(KUTV) It's that time of year when we all find ourselves aimlessly wandering around stores and clicking through websites looking for the perfect gift. Here's a selection of ideas culled from recently released DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, books, collectibles and other oddities with a few classics thrown in for good measure. There's a little bit of everything for everyone here.
New releases, crowd pleasers and highly recommended titles
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is quite the juggernaut as "Captain America: Civil War" managed to bring in $1.1 billion and currently holds the top spot for the highest grossing film of 2016. Marvel's success hasn't been limited to the cinema and "Daredevil: The Complete First Season" is a testament to the studio's desire to provide a wide array of content as it delivers a darker and more mature glimpse into the gritty aspects of the comic book catalog. Speaking of gritty, Chris Pine's performance in the critically acclaimed "Hell or High Water," a modern western from the writer of "Sicario" co-starring Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges.
If you're looking for something less weighty, I'd recommend "The Legend of Tarzan," a fun summer romp, the entertaining remake of "The Magnificent Seven" (available 12/20), the extended cut of "The Martian," the magical sequel "Now You See Me 2" or the shark terror of "The Shallows."
For those receiving or who already own 4K televisions, "The Legend of Tarzan," "The Magnificent Seven," "The Martain: Extended Edition," "Now You See Me 2" and "The Shallows" are all available on 4K Ultra HD.
J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World: books, games and collectibles
Anyone who knows me can attest that I love J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World and that one of the big thrills of 2016 was being invited to interview the cast of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
While in New York I also was given the opportunity to look through a lot of the collectibles that have been produced in conjunction with the release of the film. Everything from Funko Pop Figures to wands, scarves, coloring books, a screenplay and video games and so much more. Here are a few of my favorite gifting options.
I had a hands-on experience with the "LEGO Dimensions: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," which was ridiculously fun, but doesn't quite surpass the entertainment value found in the "Harry Potter Collection" that covers the entire Harry Potter story line.
Coloring books are all the rage (and there will be many more to follow on this list) and Funko's collection of "Fantastic Beasts" figures capture the whimsy of the film perfectly. Just be warned that the Niffler comes in three different syles with the Hot Topic and Target exclusives being the most difficult to find.
Star Wars: Movies, Games, books and collectibles
The film franchise that I owe my love of cinema to is and will always be "Star Wars. LucasFilm recently released "Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Collector's Edition," a Blu-ray collection that includes the 3D version of the film along with new bonus features. Other DVD and Blu-ray releases include the kid-friendly "LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures" (available 12/6) and the second season of the fantastic animated series "Star Wars Rebels."
Those looking for a more interactive experience should consider "LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens" or the new edition of "Star Wars: Battlefront - Ultimate Edition" that includes all the additional content including character maps from the upcoming film "Rogue One."
For those looking to prepare themselves for the release of "Rogue One," might I suggest picking up James Luceno's "Star Wars: Catalyst - A Rogue One Novel" or if you want to start to fill in the gap that exists between "Return of the Jedi" and "The Force Awakens" why not pick up Claudia Gray's "Bloodline," a novel that explores what Princess Leia was up to after the destruction of the second Death Star.
Those that prefer comics and graphic novels would enjoy "Ahsoka" by E. K. Johnston and Jason P. Wojtowicz;the hardcover collection "Star Wars: Heroes For a New Hope," which collects the recent solo adventures of Chewbacca, Princes Leia and Lando Calrissian; "Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Shattered Empire," another exploration of events between Episode VI and VII and "Star Wars: The Complete Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 3," the final volume that collects stories from the original Marvel comic run from the 1980s.
Those looking for behind-the-scenes gossip from the original trilogy will enjoy the uncensored recollections from Princess Leia herself, Carrie Fisher, in her new memoir "The Princess Diarist."
X-Men and Deadpool: Movies
Detail is everything and the recently released 4K Ultra HD releases of "X-Men: Apocalypse," "X-Men: First Class" and "Deadpool" (because who wouldn't want extra sauce with their chimichanga) give you just that. Those yet to make the upgrade to 4K could always pick up the "Deadpool" Christmas re-release featuring a new slip sleeve and holiday photo card or "X-Men: Beginnings Trilogy" which collects "First Class," "Days of Future Past" and "Apocalypse" in one volume.
