Cinescape's Last Minute Christmas Shopping Guide

By: Anthony C. Ferrante with THE EDITORS OF CINESCAPE
Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Hey you. Yeah, the person who clicked on this article, not because they were interested in the latest, hottest and coolest things out there for the holidays, but rather because you're like many last minute shoppers who haven't even stepped into the mall since September and still don't know what to get the genre fanatic in your family or your best friend who still watches STAR WARS on DVD religiously.

Hence, this guide is for you. It's a no-nonsense list filled with DVD suggestions, state of the art electronic wonders, the coolest new video games and even a handful of software programs worth beating someone over the head with a My Little Pony doll to obtain for that special loved one.

So happy holidays from Cinescape to you. Read fast though, only three more shopping days until you know what.

1. DVDS

WAR OF THE WORLDS (DreamWorks/Paramount)

Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
What is it: The film many people avoided this summer because Tom Cruise acted like such a nut on his press tour. But take that out of the equation and this is a great science-fiction effort with director Steven Spielberg at the top of his game. Great special effects and a moving story complete the package.
Who is it for: Anyone with a DVD player who likes epic sci-fi and grand action
Why should you get it: It's a safe bet. Everyone has a DVD player. It stars Cruise and is directed by Spielberg?

KING KONG: PETER JACKSON'S PRODUCTION DIARIES (Universal)
Suggested Retail Price: $39.98
What is it: First off, please note, this is NOT Peter Jackson's new film already available on DVD. Instead it's a limited edition 2-disc box set featuring 54 video production diaries Jackson filmed during the making of the film and which were previously available on the web. You also get 4 exclusive production art prints and a 52-page production memoir.
Who is it for: The film fanatic that loves behind-the-scenes documentaries on DVDs and is either a) Jackson fanatic b) a KING KONG nut.
Why should you get it: It will soon be obsolete once KING KONG is actually released on DVD and a whole slew of new DVD features will replace these early documentaries. It will also be a collector's item too, so buy a few, store them in a safe place and watch their market value rise in five years time.

THE FRIGHTENERS DIRECTOR'S CUT (Universal)
Suggested Retail Price: $26.98
What is it: The DVD debut of Jackson's director cut of his 1996 film about ghosts and the after-life starring Michael J. Fox. Toss in over 4 hours of special features personally supervised by the director himself and you get to see the more formative years of Jackson before he really went into overdrive as a powerhouse director on the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy.
Who is it for: Jackson fans again. People who love haunted house movies. One of the last times to see Michael J. Fox in a really cool, fun film in the vein of the BACK TO THE FUTURE films.
Why should you get it: It's cheaper than the KING KONG production diaries, plus you get a free ticket to see KING KONG inside -- so it's literally two gifts-in-one.

STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH (LucasFilm/20th Century Fox)
Suggested Retail Price: $29.98
What is it: The final chapter of the STAR WARS prequels as we watch Anakin Skywalker turn to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader. It's a two-disc set and features the usual round of informative documentaries and commentaries.
Who is it for: Any STAR WARS fan, though if they're a STAR WARS fan, they already own the damn thing.
Why should you get it: It's an easy pick and it really does bring closure to the STAR WARS generation old and new.

THE KING KONG COLLECTION (Warner Bros.)
Suggested Retail Price: $39.98
What is it: The original 1933 KING KONG film as a two-disc set. It's restored and remastered and never looked better. The 7-part KING KONG documentary is as comprehensive as you can get. One of the best parts of it is a section where Peter Jackson's company recreates the stop-motion process from a sequence from the original film since no archives of this process remain. Using original blueprints and existing information, it truly is a perfect example of why DVDs have become such informative and important archives of the past and present of film. The collection also includes the less exceptional SON OF KONG and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG.
Who is it for: Monster movie purists; KING KONG fans.
Why should you get it: The stop motion may be a bit dated, but the original movie is still as riveting as anything out there today plus it's nice to see such an old classic restored in a way no one has seen since its original 1933 release.

