alternate cuts, plus the Mutual set has a documentaries on the birth of The Tramp and Chaplin’s onscreen nemesis, Eric Campbell. Yes, so… Get these sets.

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    The period covered in Peanuts Every Sunday: 1961-1965 (Fantagraphics, $49.99 SRP) is, arguably, the high water mark of Charles Schulz’s iconic run, as the still-protean strip of the 50s found its rhythm and began consistently hitting the beats that would define the rest of its tenure on the comics page. And it’s brilliant to see these Sunday strips printed in full color in a large, beautiful format. These volumes can’t come fast enough, especially as we come to the close of The Complete Peanuts releases.

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    And because this is the holiday season, and you know you want to give the gift of Peanuts, Fantagrpahics has made it very easy with a pair of perfect gifts. Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron (Fantagraphics, $24.99 SRP) collects every strip featuring the beagle’s aerial derring-do from across the comic’s 50-year history. And Charlie Brown’s Christmas Stocking (Fantagraphics, $9.99 SRP) reprints in a single easily stocking-stuffed volume two classic holiday tales that haven’t been in print for decades.

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    The 4th volume of The Dona Rosa Library, Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Last Of The Clan McDuck (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP), is the first installment collecting my favorite batch of Rosa duck stories, as they chronicle the history of Scrooge McDuck by expertly weaving the mythology established by Carl Barks into a cohesive narrative. As with previous volumes, there are extensive end notes and bonus material from Rosa that make this the definitive presentation of these duck tales.

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    Going in to the theater, I truly didn’t know what to expect from the updated though still a period piece Man From U.N.C.L.E (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$44.95 SRP), but was pleasantly surprised to find a fun, funny retro action film that recalled the best of classic Bond with an engaging trio of leads in Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, and Alicia Vikander. So, cheers Guy Ritchie. It was a hoot, and I hope there’s a sequel. Bonus materials include a clutch of featurettes.

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    I admit, I was underwhelmed by Ant-Man (Walt Disney, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) when I saw it in the theater. Tonally, it just seemed all over the place, and while it didn’t leave me as cold as Thor: The Dark World or Iron Man 2, it was still a disappointment. However, I’m revising my feelings for the film up a bit after seeing it again on home, where its tonal wonkiness doesn’t quite as egregious, and the 3-D presentation of the micro world is still a hoot.. Bonus materials includes an audio commentary, deleted/extended scenes, and featurettes.

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    Director D.A. Pennebaker’s iconic Bob Dylan documentary Don’t Look Back (Criterion, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP) gets a much-deserved and really good-looking high definition release from the folks at Criterion, which ports over the bonus features from the previous release, including an audio commentary, interviews, outtakes, short films, plus some new materials exclusive to this edition.

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    No additional amount of footage could make The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies Extended Edition (Warner Bros., Rated R, 3D Blu-Ray-$45.38 SRP) any less of a mess than, really, the whole bloated trilogy has been. I find that I don’t really have ire for them, but instead see them as meandering visits in a world I find interesting with characters I am mostly fond of. What really is the key draw of these editions are the brilliant, ridiculously long Appendices documentaries that these editions have featured going all the way back to the Lord Of The Rings, and this set gives us a final 10 hours worth of sometimes brutally candid behind-the-scenes material.

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    While what does make it out and onto the silver screen is magical, there’s plenty of magic that exists solely in the early creative process that gives birth to films from Toy Story to The Good Dinosaur, and it’s a special peek into that room that fills the pages of Funny: Twenty-Five Years Of Laughter From The Pixar Story Room (Chronicle Books, $29.95 SRP).

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    It’s been quite a long while since I took a gander at some of the wonderful little catalogue gems the Warner Archive has been carting up from the dark depths of their vault, so here’s a rundown of some of those titles you should check out. There’s the forgotten animated gem Bebe’s Kids (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$17.99 SRP), director Richard Attenborough’s Oh! What A Lovely War (Warner Bros., Rated G, DVD-$17.99 SRP), Glenn Close & Jeremy Irons as the von Bulows in Reversal Of Fortune (Warner Bros., Rated R, DVD-$17.99 SRP), the George Lucas-produced animated feature Twice Upon A Time (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$21.99 SRP), the 5-film pre-code collection Forbidden Hollywood: Volume 9 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$40.99 SRP), Ed Wynn in The Chief (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$21.99 SRP), Alec Guinness in Hotel Paradiso (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$21.99 SRP), Jack Benny in It’s In The Air (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$21.99 SRP), the Rankin/Bass Wind In The Willows (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$17.99 SRP), and the Adult Swim series Squidbillies: Volume 6 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$17.99 SRP) and NTSF:SD:SUV Season 1 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$21.99 SRP).

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    The real surprise, though, is how many high definition releases the Warner Archive has been delivering to fans, often for mush-requested titles that many (myself included) had given up hope of ever getting. So, now we’ve got Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Richard Donner’s Ladyhawke (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Albert Finney in Wolfen (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Humphrey Bogart in Passage To Marseille (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), vampire David Bowie in The Hunger (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Thank Your Lucky Stars (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), 42nd Street (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Jose Ferrer in Deep In My Heart (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), Dolph Lundgren & Brandon Lee in Showdown In Little Tokyo (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$21.99 SRP), and the long awaited arrival of Justice League Unlimited: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP).

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    The Warner Archive has also continued emptying the vaults of nearly everything produced by Hanna-Barbera, which now includes Clue Club: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP), Galtar And The Golden Lance: The Complete Series (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), Centurions: The Original Miniseries (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$17.99 SRP), The Real Adventures Of Jonny Quest: The Complete Second Season (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), Snorks: The Complete Second Season (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$21.99 SRP), and the Hanna-Barbera Specials Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP).

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    It’s been a long time coming, but Sinatra: All Or Nothing At All (Eagle Vision, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.98 SRP) is the definitive documentary on the Chairman Of The Board that fans deserve, taking an in-depth look at his history and career in a decidedly comprehensive fashion with remarkable access.

