2023 Home Video & Pop Culture Gift Guide
2023 brings us one of our biggest Gift Guides yet! We’ve got an amazing mix of home video and pop culture gift suggestions for the people in your life. As usual, we’ve broken the items down into categories to help you easily find the best DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD, video game, board game, toy, and book gifts out there! Happy holidays!!
For the Comedy Lover:
Clerks Movie Collection
Official Synopsis:
Get ready for a shift-load of fun! This limited-edition set holds all three Clerks films on Blu-ray™ and Digital in a 3D miniature of the iconic Quick Stop and RST Video storefronts. The package also features a working VHS return slot, so you can safely store the discs without running up late fees. Feel free to vandalize the rental-return “wall” using the included set of cling stickers, featuring in-world business logos and IYKYK jokes from the franchise. Follow your favorite Gen-X icons as they go from jaded, disenfranchised store clerks in Clerks through their three-decade journey to small business owners in Clerks III, balancing rooftop roller hockey with the absurdities of work and life.
Our Take:
I’m as big a Kevin Smith fan as you’ll find; I’ve been watching his movies since I rented Clerks the day it came out on home video back in the ‘90s, and I’ve religiously watched every movie he’s made since. But even though Chasing Amy remains my favorite film of his, the Clerks trilogy is really at the heart of the View Askewniverse, and those films are celebrated in a gorgeous new Collector’s Edition Box Set this month. Housed in a box that’s about a foot wide and shaped like a replica of the Quik Stop convenience store, this set includes Clerks, Clerks II, and Clerks III, each on Blu-ray and Digital Copy. For my money, Clerks is still one of the funniest movies of all time. I’ve seen it endless times and I’ll watch it endless more. I quote it relentlessly, even after almost 30 years. Clerks II goes bigger and broader, and while it’s not quite the comedy masterpiece that Clerks is, it’s still a heck of a lot of fun and expands the universe nicely. I mean, for a movie that never should have had a sequel in the first place, it’s hard to argue with it. And then we have last year’s Clerks III, which I enjoyed it quite a bit, although I have to admit it’s definitely the weakest entry in the series. That said, it also has some really strong moments. It’s basically Randall and Dante making Clerks, the original film, which leads to some wonderfully meta moments. My main critique of the film is that the jokes just don’t always land as well as you’ve come to expect from a Smith movie. Occasionally it feels like the script is trying a little too hard. That said, there are some great emotional moments in the film; it’s easily the most sentimental of the trilogy and I think the deeper moments actually work quite well. And I loved the film’s ending, which wears its heart on its sleeve. Clerks III isn’t a perfect film, but for fans of the View Askewniverse, I think they’ll still really enjoy it. Really, this is a pretty amazing collection of three fantastic comedies that probably aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but certainly are mine. I know people like to claim that physical media is dying, but as long as companies like Lionsgate keep producing terrific collector’s sets like this, I think us die-hard cinephiles will never let physical media go away. If you’re a Clerks fan and you don’t already have all three movies on home video, I would track down this set ASAP.
Special Features:
All of the extras from the previous releases are included, and honestly, that’s more than I can even list here. On Clerks, you get an additional “First Cut” of the film, an audio commentary with Smith, a feature-length documentary, an additional feature length documentary about the main of Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, Outtakes, a Q&A, and several shorter features. Clerks II offers up three audio commentaries, deleted scenes, a handful of featurettes, and a making-of documentary. Finally, Clerks III includes an intro, an audio commentary, two feature-length documentaries, and more. Phew! In addition to the extras on the discs, you get the set housed in the aforementioned box that’s shaped like the Quik Stop convenience store and RST Video Store, complete with a working video store drop box slot that houses the actual discs. There’s also a sheet of vinyl clings you can decorate the Quik Stop box with as well as a certificate of authenticity stating that the set is limited to only 5,150 editions. There is also a digital copy of each film included.
The Monster Squad (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
You know who to call when you have ghosts, but who do you call about monsters? The Monster Squad—a group of young kids devoted to protecting their suburban neighborhood from strange things that go bump in the night. They ain’t afraid of no ghouls! Count Dracula (Duncan Regehr) escapes Van Helsing (Jack Gwillim) and adjourns to modern-day Earth in search of an ancient amulet that will grant him final control over the delicate balance between good and evil in the world. To help him, the creepy Count calls on some old friends: the weird Wolfman (Carl Thibault), grotesque Gill-Man (Tom Woodruff Jr.), mildewed Mummy (Michael MacKay) and freaky Frankenstein (Tom Noonan). Standing in their way—The Monster Squad! Produced by Peter Hyams (Running Scared), written by Shane Black (Lethal Weapon) and Fred Dekker (Night of the Creeps) and directed by Dekker, the cult smash Monster Squad makes ghost-busting look like child’s play!
Our Take:
The Monster Squad makes its 4K Ultra HD debut this week. Now, The Monster Squad isn’t as well known as some cult classics, but it is a 1980s comedy about a group of kids who have to stop a gang of supernatural monsters – including Dracula, the Wolfman, and the Mummy – without any help from the clueless grown-ups around them. In many ways it’s a precursor to Stranger Things, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Duffer Brothers (creators of Stranger Things) are fans of The Monster Squad. It’s a horror comedy that focuses more on the comedy, but it’s such a funny and endearing film that there is a devoted fan base out there of people like me who absolutely adore this film. Sadly, none of the actors in the cast went on to find their acting fame and fortune afterward, which I think is a real shame, but talented young actors such as Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert, Robby Kider, and Ashley Bank all shine in this film, as do Duncan Regehr and Tom Noonan as some of the monsters. It’s a wonderful film and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes great movies. There’s also a really special bonus feature that makes this release even more exciting (detailed below). If you’re a fan of The Monster Squad, I can’t recommend this release highly enough. Not only do you get the film in 4K UHD, but the Wolfman’s Got Nards documentary is like getting a second movie for free. I’m so glad Kino Lorber put together a truly special release for this one.
The Special Features:
Okay, so the highlight of this release is Wolfman’s Got Nards, a 2018 documentary about the film that was written and directed by none other than Andre Gower, one of the original stars of the film. It’s 90 minutes long and it comes on its own disc in the set, and it’s pretty much the ultimate retrospective documentary made by one of the kids who was there. There’s also another documentary from the last home video release that runs over an hour and ten minutes. In addition, there are two audio commentaries, one of which features writer/director Fred Dekker along with the three of the now grown-up kids, Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert, and Ashley Bank. Then there are some deleted scenes and a couple of additional mini-extra featurettes.
The Police Academy Collection
Official Synopsis:
Includes All 7 Films! The call went out. The recruits came in. No longer would police cadets have to meet standards of height, weight and other pesky requirements. Brains were optional, too. Can’t spell IQ? Don’t know the number for 911? No matter. Police Academy grads are ready to uphold law and disorder! Among the funniest and most memorable comedy series to ever spill wildly across the screen, the Police Academy films are an absolutely mandatory part of any film collection! And hey…be careful out there.
Our Take:
If there is one comedy franchise that perfectly sums up the 1980s, the Police Academy series might be it. Broad comedies all, the first film was a pretty standard raunchy comedy about a group of misfit police cadets at a somewhat dysfunctional police academy. The film made a star out of Steve Guttenberg and gave a lot of the supporting cast careers in future supporting roles in other films. Of course, a sequel followed, and then five more sequels followed. Now, in the ‘80s, sequels were pretty formulaic, with the budget – and quality – shrinking on subsequent releases as box office grosses were expected to shrink as well. So the entire series isn’t all gems, but this new Blu-ray collection from Shout Factory finally collects all seven films in one place on Blu-ray for the first time, and that’s pretty awesome. Include here are: Police Academy, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, Police Academy 3: Back in Training, Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach, Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (which all came out from 1984-1989) and finally, Police Academy: Mission to Moscow, a last ditch attempt to revive the franchise from 1994. I’d say the first four films are all pretty enjoyable, but when Steve Guttenberg left the franchise with the fifth film, they started to go downhill. Still, it’s hard to watch any of these films and be mad at them, as they’re all silly romps with some easy, cheap humor. You won’t feel better about yourself after watching these movies, but you will be entertained! Police Academy was a defining movie franchise of its era, with one film a year for six years straight. While they may not all be genius, getting all seven movies in one five-disc Blu-ray box set for the first time makes this a great collection for fans. Watching these movies will take a lot of people right back to one of their favorite decades.
Special Features:
There are new interview featurettes with a number of the original cast and crew, audio commentaries on Police Academy and Police Academy 4 (including Steve Guttenberg and Michael Winslow on the first film!), a few archival featurettes, deleted scenes, and trailers for the films.
Alf: The Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
Everyone’s favorite wise-cracking alien from Melmac, Gordon Shumway—better known to most Earthlings as ALF—has finally crash-landed onto DVD in this definitive 24-disc collection including every episode of his interstellar hit series as it was originally broadcast, the 1996 film Project: ALF starring Martin Sheen, and all 47 episodes of Saturday morning’s ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales! Never has a collection been so out of this world! Includes: Every Hilarious Episode Including Restored Footage Not Seen Since Their Original Broadcast ALF: The Animated Series, ALF Tales, and Project: ALF – ALF’s 1996 TV Movie Finale.
Our Take:
I’m not gonna lie, ALF was absolutely one of my favorite TV shows when I was a kid. It’s funny to me what a pop culture sensation ALF was when the show debuted, only to be canceled four seasons later. However, ALF has never really faded from the public consciousness, and now Shout Factory has brought us what is by far the best and most complete box set of the show yet – along with a few bonus shows. ALF: The Complete Series is called the deluxe edition because there has previously been another box set of the show, but apparently those episodes were the syndicated versions, meaning there were slight alterations to the episodes for time purposes. This set brings us the original broadcast episodes in their entirety, which is a huge upgrade. You also get every episode of the ALF animated series (which I also adored as a kid) and the ALF Tales animated series. Then, to really top things off, Project: ALF– a follow-up TV movie from 1996 — is also included, which is a decent wrap-up to the series that has been lost in the archives for many years (although it was released as a stand-alone DVD earlier this year.) One note: the box set is on DVD and not Blu-ray, which is a little rare for Shout Factory, but seeing as how the show was filmed on videotape, a Blu-ray release really wouldn’t have offered up any kind of upgrade, so it makes sense. For the ALF fans out there – and I know there are a lot of you – this is a must-have for your collection. I’ve always found it surprising that ALF hasn’t been resurrected in some way or another in recent years, but going back and being able to revisit the show is as close as we’ll get to something new for now. Maybe this box set will spark some new interest in ALF and we’ll see him make a big comeback!
Special Features:
There are two new extra features, a retrospective documentary with the show’s creators, Paul Fusco and Tom Patchett, and then you get a handful of audio commentaries on certain episodes with Patchett and ALF himself. Fun!
The Princess Bride: Criterion Collection 4K
Official Synopsis:
A high-spirited adventure that pits true love against inconceivable odds, The Princess Bride has charmed legions of fans with its irreverent gags, eccentric ensemble, and dazzling swordplay. A kid (Fred Savage), home sick from school, grudgingly allows his grandfather (Peter Falk) to read him a dusty storybook—which is how we meet the innocent Buttercup (Robin Wright, in her breakout role), about to marry the nefarious Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) though her heart belongs to Westley (Cary Elwes). The wedding plans are interrupted, however, by a mysterious pirate, a vengeful Spaniard, and a good-natured giant, in a tale full of swashbuckling, romance, and outrageously hilarious spoofery. Directed by Rob Reiner from an endlessly quotable script by William Goldman, The Princess Bride reigns as a fairy-tale classic.
Our Take:
While there have been approximately 272 previous versions of The Princess Bride on home video, the fact that it is now officially part of the Criterion Collection is a nice badge of honor. It was first released via Criterion back in 2018, and now it’s been chosen to receive the 4K Ultra HD treatment that Criterion has been giving some of its most popular and well-loved titles. Now, I don’t think I have to say too much about The Princess Bride; it’s one of the most beloved movies of the last 35 years. It’s certainly one of my personal favorites, and the quotes that I regularly spout from the film even to this day are endless. Much like the previous release, this new 4K Ultra HD version is presented in a nice hardcover book package and it features the usual sound and picture quality we’ve come the expect from Criterion, as well as a ton of extra features, making it a terrific package all around. The Princess Bride is one of the true classics of the late 20th century, and I will never get tired of watching it. This is, at the moment, easily the definitive edition of the movie on home video, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves great movies.
Special Features:
The extra features are the same as the previous release, which is still a very nice collection. You get an audio commentary with Rob Reiner, William Goldman, Billy Crystal, Peter Falk, and others. Then there’s an edited audiobook reading of Goldman’s novel by Reiner, interviews with almost the entire cast and crew, several making-of featurettes, an on-set diary filmed and narrated by Cary Elwes, five additional behind-the-scenes videos with commentaries, and more! There’s also the aforementioned hardcover book packaging, which does include a full-color booklet packed with photos and info.
Rick & Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-6
Official Synopsis:
Rick and Morty is the critically acclaimed, half-hour animated hit comedy series on Adult Swim that follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. Rick Sanchez is living with his daughter Beth’s family and constantly bringing her, his son-in-law Jerry, granddaughter Summer, and grandson Morty into intergalactic escapades. Rick and Morty stars Justin Roiland (Adventure Time), Sarah Chalke (Scrubs), Chris Parnell (Saturday Night Live), and Spencer Grammer (Greek). The series is created by Dan Harmon (Community) and Roiland who also serve as executive producers.
Our Take:
Well, here we go again. The only TV show ever to be responsible for both a McDonald’s special sauce and then an angry fan reaction to said McDonald’s special sauce is back on home video. Unfortunately, even after six seasons, Rick & Morty remains just not my thing. I know people love it, and the show has a very strong fan following, but I just don’t dig it. Every time a new season comes out, I give it a try, and every time, I’m just completely unmoved by it. Sure, there are one or two funny jokes in each episode, but I find the characters unlikable and the humor largely ridiculous — and not in a good way. Maybe I’m just getting old; who knows? But none of that matters, because people love this show and it’s as popular as ever, regardless of what I think about it. Which leads us to this his new Blu-ray collection that features all six seasons so far in one nicely-packaged box set that includes every episode plus bonus features across five discs. It’s a nice release for fans, even if I can’t count myself among them. This newest series collection gives you all 61 episodes on six discs. I’ve heard Rick & Morty compared to everything from Back to the Future to Doctor Who to Futurama to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and in reality, it is kind of a mash-up of all of those things, just in animated form and with a seriously R-rated sense of humor. Unfortunately, it’s also just not my thing. I know people really love Rick & Morty and the show’s fan base is fanatical, but I have never been able to tap into whatever it is that people enjoy about it. For some reason this time around there is no digital copy included, which most of the previous sets did have. I’m not sure why the studio chose to go that route, but I suspect fans will not be overly thrilled about it.
Special Features:
This set is loaded with extra features, including numerous audio commentaries, as well as deleted scenes, animatics, multiple making-of featurettes, animatic sketches that were never used, short Inside The Episode making-of features, and more!
Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Advent Calendars
Official Synopsis:
From the classic National Lampoon series. Laugh-out-loud funny and sweetly nostalgic holiday film. Released in 1989, 32 years of heritage. Includes 24 windows to open filled with fun 1-inch figures from the movie! Pop-up diorama pieces add to the fun. Includes additional buildable figure! Kids can display their figures all season long.
You can enjoy 24 days of fun collectible surprises from the movie Elf. Includes 24 windows to open filled with fun and silly 1-inch figures from the movie! Pop-up diorama pieces add to the fun, kids can display their figures all season long!
Our Take:
Okay, I know these advent calendars are supposedly for kids, but I love them! Instead of being filled with chocolate, these two advent calendars from the popular Christmas classics Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation come packed with 1-inch figures of characters from the movies. Each day, you open a window and reveal a new character, and the boxes (which measure about 12×16 inches each) includes a fold-down diorama scene that you can populate with the figures. They’re bright and colorful and fun and they’ll make great decorations for your home or even your office! We’ve been opening them in our house since Dember 1st, and the boxes become dioramas that you can add the figures to and create fun little scenes. I love it!
For the Teen Girl or Soccer Mom in Your Life:
Twilight: 15th Anniversary Steelbook 4K Collection
Official Synopsis:
Experience the immortal story of Bella, Edward and Jacob in the Twilight 4K Steelbook complete saga box set that includes all five films, all the special features ever created, all-new features plus exclusive never-before-seen content.
Our Take:
Well, if this doesn’t make you feel old, I don’t know what will: it’s officially been fifteen years since the first Twilight movie came out. (Of course, if you’re an eternally ageless teenage vampire, that probably won’t make you feel old!) To celebrate, we have a brand new box set that sees all five films in one box set on 4K Ultra HD for the first time. And to top that off, each film is housed in a gorgeous new Steelbook case. I’ll say this honestly: it doesn’t matter whether you’re a Twilight fan or not, there’s no denying this is a gorgeous collection. Me personally, I really like the Twilight films. I know that’s not a popular take amongst adult male film critics, but I honestly don’t care. I’ve always enjoyed the films quite a bit. Sure, each one has a few clunky moments and a few cringey dialogue bits; I get that they’re not cinematic masterpieces. But they’re strong adaptations of the source books and they play to their target audience well, and I dig that. I think the third film, Eclipse, is still my favorite, probably because it’s directed by David Slade (30 Days of Night), but the first film still has a lot of great moments in it as well. Now, there’s been no shortage of Twilight home video releases over the past 15 years, but I can easily say that this new box set is the best and most comprehensive by far. I know there are people out there who love to bash the Twilight movies, but I’m not one of them. I like the movies plenty for what they are, and this impressive box set will make any Twilight fan a happy camper.
Special Features:
Again, there are too many extra features to list here, but each of the five films comes with audio commentaries, making-of documentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, music videos, and more. Each film comes housed in its own Steelbook case, and the artwork on the cases is gorgeous. There is also a digital copy included for each of the five films.
Titanic (4K Ultra HD Collector’s Set)
Official Synopsis:
Experience James Cameron’s Titanic, the global box office phenomenon and winner of 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture (1997). Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet light up the screen in this unforgettable tale of forbidden love and courage set against the ill-fated maiden voyage of the “unsinkable” Titanic.