FRANK MILLER'S SIN CITY RECUT * EXTENDED * UNRATED (Miramax/Dimension)
Suggested Retail Price: $39.99
What is it: Robert Rodriguez's faithful adaptation of Frank Miller's classic noir graphic novel presented in a recut edition that presents the stories in chronological order and with new footage integrated back into the film. It's a two-disc set too which features commentaries, some great behind-the-scenes and the entire film as it was shot on green screen (sped up so it whizzes by in less than ten minutes). Even better, you get the original cut of the film included as well.
Who is it for: Anyone who felt hosed by the no frills edition of SIN CITY released several months ago, but were too irritated at having to buy it all over to get the good stuff. Also, film noir fans will get a kick out of this neo-noir.
Why should you get it: Special edition is nowhere to be found on the box, but this is truly what a special edition should be about and it's a great gift if not to own the definitive version of the movie, but to also get a complete SIN CITY graphic novel included in the set as well.

2. FOR THE YOUNG 'UNS

MADAGASCAR (DreamWorks Animation)

Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
What is it: It may not be on par with SHREK, but it is yet another feather in the DreamWorks animated canon featuring the hijinks of four zoo buddies who inadvertently end up on an island in Madagascar and realize they're not as born free as they thought. Also included is a Christmas short featuring the scene-stealing co-stars "The Penguins."
Who is it for: Animation fans, Ben Stiller fans (he servers as the voice of Alex the Lion) and kids who haven't been as impressed with new non-Pixar, Disney animated films as of late.
Why should you get it: After every kid in America owns every Disney classic ever released, so it's nice to add some new blood to the mix.

JAKK'S PLUG IT IN AND PLAY IT GAMES (Dora The Explorer, Disney Princess, SpongeBob Squarepants 2: The Fry Cook Games)(Jakks Pacific)
Suggested Retail Price (each): $19.99
What is it: Corrupting kids at a young age with PlayStation, xBox and GameCube might be too extreme, so these Plug It In and Play It Games are perfect for the neophyte. Jakk's games feature more traditional games inspired by '80s arcade-type game play. Disney Princess will please young girls because they can choose from four princesses including Ariel, Belle, Cinderella or Snow White as they travel through various adventures. Dora the Explorer features races, hot air balloon rides and allows the player to find the missing pieces to a bridge in a Shape Matcher game. The Dora cartoon has always provided young viewers the chance to explore and learn and now it's interactive. And finally, for older kids there's the Spongebob 2: The Fry Cook Games which features everyone's favorite yellow sponge competing in nine different fry-cook themed events.
Who is it for: Disney Princess and Dora are perfect for young girl's who are seriously overlooked when it comes to gaming consoles geared to their own tastes and SpongeBob is perfect for older kids (and adults).
Why should you get it: They're cheap enough that they don't break the bank (individual games for those other consoles run as high as $60 a pop) and they're fun enough and complicated enough that it will provide hours of entertainment.

WALT DISNEY TREASURES: THE CHRONOLOGICAL DONALD: VOLUME 2 (Disney)
Suggested Retail Price: $32.99
What is it: Limited edition set of classic Donald Duck cartoons from 1942-1946
Who is it for: Yeah, sure, collectors really are the true lovers of this stuff, but to bring younger kids back to a simpler time of animation, this set, featuring three hours of cartoons, is a nice sampler. There are other sets, but this is the most kid-friendly of the group.
Why should you get it: Kids may not appreciate it now, but later when they've worn out CINDERELLA, PINOCCHIO and THE JUNGLE BOOK, maybe they'll be a bit adventurous and totally appreciate the treasure trove Disney has offered in this and many other sets from the past several years.

3. MUSIC

KING KONG soundtrack (Universal Classics)

Suggested Retail Price: $18.98
What is it: The James Newton Howard score to KING KONG (we're definitely in a King Kong mood around the office, if you haven't noticed).
Who is it for: Any soundtrack aficionado. It's lush, beautiful, orchestral music done by one of the best in the business.
Why should you get it: if you're going to buy all the other KING KONG products we've listed here, why not this too?

WEIRD TALES OF THE RAMONES (Rhino)
Suggested Retail Price: $64.98
What is it: Yet another repackaging of Ramones music, this time in a three-CD set and a DVD bonus disc featuring live performances and videos. They were the punk-pop pioneers from the late '70s who paved the way for bands like Green Day and the Offspring. All their hits and non-hits are included plus you get a Ramones comic drawn in the style of the old E.C. comics from the '50s.
Who is it for: Punk-pop music lovers, Ramones fans and horror fans.
Why should you get it: No one would even expect this one as a gift. Not a lot of fan fare when it was released a few months ago, so it would certainly be a nice surprise to that adventurous music lover.

THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW: ROCK AND ROLL CLASSICS (Ventura/Sofa Entertainment)
Suggested Retail Price: $39.99
What is it: All the classic musical performances from Ed Sullivan from the '50s to the '70s including classic Beatles, Elvis Presley, Rolling Stone performances alongside such other seminal groups as Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band and Janis Joplin. It's literally a who's who of rock and since visual recordings of some of these groups during their heyday on this set are scarce, this is truly a time capsule of the best of the best.
Who is it for: Older music lovers, nostalgia buffs and anyone who can't get enough of FORREST GUMP because they love the music so much.
Why should you get it: Today's generation won't know who the hell Ed Sullivan is, but they'll know the groups. And the Baby Boomers will have fond memories of these performances from the first time around.

4. TV ON DVD

24 SEASON 4 (Fox)

Suggested Retail Price: $69.98
What is it: By far the best and most consistent season of the Kiefer Sutherland real-time Fox series, it was a thrill to finally see the show eschew such time-wasting subplots involving Jack Bauer's daughter and such that stopped the series dead in past years. Even better is a ten-minute "prequel" that bridges the gap from the end of this series to the beginning of Season 5.
Who is it for: Anyone wanting to catch up on the series or relive it before the new season begins in January.
Why should you get it: More taut than any big studio action film and more surprises than you can count on your finger, if the studios want to know how to make great action movies again, hire the people who make this show such a thrill four years in while Alias has long since lost its luster during its fifth and final year.

AMERICAN GOTHIC (Universal)
Suggested Retail Price: $49.98
What is it: It's ten years old, but it still holds up as one of those groundbreaking network series that was too weird, strange and horrifying to last more than one season. The fact that CBS gave it a full season is a miracle unto itself. You can watch it here in its entirely for the first time on DVD, though be warned, the episodes appear in the order they appeared on network TV, not in the order they were intended to air.
Who is it for: Horror Fans, plus it's created by Shaun Cassidy and executive produced by Sam Raimi and they've got their own specific fan base.
Why should you get it: The pilot episode alone is one of the best pieces of horror television from the past ten years (and that includes The X-Files).

SOUTH PARK: THE COMPLETE FIRST FIVE SEASONS (Paramount Home Entertainment)
Suggested Retail Price: $194.95
What is it: All five complete seasons of South Park in one, very expensive box set. It's vulgar, it's obscene, but it's some of the funniest animation this side of Simpson's and features some surprisingly in-your-face social commentary too.
Who is it for: Die-hard SOUTH PARK fans. There's no other reason to fork over $200 bucks unless you're into this kind of filthy, brilliant comedy.
Why should you get it: Buying "TV on DVD" is expensive and this is a perfect way to get someone caught up on their "TV on DVD" buying. But be warned, you probably won't be able to buy anymore Christmas presents if you buy this puppy for someone.

SIMPSONS THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON (Fox)
Suggested Retail Price: $49.98
What is it: If you don't know who the Simpsons are, then you've been living under a rock for the past sixteen years. This is one of the series' best seasons featuring a great TREEHOUSE OF HORROR episode that used CGI animation (which was still pretty groundbreaking at the time and especially for a TV show), President George Bush Sr. moves next door and many other classics.
Who is it for: Simpson fans, casual Simpsons viewers and anyone wanting a clamshell Marge head on their DVD shelves.
Why should you get it: If someone owns seasons 1-6, they have to have seven. And if they own none of them, then Season Seven is as good a season to start a collection as any.

THE DEFINITIVE TWILIGHT ZONE SEASONS 1-5 (Image)
Suggested Retail Price (for individual seasons): $99.99
What is it: The classic 1950's series has been re-mastered and reissued on DVD in these stellar box sets that are treasure trove of special features. Seasons 1-4 are already out (Season 5 is released on December 27). This is classic anthology television from the master Rod Serling and if you didn't fork over money for the individual discs a few years back, this is definitely a more affordable and compact series of sets to own. This is what genre anthology filmmaking should always be about great stories about the human condition wrapped in sci-fi, fantasy and horror allegory.
Who is it for: Lovers of classic fiction and good old storytelling. It helps too if you're a Twilight Zone junkie.
Why should you get it: They're pricey, but the episodes endure all these years later, so why not let them continue to age gracefully on someone's DVD shelf for the next generation to be introduced to them?

