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…)
Every once in awhile, those endearingly insane purveyors of must-have collectibles at Sideshow decide to go truly bonkers and produce a massive collectible that hits every single nostalgia button with brutal accuracy. As they had recently announced they’d be releasing Hoth versions of Luke and Han in their 1/6-scale Star Wars line, it wasn’t truly shocking that they announced a 1/6-scale Tauntaun ($349.99), but it was most welcome nonetheless. Why? Because it’s friggin’ delightful. Yes, it’s essentially a static diorama statue – pretty much a display accessory – but it looks perfect and is perfectly complementary. And it’s just fun. With a pair of swappable heads (mild and excited expressions), swappable horns (so you can make it either Han or Luke’s specific mount), and equipment accessories, it’s kitted out to be screen accurate. But because Han and Luke haven’t arrived yet, I’ve had to let a whole slew of other characters have a go. Because… you know… FUN.
There have been many books that purported to present the definitive history of the original Star Trek. Much like Roshomon, many presented a perspective on the show’s genesis. But we’ve finally got a complete overview that incorporates all of those memories plus original memos, documents, and interviews and places them in a comprehensive context with the publication of the third and final volume of These Are The Voyages (Jacobs Brown, $39.95 SRP). Each of the three volumes has focused on a season of TOS, and this final volume sheds light on why Classic Trek‘s final season proved to be such a disappointing creative mess, full of behind-the-scenes conflict and compromise. Author Marc Cushman has done the if not impossible, then very nearly improbable feat of remaining neutral while presenting the facts, tales, anecdotes, and recollections behind one of the most enduring pop phenomenon of the 20th century – and beyond. Be sure to get all three volumes.
While not brilliant, Jon Stewart’s Rosewater (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.98 SRP) is a solid drama that deserves a second look and long life on home video, divorced of the ridiculously high expectations and paradoxical indifference that greeted it in theaters, as Gael Garcia Bernal turns in a strong performance as Tehran-born but London-based journalist Maziar Bahari, who is detained by the Iranian government as a spy and turned over to the titular brutal interrogator. Bonus materials include a clutch of featurettes.
It seems ridiculous that there’s never been one until now, but if we had to wait for a documentary celebrating the life and madness of Richard Pryor, then it’s comforting to know that Omit The Logic (Magnolia, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$13.49 SRP) was worth the wait, featuring an unvarnished look at a destructive genius. Bonus materials include additional interviews.
While it would be foolish to deny that the only reason we’re getting the tome is to provide cross-promotion of the new live action Cinderella feature, A Wish Your Heart Makes (Disney Editions, $40.00 SRP) is still a welcome addition to the shelves of anyone who loves traditional Disney animation, as nearly half its length is devoted to the development and creation of that classic. And yes, the other half is devoted to the new feature, directed by Kenneth Branagh. Oh, and as a wonderful complementary piece, they’ve also re-released the beautiful children’s book adaptation of the animated Cinderella (Disney Press, $16.99 SRP), adapted by Cynthia Rylant with art by the legendary Mary Blair.
We march ever closer to the next glorious high-def season release with the arrival of the latest stopgap fix of episodes, Adventure Time: Frost & Fire (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$19.82 SRP), sporting another 16 episodes, from “Frost & Fire” to “Thanks For The Cranapples, Giuseppe”.
While it has to take comfort in its 5 Academy Award nominations, Foxcatcher (Sony, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) doesn’t need an Oscar to remain a dark and powerfully acted tale of misguided passion as it tells the true story of an eccentric multimillionaire (Steve Carrell) and a pair of champion wrestlers (Channing Tatum & Mark Ruffalo). Bonus materials include a featurette and deleted scenes.
After a forever gap that seems to have afflicted many a classic catalogue TV show that began getting a DVD release in the early years of the format, Warner Bros. gets the ball rolling again on another forgotten series with ChiPs: The Complete Third Season (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP). The 5 disc set contains all 23 episodes.
I don’t know if I’d agree with its claim to be the best British rock concert of all time, but the line-up featured in 1990’s charity performance Live At Knebworth (Eagle Vision, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$17.98 SRP) is certainly incredible, including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Tears For Fears, Genesis, Robert Plant, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, and more.
The Warner Archive continues to be the afterlife savior of criminally ignored shows by releasing the complete 3rd season of Longmire (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$40.99 SRP). The set also include a featurette on the character and plot developments of season 2 so you can get up to speed.
Kinder entertainment for this week brings a pair of tiny tyke titles from Nickelodeon – Paw Patrol: Marshall And Chase On The Case (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP) and the 2-disc Bubble Guppies: Fin-Tastic Collection (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$22.98 SRP), which packages together the previously available Bubble Guppies and On The Job.
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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