Our Take:
Still one of the biggest movies of all time, Titanic makes its 4K Ultra HD debut this week in two formats: a standard edition and a fantastic Collector’s Edition box set! I was lucky enough to receive the Collector’s Edition for review, which is exciting for two reasons. One, I’m a huge fan of James Cameron and Titanic, so I love all the goodies that come with this special edition. Two, it gives me something to talk about in this review. Because let’s be honest, nothing I’m gonna say about the film itself is going to make a bit of difference. Just about everyone in the world has seen Titanic and either loves it or doesn’t, so what am I going to add to that conversation? But what I can tell you is that the new Collector’s Edition box set is chock full of goodies, and even includes some new bonus features, which I wasn’t expecting (and which are detailed in the “Special Features” Section below.) The highlight of this oversized package is a full-color coffee table book about the making of Titanic. This isn’t one of the nice, illustrated DVD-sized books you get with some collector’s editions, though; it’s a full sized coffee table book, about a foot wide and about eight inches tall, and it’s gorgeous. You also get a Blueprint of the Titanic, sheet music, boarding passes and menus from the ship, tickets for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class rooms, and letters from Jack and Rose. You also get the film on 4K UHD for the first time, as well as a Blu-ray copy of the film and a digital copy. This is a great piece to have in your collection if you’re a fan. Whether you opt for the standard 4K edition or the gorgeous Collector’s Edition, you can’t go wrong with Titanic. It’s an epic, beloved film that’s worth having in any movie collection.
The Special Features:
In addition to all of the previously released extra features for Titanic, which includes three audio commentaries and multiple making-of featurettes, there are three new extra features included on the disc. The first one is called Stories From the Heart, and it’s a retrospective documentary that includes new interviews with James Cameron and Kate Winslet. (Leo couldn’t be bothered, apparently.) There’s also a new featurette called Titanic: 25 Years Later with James Cameron in which the director looks at the ship, its shipwreck, and even tries to prove once and for all whether Jack could have fit on that door! Then there’s a fan poster art gallery, featuring still images of some incredible fan-created posters for the film. Great stuff all around!
A Very Merry Movie Collection: Volumes 5 and 6
Official Synopsis:
Coming to DVD in an awesome 12-Movie Collection from Lifetime jingles in the new year with love, family, and the holiday spirit with A VERY MERRY MOVIE COLLECTION Vol. 5-6.
Our Take:
As I’ve stated in many, many reviews over the years, I love me some Lifetime/Hallmark Christmas romance movies. I know people like to joke about them, but I love a movie that features attractive casts, romance, feel-good stories, holiday cheer, and a predictably happy outcome. I recognize that none of these movies are masterpieces, but I find them highly enjoyable. This year, once again Lifetime has two massive new collections (both packaged in a single DVD-sized case) that will keep you busy for days. Following up on last year’s popular sets, we have two new releases this week: Lifetime 12-Movie Set: A Very Merry Christmas Collection Volumes 5 & 6. As the titles indicate, each of these Wal-Mart exclusive releases includes a dozen holiday romances, giving you about 18 hours of entertainment each. Volume 5 includes Cloudy With a Chance of Christmas, A Show-Stopping Christmas, Sweet Navidad, Merry Textmas, Serving Up the Holidays, A New Orleans Noel, Merry Swissmas, Scentsational Christmas, Well Suited for Christmas, A Country Christmas Harmony, The Holiday Dating Guide, and Merry Liddle Christmas. Meanwhile, Volume 6 features Six Degrees of Santa, Single and Ready to Jingle, Baking All The Way, Steppin’ Into the Holiday, The Dog Days of Christmas, A Recipe for Joy, Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas, Christmas on Mistletoe Lake, A Christmas to Treasure, Wrapped Up in Love, Record Breaking Christmas, and Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding. Whew! That’s a lot of holiday romance, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Since we’ve seen two of these mega-collections per year for the past three years, I won’t be surprised when we see Volumes 7 and 8 next holiday season. In the meantime, however, these two sets literally offer up days of entertainment, so dig in and enjoy the holiday romance!
Special Features:
There are no extra features on these collections, but that’s to be expected. No complaints here with the amount of content you’re getting.
For the Action Movie Fan:
John Wick: Chapters 1-4 Collection
Official Synopsis:
In this stylish, electrifying action series, legendary hit man John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is forced back into the underground world of assassins, where he embarks on a ruthless quest for revenge and redemption. In John Wick, young thugs push John into a merciless rampage, while a blood oath sends him to Rome in John Wick: Chapter 2. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum sees an army of assassins hoping to collect the $14 million bounty on John’s head, and in John Wick: Chapter 4, a powerful enemy with global alliances emerges, turning John’s old friends into new foes.
Our Take:
There’s not a lot I need to say about the John Wick films – although I’m going to anyway. This week sees the release of the first four-film collection of the John Wick franchise, with Chapters 1-4 collected in a new Blu-ray box set (that also includes the films on DVD, giving you eight discs total.) In John Wick, Keanu Reeves plays the title character, a former mob legend/hitman who goes straight for the love of a woman. When his wife dies and his dog is murdered by a gang of mobbed-up thugs, he unleashes hell on the underworld. With gunfights, explosions, fisticuffs, martial arts, and car chases, the film is down-and-dirty action the way it used to be, not overly laden with CGI or wirework. Now, for the sequel, I have to admit I was a little disappointed in John Wick 2. For the most part, despite some neat additions to the mythos of John Wick’s world (expanding on the hotel concept from the first film), it sadly resorts to nothing but endless gun battles to carry the majority of the action. So much so that it gets kind of boring: headshot after headshot after headshot. There’s even a part of the film where John Wick has to get across the city with just one gun with seven bullets in it, and you think: Oh man, this is gonna be good! Until he shoots a bad guy, picks up his gun, and just carries on with seemingly unlimited ammo. Sigh. It’s not a bad movie, but it does cause fatigue and I was a little disappointed in it. I was nervous that John Wick 3 would be more of the same, but it was a real return to form for the series. Still ultra-violent, yes, but the film continued to build the John Wick universe mythology, while crafting action sequences that use multiple weapons, clever choreography, and a sense of fun to equal or surpass the excitement of the first film. In fact, the first major fight sequence of the film (in the antiques-type store) is one of the best fight scenes I’ve seen this decade. Now, I’m in the minority with Chapter Four, in that I really didn’t like it. It was way too long at almost three hours long, the violence became a bit numbing and repetitive after a while, and it pushed my willing suspension of disbelief way past my limits. You don’t fall out of a fourth story window, bounce off a van, and get up and, well, do anything. Because you’d be DEAD. I get that action movie heroes are indestructible, but John Wick should have died at least seventeen times in this movie. There were parts I liked, of course, such as the overhead-shot gun battle in the house in France, but overall, I found it a disappointing effort. In general, I really enjoy the John Wick movies. I don’t think I get quite as fanatical about them as many fans do, but I love action movies and these are mostly great action movies. This is a terrific box set that gives you the entire franchise to date, and it’s hard to argue with that.
Special Features:
All of the extra features from each individual film’s home video release are included. That includes a total of two audio commentaries, something like 35 making-of featurettes, deleted scenes, trailers, and more. You also get digital copies of all four movies. It all comes wrapped up in a box that includes seven different interchangeable cover art cards.
The Expendables 1-4 (4K Ultra HD Steelbook)
Official Synopsis:
The Expendables:
A CIA operative hires a team of mercenaries to eliminate a Latin dictator and a renegade CIA agent. The Expendables 2: Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck, but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge puts them deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat. The Expendables 3: Barney augments his team with new blood for a personal battle: to take down Conrad Stonebanks, the Expendables co-founder and notorious arms trader who is hell bent on wiping out Barney and every single one of his associates. The Expend4bles: A new generation of stars join the world’s top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team of elite mercenaries that gets called when all other options are off the table. But, new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.
Our Take:
I am unabashedly a fan of The Expendables franchise, so you can expect this to be a fairly one-sided review. As someone who grew up on ‘80s and ‘90s action films, I have a deep and long-lasting fandom for Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as Bruce Willis, Harrison Ford, and many other action stalwarts of the time. When the first Expendables film came out as sort of an all-star outing of past action stars, I was beyond excited. With each subsequent film, I had more and more fun with the franchise, especially as it really hit its high point with The Expendables 2. I even really liked the third film, which I know some people complained about thanks to younger cast members being introduced. Admittedly, Expendables 4 is the lowest point in the franchise, and the only film in the series that I found to be a bit on the mediocre side, but even it has its fun moments and gets better as it goes. Now, Lionsgate has delivered us a very nice collection of all four films in one sharp-looking Steelbook case which includes all four movies on 4K Ultra HD (and is currently a Wal-Mart exclusive.) The Expendables are the movies I dreamed of happening when I was a kid watching endless Arnie and Sly action films. They may not be masterpieces of cinema, but I love them and this collection finally gives us all four movies in one great Steelbook set.
The Special Features:
For some reason, only the fourth and most recent film includes any supplements. Bummer. Exp4ndables gives you an audio commentary, two 15-minute featurettes, and the film’s trailer.
The Last Dragon 4K Steelbook
Official Synopsis:
Martial arts student, Leroy Green (Taimak), is on a quest to obtain the elusive all-powerful force known as “The Glow.” Along the way, he must battle the evil, self-proclaimed Shogun of Harlem – a kung-fu warrior also known as Sho’nuff (Julius J. Carry III) – and rescue a beautiful singer (Prince protegee, Vanity) from an obsessed record promoter.
Our Take:
“Who’s the master?” “SHO NUFF!” If that line doesn’t mean anything to you, then you probably a) didn’t grow up in the 80s, and b) won’t really care about The Last Dragon being released on 4K Ultra HD. For the rest of us, however, this release is about as exciting as it comes. As cult classic as a movie can get, this early ’80s gem is like a mash-up of a low-budget Bruce Lee film and Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo. Watching it now, it’s cheesy and silly and ridiculous in all the best ways. The film follows Bruce Leroy (no, I’m not making that up), a young martial artist trying to achieve a level of mastery that will allow him to find “The Glow,” a concentration of martial arts energy that will literally make him glow. Along the way, he comes up against The Shogun Master of Harlem, Sho Nuff, and also falls in love and must rescue a singer from a crazy promoter. Honestly, no amount of telling you ABOUT the film can make The Last Dragon make sense to you, you have to see it for yourself. And once you do, I think you’ll become just as much of a fan as I am. The Last Dragon was never a box office hit, but there’s a reason it keeps getting released on home video every time there’s a new format, and that’s because it’s an awesome and fun film. Is it great filmmaking? Definitely not. But is it one of the all-time cult classic greats? SHO NUFF!
Special Features:
It’s rare these days to see a new special feature on a 4K release, but this one has got one. It’s an audio commentary track with comedian Amber Ruffin (who is amazing on Late Night with Seth Myers) and author Lacey Lamar. You also get some previously existing extras such as an audio commentary with director Michael Schultz, a lengthy retrospective documentary feature, and the film’s trailer.
Young Guns (4K Ultra HD Steelbook)
Official Synopsis:
The year is 1878, Lincoln County. John Tunstall, a British ranch owner, hires six rebellious boys as “regulators” to protect his ranch against the ruthless Santa Fe Ring. When Tunstall is killed in an ambush, the Regulators, led by the wild-tempered Billy the Kid (Estevez), declare war on the Ring. As their vendetta turns into a bloody rampage, they are branded outlaws, becoming the objects of the largest manhunt in Western history.
Our Take:
Back in 1988, 20th Century Fox said, “Hey, what if we get a bunch of incredibly popular young actors to play Billy the Kid and his outlaw friends and make a rousing action/adventure movie?” And so they took four incredibly popular Brat Pack actors and added a couple of other popular and rising (at the time) faces and came up with Young Guns. Armed with the tagline, “Six Reasons the West Was Wild,” the film was an instant box office hit and even spawned a sequel. It might be hard to imagine now, but at the time, putting Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemazko in a movie together was the equivalent of making a movie with Tom Holland, Timothee Chalamet, Andrew Garfield, Freddie Highmore, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lakieth Stanfield all in the cast nowadays. Emilio Estevez shines as the slightly unhinged outlaw William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid, while the rest of the cast plays real life members of his gang. Sure, the movie takes a lot of liberties with the facts (this is not a docudrama), but it’s so much fun to watch that you want care. I ‘ve been a massive fan of this film since it came out, and the new 4K Steelbook 35th Anniversary Edition from Lionsgate is a great way to revisit the film. (It’s also available in a standard 4K release, while the Steelbook version is currently a Best Buy exclusive.)
The Special Features:
There’s a nice 35-minute documentary on the disc, as well as a half-hour doc on the real life Billy the Kid, and then there’s an Audio Commentary with cast members Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney and Casey Siemaszko. Plus you get two trailers for the film.
Fall (4K Steelbook)
Official Synopsis:
For best friends Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) and Hunter (Virginia Gardner), life is all about conquering fears and pushing limits. But after they climb 2,000 feet to the top of a remote, abandoned radio tower, they find themselves stranded with no way down. Now Becky and Hunter’s expert climbing skills will be put to the ultimate test as they desperately fight to survive the elements, a lack of supplies, and vertigo-inducing heights in this adrenaline-fueled thriller co-starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Our Take:
While Fall borrows quite liberally from films like 47 Meters Down and Adam Green’s survival horror masterpiece Frozen (NOT the Elsa film), I have to admit I was blown away by it. It’s the simple story of two young women who climb to the top of an abandoned 2,000-foot-tall TV broadcast tower, only to see the ladder break off, trapping them at the top in the middle of the desert with no way down. That’s all you need about the story, but what you do need to know is that the film is so tense and suspenseful that you’ll have a knot in your stomach for almost the entire running time. I was literally sweating while watching it, and part of the reason for that is because of the amazing cinematography. The making-of on the disc reveals how it was filmed, but there is a ton of practically-shot footage with the two leads actually quite high up in the sky, and the realism that comes with that is tangible and takes the film to a whole new level. With terrific performances by Grace Caroline Currey and Virginia Gardner, you can excuse what minor plot contrivances there are (like phones with batteries that are apparently powered by magic) as you get caught up in the sheer intensity of it all. This one is definitely worth tracking down for a real survival suspense thriller. Fall is a cult classic in the making, and I’m a huge fan of it. I raved about the film when it first hit home video and I’m happy to have another opportunity to tell people how great it is. Track it down now so you can be the one to tell your friends about it rather than the other way around.
Special Features:
The disc includes an audio commentary with the director and two producers, a making-of featurette, a music video, and then a new 4K exclusive feature that looks at the film’s success.
The Shaw Brothers Classics: Volumes 1-3
Official Synopsis:
Volume 1 – This spectacular box set comprises 11 classic martial arts films from the famous Shaw Brothers’ library, featuring some of their greatest stars—Jimmy Wang Yu (One-Armed Swordsman), Cheng Pei-pei (Come Drink with Me), Lo Lieh (King Boxer), Ku Feng (The Five Venoms), and David Chiang (The Boxer From Shantung). Many of these films are debuting for the first time on Blu-ray.
Volume 2 – This spectacular box set comprises 12 classic martial arts films from the famous Shaw Brothers’ library, featuring some of their greatest stars—Cheng Pei-pei (Come Drink with Me), Lo Lieh (King Boxer), Sammo Hung (Wheels on Meals), Ti Lung (A Better Tomorrow), and David Chiang (The Boxer from Shantung). Many of these films are debuting for the first time on Blu-ray. Get ready for some exciting thrills and chills as heroes meet villains in a duel to the death!
Volume 3 – This spectacular box set comprises 11 classic martial arts films from the famous Shaw Brothers’ library, featuring some of their greatest stars—Alexander Fu Sheng (The Brave Archer), Lo Lieh (King Boxer), Ti Lung (A Better Tomorrow), David Chiang (The Boxer Of Shantung) and the Deadly Venoms! Many of these films are debuting for the first time on Blu-ray. Get ready for some exciting thrills and chills as heroes meet villains in a duel to the death!
Our Take:
B-movie cinema fans are probably familiar with the Shaw Brothers, who were effectively the Roger Cormans of the Asian action film scene in the 1970s, churning out low-budget action films one after another for an insatiable audience at the time. Shout Factory has been collecting the entirety of the Shaw Brothers Catalog in a series of fantastic (and chunky) Blu-ray box sets, and this week brings us volume three, giving us 11 films making their Blu-ray debuts on 11 discs, each loaded with extra features. The movies included this time around were all released between 1976 and 1979 and are: Killer Clans, Shaolin Avengers, Web of Death, Vengeful Beauty, Death Duel, Life Gamble, Soul of the Sword, Deadly Breaking Sword, Clan of the White Lotus, Shaolin Abbott and Shaolin Rescuers. Most of these are your typical period Asian action flicks from the ‘70s, set in Ancient China and featuring battling monks, warriors, and princes. Are any of them cinematic genius? Of course not. But were they influential and fun action epics that are worth revisiting? Absolutely, For my money, I enjoyed Death Duel, Vengeful Beauty, Web of Death, and Shaolin Rescuers the most, but there really aren’t any truly bad films in the bunch. The Shaw Brothers studio was a veritable factory of films, churning out multiple releases in a year on low budgets. Without the efforts of Shout Factory, a lot of these could have been lost to time, but now they’re preserved in these terrific box sets. If you have volumes 1 and 2, you won’t want to miss Volume 3.
Special Features:
There’s a ton of great new extra features included in these box sets! Every film includes a cornucopia of bonus features, including at least one audio commentary (featuring film critics and historians) and often two commentaries. Pretty much every film also includes a new making-of feature, usually an interview feature or a retrospective documentary. Then there are also trailers and a few random tidbits sprinkled throughout.
The Tiger Cage Collection
Official Synopsis:
Get ready for three action-packed films from one of the greatest action/fight choreographers in the world, Yuen Woo-Ping (Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2; Kung Fu Hustle; The Matrix; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). These three thrillers have everything from good cops and bad cops to hand-to-hand combat, lots of shoot-outs, and a high body count. The all-star cast includes Donnie Yen (Ip Man, John Wick: Chapter 4), Simon Yam (Election, PTU), Jacky Cheung (Bullet in the Head), Cynthia Khan (Yes, Madam), Robin Shou (Mortal Kombat) and Michael Wong (Transformers: Age of Extinction, City Hunter). Tiger Cage: A team of cops get brutally exposed to violence after raiding a drug operation and discovering a link between few members of the police force and an American crime syndicate dealing with drug trafficking. Tiger Cage II: An ex-cop and divorce lawyer team up with a gangster to clear their names after getting involved in a dirty money scheme led by a vicious money launderer, who plans to expand his business and wipe out anyone who stands in his way. Tiger Cage III: Two detectives chase down leads in a case that might bring down the biggest gang boss in the city.