Marvel: Collected works
I grew up in the 1980s and almost by default that makes me a fan of "The Uncanny X-Men" thanks to Chris Claremont's run on the title. "The Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Vol. 3" features a selection of "X-Men" titles primarily from 1981-1983.
Elsewhere we have two "Daredevil" collections focusing on Frank Miller's run; "Doctor Strange Omnibus Vol. 1," for those looking to learn more about the origin of Marvel's latest cinematic triumph; "Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Omnibus Vol. 1" for those looking to prepare for the upcoming Netflix series "The Defenders;" "Mighty Thor Vol. 1: Thunder in Her Veins," a collected look at Jason Aaron's landmark twist on the classic character and "Death of Wolverine," a slightly older release, but one that every devoted comic book fan should own (if it included the Nightcrawler and Captain America and Deadpool tie-ins it would be perfect).
HBO: New releases and streaming services
Once upon a time HBO reinvented modern television by introducing the sort of programming that couldn't or wouldn't be shown on traditional stations. In the decades that have followed, HBO has continued to reshape the television landscape. It's most recent releases are no exception. Newly released is "Game of Thrones: The Complete Seasons 1-6" as well as "Game of Thrones: The Complete Sixth Season" for those who have been playing along since the beginning. Outside of the fantastic fantasy series HBO offers "Looking: The Complete Series + Movie," which follows a group of friends living in San Francisco and the critically acclaimed miniseries "The Night Of" about a young man accused of a murder he doesn't believe he committed.
Those wanting to keep on top of all of HBO's original programming would certainly appreciate a HBO NOW gift card, the streaming service for viewers looking to disconnect from their cable company.
Game of Thrones: limited edition steel books and collectibles
The limited edition steel books were just released for "Game of Thrones" seasons five and six as Best Buy exclusives. Not only do these sets feature some of the coolest packaging ever, these Blu-ray collections also include a Dolby Atmos option for those will high-end audio equipment. For collectors there is a wide selection clothes, goblets, figures and other collectibles available. I personally think no home is complete without a Cersei Lannister to torment it.
Star Trek: Celebrating 50 years of Gene Roddenberry's classic series
Fifty years ago Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek" television debut introduced us to the crew of the Starship Enterprise; sci-fi has never been the same since. To celebrate Paramount pictures released a fantastic box set "Star Trek 50th Anniversary TV and Movie Collection" featuring the original television series, the animated series that followed and the first six films (including the director's cut of "The Wrath of Khan'). Sadly, they didn't include digital codes with this otherwise perfect set. But that's not all Paramount is blessing us with this year! We also had "Star Trek Beyond," a wildly fun adventure that put the film franchise back on track. You'll just have to decide if you want the film in 4K, 3D, traditional Blu-ray or DVD. To cap off the year Paramount is releasing "The Roddenberry Vault" (available 12/13), a collection of behind-the-scenes footage, alternate takes, deleted scenes and and omitted dialogue.
Doctor Who: New releases and collectibles
Outside of "Star Trek," few franchises from the 1960s can boast that they've not only existed in one form or another for more than 50 years. "Doctor Who" can also boast that it has managed to be delightfully kitsch, nostalgic and relevant despite changing the actor behind its lead character numerous times. In fact, you can attribute much of the series' success on its ability to reinvent itself. So let's celebrate this holiday season with a collection of tree ornaments, a Tardis full of Christmas specials or the newly released "Doctor Who: Monsters Gift Set" and a Funko Pop of Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor.
Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman
"Suicide Squad" surpassed box office expectations by bringing in nearly $750 million worldwide. December 13 marks the release of film's extended cut on Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD. If you're buying for a particularly obsessive fan, you might want to consider the Amazon exclusive version that comes with a Harley Quinn figurine (a version with Deadshot is also available for compulsive Will Smith fans). I'd also recommend checking out the extended version of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," available on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD and Digital Download, as it improves the film in a variety of ways. It's still going to be divisive, but at least some of the narrative choices make more sense.
Harley Quinn: Books and collectibles
Speaking of Harley Quinn, DC has a variety of figurines, comics and coloring books available. If you're feeling particularly generous you could gift "DC Comics Gotham City Garage Harley Quinn Statue," which will run you $200-300. There's also a life-sized "Arkham City" figure, she'll cost you $1,000.