5. BOOKS

CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF FRIDAY THE 13th by

Peter M. Bracke (Sparkplug PR)
Suggested Retail Price: $39.95
What is it: A complete history of all the FRIDAY THE 13th films including interviews with just about everyone ever associated with the seminal '80s horror film series. It also features never-before-seen photos and a no-holds barred approach to dishing all the behind-the-scenes drama and glory.
Who is it for: Die hard FRIDAY THE 13th fans who feel Paramount hasn't done the movies right on DVD and are clamoring for a larger picture of what it took to make these movies.
Why should you get it: It's a limited edition hardcover with only 5000 copies. If you own the movies on DVD, TWICE, then owning this book is a must.

MOVIE SETS 101: THE DEFINITIVE SURVIVOR'S GUIDE by Paul J. Salamoff (Tavin Press)
Suggested Retail Price: $17.95
What is it: A detailed guide to making it on a movie set from writer/producer/director Salamoff. One of the best of its kind and serves as a film school in a book.
Who is it for: People who can't afford film school; people who work on movie sets and don't understand the lingo; film professionals who want to brush up on their on-set etiquette.
Why should you get it: It's a fun, breezy read featuring comments from such pros as directors Wes Craven, Ron Underwood and cinematographer Owen Roizman among the 70 other above and below the line crew interviewed.

DROIDMAKER: GEORGE LUCAS AND THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION by Michael Rubin (Triad Publishing)
Suggested Retail Price: $34.95
What is it: The story of George Lucas and how he revolutionized filmmaking with Industrial Light and Magic. Everyone's heard everything they need to know about the making of the STAR WARS films, but what about what it took to make them and how this visionary built the technology from the ground floor up? This book answers those questions.
Who is it for: Of course, if you love STAR WARS, you'll need to own this, but that said, it's a very informative dissection of the inner workings of ILM and what a true visionary Lucas was and still is..
Why should you get it: If someone owns everything there is to own from STAR WARS, what's one more book to add to their shelf?

LIVING DANGEROUSLY: THE ADVENTURES OF MERIAN C. COOPER by Mark Vaz (Villard)
Suggested Retail Price: $26.95
What is it: KING KONG's original creator Merian C. Cooper is chronicled in this superb new book focusing on his life, his adventures and his trials to bring KING KONG to the screen.
Who is it for: Fans of classic film who want to dig even deeper than the Warner Bros. documentary does on the KING KONG Collection DVD.
Why should you get it: With all the attention on the movies this book is definitely under the radar, but highly recommended.

6. GAMES

XBOX 360

Suggested Retail Price: (not available to holiday consumers unless you're very important or have a couple of grand to spend)
What is it: The latest, greatest game console (that is until PlayStation 3 arrives in the Spring)
Who is it for: EVERYONE
Why should you get it: It's a great gift if you snagged a copy when they first came out, but since they went like hotcakes, there's none available for the rest of us this Christmas season. Either give someone a rain check gift for the Xbox 360, or buy something else for your die-hard gamer.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: 007 (EA)
Suggested Retail Price: $49.99
What is it: The latest James Bond game from EA is one of its best, plus it features Sean Connery's voice as the best Bond of them all.
Who is it for: Gamers who like first-person shooters and car chases, plus anyone who ever wanted to be Sean Connery but didn't have the tux and the Scottish accent to complete the package.
Why should you get it: It's a hot game, no questions asked and the car chases are fast and furious.

TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: OOGIE'S REVENGE (BVG)
Suggested Retail Price: $39.99
What is it: A game "sequel" to the Tim Burton feature film filled with magic, creatures and the epic battle between which is cooler: Halloween and Christmas.
Who is it for: Anyone who buys everything and anything associated with THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
Why should you get it: If you can't have a movie sequel, why not the game?

STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT II (LucasArts)
Suggested Retail Price: $49.99
What is it: The sequel to last year's great STAR WARS game that puts you into the battlefield working for the good guys or the Dark Side. Add the ability to play in either the classic original trilogy or the prequel trilogy eras and you have the closest experience to being in a STAR WARS movie that there is.
Who is it for: Do we need to ask?
Why should you get it: For the first time you can play characters from the STAR WARS films as well and you haven't seen badass until the Emperor rears his ugly, Dark Side-riddled head AND YOU GET TO ACTUALLY PLAY HIM!