Our Take:
I’ve long been a martial arts movie fan, but I still get excited when a particularly exciting-looking Asian action flick crosses my desk. Such was the case when I opened up mail recently to find the Tiger Cage Collection in it. So many martial arts films are period pieces set in ancient China — which isn’t really my jam — that when I get films I haven’t seen set in modern times, it gets me pumped. Now, as with many Asian action franchises, the three films in this series aren’t actually closely linked. Each of Tiger Cage, Tiger Cage II, and Tiger Cage III, however, do share themes of police versus drug lords/criminals and are more thematically linked then they are a true franchise. The first film is a pretty straightforward cops versus bad guys thriller starring Donnie Yen. The second movie sees Yen return (as a different character) and it takes on a much more comedic tone than the first film as it sets things up as a sort of buddy cop film with Yen and a female character wanted by the mob. The third film is a whole new cast and story, with police chasing corporate criminals who are always one step ahead. I enjoyed all three films, but the second one is easily my favorite while the third film is the weakest. All three were directed by industry legend Yuen Woo-Ping, best known for choreographing the fight sequences in The Matrix, meaning the action scenes are the real stars of the films. The Tiger Cage Collection offers up three pretty awesome Asian action films and is loaded with extra features, giving you a ton of bang for your buck. The films are fun, and this is another typical high-quality genre release from Shout Factory.
Special Features:
This set is loaded with extras, including multiple cuts of the first two movies. Each film also includes an audio commentary and two to three interview and making-of featurettes, plus trailers.
The Sonny Chiba Collection: Volume 2
Official Synopsis:
Seven Spectacular Films from the Martial Arts Icon! Brace yourself for seven more high-octane films from the legendary career of Sonny Chiba! This second box set offers thrilling highlights from Chiba’s highly influential legacy, and some of these films are making their North America Blu-ray debut. Greatly missed by his legion of fans, Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba—The “Street Fighter”—remains an icon for all time! DISC ONE: The Defensive Power of Aikido Jiro Chiba tackles the role of Morihei Ueshiba, born in Wakayama to a farming family and destined for martial arts greatness as he learns from the masters (including brother Sonny Chiba) and develops his own well-polished Aikido. 13 Steps of Maki Based on a comic book, 13 Steps of Maki follows the leader of the all-female Stray Cats gang who use their fighting skills to help others. But when Maki crosses the daughter of a powerful man with connections to the yakuza, she winds up in prison on false charges. DISC TWO: Karate Warriors A street fighter (Sonny Chiba) arrives in a town ruled by two warring gangs headed by feuding yakuza brothers. He does everything he can to keep them feuding while tracking down a lucrative stash of drugs and befriending the son of a sword-wielding samurai… The Great Okinawa Yakuza War Co-starring alongside Hiroki Matsukata, Sonny Chiba makes for a striking, animalistic gangster battling his way through the streets of Okinawa in this eye-popping martial arts powerhouse set one year before the return of power to the mainland. DISC THREE: Karate for Life The final film in the Masutatsu Oyama trilogy, Karate for Life follows our hero through US-occupied Okinawa, where he leaves a professional wrestling job…but must return to the ring in order to help a friend in desperate need of medical supplies. Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon International spy Duke Togo has taken on a tricky assignment from an American drug syndicate: take out a Hong Kong kingpin who has been selling their drugs on his own. Duke faces danger at every turn…and competition from a detective who wants the kingpin for himself! DISC FOUR: The Okinawa War of Ten Years It’s brother against brother and friend against friend when Okinawa is returned to mainland Japan…and the local yakuza does not take kindly to being strong-armed by mainland gangs. The result is mayhem and the biggest yakuza war ever fought in Okinawa.
Our Take:
While he never achieved the same level of fame of someone like Bruce Lee, Sonny Chiba was one of the first martial arts superstars, first in his native Japan but eventually across the whole world. Shout Factory, who excels at preserving catalog classics, gave us the first Sonny Chiba Blu-ray Collection last year, and they return to the actor’s catalog this year with The Sonny Chiba Collection: Volume 2. This new four-disc set includes seven Chiba films on Blu-ray, most of which have never been available in the United States before. The seven movies included this time around are: The Defensive Power of Aikido, 13 Steps of Maki, Karate Warriors, The Great Okinawa Yakuza War, Karate for Life, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon, and The Okinawa War of Ten Years. Several of these are movies set in post-war or wartime Japan, while some are period pieces. My favorite entry is easily Golgo 13, a spy thriller that I believe is either based on a series of comic books or was adapted into a series of comic books. Either way, I’ve read the comic books and really enjoy them, and seeing Chiba playing Duke Togo in a contemporary spy film was a lot of fun. As with any collection of films from various years in an actor’s filmography (these are mostly from the 1970s), there are hits and misses, but The Sonny Chiba Collection: Volume 2 is a pretty solid collection of action films from a renowned international superstar. It’s a great collection for fans, both old and new alike.
Special Features:
While I would have hoped for more, there are three audio commentaries included, all featuring authors and historians, and they come on the films Karate Warriors, Golgo 13, and Karate for Life.
Irwin Allen: Master of Disaster Collection
Official Synopsis:
Welcome to disasterpiece theatre. This seven-film collection includes both television and theatrical films from director/writer/producer Irwin Allen, the master of the disaster film. From an overturned cruise liner and a bursting dam to collapsing caves, bridges, and more, all seven white-knuckle thrillers are presented with a new 2K scan from the interpositive. The films feature incredible all-star casts including Michael Caine, Paul Newman, Sally Field, Leslie Nielsen, Telly Savalas, Jacqueline Bisset, William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Shirley Jones, Roddy McDowall, and a huge roster of supporting screaming actors and actresses. It’s the ultimate in high-octane entertainment!
Our Take:
Irwin Allen isn’t the household name in today’s pop culture landscape that he was in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but the man was once a filmmaking powerhouse. I’m not sure that he directly created the disaster movie, but as a producer he certainly brought them to prominence and his name became synonymous with the epic disaster movie, hence his nickname, The Master of Disaster. This new box set from Shout Factory doesn’t include some of his biggest hits, unfortunately (The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure are notably absent), but it does give you many of his lesser-seen films, which is actually very cool. As much as I love Inferno and Poseidon, they’re available in a million different formats and various movie collections. Films like Flood, Fire, and Cave-In are rarely seen on home video. This new Blu-ray collection features seven Allen-produced films (a couple of which are TV movies), with the most well-known being the sequel to The Poseidon Adventure, 1979’s Beyond the Poseidon Adventure. Also included are six other films spanning Allen’s most active years, 1976-1983, including Flood, Fire, Hanging By a Thread, When Time Ran Out, Cave-In, and The Night the Bridge Fell Down. Now, not all of these are as great as Allen’s best films, but I enjoyed most of them quite a bit. Admittedly, I’m a huge fan of disaster movies, always have been, and so I love Allen’s works, even the lesser ones. And with cast members like Paul Newman, Robert Culp, Barbara Hershey, Leslie Nielsen, Jacqueline Bisset, William Holden, Patty Duke, Ernest Borgnine, and Vera Miles spread throughout the movies, there’s a lot to like, even when the scripts or special effects feel slightly dated. This seven-disc Blu-ray collection is just another example of Shout Factory bringing us the best quality versions of movies that aren’t in the mainstream anymore, but still have a fan following. I loved digging into several Allen films I’d never seen before, so this set comes highly recommended for any disaster movie fans!
Special Features:
While extra features would have been welcome, sadly all that you get is a collection of the films’ trailers.
For the Star Trek Fan:
Star Trek Picard: The Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
At the end of the 24th century, and 14 years after his retirement from Starfleet, Jean-Luc Picard is living a quiet life on his vineyard, when he is sought out by a mysterious young woman in need of his help. This chance encounter sends him on a bold and exciting new journey to track down a series of mysteries about his past. Culminating in the most the most daring mission of his life, Picard is forced to recruit allies spanning generations old and new with the fate of the Federation at stake. This 9-Disc collection features all 30 episodes and over 7 hours of special features including deleted scenes, story logs, gag reels and more!
Our Take:
Star Trek: Picard got a LOT of attention from the fan community for giving us the return of the fan-favorite Captain Picard and the Next Generation universe. For my money, I was hugely disappointed in the first season. It was way too dark (with almost no humor) and almost all of the characters were unlikable, and I didn’t really care all that much for the story. So I went into Season 2 with no small amount of trepidation. And then that rarest of things occurred: a show actually went in and fixed most of its mistakes from the season before! Season Two of Picard saw the captain and his crew transported back to 21st century Earth to try and right a cosmic wrong. It brings back Q and The Borg, yet still has its own driving story arc. And then we have Season 3, which as I mentioned above, is nearly perfect for my money. Now, Paramount/CBS has collected all three seasons (which is the entire series, as they have said it’s officially over at this point) into a multi-disc box set, a welcome collection for fans who haven’t yet picked up any of the individual seasons. And even though I didn’t love Season 1, I am a Star Trek completist, so I’m happy to have the entire series in my Star Trek home video collection. With the entire season collected plus all the bonus features, it’s hard not to want to have this set in your collection if you’re a Star Trek fan. Heck, it’s worth it for Season 3 alone, but Season 2 is also good enough to make this a bargain. And maybe I’ll eventually come around on that dreary first season.
Special Features:
You get a whopping seven hours of extra features on this nice box set. Primarily it’s made up of Story Logs, which are short making-of features on each episode; deleted scenes for all three seasons; audio commentaries on select episodes from all three seasons; additional making-of featurettes from each season, and gag reels from each season.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Seasons 1 and 2 (4K Ultra HD Steelbooks)
Official Synopsis:
In season two of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, under the command of Captain Christopher Pike, confronts increasingly dangerous stakes, explores uncharted territories and encounters new life and civilizations. The crew will also embark on personal journeys that will continue to test their resolve and redefine their destinies. Facing friends and enemies both new and familiar, their adventures will unfold in surprising ways never seen before on any “Star Trek” series. LIMITED EDITION STEELBOOK INLCUDES EXCLUSVIE CUSTOMIZABLE MAGNETS & POSTER
Our Take:
Okay, admittedly you don’t have to work overly hard to get me interested in a Star Trek show, but I absolutely LOVE Strange New Worlds. The show originally spun out of Star Trek: Discovery’s second season, which re-introduced Captain Pike, Number One, and Mister Spock to the current Star Trek universe. They were so popular in that season (largely due to Anson Mount’s absolutely delightful portrayal of Captain Pike, the most Kirk-esque captain we’ve had since Kirk himself) that they earned a whole new show, which gives us the adventures of the Enterprise in the years before Captain Kirk took over. Now in its second season, Strange New Worlds has found its own identity and it’s almost impossible to remember that it got its start as part of Discovery. The show is unabashedly Star Trek and I want more, more, more of it. It’s the most fun iteration of the franchise in years, and it really captures the spirit of the original series. While there are more serious episodes, of course, there are also a number of episodes that introduce fantasy settings or oddball situations for the crew to find themselves in and they have the Original Series DNA written all over it. Two words: musical episode. The characters are terrific, the scripts are sharp, and the show is just filled with fun and adventure. The show’s first two seasons are on home video on Blu-ray and DVD, and there’s a Steelbook 4K version of each available that features gorgeous artwork that any fan will want on their shelves. Honestly, I can’t get enough of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and I can’t wait for season three. Highly recommended!
The Special Features: There are over two hours of extra features on each release, including a collection of deleted and alternate scenes, plus making-of featurettes that focus on particular aspects of each season.
Star Trek Prodigy
Official Synopsis:
Star Trek: Prodigy follows the intergalactic adventures of six teenagers as they try to escape from their cruel past and look to the stars for hope and salvation aboard an abandoned Federation starship. These outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered—a first in the history of Star Trek—but over the course of their adventures together, they are introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents. Created by Emmy Award winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (Trollhunters).
Our Take:
If this were a couple of years ago, I would have said that Star Trek: Prodigy — while ostensibly Trek’s “younger viewers” series — was the best Star Trek show on TV. But the franchise has been on fire lately, and I absolutely love me some Strange New Worlds. That said, Star Trek: Prodigy is absolutely fantastic. A CGI-animated series, this isn’t a kids’ cartoon. Instead, it’s a deeply layered animated adventure show that happens to be appropriate for all ages; in fact, it reminds me a lot of Star Wars Rebels and Clone Wars. The story follows a crew on non-Starfleet youngsters who find a Starfleet spaceship on a planet that they’re enslaved on and use it to escape. While on the run from the bad guys (and possibly Starfleet itself), they have to learn to become a crew and a family, with the help from a holographic Captain Janeway (voiced by Kate Mulgrew). The show works on every level: the characters are great, the voice actors are terrific, the action is fast-paced, there’s plenty of humor, the animation is gorgeous, and most importantly off all, it really feels like Star Trek. Don’t get caught up in this being a “kids’ show”; I promise you, if you’re a Star Trek fan, you will love Prodigy. There are two releases that make up the entirety of Season 1, Volume 1 and Volume 2; I wish that Paramount/CBS had just waited to release the whole season at once, but anything that gets people watching this show more is a good thing. I really can’t recommend Star Trek: Prodigy highly enough; don’t be thrown off by the fact that it’s a “kids” show, it’s really a high-quality TV series that doesn’t feel at all like it’s written for kids. If you are a Star Trek fan and you’re not watching Prodigy, you’re short-changing yourself. Check it out!
Special Features:
There are two separate Prodigy releases (Episodes 1-10 and Episodes 11-20), and each one gives you a couple of making-of featurettes, plus a collection of physical character cards in the package.
For the Sci-Fi Fan Who ISN’T a Star Trek Fan:
Farscape: The Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
Prepare for Starburst! Includes All 88 Episodes + The Peacekeeper Wars + Hours of Special Features! John Crichton. Astronaut. Flung through a wormhole and lost in a galaxy far from home. He finds himself in the middle of a prison break, surrounded by hostile aliens, soaring through space inside a glorious living spaceship called Moya. Hunted by the relentless Peacekeepers, he allies himself with his unimaginably alien fellow refugees and searches for a way home. So begins the epic sci-fi classic Farscape. A fusion of live-action, state-of-the-art puppetry, prosthetics and CGI, Farscape features mind-boggling alien lifeforms, dazzling special effects, edge-of-your-seat thrills, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters—all brought to life by the creative minds at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™. No wonder it’s been called the most imaginative sci-fi series in television history.
Our Take:
Some television shows are cult classics that spawn entire franchises, and then there are other shows that are just cult classics. Farscape is one of the latter. Premiering on the SciFi Channel (now SyFy) in 1999, the show focused on human pilot John Crichton, who finds himself thrown across the universe and ending up in a galaxy very different than our own. Hooking up with the crew of the living ship Moya, Crichton helps fight injustice in the spaceways as he also tries to simply survive his new reality. The show only lasted four seasons, but thanks to its blend of great characters, decent special effects, puppet wizardry (courtesy of the Jim Henson Company), and some great sci-fi storylines, the show gained a devoted fan following. A few years after it was cancelled, we were treated to The Peacekeeper Wars, a miniseries that wrapped up the show (while teasing potential future storylines), but nothing else has ever come from the world of Farscape. Now, because it has got such a strong fan following, it’s been released on home video several times before, but this new collection is the best one yet. First of all, it includes the entire series on Blu-ray. There’s been one previous Blu-ray collection, but everything before that was DVD only. This also marks the first time that you can own the entire series PLUS The Peacekeeper Wars miniseries on Blu-ray in one collection; that’s never been available before. (In fact, I don’t think Peacekeeper Wars has ever been available on Blu-ray, but I could be wrong.) With a robust collection of extra features (including some new ones), this seems to be the definitive, ultimate Farscape set. I always loved Farscape, and I’m always glad when any new release brings it back into the public consciousness. It’s been a long time since I watched the show, and I really enjoyed digging back into it. If you’re a fan and you want to have the entire series in one great place, this is the way to do it. If you’re not already a fan, definitely consider checking it out. It’s a great science fiction show that was never big on budget but was always big on heart!
Special Features:
First off, there is a brand new retrospective documentary about the show featuring show creator writer Rockne S. O’Bannon and producer Brian Henson. There’s also another retrospective doc from a few years back featuring the cast, as well as another several shorter featurettes and documentary features about the creation of the show. 30 of the episodes feature audio commentaries, and you also get a ton of deleted scenes. Finally, look for episode promos and character profiles. It’s a jam-packed box set!
Babylon 5: The Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
2258 CE. Five hostile federations dominate the outermost regions of space. Heroes, thieves and rare and exotic beings find refuge in this time of uneasy peace and the constant threat of war on a lone space station–the last and best hope for peace between a hundred worlds, alien and human alike–Babylon 5
Our Take:
Babylon 5 returns to home video for the first time in years and I could not be more excited about it! Back in the 1990s, we were lucky enough to get not one, but two of the best science fiction shows ever on TV at the same time. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5 aired at the same time, and while a lot of fans chose one camp or another, I like to think that most of us eventually figured out that they were both simply amazing storytelling unlike anything else on TV at the time. After a five-year run, Babylon 5 came to an end, and while there have been a few follow-up TV movies in the years since, it wasn’t until this year that we got a new animated movie called Babylon 5: The Road Home. And I figured that was going to be it for another couple of years. But now, just in time for the holidays, we have Babylon 5: The Complete Series! It’s the first time all five seasons of this wonderful show have been collected on Blu-ray, and each episode has been remastered for high def. Now, this doesn’t mean we get all-new special effects like Star Trek: The Next Generation did back in the day, but the show does look better than we’ve ever seen it. Plus, it’s just so damn good! I do wish Warner had collected all of the TV movies and even the short-lived Crusade show into the set as well, as that would have made it truly complete, but I’m really not complaining. I’d love a new Babylon 5 TV series as much as the next fan, but for now, I’m excited to be able to go back and watch the entire series all over again, now remastered and on Blu-ray for the first time. If you’re a Babylon 5 fan, trust me when I tell you that you will really enjoy this trip back to the B5 universe!