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    Based on the notorious titular college study, The Stanford Prison Experiment (IFC, Rated R, DVD-$24.98 SRP) dramatizes the events of 1971, when Stanford University professor Phillip Zimbardo cast 24 students as inmates and guards in a mock prison, only to see the middle-class young men degenerate into the same abusive behavior the study was created to understand. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and a trailer.

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    Zac Efron stars as an aspiring DJ who gets swept up in friendship, love, and betrayal when he crosses paths with a famous DJ (Wes Bentley) that could be the key to his success in We Are Your Friends (Warner Bros., Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP). The sole bonus is a featurette on Efron’s process for learning to DJ.

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    The first two seasons were groundbreaking, but the third season of Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$22.98 SRP) is when the comedy really began hitting some truly sublime levels, key amongst them being the epic “12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer” episode. Bonus materials include an unaired sketch, unaired “Amy Goes Deep” interviews, and outtakes.

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    The chronology of the Terminator films is a bit of a mess. And by that, I mean it’s confusing. And every installment in the franchise has made it even more confusing, full of time travel paradoxes and nonsense that make the best way to really enjoy Terminator: Genisys (Paramount, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$52.99 SRP) is simply sit back and get a kick out of seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger back in the inevitable doomsday time travel equivalent of Jiffy Pop. Because it still makes very little sense. Bonus materials include a clutch of featurettes and commentaries.

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    Largely overlooked, unjustly so, now’s your chance to check out Nicole Kidman as the titular Grace Of Monaco (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which looks at Kelly as her marriage to Prince Rainier (Timk Roth) is on the rocks and Alfred Hitchcock is calling on her to take on the title role in Marnie, leaving her with a difficult decision.

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    The 3rd season comes to an intergalactic climactic head in the final 12-episode arc contained in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Revenge! (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), with the introduction of the Mutanimals, Mondo Gecko, dinosaurs, and some time travel along the way. Bonus materials include a dozen behind-the-scenes shorts and a season 4 preview.

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    Part of their Secrets Of The Dead series, PBS’s Jamestown’s Dark Winter (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) investigates the life and attempts to riddle out the death of a young Jamestown colonist whose remains were discovered in a cellar dating back to 1609.

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    While the heat of the game has cooled a bit, there’s still a bit of charm and fun to be found in the animated offerings based on it, with Angry Birds Toons: Season Two Volume One, Stella: Season One, and Piggy Tales: Season One (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$14.99 SRP each). And you know what? The trailer for the film makes it seem fun, too. Weird!

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    There’s quite a bit of endearingly goofball magic lost when you age Dora the Explorer up to tweenhood for Dora and Friends (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$22.98 SRP), the complete first season of which is now available, full of Dora tweening about with her friends.

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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 2/13/15: Escape From Your Life, Charlie Brown

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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…)

    In the hallowed halls of cult films, there is most surely a lofty perch for John Carpenter’s unforgettable classic Escape From New York, starring Kurt Russell as one of cinema’s greatest antiheroes. Now, those collectible crack dealers at Sideshow have made an offer few could possible refuse by releasing a spot-on 12″ Snake Plissken (Sideshow, $ 159.99). From the lifelike sculpt of Kurt Russell and the exquisitely designed & tailored outfit – both his jacketed and t-shirted looks – right down to the snake tattooed on his stomach, it’s every fan’s dream. He also comes with every little accessory you’d expect, including tons of weapons, his wrist timer, president tracker, a cigarette, and more. Oh, and the Sideshow Exclusive version includes a bonus hand holding the Nuclear Fusion Information cassette tape. Now where’s my Jack Burton figure?

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    As a child, I must have watched Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) dozens of times on SelectaVision videodisc, and remained baffled as to why it never seemed to get a DVD release while every other Peanuts production seemed to be making its way into the modern age. Well, finally my long wait is over, and the remastered film looks fantastic in its original widescreen theatrical ratio.

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    Disney’s incredible series of fully remastered and expanded soundtrack special editions continues with the 4-disc Fantasia: The Legacy Collection (Walt Disney Records, $23.98 SRP), featuring both conductor Leopold Stokowski’s original score as well as the modern Irwin Kostal re-recording, plus bonus tracks of the aborted Clare de Lune sequence and Sterling Holloway reading both “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and “Peter & The Wolf”.

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    Overshadowed by splashier studio fare like Big Hero 6 and How To Train Your Dragon 2 in theaters, home video is the perfect second chance to experience the delightfully offbeat animated comedy Book Of Life (Fox, Rated PG, 3D Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP), about a young man who embarks on a hero’s journey into a trio of memorable worlds in order to reunite with his true love. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, a brand new short, featurettes, and a music video.

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    The performance sparks you hope for when you hear that Robert Downey, Jr. is playing a big city lawyer who returns to his childhood hometown when his estranged father, a local judge played by Robert Duvall, is accused of murder are there in spades in the brisk The Judge (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP). Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

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    Catch up with Cartoon Network’s continuing winning streak of quirky animated kids fare with the inaugural DVD releases of Clarence, Uncle Grandpa, and Steven Universe (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$14.47 SRP each). Both sport the first dozen episodes plus the original pilots.

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    I didn’t think it possible to release so many quality new-to-HD catalogue releases each month, but the folks at Olive consistently prove me wrong, as they drop a new clutch of beuts including Frank Capra’s A Hole In The Head (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Paul Winfield & Cecily Tyson in the biopic King (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), Gregory Peck in the Korean War film Pork Chop Hill (Olive Films, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), David Duchovny & Minnie Driver in Return To Me (Olive Films, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP), and Moms Mabley’s Amazing Grace (Olive Films, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$29.95 SRP).

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    You take the good, you take the bad, you add ’em up and there you have The Facts Of Life: The Complete Series (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$199.99 SRP), a 26-disc mega collection of all 201 episodes of the uneven but firmly ensconced in the pop culture firmament 80s sitcom. Bonus materials include a new cast reunion, the episode of Diff’rent Strokes that acted as the backdoor pilot, and more.

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    While you’re waiting for the next full-season Blu-Ray collection, bide your time with the single-disc Regular Show: Mordecai Pack (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$19.82 SRP), which collects 16 episodes of bizarre goodness.