Batman: Books and collectibles
Harley might be stealing a lot of the attention these days, but Batman still rules Gotham and DC's release of Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade" as well as "Absolute Batman Year One," which features both the original graphic novel and the process color edition of the original newsprint comics along with a complete script, will be high on any fan's list. Then again, why not pick up a copy of "Batman: Hush -Coloring Book" and be the first to dress the caped crusader in a rainbow array of colors (sorry, its already been done, keep reading). If it's collectibles you are after, I recommend the absurd "Joker Fish" plush toy, the "Deluxe Batmobile with 2-Pack" featuring the fancy car, a Bat signal and Batman and Robin figures in the style of "Batman: The Animated Series." If you really want to go the extra mile (and happen to have a fancy library and a large lacquered desk) you could always pick up the gorgeous 20" brass Batman statue. Act quick, there were only 100 were made and it will cost you a mere $5,000.
DC Universe: Television and animated originals
Moving on to DC's selection of television hits and a trio of animated releases. Those wishing to dive into the "Arrowverse" (essentially the interconnected television shows on CW) we have the latest seasons of "Arrow," "Supergirl," "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" and "The Flash." Fox's second season of "Gotham," which stands lonesome and apart from the other television programs, is also available.
On the animated front there is the very adult adaptation of "Batman: The Killing Joke," a somewhat controversial adaptation of Alan Moore's incredibly dark take on The Joker's origins; a family-friendly "Batman: The Return of the Caped Crusaders," featuring the voice talents of Adam West and Burt Ward from the classic television series and "DC Comics Collection: Volume Two" featuring four animated features and the graphic novels that inspired them. This set includes "The Dark Knight Returns," "Justice League: Throne of Atlantis," "Superman/Batman: Public Enemies" and "Batman: Under the Red Hood."
Wonder Woman: Celebrating 75 years of Diana Prince
This year marks the 7th anniversary of Wonder Woman and DC is celebrating with the release of a variety of books and collectibles including "Wonder Woman: A Celebration of 75 Years," a hardcover book featuring stories culled from the character's extensive history, "Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Box Set," featuring even more popular stories featuring Diana Prince as well as a coloring book and "Wonder Woman: The True Amazon," the new graphic novel by Jill Thompson.
DC Comic Bombshells: Your favorite heroines with a retro-retrofit
In 2011 the world was introduced to the "DC Comics: Bombshells," a selection of DC heroines styled in 1940s fashion. Initially the designs were used for collectibles and variant comic covers, but more recently the popularity of the franchise led to its own series. "DC Comics: Bombshells Vol. 1: Enlisted" and "DC Comics: Bombshells Vol. 2: Allies" feature the bulk of the series' narrative in softcover. A hardcover book, "The Art of DC Comics Bombshells," which offers a visual history of the brand, would look fantastic on any coffee table. A wide range of collectibles are available as well, with more scheduled to come in 2017 (including its first male character, Aquaman).
DC and Vertigo Comics: New releases, collector's editions and collectibles
Elsewhere DC brings us a "Watchmen Collector's Edition Slipcase Set,"a hardcover release that presents Alan Moore's story and Dave Gibbons' art in twelve volumes reflecting the way the story was originally released; "DC Universe Rebirth Omnibus" (available 12/13/), which collects the stories from DC's soft reboot from earlier this year; as well as the Vertigo imprint's "The Sheriff of Babylon" and "Twilight Children." On December 21, just in time for Christmas, DC and IDW team up for "Love is Love," a special release dedicated to the victims killed in the Orlando Pulse shooting earlier this year. All proceeds will be donated to victims, survivors, and their families. In the meantime you can pick up a "Rainbow Batman Action Figure 6-Pack."
DC Super Hero Girls: Books, movies and collectibles
Earlier this year DC launched the "DC Super Hero Girls" title for younger readers that follows the likes of Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Harley Quinn as they try to navigate their way through high school. Two collections and a animated movie released in August provide a fantastic introduction to the girls. A variety of toys are also available including figures inspired by Darwyn Cooke's classic designs.
Jason Bourne: The new film on DVD, Blu-ray and the whole franchise on 4K Ultra HD
Matt Damon returned to the "Bourne" franchise this year for "Jason Bourne." Universal brings "Jason Bourne" to DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD. Universal will also be releasing the previous four films. "The Bourne Identity," "The Bourne Supremacy," "The Bourne Ultimatum" and the Jeremy Renner spin-off "The Bourne Legacy," on 4K Ultra HD. The films in the franchise that stand the chance of showing the most improvement in detail are "Jason Bourne" and "The Bourne Idenity." The other three films will be upconverted from from 2K sources. This should, assuming they've done their job, include a more realistic range of color across all five titles when compared to the Blu-ray releases.