Special Features:
Sadly, there are no extra features on the set. The original two-hour movie is included and listened as an extra, but since it’s really like the pilot episode, I don’t count that.
For the TV Binge Watcher:
Succession: The Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
Power, politics, money… it’s all in the family in this Emmy®-winning drama series. When the head of one of the world’s largest media and entertainment conglomerates considers retiring, a bitter corporate battle threatens to turn into a family civil war as each of his four grown children scheme for control of the company. Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, and Alan Ruck star.
Our Take:
Now that it’s over, there’s no denying that over the course of its four seasons, Succession became a pop culture juggernaut. I’ve seen it referenced in other TV shows and movies, heard it mentioned on podcasts, seen memes from it on social media… it’s really taken on a life of its own. HBO rarely makes out-and-out bad television, so it’s not really a surprise that it became so popular, I just wish that I had liked the show – or at least the kind of show it was – more than I did. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very well-made show, with great acting and strong writing. The series follows a Rupert Murdoch-like corporate magnate and his children who are in varying degrees of jockeying for his power when he passes away. While the cast is terrific (featuring Brian Cox, Sanaa Lathan, Alan Ruck, Kieran Culkin, and Sarah Snook) it’s hard for me to really find much common ground with characters who are so rich they can’t even count their money. And frankly, they’re largely terrible and unlikable people, which is one of my biggest pet peeves in any show or movie; I do not like any film or series that features almost exclusively unlikable characters. That said, I’m clearly in the minority here, and that spelled success for Succession. Succession is like an HBO version of Dynasty, which there clearly is an audience for, I’m just not it. While I’m not the biggest Succession fan in the world, those of you who are fans of the show will be happy to be able to have the entire series in one convenient box set so you can revisit the Roy family whenever you want to. The biggest surprise/disappointment is that the show is only offered on DVD and not on Blu-ray, which seems like a major oversight.
Special Features:
There are multiple Inside the Episode making-of featurettes, cast and crew interviews, character recaps, and more, totaling about two hours of bonus materials.
Tulsa King: Season 1 Steelbook
Official Synopsis:
TULSA KING follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone), just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a “crew” from a group of unlikely characters, to help him establish a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet. This Season 1 release includes all 9 episodes with over 90 minutes of content that goes behind the scenes with the cast and crew in 6 never before seen making of featurettes.
Our Take:
I’m as big a Sylvester Stallone fan as you will ever meet, but I’ll be honest, when I first saw the trailer for Tulsa King, I was underwhelmed. Despite that, I meant to get around to watching it but I just was never in the mood for a show that didn’t look all that great to me. Then I got the first season – out now on Blu-ray and DVD, courtesy of CBS/Paramount – for review and I couldn’t put it off any longer. And of course, now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to watch it because it turns out it is absolutely FANTASTIC. Stallone plays a mid-level gangster fresh out of a 25-year stint in jail for protecting his mafia boss. Now a relic in an organization that has outgrown him, he is effectively banished to Tulsa, Oklahoma to establish a new income stream for the mafia. It’s not the most complicated setup for a show, but that’s part of why it works so well. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, it instead relies on excellent writing, terrific performances, and a perfect blend of drama, comedy, and action to end up being completely addictive from the very first episode on. And Sly – who I’ve always maintained is a better actor than people give him credit for – is in the finest form of his career. Honestly, and I say this as someone who’s seen literally every single movie he’s ever made, this is one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from Stallone. It’s subtle and nuanced at times, brash and overstated at other times, but you can’t help but like this character instantly, and that’s huge for a show where the lead character really isn’t a good person. I’m sorry I waited so long to watch Tulsa King; don’t make the same mistake I did, check it out ASAP.
Special Features:
There are six making-of featurettes that total over an hour and a half of extra material Nice!
NCIS Los Angeles: The Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
NCIS: Los Angeles takes you inside the high-stakes world of the elite NCIS division charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals who pose a threat to the nation’s security. Assuming false identities and utilizing the most advanced technology, the team of highly trained agents goes deep undercover, risking their lives to bring down their targets. Armed with the latest high-tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit unit relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests. Starring a dynamic cast, The Complete Series compiles all 14 seasons and 320 episodes of the hit drama on 81 discs that are packed with special features.
Our Take:
Now that NCIS: Los Angeles has come to the end of its run after fourteen seasons, fans might be wanting to go back and binge the entire series. Well, if that’s the case then CBS has good news for you: NCIS: Los Angeles – The Complete Series has arrived on DVD. This massive 81-disc box set gives you every single episode from the show’s run, as well as all the extra features from the original season set releases. NCIS: Los Angeles, obviously a successful and popular show, was always the most action-packed part of the NCIS franchise, and with two bona fide stars in the lead roles with Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J, it might have been my favorite. I’m sure a lot of fans are sorry to see it end, but if you are going to miss having it on your TV every week, this is a nice way to relive the entire show. With all 320 episodes on 81 discs and several hours of special features, NCIS Los Angeles: The Complete Series is everything a fan of the show could ask for. And honestly, I’m surprised at how affordably priced it is considering everything you get. Definitely a must-have for fans of the show!
Special Features:
This box set includes all off the original extra features from each season, which means you get a two to three making-of featurettes for all 14 seasons, as well as deleted & extended scenes from each season, audio commentaries on select episodes, and a. Few other goodies. All told you get over 17 hours of bonus materials. Nice!
The Good Fight: The Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
In the critically acclaimed sequel to The Good Wife, The Good Fight follows Diane Lockheart (Emmy Award Winner Christine Baranski) as she is forced out of her own law firm after an enormous financial scam destroys her reputation and wipes out her savings, leading her to join Lucca Quinn (Cush Jumbo) at one of Chicago’s pre-eminent law firms. Alongside Lucca, Adrian Boseman (Delroy Lindo) and Liz Reddick (Emmy Award Winner Audra McDonald), Diane navigates high-profile cases involving race relations, gender constructs and power dynamics, striving to maintain sanity in insane times. Featuring guest appearances by Jane Lynch, Wanda Sykes, John Larroquette, Mandy Patinkin, John Slattery, Bernadette Peters, Michael Sheen and Wayne Brady, this collection includes all 6 seasons and 60 episodes on 18 discs, with over 2 hours of special features!
Our Take:
At this point, I bet most viewers have forgotten that The Good Fight was a spin-off of The Good Wife (if they even remember The Good Wife, which feels like it came out 20 years ago at this point.) And while that original show might be fading from memory, The Good Fight just finished a successful six-season run on the Paramount+ streaming platform. In a nutshell, the series focuses on Christine Baranski in the lead role as a lawyer working at a prestigious African American–owned firm that’s gained attention for tackling socially challenging cases. Over the course of the six seasons of the show, there were a variety of storylines that ran throughout a seasons, and then you had the usual legal cases that came and went with every episode, most of which were always quite interesting. Also a common theme each season was a great supporting cast (including a few new players every season), ensuring that were always characters you could root for (and a few you loved to hate!) The writing on the show was really sharp, although it definitely was never a show for people who want their TV to remain apolitical. This latest DVD collection includes the entire six-season series on 18 discs in a fairly compact case with a nice slipcover. The Good Fight is a pretty easy binge-watch. I can’t say I was in the market for another law-centric series to watch, but if you are, this one is pretty good. And now you can watch the entire series from start to finish in one convenient box set.
Special Features:
You get extras for each season that include deleted and extended scenes and gag reels, and then there’s a wrap-up featurette called The Good Fight: A Farewell.
Your Honor: The Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
Bryan Cranston stars in his Golden Globe-nominated role as Michael Desiato in Your Honor: The Complete Series. In Season one, respected New Orleans judge Michael Desiato (Cranston) must play a high-stakes game of lies to save his teenage son (Hunter Doohan). The saga continues in season two, when a disgraced and disbarred Michael is given a chance to find redemption, and strike a blow against the corruption that runs New Orleans. This critically acclaimed legal thriller also stars Isiah Whitlock Jr. (The Wire), Michael Stuhlbarg (Doctor Strange), Hope Davis (About Schmidt), and Carmen Ejogo (Selma) and features guest appearances from Maura Tierney (The Affair), Amy Landecker (Transparent), Emmy winner Margo Martindale (The Americans), Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black), and Academy Award nominee* Rosie Perez (White Men Can’t Jump). This 6-disc collection includes every thrilling episode, behind the scenes featurettes and interviews, and never-before-seen deleted scenes.
Our Take:
Bryan Cranston returned to dramatic television with this series from Showtime that got no small amount of critical acclaim, and it’s easy to see why. Cranston plays a judge in New Orleans whose son is involved with a hit and run that gets him wrapped up with an organized crime family. From there, things rapidly descend into a murky gray area that will call into question the judge’s morals, choices, and instinct to protect his son. Over the course of ten episodes, you can feel Cranston’s desperation increase as his complicated maneuverings seem to sink him deeper and deeper into the mire rather than freeing him and his son. It’s a tense, dramatic show, earmarked by terrific performances from Cranston and young Hunter Doohan, who plays his son. And I’m glad that it was just a miniseries. The show is terrific, and many people without Showtime won’t have seen it yet, making it a great gift. A top-notch production from Showtime.
Special Features:
There is a nice collection of making-of featurettes, interviews, and deleted scenes included in the set.
Fire Country: Season 1
Official Synopsis:
FIRE COUNTRY stars Max Thieriot (Seal Team) as Bode Donovan, a young convict seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California, where he and other inmates are partnered with elite firefighters to extinguish massive, unpredictable wildfires across the region. It’s a high-risk, high reward assignment, and the heat is turned up when Bode is assigned to the program in his rural hometown, where he was once a golden all-American son until his troubles began. Now he’s back, with the rap sheet of a criminal and the audacity to believe in a chance for redemption with Cal Fire. This 6-disc set includes every fiery episode along with exclusive special features including featurettes, deleted scenes and more!
Our Take:
Sometimes I feel like there are enough police/medical/firefighter dramas in the world, but then I look at all the shows that my wife and daughter watch endlessly and realize there can never be enough for some people. Fire Country puts a slightly new spin on the genre, bringing us a firefighting drama that’s based on real life programs that utilize convicts to help fight massive forest fires while at the same time working to shorten their sentences. In Fire Country, Max Theriot plays Bode Donavan, a young convict who joins one of these elite fire fighting forces. Unfortunately for him, he ends up in the hometown he mysteriously left with a big secret, which fuels a lot of the drama of the show. With some great familiar-face supporting cast members such as Diane Farr, Billy Burke, and Ty Olsson, the show focuses on Bode and his past (as it collides with his present) and also gives us some pretty solid firefighting action on occasion, keeping it from being all drama and no action. While I wasn’t exactly looking for a new emergency services drama to watch, Fire Country sucked me in. While Fire Country does give us some formulaic storylines, the convict angle mixed with Bode’s mysterious past and the size of the fires they fight also gives the show a different feel, and I have to say that I liked it. Definitely worth a look if you’re in the need of a new show to add into the rotation.
Special Features:
There are two making-of featurettes and a gag reel, which gives you about a half an hour’s worth of extras on this Season one collection. I’ll take it.
For the Horror Fan:
The Paramount Scares 4K Collection
Official Synopsis:
Fans can plumb the depths of the horror genre with this collectible box set featuring five unforgettable movies, all in eye-popping 4K Ultra HD, along with over four hours of legacy special features and exclusive collectible items. Housed in deluxe packaging, each of the following films is presented in a special sleeve with artwork exclusive to the collection: Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Pet Sematary (1989), Smile (2022), Crawl (2019), and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). The PARAMOUNT SCARES VOL. 1 Limited-Edition 4K Blu-ray Box Set also boasts collectible items, including an exclusive, full-size Fangoria magazine produced especially for the release. This special edition of the celebrated publication—”first in fright” since 1979—features a curated selection of new and classic articles from the magazine’s archives. The set also includes a Paramount Scares enamel pin, unique stickers, and access to a Digital copy of each film.
Our Take:
Okay, first let me say that Paramount has put together a pretty awesome collection of horror movies making their 4K Ultra HD debut with their new Paramount Scares 4K Ultra HD Collection. But I do have a few minor issues with it. First of all, the good news: this new box set gives us 4K UHDs of four great horror movies: Rosemary’s Baby, Pet Sematary, Crawl, and Smile. It also includes the 4K debut of a fifth movie, one which was kept a “Secret Title” until the set’s release this week. And that’s where I found myself disappointed. The fifth secret title is the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Sigh. Here’s the thing: not only do I not really like Sweeney Todd, it’s not even really a horror movie. I get that it has horror elements to it, but it feels like a weird fit in this box set. Rosemary’s Baby is one of the great horror movies of all time. Pet Sematary is a fun Stephen King-based thriller from the 80s. Crawl is a highly underrated trapped-with-alligators creature feature that I loved, and Smile was a big hit last year and is an effectively creepy horror flick that I enjoyed quite a bit. Sweeney Todd… meh. That said, this is still a pretty awesome collection. In addition to each film on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, there are great extra features and some physical goodies in the box itself (read on for full details). Also, each film comes housed in its own newly-designed digipak with new artwork, and they are sharp looking, featuring metallic highlights. Anthology box sets are always tricky because it’s hard to find a collection of movies that aren’t directly related that everyone will like each selection equally. That said, Paramount Scares has way more good (Rosemary’s Baby, Crawl, Smile) than bad (Sweeney Todd.) I love the video and audio quality of the films, the packaging, and the extras, and I think any horror fan will decide this is a worthy addition to their collection.
Special Features:
Each film has its own collection of archival extra features. Rosemary’s Baby includes a retrospective documentary, a shorter featurette, and a trailer. Pet Sematary includes an audio commentary with director Mary Harron, six featurettes, storyboard features, galleries, and more. Crawl includes an Alternate Opening with an introduction, three making-of featurettes, and a collection of deleted and extended scenes. Smile includes an audio commentary, two making-of features, a short film, and deleted scenes. Finally, Sweeney Todd comes with eight making-of featurettes, a press conference, a trailer, a photo gallery, and more. On top of all that, the set also includes a sticker sheet, a nice enamel pin, and a collectible Fangoria Magazine created especially for this release that includes classic articles about all five films in the set. There also digital copies for each film in the set.
The Mist: 4K Ultra HD Steelbook
Official Synopsis:
When a mysterious mist, and the supernatural creatures within, falls across their town in the wake of a violent storm, a group of local citizens must fend for themselves while trapped inside a local supermarket. They soon begin to realize that the real danger. may not be from the monsters outside, but from tension and mistrust within. Based on the novel by Stephen King.
Our Take:
One of the greatest Stephen King adaptations of all time comes to 4K Ultra HD, this time via a Best Buy-exclusive Steelbook limited edition release. I’ll admit, for years I loved The Mist but hated the ending. I won’t spoil it here, but if you’ve seen the film, you know what I’m talking about. However, in recent years, I’ve come to appreciate the ending, which makes an already amazing film even more incredible. The premise is simple: a small town finds itself enveloped in a strange mist, and several people hole up in a grocery store. And then… things start coming from the mist. I won’t say more, nor do I need to, but suffice it to say that what could be a simple horror movie also involves seep themes about group think and mob mentality. It’s also a really great horror movie! Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden are terrific, and Laurie Holden and Jeffrey Demunn (who would later star in director Frank Darabont’s The Walking Dead TV show) are terrific as well. If you don’t already own the movie (and even if you do, because the Steelbook is super cool), now is definitely the time. I can’t recommend The Mist highly enough. It’s a horror masterpiece with a message, and even though the ending is incredibly intense, it’s worth getting through because the movie is just that good.
Special Features:
This is a pretty packed disc, with a Frank Darabont audio commentary kicking things off. There are also deleted scenes (with optional commentary), a conversation between Darabont and Stephen King, a 40-minute making-of feature, four additional making-of featurettes, a series of short webisodes, and trailers for the film. Very cool!
Lionsgate Horror Steelbook Collections
Official Synopsis:
Celebrate the scariest time of year – Halloween – with a set of spine-tingling, hair-raising Steelbooks! Lionsgate’s series of Walmart-exclusive Blu-ray + Digital multi-film Steelbooks, inspired by the vivid, eye-catching artwork of vintage pulp novels, rises from the grave. Included in this collection are the terror-tinged The Blair Witch Project and its evil twin, Blair Witch; the reimagined Halloween I & II and unhinged Firefly trilogy (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, and 3 from Hell) from fright master Rob Zombie; and an 8-film round of repulsion care of SAW (including Jigsaw) and the devilish hijinks of the Leprechaun. It’s an endless Steelbook scare-a-thon!”