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    Even a broken watch is correct twice a day, and such is the case with Keanu Reeves in John Wick (Summit, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), who fits the titular role of an ex-assassin who mercilessly pursues a group of young thugs who make the mistake of attacking him like a glove. So yeah. See it. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and featurettes.

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    It’s sad that the latest DC animated film, Justice League: Throne Of Atlantis (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), is saddled with such dark and dreary and preciously self-important material from the modern DC canon, as there’s plenty of talent and potential being thrown at this tale of Arthur Curry reclaiming the Atlantean throne as a deadly threat to the Justice League looms. Bonus materials include featurettes, cartoons, and a preview of the next animated adaptation, Batman vs. Robin.

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    Jeremy Renner stars as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb in Kill The Messenger (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP), the true-story of a Webb’s discovery of link between US intelligence agencies and Central American drug smugglers in which the CIA used cocaine profits to fund the Contra rebels. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and featurettes.

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    Hoping to expand with an aging audience, Dora explores adolescence in Dora And Friends (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), as she leaves Boots behind in favor of a quartet of human friends to go on adventures with, four of which are included in this inaugural release.

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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 4/22/11: It’s Your Speech, Charlie Brown

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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…)

    I had worries that The King’s Speech (Anchor Bay, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) wouldn’t live up to all of the kudos that had been thrown its way, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a genuinely enjoyable cinematic experience about a very personal struggles of a very private figure, held together by a genuinely stellar cast. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette, a cast and director Q&A, and a look at the history behind the story.

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    Yeah, I love me some novelty cameras, and the Midnight Shot NV-1 Night Vision Camera ($129.99) is certainly a novelty camera. As you’ve probably already begun to suspect, besides taking decent 5MP regular photos, it also allows you infrared night vision shots, which is pretty darn snappy. Is the novelty worth it? If you want to be able to take night vision shots at a reasonable price, yes.

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    It’s an embarrassment of riches from the fine folks at Fantagraphics as they deliver not one, but two fantastic comic collections for aficionados to dive into. Not only do we get the 15th volume of The Complete Peanuts (Fantagraphics, $28.99 SRP) covering the years 1979-1980 and featuring an intro from Al Roker, but we also get the 5th volume of EC Segar’s Popeye (Fantagraphics, $29.99 SRP), Wha’s A Jeep, which introduces us to the magical Jeep. Both volumes? Brilliant.

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    Five years after Hurricane Katrina, Spike Lee returned to New Orleans for a follow up to his documentary When The Levees Broke. The equally powerful return is documented in If God Is Willing And Da Creek Don’t Rise (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP), which finds the still depressed community facing the consequences of the BP Oil spill while still trying to keep the spirit of NOLA alive. Bonus materials include an audio commentary and additional interviews.

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    The arrival of the Handmade Films library in high definition continues with both a hard-bitten action flick and farce – Neil Jordan’s Mona Lisa, starring Bob Hoskins & Michael Caine, and Alan Bennett’s A Private Function (Anchor Bay, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$17.98 SRP each), starring Michael Palin & Maggie Smith.

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    Not only great films make it to Blu-Ray – sometimes you get catalogue releases like the one-two punch of Mortal Kombat & Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$19.98 each). Bonus features are limited to a video game trailer and the theatrical trailer.

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    MGM cranks up their on-demand program (similar to the programs already in place over at Warners and Universal) with a clutch of obscure catalogue titles including an early turn from William Shatner in The Explosive Generation (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), Gregory Peck in Billy Two Hats (MGM, Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP), The Great Cathouse And Cathouse Thursday (MGM, Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP), Eric Roberts in The Ambulance (MGM, Rated R, DVD-$19.98 SRP), Maximillian Schell in Return From The Ashes (MGM, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), and the Edgar Allan Poe-based Buried Alive (MGM, Rated R, DVD-$19.98 SRP).

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    I’m sure that the Jack Black-starring bastardization of Gulliver’s Travels (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is exactly what Jonathan Swift had in mind when he wrote his 18th century political and social satire, urine jokes and all. The Blu-Ray edition sports a clutch of featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

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    Take another show off the uncompleted list as the 6th & final season of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) arrives, sporting all 24 episodes including the memorable blooper episode. You know you want to spend one last bit of time with James Avery.

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    If all of that story and character just seemed like filler to you, you’ll probably want to pick up Glee: Encore (Fox, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), which boils the show down to just the music performances from season 1.

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    While Sideshow Collectibles has been doing quite good work with their 12″-scale Star Wars figures over the years, sometimes one of their pieces stands head and shoulders above that already-stellar work into the realm of sublime recreation, closely matching its onscreen counterpart. Such is the case with their 12″ Gamorrean Guard ($199.99), which features not only a perfect sculpt of Jabba’s piggish brute, but also an expertly tailored leather and fur costume. A brilliant piece.

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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 11/12/10: 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…)

    It was with some trepidation that fans entered the 5th season of Doctor Who (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$89.98 SRP) – Not only were we losing fan-favorite David Tennant as the 10th Doctor, but the 11th Doctor would be the ridiculously young unknown Matt Smith. Surely this would be when the new series stumbled. Well, no. No it didn’t. In fact, Matt Smith is a wonder in the role, and has more than made it its own, and new companion Amy Pond puts all former Nu-Who companions to shame. Add to that some brilliant writing and a true sense of fun (Remember when sci-fi wasn’t just maudlin navel-gazing?), and you have a brilliant season. Bonus materials include newly-filmed short interludes between episodes, video diaries, Doctor Who Confidential, in-vision commentaries, Monster Files, outtakes, teasers, and trailers.

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    If you’re keen on the environment but also really, really like to make a lot of noise, why not try the reusable EcoBlast Air Horn ($29.99 SRP), which allows us to use a simple air pump to refill a plastic bottle with air – and believe you me, this thing makes one hell of a loud noise.

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    Another could-have-been-a-disaster moment turned out to be gold with Steven Moffat & Mark Gatiss’s modern take on Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP), which managed to make the mythos current without undermining the essence of what has made the character a perennial. My only regret? That the first season is on 3 feature-length episodes long. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, a making-of featurette, and the original pilot episode.

