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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…)

Universal continues to impress with their high definition100th anniversary celebration, leading off this week with a lovely restoration of The Sting (Universal, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.98 SRP), reuniting Robert Redford and Paul Newman as a pair of 1930’s conmen who plot revenge against the mob after their friend is killed. Also available is a pair of catalogue releases – Erin Brockovich (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP) and the long-awaited Smokey And The Bandit (Universal, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$19.98 SRP).

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Here’s a fun one for the kiddies. Help them spruce up otherwise pedestrian LEGO creations with the LEGO-compatible Brick Brites ($9.99 SRP). Each package features a pair of standard-size bricks that are jam-packed with flashy LEDs. How’s that for a little punch?

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The biggest crime perpetrated by John Carter (Walt Disney, Rated PG-13, 3D Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP) is that it forgot its pulp roots (as evidenced by the last-minute axing of the “Of Mars” in the title) and largely forgot to wrap up a fair share of the plot threads it starts. It’s a shame, really, because there was so much potential in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ tale of a war-weary Civil War captain who finds himself transported into the middle of a conflict on Mars. Even flawed, it’s still worth a watch, particularly in 3D. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, bloopers, and more.

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Want to see a show properly blow itself up without going off the rails? Look no further than the brilliant fourth season of Breaking Bad (Sony, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$65.99 SRP), which does just that. In fact, I won’t even spoil it, suffice to say you should see it. Immediately. Bonus materials include uncensored episodes, audio commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more.

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Available for the first time in widescreen and in high definition, as well, Hondo (Paramount, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) stars John Wayne as cavalry rider Hondo Lane, who is designated to protect a homesteader and her young son against warring Native American tribes while her brutish husband is away. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and more.

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See what Sookie and her sultry & sallow supernatural pals have been up to in balmy Bon Temps in the complete 4th season of True Blood (HBO, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$79.98 SRP). It’s basically fangs, butts, and boobs. But you probably knew that. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, and more.

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Even though he said it was over, Larry David returned with an 8th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), which found Larry living it up as a bachelor and living in New York City – and suffering from every possible faux pas you can imagine. Bonus materials include a roundtable discussion with the cast and a featurette.

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You certainly couldn’t do the show today short of an all-CG affair, but I always enjoyed the offbeat Mod fun of the all-simian 60’s spy comedy Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp (Film Chest, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP), which is getting a 3-disc release of all 17 episodes, plus bonus materials including interviews and even a documentary. It’s a fun romp.

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Sometimes you need a nicely goofball series like Workaholics (Comedy Central, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP), about a trio of friends fresh out of college who share both a house and a workplace – a workplace in which they perform that most awful job, telemarketing. This set contains both seasons 1 & 2, plus commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more.

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The fine folks at Mill Creek continue to roll out the Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures high definition catalogue releases with another clutch of mid-range titles for very low prices – this time including Eddie Murphy in Holy Man (Touchstone, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$9.99 SRP), Gwyneth Paltrow & Huey Lewis in Duets (Hollywood Pictures, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$9.99 SRP), Meryl Streep & Liam Neeson in Before And After (Hollywood Pictures, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$9.99 SRP), Ellen Degeneres & Bill Pullman in Mr. Wrong (Touchstone, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$9.99 SRP), and finally the immortal teaming of Danny Glover & Joe Pesci in Gone Fishin’ (Hollywood Pictures, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$9.99 SRP).

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Fun and games for the kiddie set abound in Team Umizoomi: Umigames (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98SRP), the latest DVD release from the Nickelodeon series, which features an additional trio of bonus episodes.

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If you want a clear example of how to start a big concept series with a resounding thud, look no further than the stillborn Falling Skies (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP), which never managed to muster much enthusiasm for its should have been interesting concept of a crippled Earth trying to pull itself back together after an alien attack. Sad, really. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, and more.

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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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