Our Take:
Lionsgate has released several new horror collections on Blu-ray that are all housed in Steelbook cases and are all currently Wal-Mart exclusives. I’m going to dig into them one at a time, but the next four titles you’ll see are all part of this series, and I’ll do my wrap up at the end. First up is the Saw Collection, which collects the first 8 Saw films I have to admit, I’m not the biggest fan of this franchise. I like the first movie a lot, which is a tense psychological thriller about two men trapped and chained in the same room, with only one seeming way out: sawing off their own foot. While it is intense and has a few tough moments, it’s a real horror film and not just a gorefest. The problem is that after that the series quickly devolved into the exact same movie over and over again, where Jigsaw basically traps a bunch of people in horrible death traps, and we have to watch them all die in increasingly gruesome ways one after the other. Blech. I like a little substance in my horror movies, sorry. Next up is Rob Zombie’s Halloween Collection, which collects the two Halloween movies directed by Rob Zombie. I know it’s a rights issues and that’s why the only Halloween movies collected here are the two Rob Zombie films, but it hurts me to see a beautiful Steelbook case go to waste on the two worst films in my favorite horror franchise of all time. Zombie’s first Halloween is at least mediocre, even if it’s overly gritty and grimy and gives us way more of Michael Meyers’s backstory than we need. But Halloween 2 is not just the worst film in the franchise, it’s literally one of the single worst movies I’ve ever seen. I just don’t love Rob Zombie as a filmmaker, and while I can appreciate the producers trying to reinvigorate the Halloween franchise, this was the wrong way to do it, in my opinion. Now, the Leprechaun films are a case of “if you don’t know what you’re getting here, you shouldn’t be watching them.” Warwick Davis of Star Wars and Willow fame stars as the titular Leprechaun, who wants to protect his gold and will kill anyone who tries to take it from him in mischievous and malicious ways The first film stars a young Jennifer Aniston and is a lot of fun for a B movie. After that, it’s a mixed bag, but you do get so-bad-they’re-good entries like Leprechaun in Space, Leprechaun in the Hood, and Leprechaun: Back 2 The Hood. I mean, if you can’t have fun with movies like those, what are you even watching these for? There are eight total movies in this collection, which is pretty good bang for your buck. Finally, we have Rob Zombie’s Firefly Trilogy. As I mentioned earlier, I’m not a huge fan of Rob Zombie movies, and this collection is comprised of his three non-Halloween films. So you get The House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, and 3 from Hell. Now, look, I know The House of 1000 Corpses has its fans, and if you’re one of them, that’s fine. But I could not have hated this film more. Not only does it take a lot of inspiration from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (dirty psycho hillbillies slaughtering innocent people in gruesome ways), but it ups the depravity level by about a thousand. The film is dark, disturbing, disgusting, and unpleasant in every way; legit, it’s the first time that I can remember a movie making me physically nauseous. And as it goes on, it gets more and more nonsensical from a narrative point of view, abandoning logic or realism in favor of gore and brutality. The Devil’s Rejects has an amazing first 20 minutes, wherein Zombie actually made an amazing action movie, and then he turned it into more horror that I found distasteful. 3 From Hell is more of the same, unfortunately. Let’s just say that I am not Zombie’s target audience and move on. These new Steelbook horror collections are great value for the money and the cases are all very cool looking. The Saw and Leprechaun collections give you 8 films for a suggested retail price of $49.99, while the two Rob Zombie offerings are each $34.99. For multiple-film steelbooks, that’s not bad at all. Each set also give you all of the movies included as a digital copy, which is a huge bonus. Even though I’m not necessarily a huge fan of the franchises they chose to include, a lot of horror fans will be very excited to have them.
Special Features:
Saw: I guess 8 movies for a low price was enough, because aside from digital copies, there are no extra features in this set.
Halloween: These two films carry over a lot of the extra features from their original releases, giving you audio commentaries, deleted scenes, bloopers, music videos, and making-of featurettes for both films.
Leprechaun: Once again, you get eight films but no extra features.
Firefly: Each of the three films includes an audio commentary with Rob Zombie (and sometimes others), plus four featurettes on House of 1000 Corpses, deleted scenes on The Devil’s Rejects, and a four-part making-of documentary on 3 From Hell.
Halloween H20 Steelbook (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
The seventh instalment of the slasher horror franchise. Apparently killed in a car crash, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) in fact faked her death so that she could adopt a new identity. Now she is living as Keri Tate, the headmistress of a private school in California, and is the mother of a teenage son, John (Josh Hartnett). Unfortunately, Halloween 1998 – the 20th anniversary of Michael Myers’ original attack in Haddonfield – sees the psychotic slasher decide that the time is now right to return to terrorize Laurie.
Our Take:
I am a HUGE fan of the Halloween franchise. The original Halloween is my all-time favorite horror movie, and the entire Michael Myers franchise is my favorite horror series of all time. Now, as with pretty much any film series that numbers thirteen films, there’s going to be ups and downs. For example, I hate the Rob Zombie outings quite a bit, but I love most of the original eight films. For my money, though, Halloween H20 is one of the high points of the series. Before the most recent trilogy undid all of the events of everything after the first film, H20 made a perfect trilogy capper with Halloween and Halloween II. The other films between (Halloweens 3-6) have their own charms, but they got away from the main story and characters introduced in the first two films. H20 brought Laurie Strode back and did it really well. Despite some issues with the mask changing during production, re-shoots, and a whole new musical score being composed at the last minute, H20 really works. And it works because it got back to the roots of the original John Carpenter film: lower body count, minimal blood and guts, and a focus on suspense and tension instead of gore. Filmmakers since then have moved away from these aesthetics, but I love H20 because it feels the most like a John Carpenter film that wasn’t directed by John Carpenter. Now Halloween: H20 has been released on 4K ultra HD in a terrific Steelbook case, and it’s a welcome addition to any Halloween fan or Steelbook aficionado’s collection. Halloween: H20 remains one of my favorite films in my favorite horror movie franchise. It’s not a perfect movie and it has its flaws, but I absolutely love it. This new Steelbook edition includes a digital copy for fans who have only ever owned the film as one of the many home video releases that dropped before digital movies became a thing, and the Steelbook itself looks great. It’s the lack of extras that really kills this, though. I can’t give it my full recommendation because of that, but everything else about it is great.
Special Features:
Paramount, what are you doing to us? This was one of the first DVDs I ever bought, in large part because it was loaded with extra features. Now that it’s got this beautiful Steelbook 4K, you drop it with literally no extras at all? Not a one? Unbelievable. What a huge disappointment.
Violent Night
Official Synopsis:
From the producers of Nobody and John Wick comes a bare-knuckle, coal-dark holiday action-comedy that says you should always bet on red. When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound taking everyone inside hostage, they are not prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus. David Harbour (Stranger Things) stars as St. Nick, delivering some serious season’s beatings to save the family and the spirit of Christmas.
Our Take:
I’ll say first off that I’m not a fan of this movie, but I am way in the minority on that. A LOT of people I know absolutely loved this movie, and that should make it a great gift for fans. For me, it’s like the generation of kids who grew up brainwashed by the internet into thinking that Die Hard is a Christmas movie has started making their own movies. And the result is Violent Night, which basically takes Die Hard, Die Hard 2, and Home Alone and throws them into a blender. Unfortunately, what comes out is a largely unenjoyable film. To be clear, I really wanted to like Violent Night. You give me Santa Claus fighting against a bunch of criminals who are trying to rob a rich family on Christmas Eve, and that sounds like something I’m going to have a lot of fun with. Unfortunately, the film is populated by unlikable characters, making it hard to root for anyone. Hell, even Santa Claus himself is incredibly unlikable; I mean, how do you screw that up? There are a few solid action sequences, but they also get surprisingly bloody and gory at times, which I felt was an odd choice. I know there’s an audience out there for Violent Night that liked it more than I did, but I found it to be a huge letdown. The Christmas theme will probably ensure that it gets annual viewings in some households, but mine won’t be one of them.
Special Features:
Three making-of featurettes are under the Christmas tree, as well as an audio commentary with the filmmakers and a collection of deleted and extended scenes. A digital copy of the movie is also included.
For the Comic Book Fan:
Loki: Season 1 (Steelbook)
Official Synopsis:
Marvel Studios’ Loki features the God of Mischief as he steps out of his brother’s shadow. Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, this action-packed, time-defying thriller stars Tom Hiddleston as the title character, with Owen Wilson as agent Mobius.
Our Take:
I think it’s safe to say that Marvel’s television output up to now has been… pretty good. Most of their shows haven’t totally blown me away, but none of them have been complete train wrecks, either. I’ve liked most of them, even if I haven’t loved all of them. Loki was one of the standouts of the first wave of Marvel/Disney+ shows, however. The show sees Loki come before the Time Variance Authority, who is out to punish the God of Lies for his mucking about with the timestream. However, things quickly go sideways and Loki finds himself hopping around from time to time and place to place, playing the part of both hero and trickster. Over the course of six episodes, the show gives us a great mix of action, spectacle, superheroes, comedy, and drama, and it’s all anchored by Tom Hiddleston’s fantastic performance. Aside from Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, I can’t think of any other single character in the MCU that’s cast as perfectly as Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Now the first season has been collected in a terrific new Steelbook collection that gives you all six episodes and bonus features in a stylish Steelbook case. With Loki: Season Two upon us, now is a great time to revisit the first season as a refresher. Sure, you can stream the episodes, but for those collectors among us, this new Steelbook set is a great piece to have on your shelf.
Special Features:
Already a great-looking set, you also get some nice bonus features, including a feature-length making-of documentary, a look at designing the set of the TVA, a gag reel, deleted scenes, the full TVA orientation video, and a set of physical art cards inside the case!
WandaVision: The Complete Series (Steelbook)
Official Synopsis:
Marvel Studios presents “WandaVision,” a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives, begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. The new series is directed by Matt Shakman; Jac Schaeffer is head writer.
Our Take:
Marvel has been a little slow in getting their TV series to home video – I’m sure because they don’t want to cannibalize what’s on Disney+ — but eventually, they’re slowly trickling onto shelves. This week gives us the first (and still one of the best) of the Marvel/Disney+ TV shows with WandaVision: The Complete Series, which has been released on Blu-ray in a super-cool looking Steelbook case. Although it was only six episodes, WandaVision was a tour de force, giving us a glimpse of a happy Wanda/Vision relationship through the lens of various decades’ sitcoms. Each episode saw the story progresses to another decade and boy does the show nail the tropes of the various eras’ shows. It was brilliantly conceived and executed, and just when it seemed like the show might be an endless parody, things kicked into high gear and the stakes got really high. Watching it all in one or two sittings is especially rewarding, making this home video collection an essential viewing piece. I really loved the entire WandaVision experience and now, those of you who don’t have Disney+ or who just like to collect Marvel movies and shows on home video (and keep physical media alive, yay!) can add this terrific show to your collections.
The Special Features:
There’s a pretty great one-hour making-of documentary, a couple of deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a short featurette.
Ava’s Demon Book One: Reborn
Official Synopsis:
This is acclaimed author Michelle Fus’ first book in a new series of graphic novels collecting their groundbreaking YA webcomic, which also set webcomics crowdfunding records on Kickstarter, now available for the first time in the book market. In Ava’s Demon Book One: Reborn, a young, shy girl named Ava discovers that the demon who haunts her is actually the spirit of an ancient alien queen named Wrathia. The two form a powerful pact—in exchange for a better life, Ava must help Wrathia seek revenge against TITAN, the godlike being who destroyed her empire. To aid in the fight, Ava must assemble Wrathia’s most trusted warriors and their host lifeforms. The only problem is, she doesn’t know how to find them.
Our Take:
Ava’s Demon has been incredibly popular since its inception. It started out as a webcomic, then there were a few Kickstarters to bring the webcomics to printed form, and nowthe series has been picked up by Skybound (who publish The Walking Dead and Invincible comic books, among other things.) It’s been reformatted into a special graphic novel format that allows for it to read like a comic book but still keep the same page set-up (or close to it) as the webcomic. Now, I think the book has amazing artwork, even if I find the story a little bit confusing. But I suspect that teens especially will really like this book, especially if they’re into anime or manga. It’s not a mnga book, but it feels very influenced by that world an I think there’s a lot of crossover opportunity here. This could be a nice surprise gift for a teen anime fan without having to worry that they already have it.
Heart Attack
Official Synopsis:
Acclaimed writer Shawn Kittelsen and artist Eric Zawadzki present a new graphic novel collecting Heart Attack #1-6 and featuring six all-new chapters concluding their epic story. Gene therapy has saved Americans from disease—only to give birth to Variants: people with powers so unique, the government denies their human rights. But a new rebellion begins when Charlie North and Jill Kearney learn their instant attraction unlocks powers of mass destruction and forces them to question how far they should go to topple the system. Skybound recently announced its partnership with Fuji TV to adapt Heart Attack into a live-action sci-fi series.
Our Take:
I had heard of Heart Attack but hadn’t had a chance to read it until this collected trade paperback came out, and it turns out it’s a really impressive book. It’s a complex, layered story that feels like it takes place in a real, well-crafted universe, and it combines super-powered characters with political and social issues, but not in a heavy handed or preachy way. The artwork by Eric Zawadski is terrific and really fits the story, and this book is a dense read (and I mean that in a good way.) It’s a serious, thoughtful tome (but still with lots of action and excitement), and it’s not the kind of book you blow through in no time. You really have to dig into it and absorb it, and I think that gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Most comic fans probably don’t have this book yet, so you can safely buy it as a present for your comic collecting friends and surprise them with a new favorite!
Good Comics for Bad People
Official Synopsis:
The OGN Good Comics for Bad People: An Extra Fabulous Collection will be available everywhere books are sold November 1, 2023. This release marks Zach M. Stafford’s graphic novel debut, and features all the laughter, absurdity, and bodily fluids that have made his worldwide mega-hit webcomic so (in)famous! This hardcover will not disappoint fans of Stafford’s brazen humor as the collection features the best of Extra Fabulous, 24 book-exclusive comics, and an introduction written by webcomics superstar Sarah Andersen AKA Sarah’s Scribbles.
Our Take:
Okay, I can’t print any of them here, but I can 100% guarantee you that you’ve seen Zach Stafford’s Extra Fabulous comic strips before. Unless you’ve never been on social media in your life, you have stumbled across (probably several of) his strips before. They are short, extremely funny, very off-color strips that don’t shy away from being, well, just plain wrong. But wrong in the best possible way. This book collects over a hundred pages of Stafford’s best and most popular strips, and even adds in 24 all-new book-exclusive strips, making this book a must have for fans. I read through this in one sitting and I laughed my ass off! If you have a friend or family member with a twisted sense of humor, this book will be their favorite gift of the holiday season.
Invincible: The Dice Game
Official Synopsis:
Based on the hit comic book and animated series Invincible, Mantic Games presents a rolling dice and card game, aimed at lightweight strategy game audience. You roll to gain points/do damage to enemies while avoiding damage to yourself. The Deck contains a range of different cards to be interacted with from enemies, events, and bosses. The game is designed to be easy to learn and packed with iconic art from one of Skybound’s flagship comic universes, clever mechanics, and exciting push-your-luck gameplay.
Our Take:
I’m a huge, huge, huge Invincible fan, as I’ve stated in many reviews and gift guides before. I’m glad to see the merchandise from the show branching out into things like games now, too. This game puts dice rolling and card strategy together into a fast paced game that’s really fun to play. I only got a chance to get through one game before I wrote the gift guide, but I enjoyed the gameplay mechanics quite a bit. Plus, the cards feature amazing artwork from Invincible, and the whole thing fits into a box only a little bigger than a deck of cards, meaning it won’t take up a lot of shelf space for someone who’s already bursting at the seams with board games. I love games, I love Invincible, and I love a good licensed game that plays really well! Great stuff!
Invincible Science Dog T-Shirt
Official Synopsis:
Everyone has their favorite superhero, and Mark’s happens to be Science Dog. Imagine his surprise when he meets him…the only problem is he’s fictional in Mark’s universe. Get this design of Issue #25 of Invincible. This T-shirt is everything you’ve dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It’s comfortable and flattering for all.
Our Take:
I am in love with my new Invincible T-Shirt! Featuring artwork by Ryan Ottley (the series artist on Invincible), this print-on-demand shirt from Skybound’s website is available in a wide range of colors and sizes. It features a strong image of Invincible fighting with the perennially popular character Science Dog, with the Invincible logo on it. How cool is that? Get yours now and show off to the world that you too are Invincible!
Invincible Pinfinity Pin Set & Lanyard
Official Synopsis:
Pinfinity is evolving the world of collecting by combining augmented reality experiences with their high-quality patented pins for fans of entertainment franchises. The exclusive Invincible pack features three pins; Bloody Invincible Logo, Invincible, Omni-Man, as well as an Invincible Lanyard, and Pin Back Card. Powered by augmented reality and a free app, scan the pin to unlock a special AR element for each pin.
Our Take:
Oh, man, do I love this set. First of all, I like to collect dynamic enamel pins and this three-pin set is just gorgeous. You get one pin each of Invincible and Omni-Man, as well as a smaller pin of the Invincible logo. As a bonus, you also get an Invincible lanyard decorated with colorful artwork. Even better, the whole set comes packaged in a gorgeous box with a slipcover that really elevates the look of the whole package. Seriously, it’s like the equivalent of getting a Tiffany’s box for comic book geeks! The quality here is off the charts! Then there’s the AR element, which gives you access to a cool Augmented Reality feature when you scan the QR code. This is one of the coolest gifts I can think of for any Invincible fan!
The Boys: Season 3
Official Synopsis:
Based on The New York Times best-selling comic book series, The Boys follows the eponymous team of vigilantes combating super-powered individuals who abuse their powers, offering a fun and irreverent take on the consequences of superheroes, who are as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians, and as revered as gods, using their abilities for wrongdoing rather than good. In season 3, It’s been a year of calm. Homelander’s subdued. Butcher works for the government, supervised by Hughie of all people. But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. So when The Boys learn of a mysterious Anti-Supe weapon, it sends the crashing into The Seven, starting a war, and chasing the legend of the first superhero: Soldier Boy.
Our Take:
Of all the comic books I would have thought you could make a TV series out of, The Boys would be one of the absolute last. After all, Garth Ennis’ unique spin on superheroes is one of the most depraved and twisted comics of the last 20 years. So the idea that Amazon Prime of all places would decide to make it into a series was almost unfathomable. But here we are, with Season Three out on Blu-ray and DVD this week. I know that the show is insanely popular and I do enjoy it quite a bit; while it definitely doesn’t hit the highs (or, I guess, the lows) of the comic book, this sure isn’t a show for the faint of heart! Showing us a world where superheroes are controlled by corporate interests and a small group of specialists works to keep things under control and safe for the public (err… sort of), the show is irreverent, dark, funny, offbeat, and often action-packed. It’s a lot of fun, but you definitely have to tap into the more R-rated side of your personality. If you don’t have Amazon Prime or just want to have the physical media copy of the show in your collection, this new release is for you. While we wait for another season of The Boys, Amazon Prime has debuted a new spin-off show called Gen V, but if you just want to stick with the flagship show, The Boys: Season Three is now on home video for your viewing pleasure.
Special Features:
There’s only about 15 minutes worth of extras: a collection of deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a very short making-of one particular scene.
He-Man & The Masters of the Universe: Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
Adam and his heroic squad of misfits discover the legendary power of Grayskull — and their destiny to defend Eternia from sinister Skeletor. This animated CG series reimagines the ’80s cartoon classic with fresh storylines and a modern spin.