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    It’s a been a few months, and you know what that means – a new Mystery Science Theater 3000 set! Continuing their yearly tradition, this holiday period box set comes packed with another bot action figure, and this times it’s the absolutely massive (and wonderfully accurate) Gypsy. If that weren’t enough, the movies contained in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Volume XIX (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$69.97 SRP) are the 1st season episode Robot Monster (with a Josh Weinstein intro), season 4’s Bride Of The Monster, and the Sci-Fi era Devil Doll and Devil Fish. Bonus materials include featurettes on Bride & Devil Doll, a look at the “Invention Exchange”, a panel from CONvergence 2009, and trailers.

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    No one but Edgar Wright could have made a film quite as eccentrically experimental yet firmly rooted in pop culture geekery as Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Universal, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP), based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s genre-blender comic series about a 22-year-old going-nowhere bass player that falls head-over-heels for Ramona Flowers, a girl with Seven Evil Exes bent on destroying Pilgrim. Yeah, that about sums it up. And yes, you’ll want to get the Blu-Ray, loaded with commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, music videos, the Adult Swim animated short, bloopers, and more.

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    They’re absolute classics and seasonal must-haves, and now the Peanuts: Deluxe Holiday Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$42.98 SRP) has made its debut in high definition. The 6-disc set contains It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, & A Charlie Brown Christmas, each of which contains bonus specials and making-of featurettes, as well as standard DVDs.

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    A few months has gone by, which means that the BBC vault has opened and another pair of classic Doctor Who releases have made their way out – specifically the Tom Baker years Revenge Of The Cybermen & the Sylvester McCoy Silver Nemesis (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP each). Both contain the usual plethora of bonus materials, including audio commentaries, featurettes, interviews, galleries, and more.

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    Push Clooney & Pitt out of your mind for a moment and revel in the HD glory of The Rat Pack’s grand heist, as the 50th anniversary edition of Ocean’s 11 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP) significantly upgrades the picture and sound in what remains a mostly swinging relic of a bygone age. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, an interactive Vegas: Then & Now map, casino vignettes, and a segment of Angie Dickinson appearing on The Tonight Show with guest host Sinatra.

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    It’s the holiday season, and Warners has added to their set of deluxe holiday Ultimate Collections (previous entries include A Christmas Story & Christmas Vacation) with the Elf: Ultimate Edition (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP). Not only does it feature the film’s high definition debut (with commentaries, featurettes, and deleted/alternate scenes), but also a stocking, present tags, a soundtrack sampler CD, and a magnetic picture frame, all packed in a collectible tin.

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    Fans of the recent direct-to-DVD DC animated fare will no that many of those came with bonus shorts starring other characters within the DC universe. Well, extended versions of those shorts have been collected with a brand new one – that new one being the titular Superman/Shazam!: The Return Of Black Adam (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP). Bonus features include audio commentaries on all 4 shorts.

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    It’s a shame that Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) wasn’t independently produced, because it then could have told the real story about how a once-great company full of iconic characters has pissed away a publishing empire and lost generation after generation of new readers with blinkered incompetence at the highest executive levels who insist on pandering to wank-happy fanboys by destroying those selfsame iconic characters that built the company. Shame, that.

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    As a film, it’s a big mess, but there’s plenty of fun still to be had in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (MGM, Rated G, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP), even if – with its inferior Sherman Brothers songs and Dick Van Dyke – it seems like a poor man’s Mary Poppins. Still, it’s a beautiful Blu-Ray restoration and hey! Flying car! And a ridiculously infectious title song. Bonus materials include retrospective & vintage featurettes, and galleries.

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    They might not be as popular or prevalent as they once were, but there’s still something alluring to life under the big top – a life which is explored in the documentary Circus (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$34.99 SRP), which follows the Big Apple Circus on its 350-show tour. Bonus materials include additional footage and profiles.

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    Economize your high definition kiddie-slick purchase with the Scooby-Doo 1 & 2 Collection (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), which brings together both live action big screen outings, with bonus materials including audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and music videos.

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    Where the US version of the UK’s middle-age male crisis dramedy Manchild never got past pilot, the similarly themed Men Of A Certain Age (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) – starring Ray Romano, Andre Braugher, and Scott Bakula – seems to be going strong. The first season set contains audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

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    The big screen version may be moving in fits and spurts, but the BBC’s live action adaptation of The Chronicles Of Narnia (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP) has now been collected into one complete set, complete with featurettes, outtakes, and a 2003 reunion of the cast.

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    I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – I’m not a fan, but I know may out there will have been champing at the bit for Metalocalypse: Season 3 (Adult Swim, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP). And for them, there’s all 10 episodes in high definition, plus a bucketload of bonus features.

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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 10/29/10: 1.21 Gigawatts!

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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…)

    I have been counting the days until the high definition 25th Anniversary edition of the Back To The Future Trilogy (Universal, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$79.98 SRP) arrived, eager to see it looking all snazzy and hoping the reality lived up to my outrageous expectations. Well, I’m delighted to say all three films look and sound amazing, and they’ve managed to plus the bonus materials above and beyond the ridiculous amount found on the original DVD special editions, including new documentaries (plus some tantalizing yet still unsatisfying glimpses of the legendary Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly footage). Is this an upgrade worth making? Yes. Yes it is.

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    If there’s one thing this gadget crazy future we currently live in has taught me, it’s how to tie a sailor’s knot. No. Scratch that. What I meant to say, is that it’s taught me that you can never have to many USB ports, and that’s where Thinkgeek’s ridiculous 24 Port USB Monster Hub ($49.99). That’s right. You heard me. 24 powered USB ports. Beautifully ridiculous.

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    By the time we reach the third volume of Bloom County: The Complete Library – 1984-1986 (IDW, $39.99 SRP), we’ve arrived at the golden age of the strip, where both the political satire and the humor had gelled into a transcendently pointed, funny strip that cemented itself in the comics pantheon. If you’re new to Bloom County, get all of the available volumes. Fast. Rectify that oversight now.

