FilmForce: The IGN FilmForce 2004 Holiday Shopping Guide

November 24, 2004 - At a loss as to what to buy that movie fanatic in your life? Or are your family and friends bugging you for gift ideas this year? In any case, the IGN FilmForce staff is here to help.

Welcome to our fifth annual IGN FilmForce Holiday Shopping Guide. This year we've pulled together a wide range of movie- and TV-related gift ideas, from DVDs to music to books to action figures, for all the discerning film fanatics out there.

For even more great shopping ideas, head on over to the IGN Holiday Buyer's Guide!

Happy holiday shopping, everyone!

Brian Linder:

Perfect for your favorite little kid or for your computer desk, Hasbro's talking Mr. Incredible action figure (MSRP $24.99) is hot this holiday season. Just press the button on his belt and Mr. Incredible shouts phrases from the flick like "This is going to get HOT!" or "It's showtime!" His mouth even moves and his chest expands. Now you've gotta have it, right?

Here's a terrific stocking stuffer for those of you into pop culture and progressive music. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie soundtrack (Sire Records, $13.99 SRP) has some genuinely hot tracks as well as a few tongue-in-cheek favorites. If you can make it past Avril's eye-rolling rendition of the SpongeBob theme, you'll be treated to highlights including The Flaming Lips' "SpongeBob & Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy," "They'll Soon Discovery" by The Shins, "Prince Paul's Bubble Party" by The Waikiki's, Prince Paul and Wordsworth, and SpongeBob's shockingly awesome standout track "The Best Day Ever." Fun times!

KJB:

Xena: Warrior Princess - The Complete Fifth Season (Anchor Bay Entertainment, MSRP: $79.98). Xena was a series that changed syndicated television and paved the way for female-centric superhero shows on television like Alias and Birds of Prey. In this, the penultimate season of the fantasy / adventure series, Xena and her companion, Gabrielle, fight their way out of hell, get pregnant and generally manage to further hone the series into the television classic it has become. Season Five was the season of final appearances as peace leader Eli dies in a not too veiled Christ analogy and Kevin Sorbo returned to the role of Hercules that not only made him famous but launched Xena. Also in this very well packaged set are interviews with actors, producers, writers directors and costume designers including Xena herself, Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle), Hudson Leick (Callisto) and others. There are audio commentaries by Lawless, O'Connor and producer Rob Tappert along with never before seen footage from the Xena set and a special featurette for the 100th episode. A great addition to any fantasy fan's DVD collection.

Highlander: The Series - The Complete Fifth Season (Anchor Bay Entertainment, MSRP $89.98). There can be only one but there sure were a hell of a lot of immortals during the run of the Highlander television series. Taking the concept from the original film, Adrian Paul's character of Duncan MacLeod made the franchise his own, to the point that there was a final handing over of the film franchise to the character. In the fifth season of the series, the production began to wear down a bit with only 18 episodes being produced. Those episodes are presented here in their uncut, European format with hours of extra material, including the infamous Highlander blooper reels, audio commentaries by Jim Byrnes (Watcher Joe Dawson), Stan Kirsch, Peter Wingfield and others. An included CD-ROM features scripts for all 18 episodes, bios for the actors, writers and directors and series trivia. A must have for any fan of Highlander.

Ken Plume:

Nothing says "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" for film geeks like Tim Burton and Henry Selick's Nightmare Before Christmas. While there've been many a disappointing toy produced in the past, NECA has consistently produced the best merchandise based on Jack Skellington and his stop-motion cast mates. With that incredibly high bar in mind, they've managed to leap it entirely with the first wave of their NBX action figures – including Jack, Sally, the Mayor, and the Vampire ($12.99 SRP each). The massive figures (Jack stands nearly a foot tall) feature sculpts that are astonishingly accurate to the source material – and they're ultra-posable to boot. Add a bevy of accessories and what you've got is a perfect Christmas gift for just about anyone on your list. And while you're at it, why don't you pick up the first wave of their Ghostbusters line – containing Gozer, the Terror Dogs, Slimer, and a positively massive (15"!) Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. Trust me.