Ghostbusters: Collectibles and films past and present on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD
No one's childhood was ruined this summer when Sony rebooted "Ghostbusters" with an all-female cast. It did create a rather toxic environment and ultimately probably did impact the film's bottom line as Paul Feig's film managed only $229 million worldwide despite featuring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and a breakout performance from Kate McKinnon. I liked the film and I love that Sony was kind enough to release the extended and theatrical versions of the film that a package that includes 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and Digital HD(you can also buy it on just Blu-ray or DVD if you prefer). Unfortunately the set doesn't include the extended version of the film on Digital HD. Show your support by picking up a few Funko Pop figures. F.Y.E. has an exclusive 4-pack.
Those who prefer the original films have also been treated to 4K Ultra HD versions of both "Ghostbusters" and "Ghostbusters II." Over the years Sony has vastly improved the image quality on their "Ghostbuster" releases. Every release has looked better than the prior version and the 4K scans are no exception. Some of the special effects haven't aged as well as one would like, but the film still looks spectacular.
The Hunger Games: Now available in 4K Ultra HD
Lionsgate is also treating fans to 4K versions of all four films from the "The Hunger Games" franchise. The newest entries, "Mockingjay Part 1" and "Mockingjay Part 2," show the greatest amount of increased detail, but all four films are noticeably sharper than their 1080p Blu-ray releases. I expected "Catching Fire" to look slightly better than it does, but the overall improvement is worth it for videophiles. The films are readily available separately, but if you want the entire collection in one set you'll have to visit Best Buy.
Independence Day: Collector's sets, DVDs, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD
I'll be the first to admit that I didn't care for "Independence Day: Resurgence" as director Roland Emmerich failed to replicate any of the campy fun of the first film. I can tell you that that Fox's newly released Blu-ray of the original film looks exceptional and the Collector's Edition is particularly cool in that it includes a replica of the alien craft. I haven't seen the 4K release of the original film, but the reviews have been enthusiastic.
Comedy: Select titles from the mainstream to the art house
I didn't particularly warm up to Seth Rogen's raunchy "Sausage Party," but the box office numbers suggest that a few million people disagree with my assessment as the film made nearly $100 million in America alone. However, I did enjoy "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" as it proved that mocking the vapid nature of the fashion industry can still be funny (sorry, "Zoolander 2" was a disaster). Even better is the Sundance Festival hit "Hunt for the Wilderpeople," a hilarious film from Taika Waititi about a particularly difficult orphan who is sent to live in the backwoods of New Zealand.
Shifting back to mainstream cinema we have the extremely popular "Bad Moms," a rather adult comedy about a group of mothers who embark on a journey of debauchery starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn.
Fans of Will Ferrell will want to check out the 10th anniversary "Big Hairy American Winning Edition" release of "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" as it features 90 minutes of new bonus material.
Family Films: Recent releases from Disney and Pixar
Pardon me for a moment while I get up on a soapbox. While "The BFG" isn't Steven Spielberg at his best, it is a whole lot better than its worldwide box office total of $178 million suggests. I don't like to beg, but I'd love to see "The BFG" find success as it debuts on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital HD.
Pixar's "Finding Dory" didn't need any help at the box office as it cleared $1 billion and currently sits as the second highest grossing film of 2016. I liked the film, but wanted to be a little more emotionally involved.
Disney also recently released the 3D version of their live-action remake of "The Jungle Book," which just happens, for the time being, to be the fourth highest grossing film of 2016.
One of the films I feel like I was too hard on this year was Disney's live-action remake of "Pete's Dragon." I didn't like the changes that were made to the story and felt like I was being forced to revisit the same story presented in "The Jungle Book" and "The Legend of Tarzan" with diminishing results. I've since slightly softened on the film and appreciate what the filmmakers were trying to do. It's not nearly as magical as I would have liked, but it is closer than I originally gave it credit for.
Every year someone asks me if Disney is going to ever re-release "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas" on Blu-ray. Well, this year they have, but you'll need to join the Disney Movie Club to get it.