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    About 5 years ago, I became aware that a documentary had been made about an artist I held dear to my heart – the underrated, underappreciated Harry Nilsson. I received a promo copy at the time, and found the documentary to be a comprehensive, enlightening overview of a brilliant artist beloved by friends and fans (including the likes of The Beatles) who happened to be a very flawed human being whose excess led to a far too early death. The doc floated around the festival circuit for the past few years, but Who’s Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him?) (Lorber, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP) is finally available on DVD, along with nearly 90 minutes of additional interview footage. Get this documentary, and get Harry’s music. Now.

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    I know a lot of you are probably waiting for next year’s Blu-Ray release of the entirety of season 4, but for those who can’t wait, The Venture Bros.: Season 4 Volume 1 (Adult Swim, Not Rated, DVD-$23.98 SRP) contains the first 8 episodes of the season, plus audio commentaries (in which, yes, I am mentioned – count the times!), deleted scenes, a Comic-Con promo, and a “lost” open.

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    It’s been almost a year since the Blu-Ray Ultimate Editions of the first two films were released, but the rather long wait has brought us the just-in-time for Deathly Hallows: Part 1 release of Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban: Ultimate Edition & Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire: Ultimate Edition (Warner Bros., Rated PG/PG-13, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP each), both of which are necessary upgrades from the previous Blu-ray editions, if only for the next two installments of the 8-part documentary series “Creating The World Of Harry Potter, which have been newly produced for these Ultimate Editions. Also included are all of the previous special features and documentaries from the previous releases, plus photo books and character cards. The bottom line? Get ’em both, and hope the next two come out a lot quicker.

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    It’s been 6 years since their first textbook, America, but Jon Stewart and the writers behind The Daily Show return with their follow-up Earth: A Visitor’s Guide To The Human Race (Hachette, $27.99 SRP), and it was well worth the wait. Providing a unique overview on everything from Love & War to Reproduction & Investing, it’s everything you could possibly need to know about anything. And while you’re at it, be sure to pick up the companion Earth: The Audiobook (Hachette, $24.98 SRP), featuring all of your favorite correspondents plus special guess Sigourney Weaver.

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    I didn’t think a film about Jack Kevorkian starring Al Pacino would be something I would watch, let along think was remarkably good, but You Don’t Know Jack (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP) is certainly worth a watch, framing Kevorkian’s position on assisted suicide quite clearly, underscored by a collection of great performances. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette.

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    Every few months like clockwork, I’m guaranteed that a delightfully fun read will land on my doorstep, for that is what the periodic arrival Charles Schulz’s masterpiece has become. We’re now up to The Complete Peanuts: 1977 to 1978 (Fantagraphics, $28.99 SRP), which gives us weeks of strips about jogging and a few references to disco… Including a polyester-suited beagle. We’re now almost 30 years into Peanuts 50-year run, and if you haven’t picked up any of these volumes yet, rectify that grievous oversight.

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    Scholastic has opened up the vault and provided a pair of releases perfect for entertaining your kids on those dark, cold Fall & Winter nights. Seasonally, they’re releasing The Halloween Stories Collection (Scholastic, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), featuring Where The Wild Things Are, A Very Brave Witch, and The Teacher From The Black Lagoon. Even more massive is the 17-disc Treasure Of 100 Storybook Classics 2 (Scholastic, Not Rated, DVD-$99.95 SRP), containing scads of stories including the likes of Ralph S. Mouse and Corduroy.

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    It’s awkward to think about all of the families he was creating while On The Road (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP), but the episodes featured in the 3rd volume of Charles Kuralt’s venerated man in a camper series still stand as a fascinating time capsule of a less-hectic America fast fading into the past.

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    For anyone who feared that their favorite TV show, left partially-released on DVD, would never see those final seasons, Shout Factory has proven themselves a savior, as their latest batch of TV releases testifies – Titles like Leave It To Beaver: Season 4 (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$39.97 SRP), Designing Women: Season 4 (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$44.99 SRP), Mister Ed: Season 3 (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$39.97 SRP), The Facts Of Life: Season 5 (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$39.97 SRP), and Mad About You: Season 5 (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$29.93 SRP). Keep it up, Shout!

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    If you weren’t quick enough to grab the complete first season when it was available – or just want a cheaper alternative for a few episodes – the 4th volume of episodes from the first season of Scooby-Doo: Where Are You? (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) is now available, containing a quartet of episodes plus a bonus episode of Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get A Clue.

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    Try as they might, and as good as Jackie Earle Haley is in the role of Freddy Krueger, the remakagining of Nightmare On Elm Street (New Line, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) doesn’t quite capture the appeal of the original… An appeal, granted, that eluded me, but not as much as this cruder, blatantly opportunistic franchise cash-in. Bonus materials include an alternate opening/ending, an additional scene, and a featurette on the reimagining of Krueger.

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    I am clearly not the audience for Sex And The City 2 (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP), as the best way I can explain its plot is to say “Clothes, travel, ladyparts, clothes, sand, shoes, sex, clothes, friendship.” I may have left out clothes. Bonus features include an audio commentary, featurettes, and a look at the soundtrack with Alicia Keys.

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    The visual style was based on the artwork of Charles Addams, so there’s plenty to be said for Hanna-Barbera’s take on The Addams Family (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$20.96). Unfortunately, the stories never quite lived up to Addams brilliant dark humor, so it’s little wonder that the show lasted on 16 episodes, all of which can be found in this set, available exclusively from the Warner Archive.

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    I thought one sequel was pushing it, but the fact that we’re now on Lake Placid 3 (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP) absolutely baffles me. Giant alligators killing people is all well and good, but the only reason anyone even remembers the first film is because of Betty White. And she’s not here. What is here? More alligators.

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    Seeking to make sense of over a month of madness, everyone’s favorite intensely opinionated comedian returns with Surviving The Holidays with Lewis Black (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP), in which he looks at the history, customs, and culture that swamps us all.

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    A pair of classy shows make their way to high definition, with the highlight being the release of David Suchet as the titular detective in Poirot: Murder On The Orient Express (Acorn, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), with a bonus documentary featuring Suchet giving a tour of the legendary train. The second Blu-Ray release is Slings & Arrows: The Complete Collection (Acorn, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$79.99 SRP), featuring all 3 season of the darkly comic Canadian series about a Shakespearean theatre troupe.