While it's not the complete Bloom County reissue I was hoping for, I'm still happy that my favorite flightless waterfowl got an extensive retrospective tome with Opus: 25 Years of His Sunday Best (Little Brown, $29.95 SRP), which collects a selection of his best Sunday comics from Bloom County and Outland – all of which are recolored and present on some pretty spiffy paper stock. Now, about those reissues...

By now, you all should have seen Pixar's latest stunning accomplishment, Brad Bird's The Incredibles. If you have, then you're probably jazzed about picking up the lavish Art of the Incredibles (Chronicle, $40.00 SRP), which features copious amounts of pre-production art illuminating the development of the film's retro styling. But then you have to make sure and pick up composer Michael Giacchino's soundtrack album (Walt Disney Records, $18.98 SRP), featuring the best Bond score that never was. Ah, but that's not all! Adorn your shelves with some ultra-fine, ultra-cool character busts and statues from NECA that perfectly – and I do mean perfectly – capture the major characters.

Home Movies is one of those shows that – despite making it 5 seasons – was cancelled before its time. Victim of apathy at Cartoon Network (a few influential individuals though it didn't fit into their vision for the Adult Swim line-up), the animated adventures of budding filmmaker Brendon (Brendon Small) who, along with his friends Melissa (Melissa Galasky) and Jason (H. Jon Benjamin), crafted some truly Ed Wood-ian movies, was one of the most well-written character pieces ever to grace the small screen (be it live action or animation). The most vibrant character, though, would definitely have to be the kid's gym teacher and emotional man-child, Coach John McGuirk (Benjamin, again), who had designs on Brendon's single mother. Discover the series via the complete first season box-set (Shout! Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$34.95 SRP), containing all 13 episodes plus audio commentaries, interviews, short films, and a couple of easter eggs that should make fans quite happy.

A quick shortcut to getting in the holiday spirit has always been watching A Charlie Brown Christmas... Think of it as a holiday addiction. Yet again, Playing Mantis has preyed upon that addiction with toys that I can't possibly pass up – deluxe holiday versions of both Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Dressed in real clothes and standing 15", the Charlie Brown figure ($28 SRP) is spot-on, and even spouts lines from the show with the press of his hand. Ah, but you can't have Charlie without Snoopy, and there are a pair of in-scale figures to choose from – Dancing Snoopy (with Schroeder's baby grand, which plays the Peanuts theme) and Festive Snoopy ($10.99 SRP). As if that weren't enough, they also have the pathetic Christmas Tree available as an accessory ($9.99 SRP). Bless us, everyone...

For a while now, I've been looking at the magnificent Marvel character busts that Alex Ross has been designing of the company's iconic characters – from Spider-Man and The Hulk to Dr. Doom and Wolverine. The one that really caught my attention, though, was the massive bust of The Thing (Marvel Collection, $349.00) from my absolute favorite comic book of all time, The Fantastic Four. As you can see from the photo, the sculpt perfectly captures Ben Grimm's personality (and rocky hide) with a level of care and detail so clearly missing from the horrible film version now being utilized in the upcoming big-budget fiasco. In a beautiful touch only a fan can love, the back of the bust is signed "Alicia Masters"... Now come on – how cool is that? If this is the level of detail we can expect from these busts, bring on the rest of the FF! Until then, you better snag one of these while you can, since the run was extremely limited.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that this year's Walt Disney's Christmas Parade (Gemstone, $8.95 SRP) is on stands now, jam-packed with a classic yuletide story from Carl Barks, "You Can't Guess." There are two covers available – one featuring the original cover to the story, and one sporting a brand-new illo from Don Rosa. Also hitting shops is the Disney Comics adaptation of Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas ($3.95 SRP).

For a beautiful story about what makes the Marvel Universe and its characters special for True Believers, look no further than Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross's Marvels, which presents a first-person view of the rise of the Marvel Universe as visualized though Ross's breathtaking artwork. The hardcover 10th Anniversary Edition ($49.95 SRP) features scripts, additional artwork, and copious amounts of background material on the creation of the story. After you pick that up, be sure to browse the Marvel Collection site as it offers convenient one-stop shopping for some great collectibles featuring those legendary icons (including a pretty snazzy Spidey poster by Joe Jusko signed by the legendary "Jazzy" John Romita).