Family Films: Favorite selections of recently released titles old and new
My favorite animated film of 2016 is "Kubo and the Two Strings." For as much as I enjoyed "Zootopia," the distance between the two is considerable as "Kubo" presents a beautiful story with Eastern influences that feels original, vibrant and mystical. Sadly, the film wasn't a huge box office success earning $69 million against a $60 million budget.
Another film that flew under the radar is the animated steampunk film "April and the Extraordinary World." The story follows April, a young girl, who is searching for her parents who have disappeared along with all the other scientists of the world.
Going back in time we have a wonderful new Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD re-release of Jim Henson's "Labyrinth" starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. I've revisited "Labyrinth" numerous times over the years and it has never looked as good as it does now. I wish I had aged this well over the last 30 years.
We also have a "Peanuts Double Feature" that includes the classic "Snoopy Come Home" and "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" and Shout! Factory's re-release of the animated "Transformers" The Movie," that was released some 30 years ago (apparently 1986 was a very good year). A lot of love went into the new transfer and it shows.
Family Films: Box sets and collectibles
This year saw Brad Bird's "The Iron Giant" return to theaters for a limited engagement. Released in 1999, "The Iron Giant" was essentially ignored by audiences making only $23 million against its $70 million budget. "The Iron Giant" is one of the greatest animated films of all time. It is a beautiful love note to the sci-fi dramas of the 1950s as a young boy befriends a massive iron robot from outer space. If you don't own "The Iron Giant," your collection is sadly incomplete. The fact that you can find it on Blu-ray for less than $10 makes passing this release up unforgivable offense.
If you really want to make someone happy, Mondo's website and pick up a one of their The Iron Giant Deluxe Figures. It will cost you $300, but some toys are simply better than others. For now I'll have to make do with the little figure included in the "Collector's Edition" box set which will set you back around $60, but it is more than worth it for the additional collectibles.
Other sets worthy of consideration include "The Depatie / Freleng Collection" which includes "The Inspector," "Roland and Rattfink," "The Ant and the Aardvark" and "Tijuana Toads." Sadly, it doesn't include the duo's most famous work, the animated "Pink Panther" films, but there's still something charming in their lesser-known efforts.
Moments ago I was going on and on about how much I loved "Kubo and the Two Strings" and how tragic it is that the film's brilliance wasn't reflected by its box office numbers. "The Ultimate Lakia Collection" includs "Kubo" along with the studio's ""Coraline," "ParaNorman" and "The Boxtrolls." While I wasn't overly enthusiastic about "ParaNorman," I do absolutely love "Coraline" and "The Boxtrolls."
Those looking for the release with the most functional packaging should turn their attention to the "Sony Pictures Animation Collection Lunchbox Gift Set,"which includes DVD copies of "Arthur Christmas," "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 1 & 2," "Hotel Transylvania 1 & 2," "Open Season," "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," "The Smurfs 1 & 2" and "Surf's Up." I'm not exactly sure how the live-action Smurf films made their way into this set, but we'll simply continue to ignore their existence in hopes that the upcoming film rectifies the damage that has been done.
Box Sets: Franchises and fan favorites
There aren't as many box sets this year as there have been in recent years, but the fact that the "Mad Max High-Octane Collection" features all four Mad Max films, plus the "Black & Chrome" version of George Miller's "Mad Max: Fury Road" (an alternate black and white version of the film) as well as the 4K Ultra HD of "Fury Road." The set also includes "Road War," a new documentary about "Road Warrior."
Other sets include the "IP Man" trilogy featuring Donnie Yen as the legendary martial artist who taught Bruce Lee; "The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection" on Blu-ray featuring restored versions of their classic films "The Cocoanuts," "Animal Crackers," "Monkey Business," "Horse Feathers" and "Duck Soup;" a Gregory Peck double feature with, the somewhat unusual, pairing of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Cape Fear" as well as a "Rush Hour" set that includes all three theatrical releases starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker (but sadly lacks Digital HD codes).