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    I personally can’t stand the man or his reality series, but there are plenty of fans out there who will probably dive right into the Dog The Bounty Hunter: Wild Ride Megaset (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP), which contains 45 select episodes plus additional footage, specials, and featurettes.

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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 6/4/10: Life’s A Stooge

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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…)

    As a follow-up to the equally stunning Planet Earth, the BBC’s Life (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) is just as incredible in regards to the footage they were able to capture of the animals that populate this planet of ours. My only regret is that Americans are stuck with the crappy Oprah Winfrey narration, while the Brits get the far superior Sir David Attenborough.. Or so it was on TV. Thankfully, you get to choose what home video version you want. The 4-disc set contains behind-the-scenes video diaries, deleted scenes, and a music-only viewing option. A Blu-Ray edition ($69.99 SRP) is available with identical bonus materials, but a far, far superior picture.

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    So you want a stapler, hole punch, one meter ruler, precision scissors, ballpoint pen, screwdrivers (+/-), screwdriver socket, staple remover, and storage space for paper clips, all in container the size of a deck of cards? Well, the Tool Logic Office Assistant ($9.99) is the answer to the dream you never even knew you had, because it’s all in there. All of it.

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    I was worried that something would come along and derail Sony’s release of the complete theatrical shorts, but with The Three Stooges Collection: Volume Eight 1955-1959 (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$24.96 SRP), fans now have them all. This last set contains not only Shemp’s final shorts, but also the ones using the fake Shemp (where a stand-in and old footage allowed them to crank a few more Shemps out) and infamous Stooge replacement Joe Besser (famed for not wanting to be hit). Thank you, Sony, for getting them all out there.

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    If you’re beginning to jones for more Rifftrax shorts DVDs, you can get your fix from not one, but two new releases – Rifftrax Plays With Their Shorts & Shorts-A-Poppin’ (Legend Films, Not Rated, DVD-$9.95 each). Both discs feature 9 brand new shorts apiece, though by the time you reach the end, you’ll be counting the days until the next release.

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    There was a time when a Tim Burton film meant a fair deal of whimsy with a surprisingly strong core of emotion at its center. Alice In Wonderland (Walt Disney, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$44.99 SRP) is just a mess – as if Burton were simply hurling fistfuls of whimsy at you, all sound and fury. Nothing really hangs together as a narrative, and seems more like a superficial theme park ride of a flick. Sad, really. The 3-disc set contains over a dozen featurettes on the characters and behind-the-scenes, plus the always-welcome standard DVD as well.

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    Not only do you get the much desired original in high definition, but The Magnificent Seven Collection (MGM/UA, Not Rated/Rated G/Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$69.98 SRP) also contains the sequels Return Of The Magnificent Seven, Guns Of The Magnificent Seven, and The Magnificent Seven Ride!. The first film is loaded with an audio commentary, featurettes, trailers, and a still gallery.

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    Originally available as part of last year’s big Clint Eastwood box set, you can now get the Richard Schickel produced documentary The Eastwood Factor (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) all on its own. The documentary is a retrospective of Eastwood’s 35-year history at Warners. Think of it as a personal trip down memory lane, at his work both in front of and behind the camera.

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    They’re not quite up to the same snuff as the classic specials of the 60’s, but there’s still plenty of fun in the Peanuts: 1970’s Collection Volume 2 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which contains Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, You’re A Good Sport, Charlie Brown, It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown, What A Nightmare, Charlie Brown, It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown, and You’re The Greatest, Charlie Brown. The 2-disc set also contains a retrospective featurette.

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    Oh, History Channel – you’re not even bothering to do anything to do with hard history even more. You’ve become MTV, eager to throw up the next reality series, which you have with the garbage combers of American Pickers (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP). The 3-disc first season set contains all 12 episodes.

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    Fans jonesing for a hit of Meatwad, Frylock, and Master Shake can get their fix from Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume 7 (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP), which sports 11 episodes plus behind-the-scenes featurettes, Terror Phone II, and a featurette on the live action Carl.

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    I really hoped you would be able to pull it off, Joe Johnston. I mean, you had Benicio Del Toro as your lead, and a strong mythology behind it, but your new take on The Wolfman (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP) is just dull. You made a werewolf pic that just bored me to tears. It’s not bad. It’s not good. It just exists. Bonus materials include a pair of alternate endings, deleted/extended scenes, and featurettes.

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    When a shallow size zero supermodel dies in an accident and finds herself given the body of the recently-deceased Jane – a plus-sized attorney – you get Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$38.95 SRP). Surprisingly, it’s an affable, often funny series, even though I’d much rather have just seen a show about Jane. The first season set contains featurettes, deleted scenes, Dreamisodes, and more.

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    Recovering from some lost momentum, the third season of Burn Notice (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) turns back into the show we’ve all come to love. But really, as long as Bruce Campbell is back, all is good. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette and the show’s Comic-Con panel.

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    Insects are the order of the say in the new Sesame release Sesame Street: Firefly Fun and Buggy Buddies (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), as the Street (and kids!) gets to learn all about the world of creepy crawlies.

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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: 2009-04-15

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at Quick Stop. Every Wednesday, 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 TOP GEAR: THE COMPLETE 10th SEASON on DVD.

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

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

    In conjunction with Universal Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of FROST/NIXON on DVD.

    In conjunction with Miramax Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of SIN CITY on Blu-Ray.

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

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

    In conjunction with Universal Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of PILLOW TALK on DVD.

    In conjunction with Warner Bros. Home Video, we’re giving away four (4) copies of SNOOPY’S REUNION on DVD.

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

    In conjunction with Genius Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of ELMO & THE BOOKANEERS on DVD.

  • Win SNOOPY’S REUNION on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Warner Bros. Home Video, we’re giving away four (4) copies of SNOOPY’S REUNION on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, May 6th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop 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, May 6th.

