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DVD Shopping Bag: Cowboys and Aliens and Santa
Last Minute Gifts Here! By
Robert T. Trate
December 06, 2011
Bond and Indy fight Aliens on Blu-ray
© Universal Pictures/Robert Trate
The big day is coming and the rush for those last minute holiday gifts is on. Last week was a sad DVD Shopping Bag list of titles. There wasn’t much there. This week has something for practically everyone in the family. I’ll help you be a great Santa; just be sure to throw in one or two of these titles for yourself.
The Guy that loves James Bond
There is always a James Bond fan in the family. There isn’t a new Bond film this year (coming next year), nor are there a slew of new Bond Blu-ray editions (again next year). Obviously, your choice for this person is Cowboys and Aliens. It is not the best film, but damn if it isn’t an entertaining one. Oh and it co-stars that Indiana Jones guy, too.
The Cold War Enthusiast
The Debt is packed with enough mystery and thrills to warrant multiple viewings and that makes it a good gift. The story takes place in two different eras giving the younger members of the cast a great chance to shine; at least to shine as much as one can against “the Queen” herself, Helen Mirren.
The Hitchcock Fan
Criterion Collection releases their edition of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes on Blu-ray today. A Criterion DVD is the equivalent of a good bottle of wine for Christmas. A Criterion Blu-ray is a rare vintage from a French Bordeaux.
The Sci-Fi Fan
It has taken years of waiting, but finally Captain Power and the Soldiers of Future arrives on DVD. Here is the complete series (all 22 episodes) and the TV movie; not to mention a few commentaries and a documentary. Check out the official web site for the complete details. Is it on Blu-ray? No, but the Sci-Fi fan won’t care. It will be as if you just handed them the Holy Grail. It will also be a great gift for the kid in the family. The only downside is you’ll then have to find some old toys on eBay.
For the Purest
The remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo comes out right before Christmas. What gift could you give the disgruntled fan of the beloved books and original films? Why the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition on Blu-ray Box Set, duh! This will also help for the new fan that doesn’t want to wait to see what happens next. This is the modern equivalent of reading ahead in the Harry Potter books.
For the Ripperologist
I have two “Ripperologists” in my family and only one had heard of the BBC’s White Chapel: The Ripper Returns. That one also watches a lot of BBC television, while the other does not. After watching this mini-series about a copy cat Ripper in modern London, your Ripperologist will go crazy. Not only is it incredibly smart, well written, and beautifully acted, but also packed with tons of Ripper lore that any true Ripperologist will love. A brilliant show if ever there was one.
Best of luck in your shopping and remember there are always gem genre titles left out there. Keep checking the DVD Shopping Bag for them this holiday season.
Top 6 Picks of the Week:
1. Cowboys & Aliens (Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy in Blu-ray Packaging)
2. The Lady Vanishes (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]
3. The Debt [Blu-ray]
6. Captain Power and the Soldiers of Future
ACTION / ADVENTURE / KUNG FU/ THRILLERS / WESTERNS
The Afterlight Starring Law Abiding Citizen), Jicky Schnee (Perestroika), Ana Asensio (Zenith), and Rip Torn Michael Kelly
The Debt [Blu-ray] Starring Sam Worthington and Helen Mirren
The Debt Starring Sam Worthington and Helen Mirren
Hart To Hart: Two Harts in Three-Quarter Time Starring Robert Wagner, Stefanie Powers, Joan Collins and Jeff Kaake
Island Of Doomed Men Starring Peter Lorre, Rochelle Hudson, Robert Wilcox and Don Beddoe
Point Blank Starring Gilles Lellouche, Roschdy Zem and Gerard Lanvin
Point Blank [Blu-ray] Starring Gilles Lellouche, Roschdy Zem and Gerard Lanvin
Rapt Starring Yvan Attal and Anna Consigny
Rapt [Blu-ray] Starring Yvan Attal and Anna Consigny
Triple Tap Starring Louis Koo, Daniel Wu and Alex Fong
Triple Tap [Blu-ray] Starring Louis Koo, Daniel Wu and Alex Fong
ANIME
Birdy the Mighty: Decode - The Complete Series Starring Luci Christian and Micah Solusod
Devil May Cry: The Complete Series S.A.V.E. [Blu-ray] Starring Reuben Langdon, Rob Mungle and Luci Christitan