Our Take:
I grew up watching the original He-Man cartoon and I always loved it, so I’m always open to anything that keeps the world of Eternia in the public eye. The first reboot series back in the early 2000s was absolutely fantastic, and so I was excited for this new iteration. Launching on Netflix in 2021, the show ran for three short seasons, totaling 26 episodes, which are all collected in this new DVD set from Mill Creek. The show took the original He-Man concept and tweaks it for a new audience and a new age, using fully CGI animation for the first time, and also aiming for a younger audience instead of a nostalgic older audience like the previous show did. And I know a lot of adult fans bristled at that, but hey, there’s nothing wrong with making a cartoon show for kids. The best way to get He-Man to live on is to get new generations of kids interested in him. Did I love the cartoony, exaggerated style of the show? Not really, but it didn’t bother me enough to find the show unenjoyable. I think He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is a fun show that both kids and open-minded adults can enjoy. While it’s not the greatest He-Man show ever, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe could have been a fun show for younger kids to enjoy had it lasted more than 26 episodes. Still, this nice new DVD set will allow you to revisit the show whenever you (or your kids) would like.
Special Features:
It’s super disappointing but sadly there are no extras on this set.
The Toxic Avenger 4K Collection
Official Synopsis:
HE WAS 98 POUNDS OF SOLID NERD UNTIL HE BECAME… THE TOXIC AVENGER, THE FIRST SUPERHUMAN-HERO FROM NEW JERSEY! Tromaville, New Jersey has a monstrous new hero! The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin (Mark Torgl, The First Turn-On) falls into a vat of toxic waste after being relentlessly bullied by the jerks in the health club where he works. Now Toxie is here to serve and protect the people of Tromaville from evildoers out to destroy him and the town!
Our Take:
Of all of Lloyd Kaufman’s Z-grade Troma Films, The Toxic Avenger series is easily the most famous. And while I’ve always been familiar with them, I never actually sat down to watch them until this new 4K Ultra HD box set collection came across my desk. Featuring all four Toxic Avenger movies (The Toxic Avenger, The Toxic Avenger Part II, The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie, and Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV) on both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, this box set represents the pinnacle of low budget filmmaking. Now, I hate to be that guy, because I can totally appreciate B-movie filmmaking), but it turns out I’m not really a fab of these movies. Not because of the low budgets, but the mean-spirited nature of them, the bad acting, the terrible scripts… there’s so-bad-it’s-good movie, and then there’s just the so-bad-it’s-bad movie, and the Toxic Avenger movies are the latter. I couldn’t get into the Toxic Avengers movies, but if you are a fan of the films, this is a terrific box set, with 8 discs, four movies (on two formats each) and a ton of extra features, it’s a treasure trove for fans.
Special Features:
You get new introductions from Lloyd Kaufman on each film, plus two audio commentaries for each film. There are also interviews with cast and crew on most o fate disc, and an additional ten or so making-of and tribute featurettes. There’s also a mockumentary, behind the scenes footage, photo galleries, multiple short films, and even a postcard within the box.
For the Disney Fan:
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town – The Story, the Characters, and the Legacy
Official Synopsis:
After 30 years, discover the inspirations behind Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and its legacy as a certified pop-culture experience. What is it about Jack Skellington that is so compelling? Why does the love between Sally and Jack resonate with so many? The feature-length, stop-motion movie about the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town who becomes obsessed with celebrating Christmas is a fascinating musical and love story that has transcended the original film and captivated the world. From the improbable tale to the lovable characters, Tim Burton’s creation has turned into a lifestyle, branching into fashion, video games, card and board games, live-action concerts, themed celebrations at Disneyland, and even cameos in other movies. Featuring an original foreword by Tim Burton himself, Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town celebrates the film and the culture that has grown around it.
Our Take:
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town – The Story, the Characters, and the Legacy is a 168-page hardcover coffee table book that has just come out from Epic Ink. This isn’t a storybook or graphic novel; it’s a terrific making-of book for the adult TNBC fan who wants to take a peek behind the scenes. Part making-of, part art book, The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town takes us through the process of designing the characters, creating the film, and shooting the stop-motion, as well as sharing tons of Tim Burton’s concept art and behind-the-scenes photos. It’s a fascinating history lesson that is also vibrant, colorful, and well-designed. Any TNBC fan will find a lot to like in this gorgeous tome.
The Wrap-Up: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town – The Story, the Characters, and the Legacy looks at the film from start to finish and even explores how it’s become a part of popular culture. I recommend it for any Nightmare Before Christmas fan.
For the Home Cinema Enthusiast:
3 Days of the Condor (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
In this classic conspiracy thriller, screen icon Robert Redford (Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here, The Sting, All the President’s Men, Indecent Proposal) stars as CIA Agent Joe Turner. Code name: Condor. When his entire office is massacred, Turner goes on the run from his enemies…and his so-called allies. After reporting the murders to his superiors, the organization wants to bring Condor in—but somebody is trying to take him out. In his frantic hunt for answers, and in a desperate race for his life, Turner abducts photographer Kathy Hale (Faye Dunaway, The Thomas Crown Affair, Eyes of Laura Mars), eventually seducing her into helping him. Every twist leads Condor to the end of his nerves…and will take you to the edge of your seat. And as he zeroes in on the staggering truth, he discovers there are some secrets people would kill to keep. Masterfully directed by Sydney Pollack (Jeremiah Johnson, Tootsie, Out of Africa, Havana) and also starring Cliff Robertson (Charly), John Houseman (The Paper Chase) and the icy Max von Sydow (Needful Things), 3 Days of the Condor endures as one of Hollywood’s finest tales of political paranoia.
Our Take:
Kino Lorber’s Studio Classics line has released some amazing catalog films on 4K Ultra HD these past few months, and I’m going to dive deep into several of them for this year’s gift guide. Since you probably won’t see these releases on the shelves of your local Wal-Mart, it’s good to know there are some great options for film lovers. First up is 3 Days of the Condor, one of the great conspiracy thrillers of the 1970s. Robert Redford stars as a low-level CIA operative who returns from lunch to find his entire office has been assassinated. On the run, he doesn’t know who to trust or how to come in safely with both an assassin and his own people hunting him. It’s an incredible film with an amazing performance by Redford, and it perfectly encapsulates everything that made the ‘70s conspiracy thriller genre so great. Directed by Sydney Pollack, this is the perfect gift for anyone who loves great films and has a 4K Ultra HD player.
Special Features:
You get two audio commentaries (including one by Sydney Pollack!), an hour-long documentary on Pollack, a making-of on the film, and trailers.
Serpico (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
Serpico is based on the true story of a New York policeman who discovers that honesty is not expected to be part of his job. He endures scorn and mistreatment from his fellow cops while attempting to perform his duties with integrity. The character of Frank Serpico, combining the best elements of the Establishment and counterculture, is a tour-de-force role for Al Pacino (The Godfather, Scarface). The film is a breathtaking suspense story and a fascinating character study as well as a memorable statement about government’s inherent flaws. Rendered with unflinching realism by director Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon), Serpico earned 1973 Oscar nominations for its screenplay by Waldo Salt (Midnight Cowboy) and Norman Wexler (Saturday Night Fever) from the acclaimed biography by Peter Maas (The Valachi Papers), and for Best Actor, cementing Pacino as one of the cinema’s most versatile and iconic talents. Featuring Cornelia Sharpe (The Reincarnation of Peter Proud) as Leslie, Serpico’s girlfriend.
Our Take:
Al Pacino shines in this gritty police drama that’s based on real events. Even now, 50 years later, when people hear the name Serpico, they immediately think of Al Pacino as a cop, which is slightly ironic since his most famous role is that of a gangster in the Godfather films. Sidney Lumet directed the film to multiple Academy Award nominations, and even though the film feels a little dated in the technology and fashion styles of the time, it also serves as a snapshot of 1970s New York City, which is a character of its own in the film. It’s easy to sort of jokingly pigeonhole Pacino into the caricature of “Hoo-ah” that has become so entwined with his name, but his performance here in Serpico is a searing one that everyone should see, and now they can see it in 4K Ultra HD.
Special Features:
On top of an audio commentary, you get four making-of featurettes that total over an hour of viewing, plus a photo gallery and trailers.
Death Wish (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
In this explosive story of revenge and urban violence, screen legend Charles Bronson (Mr. Majestyk, Breakheart Pass) plays Paul Kersey, a bleeding-heart liberal who has a change of opinion after his wife and daughter are brutally attacked by a gang of thugs in their apartment. His daughter is sexually assaulted and his wife is murdered. Bronson then turns vigilante as he stalks the mean streets of New York on the prowl for muggers, hoodlums and the like. Another classic collaboration between Bronson and director Michael Winner (Chato’s Land, The Mechanic, The Stone Killer), Death Wish is a violent, controversial film that is frank and original in its treatment of urban crime and the average citizen’s helplessness in dealing with it. Jazz great Herbie Hancock (Colors) wrote the musical score. Vincent Gardenia (Death Wish II), Steven Keats (The Friends of Eddie Coyle), Stuart Margolin (TV’s The Rockford Files), Stephen Elliott (Beverly Hills Cop) and Hope Lange (Blue Velvet) co-star. And watch for Jeff Goldblum (The Fly) in his film debut as one of the thugs.
Our Take:
Charles Bronson’s revenge-fueled action thriller was controversial in its day, but it was also a huge hit, spawning not one but three sequels (and an eventual remake). Interestingly, watching the film now, I don’t think it would be particularly controversial in today’s cinema world, except maybe for its politics. But at the time, it was considered jarringly violent. It also made a household name out of Charles Bronson, who is one of the original big screen antiheroes in this film. It’s funny because I’d never actually seen Death Wish before watching this new 4K Ultra HD edition, and I found the movie to be quite engrossing. It’s intense as hell for sure, but it’s a visceral thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You’ll probably want to save this one for the cinephile in your life who leans towards darker offerings.
Special Features:
There are just a few bonus features on this one: a new audio commentary, an interview with actor John Herzfeld, radio spots, and trailers.
12 Angry Men (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
Following the closing arguments in a murder trial, the twelve members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict meaning death for the accused, an inner-city teen. As the dozen men try to reach a unanimous decision while sequestered in a solitary, sweltering room, one juror (Henry Fonda, The Ox-Bow Incident) casts considerable doubt on elements of the case. Personal issues soon rise to the surface, and conflict threatens to derail the delicate process that will decide one boy’s fate. In addition to Fonda (who also co-produced with writer Reginald Rose), the cast includes Lee J. Cobb as his main opposition; Ed Begley as a hateful bigot; E.G. Marshall as a cold, logical stockbroker; Jack Warden as a baseball fanatic and Jack Klugman as the disturbed blood-brother to the defendant. The feature directing debut of Sidney Lumet (Serpico, The Verdict), 12 Angry Men remains “one of the best pictures ever made” (The Hollywood Reporter), a searing examination of race, justice, family and morality.
Our Take:
One of the greatest legal thrillers ever made, 12 Angry Men is a masterpiece, plain and simple. Starring Henry Fonda (in possibly his finest role), Jack Warden, and Jack Klugman, Sidney Lumet once again proves why he’s one of the greatest Hollywood directors with this taut dramatic thriller. Playing out like a theatrical production, almost the entire film takes place in a jury’s deliberation room, where Fonda plays the lone holdout juror in a murder trial of a young man. Despite intense pressure from the 11 other jurors, Fonda works to convince them one by one why they might be wrong. It’s a fascinating, moving, utterly captivating film and I am so glad to see it get this 4K Ultra HD release from Kino Lorber. I can’t imagine there being a single person who calls themselves a fan of movies who wouldn’t be thrilled to find this in their pile of presents this holiday season.
Special Features:
There are two audio commentaries, a making-of feature, a shorter featurette, and trailers included.
Thunderbolt & Lightfoot (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
Screen legends Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges star as a pair of modern-day outlaws in this bold, witty and tough action-packed crime thriller. Thunderbolt (Eastwood) is a former thief whose razor-sharp wits and steely nerves made him a master of his profession, but he’s about to reenter the criminal world with a new partner: Lightfoot (Bridges), a brash young drifter whose energy and exuberance give the veteran a new outlook on life their target: the seemingly impenetrable Montana Armored Depository. After forming an uneasy alliance with Thunderbolt’s former partners in crime, Red Leary (George Kennedy, Cool Hand Luke) and Eddie Goody (Geoffrey Lewis, High Plains Drifter), they launch an amazing scheme that will test the limits of their endurance, and the power of their friendship. Fueled by explosive action, fascinating characters and a powerfully moving climax, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is an adventure of the highest caliber and the directorial debut of the great Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter).
Our Take:
I think almost everyone – or at least me – has forgotten that Clint Eastwood and Jeff bridges once shared the screen in co-starring roles, but they did in 1974’s Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, now making its 4K Ultra HD debut from Kino Lorber’s Studio Classics line. Now, this is from Clint Eastwood’s heyday, so it’s no surprise he brings his steely grit to the big screen as a master thief. But young Jeff bridges is my favorite Jeff Bridges; bustling with energy and charisma, he’s magnetic on screen as Eastwood’s impulsive young partner. Honestly, the pair of them works together on screen better than I would have expected. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a fun crime action movie that doesn’t get as much fond remembrance as it should, but this new 4K edition is a great way to go back and revisit the film.
Special Features:
You get an audio commentary, a making of featurette, radio and TV spots, and the film’s trailer.
The Longest Yard (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
Hollywood great Burt Reynolds (White Lightning, Semi-Tough) leads the downfield charge in this raucous, rough-and-tumble comedy-drama coached by legendary director Robert Aldrich (Vera Cruz, The Dirty Dozen). Reynolds plays one-time pro quarterback Paul Crewe, now behind bars for leading the state police on a wild chase in a “borrowed” car. Eddie Albert (Hustle) is the sadistic, scheming warden who recruits Crewe to form a team of convicts to go up against the warden’s polished, semi-pro team of prison guards in a championship game. Crewe has agreed that his crew—dubbed the “Mean Machine”—will provide only passive resistance to the squad of brutal guards. But the gridiron showdown turns into a gritty game of cunning strategy as the Mean Machine defies the warden’s iron-fisted control and attempts to go the distance in The Longest Yard. Featuring Ed Lauter, Michael Conrad, Bernadette Peters, Richard Kiel and a rowdy roster of real-life football greats, it’s survival of the fiercest. And the funniest!
Our Take:
While more viewers nowadays might remember the Adam Sandler remake of The Longest Yard, it’s the Burt Reynolds original that is the far superior film. This 1974 comedy sees Reynolds play Paul Crewe, a quarterback-turned-inmate (for some non-violent gambling crimes) who just wants to serve his time. But when Eddie Albert’s nasty prison warden recruits Paul to lead a team of inmates in a football game against the prison guards – with explicit expectations to lose – Paul starts to value his and his fellow inmates’ self esteem more than he does an early release. The movie has a terrific supporting cast that includes Ed Lauter, Bernadette Peters, and Richard Kiel, and it’s got a terrific combination of comedy and sports action that will keep you engaged throughout. Plus, Burt Reynolds was a big star in his day for a reason, and that charm and charisma shines through in this role. It’s a great sports comedy that would be perfect for the cinephile who also loves football!
Special Features:
There are two commentaries, including one with Burt Reynolds himself! There are also two making-of featurettes and the film’s trailers.
The Night of the Hunter (4K Ultra HD)
Official Synopsis:
A tall, handsome “preacher”—his knuckles eerily tattooed with “love” and “hate”—roams the countryside, spreading the gospel…and leaving a trail of murdered women in his wake. To Reverend Harry Powell, the work of the Lord has more to do with condemning souls than saving them, especially when his own interests are involved. Now his sights are set on $10,000—and two little children are the only ones who know where it is. “Chill…dren!” the preacher croons to the terrified boy and girl hiding in the cold, dark cellar…innocent young lambs who refuse to be led astray. The legendary, lone directorial effort of actor Charles Laughton (Witness for the Prosecution), The Night of the Hunter stars Robert Mitchum (Out of the Past) in the most daring and critically acclaimed performance of his career, opposite the equally spellbinding Shelley Winters (He Ran All the Way) and Lillian Gish (Duel in the Sun). Ominous and hauntingly suspenseful, this extraordinary noir classic remains “one of the most frightening movies ever made” (Pauline Kael) and “one of the greatest of all American films” (Roger Ebert).
Our Take:
Night of the Hunter has an interesting place in the American film lexicon. On the one hand, it’s almost universally praised by critics and people who know the film tend to proclaim it as one of the great classic cinema experiences of its time. But it’s also something of a cult classic film – maybe the first cult classic? – in that it’s never really received recognition outside of die-hard filmgoer circles. If you throw it into a conversation alongside other well-known movies of the time period such as Double Indemnity, Some Like it Hot, The Maltese Falcon, and Rebel Without a Cause, people will nod along knowingly until you mention Night of the Hunter. Then a lot of them will just look at you quizzically. Which is surprising, because it is such a great film. Robert Mitchum oozes pure menace and dark charisma as Reverend Harry Powell, who sets his sights on a large sum of money he can only get from two young children. It then becomes a taut exercise in suspense as your heart rate just accelerates more and more over the course of two hours. It’s a fantastic movie and I’m so glad that Kino Lorber has given it the 4K treatment.
Special Features:
In addition to three interview featurettes with Filmmaker Ernest Dickerson, Actress Kathy Garver, and Artist Joe Coleman, there is also an audio commentary and an Isolated Music and Effects Soundtrack, plus the film’s trailer.
For the Oppenheimer Fan:
American Prometheus: The Inspiration for the Major Motion Picture Oppenheimer
Official Synopsis:
THE INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE OPPENHEIMER • “A riveting account of one of history’s most essential and paradoxical figures.”—Christopher Nolan. #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE WINNER. The definitive biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century, a brilliant physicist who led the effort to build the atomic bomb for his country in a time of war, and who later found himself confronting the moral consequences of scientific progress. In this magisterial, acclaimed biography twenty-five years in the making, Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin capture Oppenheimer’s life and times, from his early career to his central role in the Cold War. This is biography and history at its finest, riveting and deeply informative.
Our Take:
This whopping 700+-page tome not only served as the inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film, but it also won a freaking Pulitzer Prize! That’s no joke. It’s a hefty book that will make a great gift for anyone who loved the movie and wants to dig deeper into Oppenheimer’s life and his role in the creation of the Atomic Bomb. Now, I didn’t have time to read the entire thing before I put together this year’s gift guide (I received it about a week before this went to press), but I did tuck into a few chapters and I have to say that it’s an engrossing read. What could be dry is – like the film – surprisingly interesting. It’s also a nice, thick, chunky book – especially the hardcover version – which will make a nice wrapped gift.