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

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 10/10/08: Paging Dr. Spaceman

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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 Quick Stop Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

    As much as I loved the first season of 30 Rock, the second season (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) is pure genius. Although a truncated 15-episode season due to the writer’s strike, some of the episodes in that run should be added to the pantheon of sitcom greats – from Jack Donaghy’s (Alec Baldwin) one-man therapy session with Tracy Jordan, to the cast’s “Midnight Train To Georgia” musical number. The 2-disc set features audio commentaries, deleted scenes, a table read, a look at Tina Fey’s SNL hosting gig, an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Q&A, 30 Rock live at the UCB, and more.

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    I’ve described in the past my utter delight in gadgets that magnify things – going all the way back to childhood – and the ultimate high-end version of that is the Portable Digital Magnifier ($179.99). It’s a handheld device featuring a 2″ LCD screen and an LED-lit lens that magnifies objects from 5x-20x. You can even freeze the image on the screen. You can recharge the batteries via USB, providing hours and hours of giddy magnifying fun.

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    For criminy’s sake – it’s taken forever, but we in the US have FINALLY gotten a box set containing all of the various travel documentaries hosted by Python Michael Palin in the uber-wonderful Michael Palin Collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$249.98 SRP). The set features Hemingway Adventures/Great Railway Journeys, Full Circle, Pole To Pole, Around The World In 80 Days, Sahara, Himalaya, and New Europe. The titles are also available separately, if you just need to pick up the new stuff. Either way, GET THEM.

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    I can’t even begin to express just how delighted I am with the 50th anniversary edition of Orson Welles’ classic venture into film noir, Touch Of Evil (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). Maybe that’s because it contains three separate cuts of the film, fully restored and remastered – the heavily studio-edited theatrical version, the restored version (that matches Welles’ vision of the film), and a preview version that incorporates some of Welles’ requests. In addition, the set features audio commentaries on all 3 versions, a retrospective documentary, a look at the restoration process, and a full reproduction of the 58-page memo Welles sent to the studio.

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    It’s hard to believe that we’re already up to the fourth volume of The Three Stooges Collection (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP). What that means in the timeline is that we’re now in the period from 1943-1945 – which means that the next set should feature the final shorts featuring Curly Howard as one of the Stooges. For now, though, enjoy the trio’s golden period.

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    This makes the thirteenth or fourteenth time they’ve been released on DVD, but a trio of Alfred Hitchcock’s certifiable classics have been given remastered 2-disc special editions – Rear Window, Vertigo, and Psycho (Universal, Rated PG/PG/R, DVD-$26.98 SRP each). All 3 flicks are now packed with audio commentaries, documentaries, featurettes, interviews, trailers, and more.

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    Get all of your festive holiday specials with the Peanuts: Deluxe Holiday Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP), featuring the newly-remastered special editions of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Each disc features a new retrospective making-of featurette and bonus special, while A Charlie Brown Christmas also contains a song sampler.

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    Another of the classic – well, mostly classic – stop motion Rankin/Bass holiday specials makes its way to DVD with Jack Frost (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). How can you not watch a winter love story featuring the villainous Kubla Kraus the Cossack?

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    I can’t even begin to tell you how disappointed I am that – despite brilliant, newly remastered sound and picture – the new edition of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP) is practically featureless, save for a trio of episodes from the animated Beetlejuice and the isolated score track found on the original release. No commentary, no featurettes, no retrospective documentary – nothing that all the other Burton films have gotten. What’s up with that? If you just want to see the flick, I’d recommend you pick up the Blu-Ray edition ($34.99 SRP), where you can at least appreciate the sound and picture – ’cause that’s all you’re really getting in this release.

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    Although the story is rather flat and doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny, Sleeping Beauty (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP) is the one Disney film that I watch just to admire the visual design (due largely to designer Evinyd Earle) and the incredible 2:55 widescreen canvas. The new 2-disc 50th anniversary edition that is sparklingly clean and pops like a champagne cork. Bonus features include a never-before-seen alternate opening sequence, deleted songs, a new making-of documentary, an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and much more. But honestly, if you’ve got a player, I highly recommend you pick up the Blu-Ray edition ($34.99 SRP), as this is the first of the classic Disney films to get the high definition treatment – and it is a wonder to behold. I can only hope the other classics in the Disney library arrive quickly (though, knowing Disney’s history, it will be a long, slow trickle).

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    It seems like there’s no end to the classic Doctor Who adventures still in the vaults, as we get not only a Tom Baker adventure with The Brain Of Morbius (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP), but also the massive Colin Baker epic The Trial Of A Time Lord (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP). As usual for these anorak’s delights, they’re absolutely packed with commentaries, deleted scenes, interviews, featurettes, and much more.

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    Of a more recent vintage, there’s the animated Doctor Who: The Infinite Quest (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$9.98 SRP), featuring the David Tennant Doctor and companion Martha Jones as the traverse the universe on a quest to find an ancient starship. Bonus features include cast interviews, an animation test, featurettes, animatics, deleted scenes, and more.

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    Although launched as a Doctor Who spin-off aimed at the teen market, I find The Sarah Jane Adventures (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) – starring classic Who companion Liz Sladen – to be a much more enjoyable expansion of the franchise than the laughably awful Torchwood. Maybe it’s the snappy writing, maybe it’s the sense of intelligent fun, or maybe it’s just that the characters – and the actors playing them – are just enjoyable. Whatever it may be, check out the complete first season for yourself, featuring interviews, featurettes, outtakes, audio clips, and more.

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    As beautiful and memorable as it is, do not show Watership Down (Warner Bros., Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP) to a small child. Just don’t. The tears may dry, but the trauma lasts a lifetime… And that’s just the Art Garfunkel tune. The new edition is completely remastered, and features a conversation with the filmmakers, a featurette on the film’s visual style, and a storyboard-to-screen comparison.

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    Well, we’ve finally hit the wall. The eleventh season of The Simpsons (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) is the one I clearly remember as being the first of the just bad seasons, where the show turned into just a delivery system for gags and lost the charm and comedy of the early golden seasons. Still, the DVD set is worth picking up for the always-entertaining commentaries on every episode, plus deleted scenes and featurettes. Oh, and by the way – whose idea was it at Fox to cheap out and shove the discs into cardboard slots for this season? Thanks for all of the disc scratches, ya mooks. Now change it back.