7. SOFTWARE

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 4.0/ADOBE PREMIERE ELEMENTS 2.0 (Adobe)

Suggested Retail Price: $149.99
What is it: A one-two punch of bundled software that showcases why Adobe is at the forefront of software that's easy to use for the general consumer. Elements takes Photoshop to the next step by allowing you to "edit, organize and show" your photos to friends and family. It has simple tools that allow you to create seamless panoramas from multiple photographs, eliminate unwanted elements in photos (like people you don't want to be there) and even simple photo enhancement to bring out the colors of flawed photos. For anyone who is technically inept to handle the regular Photoshop program, this simple interface makes it easier to drop photos into other backgrounds, create photo collages and most importantly it organizes all of your photos on you hard drive in an easy-to-find interface. Bundled with Photoshop Elements is Premiere Elements that is a consumer version of Adobe Premiere editing software. The interface is very similar to Apple's drag and drop Final Cut and makes it easy to cut together your home movies without much hassle. There's a great "how-to" tutorial included too and a handful of transitional effects and "special effects" that can give your home movies a semi-professional sheen (or at least give your local access station a run for their money).
Who is it for: Photographic and film artists who can't afford the higher end software and need the budget version to get them started on their photo and film careers.
Why should you get it: This is one of the best deals out there especially for a budding young filmmaker. It's easy to use and heck, it's cheaper than an Xbox 360 at the end of the day far more creatively satisfying.

VISUAL CREATION STUDIO (featuring VEGAS MOVIE STUDIO+DVD and COREL PHOTO ALBUM 6)(Sony/Corel)
Suggested Retail Price: $199.99
What is it: This is the alternate reality version to the Photoshop/Premiere Essentials bundle coming from Sony and Corel instead (it's a bit more expensive, though rebates make it cheaper at the end of the day). The features are virtually identical. Vegas Movie Studio +DVD is a very simple digital editing program but with the added benefit of a DVD burning program that allows for creating DVD's in full frame and widescreen as well as multiple windows. Corel Photo Album 6 does many of the same features as Photoshop Essentials and since this is Version 6, it has had the time to work out the bugs and add snazzy new features. Nonetheless, it comes down to preference for either bundle. People accustomed to Photoshop may prefer Essentials, while those looking for more ancillary features like the ability to create calendars and cards may prefer Photo Album 6.
Who is it for: Yes, those fussy, creative artisans with tons of spare time, endless amounts of digital photos and the urge to be the next Quentin Tarantino.
Why should you get it: The rebates make it a really sound financial buy and you get two great programs for the price of one really expensive one.

ACID MUSIC STUDIO/SOUNDFORGE AUDIO STUDIO (Sony)
Suggested Retail Price: $69.99/$59.99
What is it: Two really solid audio programs that are very affordable. Acid Music Studio comes with over 1000 music loops and allows you create your own layers of music and the ability to remix your own songs. It's frightening how simple and easy it is to create your own movie soundtrack with this software and used in conjunction with Sony's Vegas Editing Studio and Audio Studio, you can create professional looking and sounding movies for under $400. Sound Forge's Audio Studio is a slightly more complex version of the Acid Music Studio. It has more features and allows you to clean up sound and get more in depth in the creation of music and audio. Recording studios are becoming a thing of past when you can do all of that with a combination of these two programs (both sold separately).
Who is it for: Sound-a-holics; movie makers needing a quick soundtrack and anyone with an iPod who wishes they could make their own music.
Why should you get it: When you realize how easy both are to use and how expensive and complicated similar, more professional software is, there really is no going back.

StikAx (Ministry of Sound)
Suggested Retail Price: $149.99
What is it: Not only can you mix music, but you can also "mix" video images to go with them. What makes this program even more fun is the joystick that's included that allows you to mix by pressing the various buttons on the "StikAx." You can assign up to four audio and four video tracks to the Stik Ax and then change things up with a simple click of the button. The interface is similar to many loop-based programs and it comes with numerous tutorials to get up and running very quickly.
Who is it for: Mixers who feel confined by a computer keyboard, now can be liberated by roaming with the joystick. Of course, the next step will be a wireless StikAx (not available, and probably not on the boards just yet) so you can move even more freely around the room as you press buttons to create a mish-mash of sounds, but for now, this will do nicely.
Why should you get it: It's a perfect present for that mini-mixer who still likes video games and is afraid of pressing buttons on a computer because it might actually seem like actual work.