Gift buying for others is not always so easy. That’s why we here at Cinema Sentries are back again with our annual holiday gift guide to offer suggestions. And don’t be shy about getting something for yourself because who knows what you want better than you? It would be appreciated if you clicked an Amazon link on the site before shopping to help us keep the lights on. Bookmark and revisit this post throughout the season as more items and more reviews get added over the next few weeks.
Films
Greg Hammond writes Bill & Ted’s Most Triumphant Trilogy “is a strong trilogy from beginning to end. Some of the glow fades after Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, but the writing and acting squeezes out every drop of comedy from a most excellent premise.”
Buy Bill & Ted’s Triumphant Trilogy 4K Ultra HD + Blu-rayGordon S. Miller thought “Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, Part Two is a fantastic continuation of the story of Paul Atreides, and will leave fans wanting Villeneuve to adapt another installment of Frank Herbert’s Dune saga.” In a different type of science fiction epic, Mat Brewster “had quite a bit of fun” watching Killer Klowns from Outer Space.
Brewster also raves about The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari on 4K UHD, stating it “is ground zero for German Expressionism. It is the very beginning of the genre and its apex. Its visual style completely transformed cinema. Its influence can be seen not only on film noir and giallo, but in nearly every dream sequence ever made, and every psychological horror you’ve ever watched.” But he’s not solely a highfalutin cinephile, as he also raves about a fantastic collector’s edition of Texas Chain Saw Massacre on 4K UHD, loaded with extras, and one of the greatest cases ever made.
Buy The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 4K UHDLaurel & Hardy: Year Two sees Flicker Alley release 10 more silent shorts, these released in 1929, by what is arguably the funniest duo in cinema history.
Animation
Mat Brewster declares acclaimed Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron “is a great film. It might be one of his best.” Gordon S. Miller agrees with him, calling the film “an outstanding endeavor. It stands equally alongside the other classics in his filmography and sets a high bar for all animated films that follow it.”
Buy The Boy and the Heron Blu-rayCaptain Planet: Complete Franchise: The Planeteers, five teenagers from different parts of the earth, each receive a ring of elemental power–earth, wind, water, fire or heart–to combat eco-villains everywhere in the world. And when they combine the powers of their rings, a new superhero, Captain Planet, is created, with powers far greater than the sum of the five.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas is not on 4k UHD. When reviewing The Ultimate Edition Blu-ray, Gordon S. Miller wrote, “the special is both sweet and funny, providing a touching message to viewers and containing humorous sequences, such as the Grinch and his dog/reindeer Max approaching Who-ville on their sleigh and his criminal antics that accompany the delightful “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” performed by an uncredited Thurl Ravenscroft.”
Buy Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Vols. 1 – 4 Blu-rayGreg Hammond thinks Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Vols. 1-4 “is an absolute treasure trove of great content across all four discs.” He also Greg Hammond states Watchmen Chapter 1 “is the first half of what promises to be a stellar two-part adaptation.” Chapter 2 is set for release December 3.
Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-7 DVD: 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.
TV
Complete Series sets are ideal for fans. I Love Lucy debuted in October 1951. Starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, with Arnaz also the executive producer, the landmark sitcom went on to become one of the best-loved and most-watched TV shows of all time. Along with their neighbors Ethel and Fred Mertz (Vivian Vance and William Frawley), Lucy and Desi found themselves creating many iconic moments in the history of the medium. The set includes six seasons of I Love Lucy (1951-1957), the remastered The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (1957-1960), and a newly colorized and never-before-released “Lucy and the Loving Cup” episode.
Buy I Love Lucy: The Complete Series Blu-rayHBO has been the home to many memorable shows. All 120 episodes from the series’ twelve critically acclaimed seasons of Curb You Enthusiasm, starring and created by Larry David, as a fictional version of himself (or is he?), who finds himself in a wide array of cringe-inducing social situation. The collected DVD set includes all the previously released special features including The Seinfeld Reunion: It Could Only Happen on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Succession collects all 39 episodes from four seasons on Blu-ray. It details the palace intrigue of the Roy family, whose patriarch, Logan Roy (Brian Cox) runs a conservative media empire, and his three kids are all looking to take over, yet none of them seem worthy.
Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep presents all 65 episodes from all seven seasons of this cynical, savagely comic look at U.S. politics. The flip side of the coin is The West Wing, which provides an earnest dramatic look at U.S. politics. It also ran for seven seasons, but being a broadcast network show, it produced 154 episodes over that same span.
Friends 4K UHD: As FRIENDS marks its 30th anniversary this year, the beloved TV series continues to hold an enduring place in popular culture and hearts worldwide. With its witty humor, relatable characters, and memorable catchphrases, FRIENDS transcends generations with its universal appeal, making it a classic that continues to bring joy and laughter to fans around the world.
Books
Abrams ComicArts released the first-ever graphic novel adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize–winning post-apocalyptic classic, The Road. David Wangberg wrote artist Manu “Larcenet’s version is something certainly worth seeking out,” and Greg Hammond stated “the illustrations are beautiful in their depictions of a grim apocalypse” in this “stellar adaptation of McCarthy’s brilliantly bleak novel.
Buy Cormac McCarthy’s The Road: A Graphic Novel AdaptationFantagraphics does great work preserving and presenting comics. Jack Cormack determined that “for those who thrive on chaos, Jessica Farm [by Josh Simmons] is a daft, unfiltered ride worth taking.” Joe Garcia found The Complete Web of Horror to be “simply amazing. The artwork perfectly illustrates the spectacular Twilight Zone-esque plots that are lively, twisted, creepy, and presented well.” According to Steve Geise, “If you’re familiar with [Olivier] Schrauwen’s utterly unique sensibilities, [Sunday] is a continuation and refinement of his craft. It’s completely unlike anything else out there, but of all of his works, it’s also the most welcoming and relatable to new fans.
In their on-going The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library series, “Mystery of the Swamp,” collects comic book stories from January 1945 – May 1946 featuring Donald and his nephews: Huey, Dewey, and Louie. But this volume presents a special treat: “Mickey Mouse and the Riddle of the Red Hat,” the only Mickey Mouse story that Barks drew. Kent Conrad thinks The Donald Duck 90th Anniversary Collection is “a fun introduction to the rich world of Disney Duck comics, and a collection of often funny, often poignant comic book stories.” In his review of Walt Disney’s Donald and Mickey in Metropolis and Faust, Steve Geise stated, “the Disney adaptations are pure, unadulterated fun guaranteed to put a smile on the face of even the Scroogiest literati.”
For those looking for snack treat suggestions, check out Shawn Bourdo’s From the Couch Hole feature, which always conclude with recent items he has put in his mouth.
And there’s still time enter the Conclave digital code giveaway:
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