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    Though I’m getting a bit tired of all of the South Park best-ofs that are coming down the pike, at least the 2-disc South Park: The Cult Of Cartman (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP) – which collects 12 Cartman-centric episodes – features newly-produced animation in the form of “Life Lessons” introduced by Cartman. Oh, and a sticker and official membership card.

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    From years of watching it during my frequent Nick at Nite binges when the block first began all those years ago, I have the theme tune to My Three Sons (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) burned into my brain. ACH! See, it’s in there now! ARGH!!! The first volume of the premiere season features 18 remastered episodes, and THAT THEME SONG!

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    There’s nothing like sparkling fresh Ray Harryhausen, and that’s exactly what you’ll see with the new 50th anniversary edition of The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad (Sony, Rated G, DVD-$19.94 SRP). Not only does the tale of high seas adventure and creatures galore look great, it’s also loaded with an audio commentary, retrospective featurettes on the film and Harryhausen, a spotlight on composer Bernard Herrman’s score, music videos, John Landis interviewing Harryhausen, and more.

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    Fill up your pre-Halloween viewing with the new Blu-Ray edition of The Omen Collection (Fox, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$129.98 SRP), featuring all 3 original tales of The Littlest Antichrist, plus the 2006 remake. The bonus materials are the same as those found on the standard DVD editions, including commentaries, featurettes, trailers, and more. I do want to mention, though, that Fox has chosen to package this multi-disc set in what is – by far – the cheapest, flimsiest packaging I’ve ver encountered for either a DVD or Blu-Ray release. It’s beyond cheap. Be sure you’re discs haven’t dislodged in transit before you buy, as they’re only held in place by a foam circle. C’mon, Fox.

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    Peyo’s little blue mushroom-dwelling creations are back in The Smurfs: Season One Volume Two (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), featuring another 20 smurfing episodes sure to smurf your smurfing smurf. The 2-disc set also features a featurette reflecting back on the show.

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    Not only does The Munsters: The Complete Series (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$69.98 SRP) contain all 70 episodes, but it also sports both feature-length movies (Munster, Go Home & The Munsters Revenge), the unaired pilot, A&E Biographies (on Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo, and Al Lewis), an in-depth documentary on the show, and the “Family Portrait” episode in color.

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    There have been dozens of releases featuring the numerous episodes that have moved into the public domain, but Paramount has finally put out the official second season set of The Beverly Hillbillies (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), featuring all 36 episodes. Bonus materials include the original episode sponsor openings and closings, Irene Ryan’s screen test, a clip from the 1963 CBS Fall Preview Show, a CBS network promo, and a Paul Henning interview.

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    Certainly on the “to give to my nephews” list this holiday season is Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Collection (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) – which features all 52 episodes houses in a Mach 5 tin. Bonus features include a featurette, an episode of Speed Racer: The Next Generation, and a look behind-the-scenes of Next Gen. Sure, the show is hokey and poorly animated – but it’s still got a lot of poppy pep.

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    Even over 20 years later, there’s no denying that Kathleen Turner’s performance in Body Heat (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$28.99 SRP) is certainly… memorable. Very memorable. As a film, it’s a nice little piece of modern film noir, written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan and co-starring William Hurt, and the new Blu-Ray edition features a nice high definition transfer, a trio of featurettes, vintage interviews with Turner & Hurt, and lifted scenes.

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    Most don’t think of the man in black when they think of the holiday season, but the Johnny Cash Christmas Specials: 1976-7979 box set (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) proves that false, with 66 star-studded performances of hits and festive treats.

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    Set in 1945 on a navy cargo ship far from battles in the Pacific theater, Mister Roberts (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$24.99 SRP) is the Tony-Award winning play that – in this remarkable live TV production – finds Robert Hays cast as Lt. Doug Roberts, who longs to see real action but instead finds himself butting heads with the dictatorial Captain (Charles Durning). Rounding out the cast are Howard Hesseman and a young Kevin Bacon, this is quite a gem from the vaults.

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    You know when a band puts out a lackluster EP of material that’s been sitting around, as a stop-gap instead of releasing a new album? That’s exactly what Michael Moore’s Slacker Uprising (Disinformation, Not Rated, DVD-$9.95 SRP) feels like, as it’s essentially material cobbled together from his “Get Out The Vote” tour for the 2004 presidential election. It’s available for free on the internet, but the DVD loads up with 9 additional featurettes.

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    Has it really been that long since the last Robot Chicken (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) box set? It must be, because the complete third season is now available, featuring 20 new episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, animatics, a studio your, video blogs, a gag reel, and more.

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    The ragtag band of global crimefighters led by Jim Phelps returns in the complete fifth season of Mission: Impossible (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP). This season features the addition of castmember Lesley Warren as Dana Lambert. The 6-disc set features all 23 episodes of DUH-duh-duh-DUH-duh-duh action.

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    A must-have from the vaults, be sure to pick up and give a spin to the 1945 adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Portrait Of Dorian Gray (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.97 SRP), starring George Sanders, Angela Lansbury, and Peter Lawford. Bonus features include an audio commentary, a theatrical short, the theatrical cartoon Quiet Please, and the theatrical trailer.

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    Even the kiddies with their eyes normally glued to Nickelodeon can begin celebrating the holidays with Wonder Pets!: Save The Nutcracker and Dora The Explorer: Dora Celebrates Three Kings Day! (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP each).

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    I must admit, I was surprised that Brotherhood (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) – about a pair of brothers on opposite ends of the criminal scale – made it back for a second season. It never really caught my eye, even though I thought the premise was interesting. Well, the second season does gel a bit more, even if it was cut short by the writer’s strike. The 3-disc set features all 10 episodes, plus the season 3 premiere of Dexter.

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    The only reaction that I got from M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening (Fox, Rated R, DVD-$29.99 SRP) is just how much I’ve come to loathe M. Night Shyamalan. That, and the fact that his eco-terror mystery flick is so insipidly written and executed that it makes The Day After Tomorrow feel like Citizen Kane. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, a quintet of behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a gag reel. A Blu-Ray edition ($39.99 SRP) is also available, featuring the same bonus materials, and the same bleh flick but much prettier.

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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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