Every holiday shopping guide needs at least a couple of high-ticket items for you to salivate over (remember that cool Thing bust up there?), and you can crank the desirability factor up to 11 with Master Replicas' prop replica of the motion tracker from James Cameron's Aliens ($399.00 SRP). You remember that electronical doodad – the one that Ripley and the Marines used to track the advance of the aliens towards their outpost in the colonial complex. Well, MR has crafted a perfect replica in every way, made even more perfect by the "little something special" MR puts into their releases – in his case, the animated viewscreen displaying the approach of the aliens, which is punctuated by the increasing whine of the motion sensor. The edition is limited to only 2,500 pieces, so you better act fast – this is not to be missed.

If you've walked out of Ray wanting to hear some more of Ray Charles's classic hits, the film's soundtrack (Rhino, $18.98 SRP) is a concise collection featuring 17 of his finest, all remastered from the original studio recordings (with a few live tracks thrown in for good measure). You can also pick up Ray's last album, Genius Loves Company (Concord Records, $18.98 SRP), which finds Brother Ray dueting with everyone from Willie Nelson to Van Morrison.

The Season 5 DVDs may be MIA, but you can still fulfill someone's South Park fix with the 3 waves of action figures currently available (Mirage Toys, $9.99 SRP each). Wave 3 – featuring Chef, Wendy, Mr. Garrison, and Mrs. Cartman – just hit. Sweeeeeet.

When Warners released their Marx Brothers Collection earlier this year, mainly all it did was whet my appetite for the release of their classic Paramount-era flicks (probably because, save for A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races, it featured the boys inferior MGM-era outings). Well, the Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP) sports those classics I was waiting for – The Cocoanuts (their debut), Monkey Business, Duck Soup, Animal Crackers, and Horsefeathers. Hooray for Captain Spaulding! The prints have not been restored in the least, and are virtually identical to the Image releases from a few years back (what's up with that, Universal?). The bonus materials – what they are of them – are also disappointing, to say the least. They consist of a trio of interviews taken from NBC's Today show archive, featuring Groucho, Harpo, and Harpo's son Bill. And hey, after this, you'll be able to answer the eternal question – "Why a duck?"

If medals were awarded for quality and dedication to a toy line, then Palisades deserves a dump truck full of those shiny bits of recognition for the way they've handled the Muppet license. Over the years, The Muppets have been subjected to scores of crappy companies unable to keep their products on-model, leaving consumers (and particularly fans) with a bunch of nearly-unrecognizable garbage. And then came Palisades, who managed to make figures that looked exactly like the characters were supposed to look. HUZZAH! And for over 3 years, they've been cranking them out – characters both well-known and obscure – making fans deliriously happy. With Disney's purchase of The Muppets (and their tendency to award their toy contracts to crap companies), Palisades' handling of the license is probably not long for this world. But let it not be said that they didn't go out with a bang – and bang, thy name is the massive Muppet Theater Backstage Playset ($59.99 SRP). You know the location, and you know the skill of the company behind it, so it's a given that it's a thing at which to marvel – and snap up. Fast. The set comes with the "regular" Rowlf figure (the only version released previously had Rowlf in a tux).

When family and "quality time" begin crowding in during this holiday season, relieve the pressure with two releases featuring a pair of legendary stand-ups – Denis Leary and the late Bill Hicks. The Complete Denis Leary (Melee, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP) contains the legendary "No Cure for Cancer" special, as well as his "Lock N' Load" special for HBO. Thankfully, the bonus materials include not only a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of "No Cure" and a music video for "Love Barge," but also the uncensored music video for "A**hole." Leary's also got a holiday album, if you can believe that – Merry F#%$in' Christmas (Comedy Central, $6.98 SRP). As for the other disc, he may have been caustic an incendiary, but Bill Hicks was also a brilliant social commentator who never pulled a punch, no matter the subject – be it religion, politics, hypocrisy, or even the (relevant-again) Gulf War. In fact, what's most surprising about the trio of specials collected on Bill Hicks: Live (Ryko, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP) is just how prescient his commentary was, even 10 years after he passed away. The disc also includes the documentary "Just a Ride," featuring interviews with Hicks' friends and fellow comedians.