Unleashing Oppenheimer: Inside Christopher Nolan’s Explosive Atomic-Age Thriller
Official Synopsis:
Discover the secrets of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer with this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at 2023’s most anticipated film. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is an IMAX®-shot epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and Nolan. Unleashing Oppenheimer traces the creation of Nolan’s latest film from script to screen through exclusive interviews with the director and his cast and crew, plus electrifying visuals from the film including on-set photos, concept art, research materials, and storyboards.
Our Take:
Another big, chunky book, this gorgeous volume is a combination artbook and making-of that digs into Christopher Nolan’s film in a way you can’t find anywhere else. It collects concept art, storyboards, photographs, and other striking imagery from the making of the film to become a visual tour-de-force, and then combines that with strongly written text, interviews from the cast and filmmakers, and captions to detail what feels like every scene of the film. The book itself is gorgeous, presented in a horizontal rectangular format, and I can promise that any Nolan fan or Oppenheimer enthusiast will be floored by this one.
Oppenheimer Original Soundtrack
Official Synopsis:
Mondo Music, in partnership with Universal Pictures, is proud to present Ludwig Göransson’s score to OPPENHEIMER, Christopher Nolan’s sweeping, epic thriller that delves deep into the psyche of a singular American mind: J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. Driven by an unwavering desire to capture the delicate intersection between beauty and dread, Göransson’s creative endeavors manifested in an array of captivating experiments. Techniques such as the incorporation of microtonal glissandos were deftly employed to expand the sonic palette, infusing the music with an ethereal quality. Collaborating with esteemed musicians from the Hollywood Studio Orchestra, Göransson began shaping OPPENHEIMER’s musical world with an intimate solo violin performance, capturing the essence of the character. As the story evolved, the ensemble gradually expanded to include a quartet, octet and ultimately a large ensemble of strings and brass. This progressive orchestration reflected the deepening complexity of OPPENHEIMER’s journey, enriching the musical tapestry with each new addition. Available on 3XLP Vinyl or 2XCD.
Our Take:
Available on triple vinyl or double CD, Mondo Music has put together a gorgeous package for a gorgeous musical score. Ludwig Göransson’s score for the film is powerful and sweeping, and this niche release from Mondo serves to both give you a wonderful listening experience and also a terrific collectible. We received the vinyl release for review and it includes beautiful cover art and three records pressed on orange vinyl, which are quite striking looking. There is also an 8-page booklet inside the gatefold packaging, making this one of the nicest looking records I’ve held in my hands this year. If you or someone you know is a soundtrack collector, you won’t want to pass this one up!
For Video & Board Game Game Fans:
Dreamworks’ All Star Kart Racing
Official Synopsis:
An all-star cast of some of your favorite DreamWorks characters brings the fun and hilarity to high-speed kart racing action like never before! Race on 20 different DreamWorks-themed tracks, including Shrek’s Swamp, New York City Zoo from Madagascar, Isle of Berk, and more! 20 of the most iconic DreamWorks characters: Shrek, Po, Tigress, Puss in Boots, Hiccup, Astrid, Boss Baby, and other top favorites all come together in a kart racing experience like no other.
Our Take:
My kids and I have put in our fair share of hours on Mario Kart over the years, so it was fun to get a chance to race in some new worlds with this new game from Dreamworks. Featuring characters from The Boss Baby, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Trolls, Megamind, and – most notably – the Shrek films, this Kart racer takes you through the various worlds that the Dreamworks animated movies are set in and gives you hours of Kart kraziness. Now, mechanically, it’s not quite as polished as Mario Kart, but once you get used to the gameplay, there’s a lot of fun to be had, and the characters all actually feel like the movie characters, thanks to some fun graphics and character designs. It’s not the best racing game out there, but it’s a lot of fun for a change of pace.
Pirate Tails
Official Synopsis:
Pirate Tails is a set collection game in which players draw nut cards and choose which ones to score, which ones to reveal, and which ones to hide. At the end of each round, players will have the chance to raid nuts that have been hidden and hopefully add to their booty. At the end of three rounds, players score based on both the value and quantity of each type of nut that they were able to collect.
Our Take:
So, this is not really a pirate game, it’s actually more of a… squirrel game(!) Yes, you play as squirrels (hence the spelling of Tails in the game’s name) who are collecting “treasure,” in the form of nuts. This fast paced game is a three-round game in which players draw cards to collect nuts that act as treasure. Your cards can also lead to other actions that can modify the scoring and the outcome. I only had time to play one round before writing up the gift guide, but I found the game very enjoyable for a small group. The cards are bright and colorful and it’s a really easy game to understand and pick up quickly. A great one for family game night!
Kiss the Goblin
Official Synopsis:
Kiss the Goblin is a party game where you describe how you would react to outrageous situations while trying to communicate a secret alignment. Utilizing the popular tabletop role playing alignment system, a player will try to share their secret alignment be it Chaotic Evil or Lawful Good when describing how they would react in both common and fantastical settings. For example: What kind of toppings does a chaotic evil person like on their pizza? You might answer “broken glass & anchovies”, but the possibilities are endless!
Our Take:
Kiss the Goblin is a really fun card-based game that combines popular game mechanics from things like Cards Against Humanity and Red Flags and puts them in a familiar role-playing game setting. Using mixed card prompts, you have to answer questions in alignment with your alignment (lawful good, chaotic neutral, etc.) The questions are fun and goofy, and the mix of answers you can come up with is really fun. We had a lot of laughs in the one round of the game that we played. It’s a little hard to explain in a paragraph or two, but once you sit down to play the game, you’ll pick it up right away. Lots of fun!
Wrestlequest
Official Synopsis:
THE ULTIMATE PRO WRESTLING ADVENTURE – Powerbomb and piledrive your way through a massive pixel art universe where professional wrestling and RPG fantasy collide. WRESTLE WITH DESTINY – Take a hero’s journey …in tights! Upgrade from aspiring rookie to world champ by training, learning, glamming, and SLAMMING to the top of the pro wrestling food chain. YOUR IDOLS AWAIT – Draw inspiration from wrestling icons like “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Jake the Snake Roberts and even Andre the Giant.
Our Take:
The mash-up of 8-bit RPG and professional wrestling is an odd combination, but somehow it works in the world of Wrestlequest. Playing out a lot like the old RPGs I used to play on my Gameboy back in the day – although much more detailed and sophisticated – the game sees wrestling personalities that are inspired by real-life wrestling legends (but not directly adapted from them) going from locale to locale to complete missions and try to rise through the wrestling ranks. The graphics are fun and colorful, and the gameplay is both simple yet complex enough to require some actual skill. It took me some time to get used to the mix of wrestling and RPG but once I did, I had a lot of fun with this game.
Escape Academy
Official Synopsis:
Welcome to Escape Academy. Become an Escape Room master, alone or in co-op. Escape Academy: The Complete Edition includes Escape Academy PLUS the Escape From Anti-Escape Island DLC AND the Escape From the Past DLC, for a total of over 20 masterfully hand-crafted escape rooms, designed by experienced experts in the field of REAL LIFE escape rooms! You’ve just arrived at Escape Academy, a school where promising students train to become the ultimate Escapist. Explore the campus of Escape Academy and get to know the faculty, a colorful cast of characters, each an expert in the art of Escape.
Our Take:
Well, thank god this game has a co-op mode, because apparently I’m not as smart as I like to think I am. I kid, I kid, but I do like the fact that you can team up with other players to solve any of the 20+ escape rooms that are offered up in Escape Academy. This new edition of the game (for Nintendo Switch and other platforms) includes not only the original game but also DLC that was available, to give you as complete an escape room experience as you can have. I like the fact that the game also gives you a sort of story and character to play as, as opposed to just giving you escape rooms to work your way out of. I’ve done real life escape rooms and I enjoy them quite a bit, and I found this a pretty neat translation of the real world activity to the video game realm.
Trolls Remix Rescue
Official Synopsis:
Play as Poppy, Branch and more of your favorite DreamWorks Trolls as you explore, smash, dance and battle your way towards rescuing the Troll Kingdom from a melodic mastermind who’s trying to alter the Trolls’ musical harmony!
Our Take:
Okay, so despite the fact that this game has some flaws, I thought it was really fun, and I think it would be even more so with young kids. This 3D platform action game is set in the world of the Trolls movies and features lots of characters from the first two films. You also get to customize your own Troll character, which is really cool. There are great dancing and guitar-based minigames, and the whole thing is a really good time. The biggest frustration with the game is that sometimes it’s unclear where you need to go to progress the levels, and you can end up wandering around aimlessly for a while. But any basic internet playthrough will help solve that problem, and then you and your kids will have a great time with this game.
Jurassic Park Lego Sets (Brachiosaurus Discovery & Triceratops Research)
Official Synopsis:
Brachiosaurus Discovery – Capture the sense of awe that Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Alan Grant felt when they first glimpsed a majestic Brachiosaurus, with this LEGO Jurassic Park Brachiosaurus Discovery (76960) dinosaur toy playset for ages 9 and up. A super gift idea for Jurassic Park fans, it features a posable Brachiosaurus, the tallest LEGO dinosaur figure to date, plus a buildable Jeep Wrangler car toy and a tree. The Jeep has space for the 3 minifigures – Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler and John Hammond – and the tree has a viewing platform and detachable leaf elements to ‘feed’ to the Brachiosaurus, as Alan Grant did in the movie.
Triceratops Research – Kids who are into dinosaurs and cool cars will love this collectible LEGO Jurassic Park Triceratops Research (76959) playset. An awesome birthday toy for ages 8 and up, it features an authentically detailed Jurassic Park Ford Explorer car toy with an onboard navigation system element to track dinosaurs and space for the 2 minifigures – Dr. Ellie Sattler and Ian Malcolm. The set also includes a posable Triceratops, buildable pile of dinosaur poop with a toxic berry element inside and a shovel accessory, so children can play out the famous scene that inspired the set just in time for the Jurassic Park 30th anniversary.
Our Take:
I love LEGOs, and honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure where to put these in the gift guide. After all, there are plenty of LEGO collectors out there who are adults, so it didn’t feel right to relegate these new Jurassic World LEGO sets to the kids’ section of the gift guide. But then I couldn’t figure out where else to put them, but just know that these will make great gifts for kids or for any Jurassic Park fans. I got my hands on two of the newest sets in the franchise, Brachiosaurus Discovery and Triceratops Research. Brachiosaurus Discovery is a 500+-piece set that features a Brachiosaurus (the tallest LEGO dinosaur to date!), a Jeep, a large tree, and three minifigures – Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler and John Hammond. It’s a great set for dinosaur fans, and I love the giant brachiosaurus! Meanwhile, Triceratops Rescue is a 281-piece set that includes a Triceratops (naturally), a Ford Explorer, and – I kid you not – a pile of dinosaur poop! You also get two minifigures, Ian Malcolm and Dr. Ellie Sattler. Both of these sets are excellent additions to your LEGO collection, and I had a blast building them both.
Super Mario Brothers Figures
Official Synopsis:
From Nintendo and Illumination comes a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. The Super Mario Brothers find themselves transported to a mysterious land called the Mushroom Kingdom. Join Mario on his quest to save Luigi—and the world—from the grips of evil Bowser and his army. Collect your favorite characters in The Super Mario Bros. Movie 5” Figure series. The Mario figure is inspired by the movie and comes with premium details including realistic acrylic eyes and 16 points of articulation. Mario comes with a removable plunger accessory, all showcased in window box. Wave 1 features Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. You can collect them all! – 5” figure with premium details – 16 points of articulation – Realistic acrylic eyes – Plunger accessory – Ages 3+ – Each sold separately
Our Take:
I love action figures. I do. I’ve collected them for years, and even though I’ve had to slow down in the past decade or so, there isn’t a single trip to Target or the mall where I don’t wander through the toy aisles and drool over all of the figured I want. This new line of 5-inch Super Mario Bros. figures is inspired by the massive smash hit movie, and they look great. I received the Mario figure for hands-on inspection, and I have to say it really looks terrific. The packaging is sharp, the mold is terrific, and the articulation lets you pose Mario however you’d like. With Luigi, Peach, and Toad also available – and I have to imagine a Bowser will be coming soon – this is a great figure assortment for toy and video game enthusiasts alike.
For the Classic Hollywood Fan:
Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema Collection XIII-XV
Official Synopsis:
Volume XIII – This collection features three film noir classics. SPY HUNT (1950) – Steve Quain (Howard Duff), escorting two zoo-bound black panthers on a train from Milan to Paris, is unaware that a secret agent, Catherine Ullven (Marta Torén), has concealed an incriminating microfilm in the collar of one of the animals. But when the train is derailed in the Swiss Alps and the panthers escape, she is forced to involve him in her mission, which now includes enemy spies hunting the microfilm, the animals, Catherine and Steve. THE NIGHT RUNNER (1957) Ray Danton stars as Roy Turner, a man with a violent past who is prematurely released from an overcrowded institution. Realizing that he cannot handle the pressures of big-city life, he moves into a small-town beachside motel and falls in love with Susan Mayes, warmly played by Colleen Miller, the daughter of the motel’s owner. When her father finds out about Roy, he threatens to have him recommitted unless he leaves his daughter alone. Roy snaps and commits a crime from which there is no turning back. STEP DOWN TO TERROR (1958) Based on the same source material as Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt, this suspense-soaked noir stars Colleen Miller, Charles Drake, and Rod Taylor. Pursued by detectives, killer Johnny Walters (Drake) leaves the city to visit his family in a small California town. Among the household: his dead brother’s alluring widow Helen (Miller), who soon is attracted to him. But ominous events and conflicting evidence leave Helen suspicious of her beloved brother-in-law.
Volume XIV – This collection features three film noir classics. UNDERCOVER GIRL (1950) – NYPD cop Christine Miller (Alexis Smith) goes undercover to investigate her father’s killing in this electrically charged thriller directed by noir master Joseph Pevney. Posing as a drug buyer named Sal Willis, Christine infiltrates a narcotics ring in order to take down the crooks responsible for her father’s death. But blackmail, gunplay, murder and other duplicities await her as she embarks on her most dangerous case. ONE WAY STREET (1950) – Screen great James Mason stars in this south-of-the-border film noir about a stolen fortune, a borrowed woman and a man too many. After stealing an L.A. gangster’s money—and his girlfriend—the crooked Dr. Frank Matson (Mason) hides out in a small Mexican village. When the townspeople take him in, he decides to live an honest life in Mexico. But, in true noir fashion, destiny awaits the doc in fatalistic Los Angeles. APPOINTMENT WITH A SHADOW (1957) – Alcoholic reporter Paul Baxter (George Nader) has drowned his career in liquor. A comeback opportunity presents itself when Baxter is a bystander at the arrest of a notorious criminal. But he suddenly finds himself up against a wall and at the wrong end of a deadly set-up.
Volume XV – This collection features three film noir classics. MAN AFRAID (1957) – A heart-stopping CinemaScope noir about a preacher ensnared in fear. When Reverend David Collins (Nader) and his wife Lisa (Phyllis Thaxter) catch a burglar in their son’s room, the ensuing struggle ends with an injury to Lisa’s eyes and David unintentionally killing the thief. The Collins struggle with the resulting publicity, David’s own conscience, Lisa’s temporary blindness…and the burglar’s vengeful father who begins to stalk their son Michael. THE GIRL IN THE KREMLIN (1957) – Moscow, 1953. Four terrified women prisoners are brought before Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, who picks the beautiful Dasha and proceeds to punish her by shaving off her long, black hair. Moments later, a plastic surgeon leads Stalin into an operating room and transforms his face into something new. So begins the story of the world’s greatest conspiracy. THE TATTERED DRESS (1957) – In this CinemaScope film noir from director Jack Arnold, top lawyer James Blane (Jeff Chandler) is a man known to do anything it takes to win a case. But when Blane defends a socialite on trial for the murder of a bartender who made a pass at his wife, a scheming sheriff (Jack Carson) frames Blane for bribing a juror (Gail Russell) and exposes the hidden evil simmering beneath the surface of their quiet desert town.
Our Take:
Kino Lorber has been putting out their excellent Film Noir Collections since 2020, each one collecting three noir classics on Blu-ray for the first time. Now, most of these films aren’t household names, but that’s what makes them so great. It’s not hard to find Double Indemnity or The Postman Always Rings Twice on home video, but where else are you going to find Zsa Zsa Gabor in a movie about a conspiracy involving Joseph Stalin? Nowhere, that’s where! So Kino Lorber has been working to correct that with these terrific box sets. What I like about these – especially as gifts – is that while the studio could have easily sandwiched three discs into a single case, they give you each movie in its own case with an illustrated slipcover/box. Because they’re Blu-ray cases, their shelf profile is still pretty small, but they make a much nicer gift and look much more impressive in your collection. This holiday season, the newest offerings are volumes XIII-VV, or 13 through 15, collectively. Each one offers up three film noir classics that have never been available on Blu-ray before. In Volume XIII, the standout for me was Spy Hunt, which is a classic cat-and-mouse espionage story. There are no big stars in it (as is the case with most of these movies), but it’s an exciting noir thriller. In Volume XIV, One Way Street stands out, largely due to James Mason’s performance in the lead role. In Volume XV, The Girl in the Kremlin is easily my favorite of the bunch. Not only does it feature Zsa Zsa Gabor in an early role, but the story is just so out there and crazy that you can’t help but be impressed by it. Now, these sets won’t be the perfect gift for just any movie lover, but if you have a classic Hollywood fan in your life and don’t know what movies they might already own, I can pretty much guarantee you that anything in these Film Noir collections will not already be on their shelves.
Special Features:
While obviously there aren’t a ton of available supplements for these little-seen movies that were made 70 or 80 years ago, each movie includes a new audio commentary and the film’s trailer, which is pretty cool.
