Dreaming of DVDs?

First and foremost on any home-entertainment gift list this year
should be a Blu-Ray player.

It’s time to get with the format, folks. The players are cheaper
these days, and most Blu-Ray discs don’t cost much more than standard
DVDs. In some cases, Blu-Ray discs even cost less.

This gift guide includes a lot of Blu-Ray, ’cause that’s how I roll.
The Amazon.com prices as of our
deadline are listed here; prices in stores may vary.

Wonderful Standard DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Packs From Disney and
Pixar

Up ($19.99)

Monsters, Inc. ($21.49)

Pinocchio ($18.99)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition ($19.99)

Those of you who haven’t made the jump to Blu-Ray yet, but intend
to, are in luck, because Disney and Pixar have started offering
standard-DVD and Blu-Ray combo packs at a reasonable price. This way,
you don’t have to decide on a format yet, and you’ll have the Blu-Ray
discs to enjoy whenever you make the upgrade!

Finally seeing the likes of Pinocchio and Snow White in glorious high definition offered one of the great pleasures in home
entertainment this year. Disney did these packages right, with loads of
extras that take hours to watch. The same goes for the Pixar packages
for Up and Monsters Inc., movies that truly pop on home
flatscreens.

All of these films represent your best argument for getting a
Blu-Ray player now. Most of the disc packages are priced at less than
$20, making them a great value.

Star Trek on Blu-Ray

Star Trek (J.J. Abrams version): Three-Disc Plus Digital Copy
($19.99), Limited-Edition Replica Gift Set ($97.49)

Star Trek Original Motion Picture Collection ($62.99)

Star Trek: The Original Series (all 3 seasons, $192.99)

Paramount

The J.J. Abrams reboot of Star Trek is easily one of the
year’s best bits of entertainment, and the disc is an absolute winner.
Abrams offers up a must-listen commentary; deleted scenes further flesh
out the characters; and seeing Spock laugh in gag reels is priceless.
You can get a true Trekkie the limited-edition gift set that comes with
an Enterprise replica.

The Trek Blu-Ray parade doesn’t stop there; the original motion
pictures and the original series have also arrived on the format, and
they kick ass.

Great TV

The State: The Complete Series ($31.99)

MTV

For fans of Michael and Michael Have Issues, Stella,
Wet Hot American Summer and Reno 911!, this here show is
where it all started. It originally aired on MTV in the early ’90s and
was not available until now. Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter,
David Wain, Ken Marino and company were insane from the get-go. The set
is loaded with extras, and the cast worked on this package for a long
time. The hard work is more than obvious; it’s one of the year’s best
DVDs.

It’s Garry Shandling’s Show: The Complete Series ($140.99)

Shout Factory!

While some parts of this show have not aged so well, this is still a
trailblazing sitcom that provided much laughter and originality. Before
Seinfeld and his own The Larry Sanders Show, Garry
Shandling gave us this inside-out sitcom that skewered the format while
excelling within it. Lots of cool guest stars, like Tom Petty, Gilda
Radner and Dan Aykroyd, stop by. Shandling participates in all sorts of
extras, including commentaries and interviews.

Fawlty Towers: The Complete Collection Remastered ($24.49)

BBC Warner

Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Blu-Ray) ($24.99)

Vivendi

I’ve seen a lot of Python documentaries over the years, but the
series Almost the Truth is easily the best, and any fan would
cherish this in their stocking, under their pillow or just plain thrown
at them on Christmas morning. There are six episodes, with all of the
living members participating in interviews. (The late Graham Chapman
appears in vintage interview footage.) Entire episodes are dedicated to
The Holy Grail and Life of Brian.

That’s not all: John Cleese got fully involved in a re-mastering of
his Fawlty Towers series, including interviews and commentaries.
Python fans, rejoice!

Great Movies

Do the Right Thing: 20th Anniversary Edition (Blu-Ray) ($14.99)

Universal

Director Spike Lee put together an all-new documentary and
commentary for this beautiful Blu-Ray. This is one of the best
high-definition transfers I’ve seen so far. I find it remarkable how
many people have not seen this film. See it now!

Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut ($26.99)

Warner

This set takes the recently released director’s cut of The
Watchmen and interweaves the animated Tales of the Black
Freighter into the film. If that special someone is a graphic-novel
geek, this is the gift to get them.

An American Werewolf in London (Blu-Ray) ($15.99)

Universal

When I popped this one into my player, I hadn’t seen it in a long
time. I’d forgotten how sick in the head writer-director John Landis
is, and how funny/scary the movie was. Make this part of somebody’s
Blu-Ray introductory pack, and put those stupid werewolves in New
Moon to shame.

The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s
Edition (Blu-Ray) ($54.49)

Warner

I’ve already given this one as a gift a couple of times. Not only do
you get the beautiful movie on Blu-Ray; you also receive all sorts of
neat goodies like a watch, a photo book and more, all in a nifty box.
Easily one of the year’s better values; also available in a
standard-DVD edition.

Say Anything: 20th Anniversary Edition (Blu-Ray) ($19.49)

20th Century Fox

If your gift target graduated from high school in the ’80s, give
them this one, and make them feel old. It’s not the nicest thing you
could do, but they’ll get over it once they revisit the charming story
of Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) and his pursuit of Ione Skye. It’s still
one of the weirdest, and greatest, love stories ever put on film.

Funny People: 2-Disc Unrated Collector’s Edition (Blu-Ray)
($23.99)

Universal

Get this one not only for the very good movie, but also for the
sheer volume of special features. There are lots of outtakes, deleted
scenes and awesome vintage footage of Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen doing
standup (including Rogen when he was 13). This film didn’t get its due
at the box office, which is a shame, because it is great.

Wings of Desire (Blu-Ray) ($23.99)

Criterion

Do you have a lover of “art” films on your list? Just get them this
one, and you are done. Wim Wenders made one of the most beautiful films
ever with this tale of a bored angel (Bruno Ganz) who wants to become
human. Peter Falk is awesome as a former angel turned actor. Filmed in
both black-and-white and color, this classic is as lovely as cinema
gets.

Fight Club: 10th Anniversary Edition (Blu-Ray) ($15.99)

20th Century Fox

Watching Jared Leto getting his teeth knocked out by Edward Norton
on Blu-Ray is so choice. Norton and Brad Pitt have never been better
than they were in this epic David Fincher tale about insanity and
punching. Ring in the New Year while watching Pitt get hit in the
ear!

This article appears in Dec 10-16, 2009.