If the fantasy fan on your holiday list isn't keen on Lord of the Rings (which, frankly, would be a shock), there's always the complete 6-season runs of Hercules, Xena, and Highlander (Davis-Anderson, Not Rated, DVD-$69.95 SRP each), available directly via the links above (yes, even the sets not yet in stores). Each features a ton of extras (metric, I think), including audio commentaries, interviews, featurettes, behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, deleted scenes, and scads (metric as well) more.

It's always better when a show decides when to end itself, rather than lingering into mediocrity. For Britcoms, the ultimate example of this is John Cleese's legendary Fawlty Towers. Another brilliant show that picked the right time to exit the field was The Office, which wound up its run with a two-part Christmas special (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) that brought closure to... well... everything. From Brent to Tim and Dawn, it's all resolved – in some ways completely unexpectedly. Thankfully, the show never compromised, and its finale is a fitting end. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary on the second special with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, a behind-the-scenes featurette, the full music video to "Free Love Freeway," and footage from the Golden Globes ceremony. Or, if you're one of the unwashed uninitiated, pick up the complete collection (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP), featuring the 1st and 2nd seasons plus the Christmas specials. If you want to completely OD on classic BBC sitcoms, you can have your fill with the complete run of Keeping Up Appearances (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$129.98 SRP) and all 10 series of Are You Being Served? (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$199.98 SRP). Both sets feature extensive bonus materials, including interviews, outtakes, featurettes, specials, and more. Then there's the complete run of Dame Edna Everege's offbeat chat show, The Dame Edna Experience (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$79.98 SRP), packed with bonus specials and interviews. Also recently released is the second Only Fools and Horses set (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$ SRP), containing the show's 4th & 5th series and the 1985-88 Christmas specials. And while not a sitcom, Doctor Who is certainly a BBC classic, and you can relive some the show's earliest years with Doctor Who: Lost in Time (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP). The 3-disc set collects rare episodes from the William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton years, plus a Tardis full of bonus materials.

Some companies deserve to be commended for bringing certain releases to DVD. Never in my life did I think that someone at some company (BCI Eclipse, to be exact) would have the truly genius notion of putting the "classic" After School Specials on DVD (BCI Eclipse, Not Rated, DVD-$12.95 SRP each). But someone did, and I'm thrilled. The first two sets are from the years 1976-77, and contain 4 episodes each – and what hilarious time capsules they are. Everything Paul Dinello, Amy Sedaris, and Stephen Colbert parodied in their brilliant After School spoof Strangers with Candy can be found in these original "very special stories," from the heavy-handed lessons to the stilted dialogue and awkward period flourishes. Still, one can respect that they had their hearts in the right place – even if they seem horribly dated today. I can't recommend these enough. Heck, make a viewing party out of it.

Until a few years ago, the last cooking show I had watched were lazy summer days spent wondering how Martin Yan didn't lop off a finger during PBS' Yan Can Cook. Then I discovered Alton Brown's Good Eats – whose combination of cooking and an explanation of the science, culture, and history behind it is like a brilliant melding of Julia Child and Mr. Wizard. Food Network has slowly been releasing batches of shows on DVD ($49.95 SRP per 3-pack) via their website, with a total of 18 discs now available (with a whopping 54 shows) on topics as diverse as ice cream and how to make a killer steak (trust me). His second book, I'm Just Here for More Food (STC, $32.50 SRP) has hit stores, which focuses on baking (try the apple pie). I would be remiss in not mentioning that Food Network is also selling the complete 4 episode run of their Iron Chef America: Battle of the Masters ($44.95 SRP) in a 3-disc set full of extras, plus the complete first season of Bobby Flay's Boy Meets Grill ($59.95 SRP), with bonus footage and an 80-page recipe book.

Stax:

The Superhero Book: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Icons and Hollywood Heroes, editor Gina Misiroglu with David A. Roach (Publisher: Visible Ink Press; ISBN: 1578591546; $29.95 SRP). This delightful compendium of superheroes, comic book characters, pulp icons, and film & TV genre figures includes over 300 alphabetized entries from the Golden Age to the present. A must-have for fanboys, The Superhero Book is simply a great reference guide.