Francois Truffaut Collection
Official Synopsis:
This 2-disc Blu-ray collection presents four films by legendary filmmaker François Truffaut, one of the French New Wave’s brilliant architects. THE WILD CHILD (1970) – In a most mature and aesthetic achievement, Truffaut creates an absorbing drama, delicate and unpredictable as life itself. Based on the true account of 18th-century doctor Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard, the film follows the capture of a young boy who is discovered living like an animal in the forest. Truffaut himself gives a memorable performance as Itard, unyielding in his belief that the child, played with haunting precision by Jean-Pierre Cargol, can be transformed into a civilized being. SMALL CHANGE (1976) – Truffaut weaves his love of kids and cinema seamlessly together in this tribute to the joys, yearnings, pains and wonders of childhood. The film presents a group of ten youngsters, boys and girls, whose adventures in the quaint village of Thiers illustrate—from the first baby bottle to the first kiss—the different stages of passage from early childhood to adolescence. Also known as Pocket Money, this kaleidoscopic coming-of-age tale finds Truffaut at his most charming and insightful. THE MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN (1977) – This irresistibly sophisticated comedy paints the delirious portrait of saturnine satyr Bertrand Morane (Charles Denner), who worships the feminine spirit—the idea of woman. Truffaut neither condemns nor glorifies him, for what could be so worthy of a subject of obsession as women? The film is a splendid example of the auteur’s nimble way with stories of erotic love. Featuring screen goddesses Brigette Fossey, Nelly Borgeaud, Geneviève Fortanel, Nathalie Baye and Leslie Caron. THE GREEN ROOM (1978) – In a most personal and rigorous film, Truffaut stars as Julien Davenne, a man who so loves the dead that he can no longer love the living. While building a shrine to his deceased wife, he meets Cecilia (Nathalie Baye), who is also in mourning. She falls in love with him, thereby giving him a last chance at resurrection. Also known as The Vanishing Fiancée and based on the writings of Henry James, this classic film is a somber, haunting parable of life and death—and the barrier of memory that stands between.
Our Take:
You won’t find The 400 Blows, Day for Night, or Jules et Jim in this new collection of legendary French filmmaker Francois Truffaut’s films… and that’s a good thing. Why? Because there’s no shortage of ways to own Truffaut’s most acclaimed films on home video. They’ve been released and rereleased countless times. I can guarantee you any Truffaut fan or French New Wave fan already owns those classics. But Kino Lorber’s new two-disc, four-film set instead focuses on four movies that still easily rank among the director’s finest efforts but haven’t been released to death already. In this set, you will find the romantic comedy The Man Who Loved Women, the dark romance The Green Room, the ambitious coming-of-age story Small Change, and the affecting drama The Wild Child, in which Truffaut himself takes on one of the lead roles. All of these movies come from the 1970s (with three of the four coming from the late ‘70s) so it would be easy to say that these are lesser works, but I’ve seen a couple of these films land on “Best of” lists regarding Truffaut and/or French cinema in the past. For my money, they are all solid movies if you like foreign dramas, and fans of artsier fare will appreciate this deep dive into Truffaut’s cinematic offerings.
Special Features:
Aside from trailers for each film, there are no bonus materials.
For the Music Lover:
Soundies: The Ultimate Collection
Official Synopsis:
Soundies have been called the music videos of the 1940s, but that doesn’t begin to describe their cultural importance. It’s true that they feature a remarkable range of talent, from big-band luminaries like Duke Ellington and Count Basie to then-emerging stars like Doris Day and Ricardo Montalban, and lesser-known artists of the American nightclub circuit. But Soundies are also a rich, largely overlooked chronicle of American popular culture during and just after World War II. Produced for coin-operated jukeboxes in neighborhood bars and taverns, Soundies have an uncanny way of revealing what Americans were thinking about topics that weren’t discussed openly, from sexuality to ethnicity and race. Curated by Susan Delson, author of Soundies and the Changing Image of Black Americans on Screen: One Dime at a Time, this four-disc collection presents a diverse sampling of 200 shorts—jazz, country-western, folk, and the boogie woogie roots of rock ’n’ roll—newly restored from 35mm and 16mm materials preserved by the Library of Congress and other archives. Never have so many Soundies been celebrated in one collection, or presented with such care: thematically organized, accompanied by on-screen introductions and a booklet of essays, photos, and credits.
Our Take:
Okay, so you might not be familiar with the concept of Soundies. And frankly, the person you’re buying a gift for might not, either. But that’s what makes this such a cool set. Back in the 1940s, jukebox-like machines called Panorams were distributed to bars and restaurants. For a thin dime, you could view a three-minute “Soundie,” which was effectively a pre-cursor to the modern music video, featuring music and video from some of the stars of the day. There were also clips about popular topics and people of the day. In a way, it’s similar to the short video clips that play in taxicabs or at gas station pumps these days. This new 4-disc collection gathers up no less than 200 of these soundies and aims to recreate the soundie experience from almost a century ago. So while you won’t find any contemporary acts represented here, you will see videos featuring stars of the 1940s, including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Doris Day, Nat King Cole, Count Basie, Les Paul, and a young Liberace. There are also clips about movie stars and societal issues. And there’s a ton more music clips featuring acts who have been forgotten to time. But if you need a gift for a history buff or classic Hollywood fan, this set gives you literally ten hours of material, along with a nice collector’s booklet inside with lots of extra info and photos. A truly unique gift idea!
Special Features:
There are two interview featurettes about Soundies, an introduction to the programming, and a smart 44-page booklet.
He’s Not Gonna Take It: Deluxe Edition
Official Synopsis:
Rock legend and champion of free speech Dee Snider, and Z2 Comics come together to bring you He’s Not Gonna Take It. The name of Dee Snider is synonymous with the battle for freedom of expression in the arts. This new graphic novel will follow the impact of it throughout Dee’s life. From a childhood where he was frequently silenced, through the early efforts to stifle his band’s music, to the open warfare of the PMRC hearings in Washington DC, and his current efforts on social media, HE’S NOT GONNA TAKE IT tells the story of why free speech is so important to this man who has fought for it. Even when it endangered everything that was important to him.
Our Take:
Man, I was blown away by this terrific graphic novel from Z2 comics. Dee Snider, former lead singer of Twisted Sister, was at the height of his fame in the 1980s when Tipper Gore led her crusade against controversial lyrics in music. Invited to testify in front of Congress, Snyder obliged and gave a passionate argument why censorship was un-American, only to see his career suffer as a result. This oversized hardcover graphic novel recounts the entire story, while also functioning as a biography of Snider, and it’s a riveting read. Written by Snider along with Frank Marraffino, and featuring amazing artwork by Steve Kurth, this 120-page graphic novel is a terrific read, whether you’re a fan of Twisted Sister or not. There’s a regular paperback version and also a deluxe hardcover version which is absolutely gorgeous. It comes in a sturdy slipcover and also includes three exclusive art prints done in the style of old Marvel Comics. I highly recommend this one as a unique gift for any music or comic book fan!
The Legend of Ice-T: Crime Stories
Official Synopsis:
Limited triple vinyl LP set celebrating Hip-hop Pioneer ICE T, who is the embodiment of LA Hip-hop as well as being an acclaimed actor. Ice T’s Crime Stories features some of the most powerful songs from his catalog, as well as some lesser-known and previously unreleased material.
Our Take:
Okay, I’m not an expert in Ice T’s catalog of songs, but I know a few of his hits. Plus, I’m always open to new music I haven’t been exposed to before, so when I got the chance to review the new The Legend of Ice T: Crime Stories triple vinyl release, I couldn’t pass it up. This limited edition vinyl release is pressed on blood-splattered vinyl (playing into the “legend” aspect of T’s career) and it works its way chronologically through his catalogue of songs. It’s not chock full of music; each disc only contains 7-8 songs each, but there are some powerful raps on here. Here’s the full breakdown of songs included:
Disc 1: Too Old For This ****, Feds in my Rearview Mirror, Tha Hanging, That’s How I’m Livin’, The Tower, Midnight, Six in the Morning
Disc 2: Peel Their Caps Back, Drama, Soul on Ice, Pain, Pray, Retaliation, The Fifth
Disc 3: **** hit the Fan, They Want Back In, You Got Me Open Girl, Common Sense, Check Your Heart, Ballin B**** I knew, Addicted to Danger, Where the **** Goes Down
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas
Official Synopsis:
A modern-day movie musical about the making of a network TV special, Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas is the frenetic backstage story and delightful on-camera results of Dolly’s desire to uplift an exhausted world’s spirits by sharing the unique “mountain magic” she has always found in and around Dollywood at Christmas. Throughout the movie’s production numbers and rehearsal chaos, Dolly finds herself taking a private journey into her past, guided by the mysterious appearances of her personal Three Wise Men. When it’s time for her big special to air live, a renewed and inspired Dolly goes rogue and shows the world that the real magic of Christmas lies in the hearts of the children we all once were, the realization that Christmas is about the people we share it with, and how her faith remains the common thread between Christmases past, present, and future.
Our Take:
Like the classic Christmas Specials that aired regularly in the 70s and 80s, this new Dolly Parton movie is a slightly meta movie experience, in which we watch Dolly Parton try to put on a big Christmas show, and we see her go through trials and tribulations while also joined by musical guests as she tries to put the whole production together. It really does feel like a throwback to a time when these types of network specials were regular occurrences on nationally broadcast TV, and I mean that in a good way. Musical guests include Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus as well as Willie Nelson and others, while the cast includes Ana Gasteyer, Tom Everett Scott, Jimmy Fallon, and of course, Dolly herself (as herself.) This one will appeal to Dolly’s legion of fans and the Christmas tie-in theme means it’s sure to be a hit.
Special Features:
There are no extra features on the disc.
For the Anime Fan:
Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time
Official Synopsis:
From legendary director Hideaki Anno, Evangelion:3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon A Time is the fourth and final installment of the Rebuild Of Evangelion films, bringing an epic conclusion to the story of Shinji and his fellow Eva pilots, with the stunning visuals and thought-provoking storytelling that has made Evangelion a global pop culture phenomenon. Misato and her anti-NERV group Wille arrive at Paris, a city now red from core-ization. Crew from the flagship Wunder land on a containment tower. They only have 720 seconds to restore the city. When a horde of NERV Evas appear, Mari’s improved Eva Unit 8 must intercept. Meanwhile, Shinji, Asuka, and Rei (Provisional Name) wander about Japan.
Our Take:
One of the most popular and influential anime series of all time has a new release out this week that will blow its fans away. Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time brings to a close the beloved anime series. The show gained acclaim and fan fervor through its blend of hardcore sci-fi action (Attacking creatures! Mech suits! Human pilots!) and a human story that remains front and center and lets you get involved in the characters. I’d seen bits and pieces of it over the years, but a couple of years ago I was able to dive into it more thoroughly with a complete series release that came out. Now we have the concluding movie, which comes to home video in a standard edition and a limited edition 4K Ultra HD box set, which is a thing of beauty. For the film itself, it’s hard to explain it in just a few sentences. If you’re not familiar with the series, what I have to say won’t make any sense. But if you are a fan of the show, you’ll be happy to know that Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time serves as a nice wrap-up for the show. It packed the emotional punch you’ve come to expect and isn’t lacking on action or intrigue. The 4K Ultra HD collector’s set also comes packaged in a beautiful and simple stark white box that you’ll want on your shelf. Evangelion fans will want to make sure they’ve seen the three films that priced this one, but if you’ve been following the series all along, you won’t want to miss Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time.
Special Features:
It’s a mix of extras here, both digital and physical. There’s a press conference, an animation making-of, two short films, interviews with the voice cast, an intro for fans, trailers, and more. Then you also get a gorgeous 28-page booklet, a set of art cards, and a poster.
Overlord IV: Season 4 – Limited Edition Blu-ray + DVD
Official Synopsis:
When a popular MMORPG is scheduled to be shut down permanently, veteran player Momonga refuses to log out. As NPCs begin to develop personalities and minds of their own he decides to put his skills to use as the game’s new overlord. In Season IV, newly crowned Ains plans his utopia, but before he can reform the rival kingdoms, he’ll have to rule them. His terrifying nature makes allies hard to come by, but when the Dwarven Kingdom is threatened, Ains finally has a chance to prove his good intentions. Available at store.crunchyroll.com
Our Take:
Anime can be hard to decipher even when you start at the beginning, but coming into a series in the fourth season with no previous exposure to a show is not the ideal way to follow along. That said, I’m not the target audience for this show. That target audience is anime fans, of which there are more now than ever before. If you want to impress the anime fan in your life, you can’t go wrong with this new limited edition box set of the popular Overlord animated series. Featuring the entire fourth season on Blu-ray and DVD, this box set also includes a cloth banner, a set of art cards, and a Gorgeous book featuring concept art, character designs, and more. It’s really a nice set and it will make a great gift for someone who likes anime, even if you have no idea what’s what in the anime world.
Special Features:
This set includes a number of shorter bonus features, including Promo Videos, Commercials, Animated Shorts, Episode Previews, Web Previews, Textless Opening Song, Textless Closing Song, and Textless Ending Songs.
Re: Zero – Life in a Different World From Zero Original Soundtrack
Official Synopsis:
The incredible soundtrack for the first season of the popular anime series Re: Zero is now available on vinyl! Experience the series all over again with this 2 LP release of Re: Zero. The release comes as a 2 x LP gatefold with an artprint unique to this release. Available at store.crunchyroll.com
Our Take:
As with Overlord above, Re: Zero isn’t a show I know a lot about, but I do know it’s got a devoted fan following. And if you want a gift that looks splashy and will impress the anime fan in your life, this new limited edition 2LP vinyl release will make quite the impression. Under the simple-yet-beautiful cover, there’s a double gatefold featuring artwork from the series and two red-splattered LPs that each feature about 10 tracks of original soundtrack music. There’s also an exclusive art print included. The music is delicate pop vocals in Japanese, which a lot of anime fans are really into, so while it may not be your thing, somebody who gets this as a gift will be super psyched to have hard-to-find music that’s both collectible and aurally pleasing.
For the Younger Crowd:
Elmo’s Holiday Spectacular: The Nutcracker and Other Tales
Official Synopsis:
The holidays are here on Sesame Street! Join Elmo, his puppy Tango, and all their friends on adventures filled with music, magic, and so much more! Play, sing, and explore in this two-hour holiday spectacular. Little ones will meet a reindeer-in-training named Lightning, explore magical lands with Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster, and try and save Christmas with Elmo!
Our Take:
This latest DVD release, Elmo’s Holiday Spectacular: The Nutcracker and Other Tales, once again offers up some serious bang for your buck. At over two-and-a-half hours of content for your little ones, this holiday themed release gives you an animated adaptation of The Nutcracker starring Elmo and his puppy Tango, as well as live-action segments with Elmo and guest starring Sheryl Crow and Maya Angelou. It’s hard to argue with that! With familiar faces like Elmo, Tango, Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby alongside new characters such as a reindeer-in-training
Special Features:
As usual with the Sesame Street DVD releases, there are no extra features. Still, with two-and-a-half hours of content, it’s kind of hard to complain.
Shaun the Sheep: The Complete Series
Official Synopsis:
Shaun the Sheep, Aardman’s family favorite TV series, is recognized the world over for its slapstick humor, distinctive look and strong, quirky characters. First appearing in Nick Park’s 1995 Academy Award® winning Wallace & Gromit ‘A Close Shave’, Shaun then went on to star in his own series and several movies. Now you can bring home the fun and joy of Shaun and his farmyard family in this complete collection with all six seasons, Mossy Bottom Shorts, Championsheeps, and the Shaun-tastic special, The Farmer’s Llama!
Our Take:
I’ve loved Shaun the Sheep since he first appeared in the classic third Wallace & Gromit short film, A Close Shave. My kids enjoyed his TV series when they were young, and now this Blu-ray release of Shaun the Sheep: The Complete Series reminds us what a charming and funny show it is. With almost no dialogue at all, the show relies heavily on visual gags and the sort of mumbled emotive language that’s populated the TV show. It’s usually simple enough plots, but there are some really funny moments in every episode, and it manages to be great for the little ones while remaining equally charming for adults. This new set is the first time the entire series has been collected on Blu-ray, giving you six seasons – almost 20 hours worth – of episodes! It’s a ton of fun and a great gift for younger viewers.
Special Features:
There are two specials (or one-off episodes), The Farmer’s Llamas and The Flight Before Christmas, as well as two collections of shorts, Mossy Bottom Shorts and Championsheeps Shorts.
For Grandma & Grandpa:
The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet: The Complete Seasons 13 & 14
Official Synopsis:
For a record-breaking fourteen seasons and 435 episodes, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet aired on ABC-TV from 1952 through 1966, becoming one of the most cherished cultural touchstones of the twentieth century. The gentle humor of the prolific and popular sitcom was brought to the screen by the real-life Nelson family: Ozzie and wife Harriet with their sons, David and Rick, all portraying themselves in a trend-setting blend of fact-meets-fiction comedy decades before Seinfeld and other semi-reality based shows. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet humorously chronicled the daily lives of the Nelson family as David and Ricky grew up before millions of weekly viewers. For the very first time, in association with the Nelson family, the entire series has been digitally restored with complete episodes from the original film negatives and audio reels for superior picture and sound quality.
Our Take:
The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet may not be the household name in television series that it once was, but the show was a cultural powerhouse at one point in American history. Starting in 1952 and running for a whopping 14 seasons (with over 400 episodes!), the show was a prototypical family comedy with parents Ozzie and Harriet raising their two young sons, David and Ricky. The twist here was that the family on screen was played by the real life Nelson family. America got to watch the boys grow up, and Ricky Nelson became one of the first teen heartthrobs of the television generation. While there had been a smattering of home video releases over the years, most of them were just random collections of episodes with no semblance of order to them. Over the last couple of years, MPI Video has been releasing every season of the show in its entirety, dropping two complete seasons at a time. So this month we are treated to the final two releases with The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet: The Complete Seasons 13 and 14, each released as their own complete season set. Both of these sets include 26 complete episodes from their respective seasons, and it’s amazing how much the show grew and developed from the first season to the last. Whereas Ricky and Dave were young boys in the first season, now they’re young men, in college and dating, and even getting married in the final year. Much of the show’s comedy and conflict comes from those romantic entanglements, as well as from Ozzie and Harriet dealing with their sons being adults and even with empty nester syndrome. Yet somehow the show manages to retain much of its charm, which isn’t always the case when young actors and the characters they play grow up. The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet is a fun and wholesome family comedy that is a nice snapshot of a different time in America’s history, and I’m glad to see MPI Video finally giving this touchstone of American pop culture the release it deserves. These two volumes complete the collection, meaning you can now have the entire series in one place for the first time ever.
Special Features:
There are no real special features on these sets, but you do get hours and hours of episodes, so it’s hard to complain.
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