Genre: A mix of horror and sci-fi from from the cinema and television
Strolling over to some genre releases we have Hulu's alternate history series "11.22.63" featuring James Franco as a man sent back in time to possibly stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; "The Conjuring 2" which manages to mix in a few laughs among its jump scares; "Don't Breathe," the unexpected hit thriller about a group of teens who think breaking into the home of a blind man is a good idea; "High-Rise," a proper adaptation of J.G. Ballard's novel about a skyscraper that claims to offer all the amenities of the outside world within its walls starring Tom Hiddleston; "Lights Out,"a horror film starring Teresa Palmer as a young woman haunted by a presence that lingers in the darkness; the second season of "Outlander," Starz's popular sci-fi drama about a combat nurse from 1945 who travels back in time to 1743; "The Wailing," a Korean horror film that will rattle you and "The Wave," a Norwegian disaster film that puts Roland Emmerich to shame.
Genre: Classic sci-fi and horror titles in newly released collector's editions
Traveling back in time to the glorious age of cinema and television where everything hadn't been done before we have the "Aliens: 30th Anniversary Edition" (again, wasn't 1986 grand), which is worth picking up if you haven't already bought the "Alien Anthology;" a newly restored version of the classic horror "An American Werewolf in London," that greatly improves on the image quality of the previous Blu-ray release (but still hints that it could look even better still); "Dead Ringers," David Cronenberg's truly frightening film featuring a particularly chilling pair of performances from Jeremy Irons as twin brothers (there has been considerable attention given to the differences between this Shout! Factory Blu-ray release and the Criterion DVD release, I've yet to put eyes to this release, but I'm hoping to rectify that soon) and also celebrating its 30th anniversary is "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," one of the more terrifyingly realistic horror films you'll ever see thanks to an unhinged performance from the often overlooked Michael Rooker.
Strolling back to 1970's we have "Phantasm, a particularly effective horror film featuring the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) and his murderous flying spheres and Cronenberg's underappreciated take on vampire zombies.
Jumping forward to 1982 we find John Carpenter's fantastic "The Thing" in a new special edition that offers an amazing assortment of bonus features to go with its slightly more appealing video transfer.
A few years back Image released some incredible Blu-ray sets of the original "The Twilight Zone" series. Those sets have long since gone out of print with the right shifting back to CBS. A complete DVD set was recently released, but it lacks all the exciting extras that were included on the original Image releases. On December 13, CBS is releasing the Blu-ray set with the bonus features for a fraction of the price the Image set would have cost. Brilliant stuff.
Arrow Films: Welcome the beloved British genre label to America
This year saw Arrow Films, a British vendor with an impressive track record of releasing cult films from a variety of genres, launched an American office. To this point the majority of the U.S. releases have been from the horror genre (many of the art house films that Arrow licensed in the UK have been released by The Criterion Collection stateside). Recent and upcoming highlights from Arrow include "Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box" (available 12/13) a collection that includes the first three "Hellraiser" films (it was downhill from there, although some could argue that "Hellraiser: Bloodline," the last film with any participation from series creator Clive Barker) as well as a wealth of bonus features; Abel Ferrara's "Driller Killer," one of the more notorious horror/thrillers that landed on the UK's "video nasties" list due to its graphic violence, but has been celebrated as a an artistic triumph and examination of the underbelly of New York City in the late 1970s; "The Herschell Gordon Lewis Feast" a massive 14-movie box set dedicated to the "Godfather of Gore" highlighting his horror films like "Blood Feast," "Two Thousand Maniacs!," "Color Me Blood Red," "Something Weird," "Gruesome Twosome" and "The Wizard of Gore" while sidestepping his sexplotation films; John Carpenter's cannibal classic "The Hills Have Eyes" and the comedic horror sequel "Bride of Re-Animator" from Brian Yuzna.
Genre: Bloody good television old and new
In recent years we've seen horror crawl its way into our televisions with a variety of series spread out across the cable networks. Recent television releases include a collector's edition of "The Walking Dead: The Complete Sixth Season," "American Horror Story: Hotel," the triumphant return of Bruce Campbell in"Ash vs Evil Dead," a newly repacked "Dexter: The Complete Series" on Blu-ray with a dramatically reduced price and the second season of "The Strain," a beguiling vampire series based on the novels by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan.
Television: A selection of complete series and new favorites
So, maybe horror isn't your thing. No worries, we also have "Hell on Wheels: The Complete Series," a historical drama about the First Transcontinental Railroad; the second season of "Breaking Bad" prequel "Better Call Saul, " the first season of Showtime's "Billions," featuring a cat and mouse drama starring Paul Giamatti as a U.S. Attorney with an eye on the benevolent, but corrupt, hedge fund manager Damian Lewis; "Downton Abbey: The Complete Series" for those who didn't buy the season as they came along and "Harley and the Davidsons," the different-than-expected origins of the famous motorcycle company.