The Making of Alexander: The Official Guide to the Epic Blockbuster Alexander, by Robin Lane Fox (Publisher: R and L; ISBN: 0951139215; $18.95 SRP). Including a forward from writer-director Oliver Stone, this well illustrated edition recounts the long journey of Stone's dream project from page to screen. Author Fox also wrote the biography Alexander the Great that served as the basis for the historical epic.

Alfred Hitchcock - The Signature Collection, Warner Home Video (UPC: 85393981426; $99.98 SRP). The multi-disc DVD box set includes the following classics directed by the Master of Suspense: Dial M for Murder, Foreign Correspondent, I Confess, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, North by Northwest, Stage Fright, Strangers on a Train, Suspicion, and The Wrong Man. Need I say more?!

The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane, by Robert E. Howard (Publisher: Ballantine Books, Inc.; ISBN: 0345461509; $15.95 SRP). This recently republished tome includes all of stone-faced Puritan protagonist Solomon Kane's bizarre, globe-trotting adventures. Gary Gianni provided the glorious artwork. Robert E. Howard, you may recall, also created Conan the Barbarian.

Paul:

If The Lord of the Rings is the most essential item in a fantasy lover's book collection, The Chronicles of Narnia (HarperCollins Publishers, $50.00 SRP) must come in a close second. This hardcover volume collects all seven of Lewis's books in chronological order – the way they were meant to be read. If you've never experienced Narnia, see what all the fuss is about before the first movie opens next December.

With fantasy a hot genre at the movie theater, why not also get into the spirit at home? Blizzard's hit fantasy game series introduced a world of magical races and epic battles – a world that becomes a virtual reality this winter with the release of World of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment, $49.99 SRP). Choose your race, occupation, and facial features, and then log into an online realm where you can learn skills, go on quests, and compete in battle against thousands of other players in real time.

Jeff:

Bad Santa (Miramax Home Entertainment, $29.99 SRP) and Badder Santa (Miramax Home Entertainment, $29.99 SRP). What Christmas could be complete without the most un-Christmas movie ever? Bad Santa and Badder Santa (which features a few pointless extended scenes) is the alternative Christmas movie for those of us who are fed up with the overtly sweet Christmas tales or horrified by this year's offerings. Christmas with the Kranks, anyone? Blaahhh! Billy Bob Thornton gives a brilliant performance in one of the funniest films in a long time. It gets better each time and gives you something to think about the next time you see a department store Santa giving a fake disgusted smile when a kid sneezes on him.

The Chaplin Collection, Vol. 2 (Warner Home Video, $99.98 SRP). Along with Vol. 1, this massive set comprises nearly all of the major releases by Chaplin, both shorts and features. The content is staggering and the material holds up amazingly well in present day. I went to a Chaplin film festival earlier this year, and was amazed to see the house packed with kids. They were giggling hysterically at the antics of Chaplin, most of which was 80+ years old. Chaplin was one of the great geniuses of film's history, and his work is as relevant today as ever. He does things we only see in cartoons and his influence can still be seen in many of today's modern films. His groundbreaking stunt work plays a heavy influence in many Jackie Chan films. City Lights and The Kid are two of Chaplin's great features, both included here. They are sure to bring a tear to any eye. Rounding out the set is a fantastic documentary, The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin, which serves as a great intro to one of the most deservedly famous pop culture figures the world has ever seen.

The Girl Next Door (Twentieth Century Fox Home Video, $27.98 SRP). A coming of age story reminiscent of Tom Cruise's breakout Risky Business. Fox completely mishandled this movie, and I must say, from the early previews, I had no interest in this movie myself. It looked like the basic cookie-cutter gross out comedy that has become rampant in recent years. The truth is, this is a really sweet film with a fun and clever story. It also brings back a little bit of that 80's style comedy we all used to know and love. It's rated R (or unrated, depending on the edition you choose) which means bonus T&A;, but not at the sacrifice of a strong story and great characters. Elisha Cuthbert is, sadly, not part of the T&A; (at least not fully) as the cardboard covered Unrated Edition may have you believe, but she is still incredibly sexy and her porn-star co-stars bare their chests numerous times for our viewing pleasure. Emile Hirsch is the standout talent of Girl Next Door. He brings a real humanity to the character and grounds a piece that could easily have been just as dreadful as Fox made it look in their advertising campaign.

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