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’s the last of their live recordings from November’s run of shows in Los Angeles, but they’ve certainly saved the best till the end – Cinematic Titanic’s Danger On Tiki Island (Cinema Titan, Not Rated, DVD-$14.99) is the Titans operating at the top of their game, tearing into a terrible little gem about pathetic people sort of fighting in the direction of mutant monsters on a South Pacific island populated by stalkers, virgins, and midgets. Also delightful? A brief bonus documentary with the CT crew. I hope future discs can do more of this.
Want to be able to put your cellphone or Flip camera just about anywhere? Well, you pretty much can using the incredible gripping ability of the GorillaMobile stand ($29.99), which features a trio of sectional legs that wrap around practically anything.
The latest in the line of must-have production art books from the fine folks at Pixar and Chronicle is, of course, The Art Of Toy Story 3 (Chronicle Books, $40.00 SRP). Packed to the brim with art and behind-the-scenes information from every stage of production (including spoilers), it needs to be on your shelf. Now.
Fans who have been wondering when Universal would finally bring their spiffy remastered edition of Flash Gordon (Universal, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP) to high definition need wonder no more, as it has arrived, and it looks even spiffier. It also ports over the featurettes and classic Flash serial found on the original release. Also being released on the same day – consider it a bonus – is Sam Raimi’s Darkman (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP) which has, unfortunately, no bonus materials to speak of.
It’s been a long, long, LONG wait, but fans can now pick up the complete 3rd season of Leave It To Beaver (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$39.97 SRP). The 6-disc set contains all 39 episodes, completely remastered, plus a radio interview with Jerry Mathers & Frank Bank.
I’ve been a big fan of the Playing For Change music project since I first heard about it last year, as most people did, via the brilliant viral video of artists worldwide doing a jam session on “Stand By Me”. The latest release from the project is Playing For Change Live (Playing For Change Records, $18.98 SRP), a DVD/CD combo compiling performances from the concerts in LA, Vancouver, Madrid, and Glastonbury.
Now that the series has been released in its entirety, it’s only left to mop things up and release MacGyver: The TV Movies (Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$19.99 SRP), which collects the two post-series telefilms – Lost Treasure Of Atlantis and Trail Of Doomsday.
When all else in the world is uncertain, one can always rely on the complete, unadulterated, glorious crapfest that is Showgirls (MGM, Rated NC-17, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), whose fleshy cruddity is now available in high definition. The 15th anniversary edition features an audio commentary, pole & lapdancing featurettes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a bonus standard edition DVD.
Backfilling your TV series collection in HD is obviously the new thing to drain your wallet dry, and with that in mind I’m sure fans will be picking up Supernatural: The Complete First Season (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP). The 4-disc set contains all 22 episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, and a brand-new addition of the Paley Festival panel discussion.
I don’t know why last year seemed to bring out the post-apocalyptic flicks, but The Book Of Eli (Warner Bros., Rated R, Blu-Ray-$35.99 SRP) certainly falls into that category, as it stars Denzel Washington as the titular Eli who carries the titular book, which can either save society or destroy it. I won’t say if that book is Hop On Pop. The 2-disc set contains a trio of featurettes, additional scenes, an animated short, and a standard DVD copy of the film.
Really, the only reason for watching the otherwise toothless romantic comedy When In Rome (Touchstone, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is the always fun, funny Kristen Bell, who co-stars as a woman who finds an unexpected crush when her sister’s wedding finds her in the titular Italian city. Bonus materials include an alternate opening/ending, a featurette, deleted scenes, bloopers, and music videos.
OD on animated sitcoms from Seth MacFarland by picking up not only the 8th volume of Family Guy (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), but also the 5th volume of American Dad (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). Family Guy contains audio commentaries, deleted scenes, a featurette, and karaoke. American Dad sports audio commentaries, deleted scenes, trivia, and a drinking game.
Harrison Ford as a reclusive medical researcher? Sure, I’ll buy that. Brendan Fraser as an idealistic dad desperate to find a cure for his children’s rare genetic disorder before it’s too late? Okay. Is Harrison Ford awake in Extraordinary Measures (Sony, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$34.95 SRP)? Mostly! It’s a button-pushing emotional rollercoaster, but at least it’s watchable. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes.
It’s been awhile since his last comedy special, but Black is back with a new album – Lewis Black: Black Is Back (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP). It’s Black as beautifully bile-filled as you’d expect him to be. It’s also available on CD (Comedy Central Records, $12.98 SRP).
It doesn’t have quite the budget of Primordial, but Sanctuary (E1, Not Rated, DVD-$44.98 SRP) does cover the same monster squad territory, with a group of specialists out to investigate and protect strange and terrifying creatures from around the globe. The 4-disc set contains all 13 episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, video diaries, outtakes, and a gallery.
I think it was during Youth In Revolt (Sony, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$34.95 SRP) that I’d finally had enough of Michael Cera. His one-note performances had been getting increasingly grating since the highs of Arrested Development, but while starring as straightlaced but odd teen Nick Twisp, whose vacation attempt to woo a pretty girl makes him adopt a suave but destructive alter ego (with a mustache), I’d just had enough of him. The flick itself has some energy, but not enough to overcome the black hole that is Cera. I hope Scott Pilgrim slaps some life into him. Bonus materials on this disc include audio commentary, deleted scenes, deleted/extended animated sequences, and audition footage.
Leave it to that good ol’ golden retriever to make sure he gets in on the sports action with Air Bud: World Pup (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), in which the pooch give soccer a spin. Bonus materials include commentary from the Buddies, and a production featurette.
Really, the only thing that makes the fourth season of The Secret Life Of The American Teenager (ABC Family, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP) is the continued presence of Molly Ringwald as the main character’s mother. Yes. She’s playing a mother. A mother! The 3-disc state contains all 12 episodes, plus a pair of featurettes.
Adults (and even kids) have been eagerly awaiting the next installment from their trippy friends who dance around to music and stuff, and now they can pick up Yo Gabba Gabba! Clubhouse (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP), which contains a quartet of episodes.
Always one of those inoffensive, rather forgettable WB shows, I could never bring myself to watch Everwood (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). But for those that did, the complete third season is now available, whose 5-disc boxset contains all 22 episodes plus outtakes.
It may be on the pricey side, but there are some collectibles that cross beyond the threshold of cool to the rarified realm of sublime, and I’d have to say that’s the case for the 13″+ Robby The Robot ($429.99). Not only is it a faithful reproduction of the Forbidden Planet icon, but it also lights up when it speaks. That’s right – it speaks multiple lines from the film. If that weren’t enough, an extra level of cool is added when you take the head off and find a 12″ figure operating the “robot” for a meta surprise. If you have the ability to snap this up, do so.
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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Oh no! Just when you thought it was safe to hang out at the FRED…
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