Television: Complete series from yesterday and today
Still not satisfied? You could always pull out the nostalgia card with "The Wonder Years: The Complete Series," a beloved drama from 1988-1993 about life in the 1960s as told through the eyes of a young teen coming of age; "The It Crowd: The Complete Series," the original hilarious British comedy about the clueless I.T. guys who work in the basem*nt; "The Lucy Show: The Complete Series," Lucille Ball's follow-up to her hugely popular "I Love Lucy;" the updated "Roots" miniseries from History or the BBC's critically acclaimed "Wallander: The Complete Series" which finds Kenneth Branagh playing a police inspector in a small Swedish town.
Art House: The best of this year's theatrical releases now on DVD and Blu-ray
It's been a particularly strong year for films that played at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival (actually, it just occurred to me that all five of this films were featured at this year's festival) headlined by"Love & Friendship," Whit Stillman's adaptation of Jane Austen's epistolary novel "Lady Susan" starring Kate Beckinsale the devilishly-delicious leading role; "Captain Fantastic," a drama about a man (Viggo Mortensen) who has raised his children in isolation that discovers how ill prepared they really are to enter the world when they travel to attend their mother's funeral; "Indignation," a morose drama set against the backdrop of the Korean war starring Logan Lerman as a young man who meets a deeply troubled young woman, played brilliantly by Sarah Gadon; "The Lobster," the critically acclaimed drama about a world where all single people are required to find partners or face being turned into an animal starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz and John C. Reilly and "Swiss Army Man," an equally absurd film about a man (Paul Dano) marooned on an island who finds new purpose in life when a dead body (Daniel Radcliffe) with many magical abilities washes ashore.
The Criterion Collection: A selection of classic cinema, old and new, from the legendary label
When people ask about how I learned to expand my knowledge of film beyond the blockbuster films I was raised on I point to The Criterion Collection. In the early days of DVD when there were only a two or three new releases each week I fell in love with Asian cinema and John Woo's "The Killer" and "Hard Boiled," both released via Criterion, were early favorites. It didn't take me long to figure out that I liked about 95% of the films that Criterion was releasing and I've been hooked ever since. Recent releases of note include "Blood Simple," the cinematic debut of the Coen Brothers; an expanded edition of Richard Linklater's "Boyhood;" Akira Kurosawa's lyrical collection "Dreams;" Guillermo del Toro's brilliant adult fairy tale "Pan's Labyrinth;" Paul Thomas Anderson's "Punch-Drunk Love," the only film starring Adam Sandler that I'll keep in my collection; the brilliant and highly influential "A Touch of Zen," a beautiful wuxia (martial hero) story and "Valley of the Dolls," a strangely attractive snapshot of 1960s kitsch.
The Criterion Collection: Box sets, collectibles and streaming services
The Criterion Collection releases only a handful of titles every year, so when they splurge and release a box set ts always a special occasion. The most recent sets include "Trilogía de Guillermo del Toro" which includes the previously mentioned "Pan's Labyrinth" along with the director's earlier classics "The Devil's Backbone" and "Cronos" as well as a book that is exclusive to this set; "Lone Wolf and Cub" set that includes all six films from the Japanese series released between 1972-1974 as well as the 1980 American release "Shogun Assassin," which pulled elements from the franchise's first two films and cobbled them together into one film and "Dekalog," Krzysztof Kieslowski's ambitious 10-part film loosely based on the Ten Commandments that originally aired on Polish television in 1989 in hour-long segments (parts five and six were later expanded into the theatrical releases "A Short Film About Killing" and "A Short Film About Love," which are also included in this set).
For years many of the Criterion titles were available on Hulu. As of a few weeks ago The Criterion Collection's films moved over to the new streaming platform FilmStruck, a channel put together by Turner Classic Movies. To access the Criterion titles you'll need to sign up for $10.99 a month or $99 for a year, but when you consider that many of the Criterion titles cost $40 apiece, the chance to sample to complete catalog for a fraction of that price is quite a bargain (even for those of us who eventually plan on picking the majority, if not all off the physical releases at some point). Besides, you'd pay thousands of dollars to get this sort of film education from a university.
