Sure, you can give the Hogwarts lover in your life the gift-set “suitcase” of the “Harry Potter” franchise: all five films, including “Order of the Phoenix” and an interactive DVD game called the Hogwarts Challenge (Standard Def, $119.97; HD DVD and Blu-ray $149.99)
Or you can give your dystopia-fretting friends “Blade Runner: The Final Cut,” Ridley Scott’s plunge into Philip K. Dick’s bleak near-future (out Dec. 18). This bells-and-whistles edition of the 1982 sci-fi noir about a retired cop and gifted hunter of rebel androids (Harrison Ford at his finest) and a “replicant” who doesn’t know her true nature (Sean Young, ditto) could make up the syllabus in a year-long seminar.You’ll need a briefing on all the extras: a director’s cut restored and remastered, a deleted-scenes compilation, a new in-depth documentary for starters. (Two-, four- and five-disc sets range from $20.97 to $78.92.)
We’re not putting down the suitcase. But what follows are gift ideas that — nice as their packages are — grabbed our attention for what’s inside.
Coen Brothers Gift Set $49.98
If the film gods aren’t crazy, Joel and Ethan Coen’s “No Country for Old Men” will be the recipient of critic groups’ kudos and golden statuettes. This masterwork (in theaters now) is just the latest reason to bestow this set on someone with a wry appreciation of naughty and nice. See how the duo has grown even as they impressed from the start. The five-disc package includes their bold debut, “Blood Simple,” and the wonderful “Fargo.” Add to these: “Miller’s Crossing” (a breakout Gabriel Byrne performance), the zany-tender “Raising Arizona” and “Barton Fink” (with two Johns — Goodman and Turturro — wowing).
“Killer of Sheep” $39.95
Each day comes a fresh e-mail from Milestone Film about the “best-reviewed film of the year.” It is probably not what you think, but the indie distributor of Charles Burnett’s “Killer of Sheep” has a point. Released theatrically for the first time in 2007, the 1977 film was a high point of the year. His black-and-white beauty about hardscrabble life in L.A. evokes the Italian neo-realists even as it gives a glimpse of life in the ‘hood, long before boys became boyz. Bonuses included are Burnett’s “My Brother’s Wedding” and three short films, including 1969’s “Several Friends,” an intriguing precursor to “Killer of Sheep.”
“The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg” $34.95
If “Killer of Sheep” owns the title for best-reviewed theatrical release, Jerry Aronson’s deluxe two-disc set is undoubtedly the best-reviewed DVD of the year made by a local filmmaker. Don’t think that’s faint praise. Theatrically released in 1994, Aronson’s terse, loving biography of the poet does exactly what it should: makes you miss the writer of “Howl” and “Kaddish” and sends you to the shelves to reread them. (Hint: Do some packaging of your own with a DVD-poetry combo.) There comes a moment in Todd Haynes’ “I’m Not There” when Ginsberg and Jude, Cate Blanchett’s Bob Dylan persona, stand staring up at a statue of Jesus. Amid the hours of plentiful extras on this deluxe two-disc set is footage of Dylan and Ginsberg visiting the grave of Jack Kerouac.
“Treasures III: Social Issues in American Film, 1900-1934” $89.99
Into a season rife with message movies comes the National Film Preservation Foundation’s mesmerizing box set. Divided into four categories — “The City Reformed,” “New Women,” “Toil and Tyranny” and “Americans in the Making” — the 48 films come with engaging commentary and remarkable musical accompaniment.
“Ford at Fox: The Collection” $299.99
20th Century Fox has plundered its archives and delivered a pleasure chest. This handsome box set contains 23 John Ford works, including three released back-to-back that helped Henry Fonda’s star shine: “Young Mr. Lincoln,” “Drums Along the Mohawk” and “Grapes of Wrath.” There’s also an elegant and illuminating documentary about the director’s stint at the studio.
Stocking stuffers
This has been a sweet year for soundtracks that worked beautifully within their films, proving some of the loveliest gifts come in CD-size packages: “Into the Wild,” “Once,” “Across the Universe,” “The Darjeeling Limited” and “I’m Not There.”