Dragon Ball Z: Movie Pack Collection Two (Movies 6-9) Starring Sean Schemmel, Sonny Strait, Christopher R. Sabat
Dragon Ball Z: Movie Pack Collection Two (Movies 6-9) Starring Sean Schemmel, Sonny Strait, Christopher R. Sabat
Master of Martial Hearts: Box Set Starring Anita Neukar, Ian Sinclair and Alexis Tipton
Mazinkaiser Skl [Blu-ray] Starring Shintaro Asanuma, Satoshi Hino, Saori Hayami
Rozen Maiden Complete Collection
Squid Girl Series Part 2 Starring
Voltron: Black Lion Collection
CARTOONS
Alvin & the Chipmunks-Driving Dave Crazy Starring Janice Karman and June Foray
The Looney Tunes Show: Volume Two
The Simpsons: The Fourteenth Season
The Simpsons: The Fourteenth Season (Limited Collector's Edition with Molded Head) Starring Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner
The Simpsons: The Fourteenth Season [Blu-ray]
Spongebob Squarepants: The Complete Seventh Season
CLASSICS
Reach For The Sky Starring Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Lyndon Brook and Lee Patterson
COMEDY AND LOVE Mania Style
The Hangover Part II (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) Starring Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis
The Hangover Part II (+ UltraViolet Digital Copy) Starring Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis
The Hangover Part II (Movie-Only Edition + UltraViolet Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] Starring Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms
Mr. Popper's Penguins Starring Jim Carrey and Carla Gugino
Mr. Popper's Penguins [Blu-ray] Starring Jim Carrey and Carla Gugino
Mr. Popper's Penguins (with Plush Penguin) Starring Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXII Starring Joel Hodgson and Michael J. Nelson
Scary Movie 1-3 [Blu-ray] (2011)
Criterion Collection
Design for Living (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring Fredric March, Gary Cooper, Miriam Hopkins
Design for Living (Criterion Collection) Starring Fredric March, Gary Cooper, Miriam Hopkins
The Lady Vanishes (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Paul Lukas
HORROR
Body Puzzle Starring Tomas Arana
Demons [DVD] [1985]
Demons 2 [DVD] [1986]
Don't Open Till Christmas Starring Edmund Purdom
Dust Devil Starring Robert John Burke and Zakes Mokae
Elvira's Movie Macabre - Santa Claus Conquers The Martians / Beast From Haunted Cave Starring Elvira
Mutilation Man Starring Stephen Twardokus, Sabrina Carmichael, Jon Gale
Murder Obsession Starring John Richardson and Stefano Patrizi
Pop Punk Zombies Starring Ian Kane, Nicholas Marinucci, Laura Savage and Eric Leitzen
Porkchop Starring Ruby Larocca, Erin Russ, Ford Austin and Brian Gunnoe
Psychic Experiment Starring Glenn Morshower and Katie Featherston
Santa Claus Vs. The Zombies Starring Roger D. Smith, Russ Croley Kayla Perkins
Zombie Allegiance Starring Andre Boudreau, Carlos Brum, Sarah Nicklin, Michael Reed Brandon Louis Aponte
SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY
Alien Armageddon [Blu-ray] Starring Don Scribner, Katharine McEwan and Rochelle Vallese
Alien Armageddon Starring Don Scribner
Cowboys & Aliens (Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy in Blu-ray Packaging) Starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Abigail Spencer
Cowboys & Aliens Starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Abigail Spencer
I Am Legend / Omega Man (Double-Feature) [Blu-ray] Starring Will Smith and Charlton Heston
TV LAND
Captain Power and the Soldiers of Future (the complete series)
BOX SETS
Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist and Lena Endre
Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition [Blu-ray] Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist and Lena Endre
Mission Impossible Giftset Collection (Mission: Impossibe / Mission: Impossible II / Mission: Impossible III) [Blu-ray] Starring Jean Reno, Henry Czerny, Tom Cruise and Jon Voight
Mission Impossible Giftset Collection (Mission: Impossibe / Mission: Impossible II / Mission: Impossible III) Starring Jean Reno, Henry Czerny, Tom Cruise and Jon Voight
Robert Trate writes two other weekly columns for Mania The Geek Life and the Toy Maniac. Follow Robert on Twitter for his for Geek ramblings, Cosplay photos and film criticisms.
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Casino Royale and QOS are both on Blu Ray. Me? The only upgrades from DVD to Blu Ray next year will be the Connery films.