Criterion also offers a variety of t-shirts, mugs and a fantastic book, "Criterion Designs," that explores the fantastic artwork that has adorned the covers of the label's many releases.
Art House: Catalog classics from the last 100 years recently re-released
Criterion isn't the only distribution company with an eye on the classics. The Cohen label has established itself as a major player over the past couple of years and their newly released Blu-ray for "Howards End," featuring a new 4K scan, is but one example of the quality of films the label has been able to license. Over the past few months Sony has also given us some fantastic re-releases including Robert De Niro in a new 40th Anniversary Edition of "Taxi Driver," a phenomenal new Blu-ray and 4K release of the classic film "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" as well as an 80th Anniversary Edition of Frank Capra's "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town." Another fantastic company that specializes in catalog titles is Kino Classics, their recent release of "Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler," Fritz Lang's 1922 epic about a thief with a particular skill for hypnosis that allows him to manipulate those around him into committing crimes.
Documentary: A selection of some of this year's best documentaries
It's been a good year for documentaries. "Gleason" tells the story of former New Orleans Saints football player Steve Gleason and how his life dramatically changes when he is diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease); ESPN's second volume from the "30 for 30," a series so good that you don't have to like sports to be gripped by it; "Raiders" the story of friends who decided to make the ultimate "Raiders of the Lost Ark" fan film; "The First Monday in May," which examines the behind-the-scenes world of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2015 art exhibition "China: Through the Looking Glass" and "Dark Horse," the story of a horse raised by a village that goes on to win the Welsh Grand National.
Music: The Beatles, Motown and classic punk rock
I haven't been able to dive into as many music documentaries this year as I would like, although with the recent passing of Sharon Jones I would be remiss to not recommend the fantastic documentary "Miss Sharon Jones!" along with the fantastic "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" set that was originally produced in 1983 to celebrate the legendary record label's 25th anniversary and features performances from the likes Michael Jackson, The Temptations, The Miracles and Diana Ross; "The Beatles: Eight Days A Week - The Touring Years," a Ron Howard film that explores the early years of The Beatles before they abandoned playing live and "The Damned: Don't You Wish We Were Dead," a insightful journey into one of the greatest live acts in the world and one of the few punk acts that have remained active and relevant since they debuted in late 1970s.
Books: Pop culture reads from a variety of stages
A nice selection of pop culture (mixed with a little history) as Lol Tolhurst, founding member of the legendary group The Cure, recounts the group's early days in "Cured," Felicia Day's fantastic memoir about growing up weird; Lauren Graham's new book (which I include because everyone is still talking about the "Gilmore Girls" revival), a handful of "Hamilton" related titles to hold you over until tickets for the musical dip bellow $1,200; Anna Kendrick's memoir "Scrappy Little Nobody," a solid read that strangely left me feeling alone in the world and Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run," which I've yet to pick up, but look forward to experiencing as soon as my workload dissipates.
Video Games: Popular titles and personal favorites
Once upon a brief time I was fortunate enough to be paid to review video games. It sounds like a great gig, but the hours can be rather punishing. Particularly if you're tasked with reviewing a game like "The Witcher," a sprawling sandbox adventure that requires days upon days of playing to complete. That said, I sure do love "The Witcher: The Wild Hunt" and this expanded version includes all the additional material (which of course only makes the game take that much longer to complete). Other new titles of note include "Call of Duty: Infinate Warfare," "Deus Ex: Mankind Divided," a fun cyberpunk stealth game; "Dishonored 2," which is actually similar to "Deus Ex," except it takes place in the 19th century and "Final Fantasy XV," the latest title in the beloved, but often bonkers, Japanese series.
Elsewhere we see celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Tomb Raider" with an upgraded version of "Rise of the Tomb Raider," the second entry in the rebooted franchise; "Gears of War 4," the latest and perhaps greatest release in the popular third-person shooter; "Life is Strange," a unique adventure game that find the protagonist traveling back in time in hopes of slightly altering history, "Minecraft: Story Mode" which, as the title suggests, inserts a plot into the popular game and "Watch Dogs 2," an open-world adventure game set in San Francisco where the player masquerades as a hacker looking to take down the city's complex security system.
I hope that this guide gives you a good starting point, if not a direct map to the perfect gifts for whomever you might be shopping for. It was a wild, but taxing ride to create. If it saves you a piece of sanity during this festive and stressful season it was all worth my while.
