2008 Holiday Gift Guide: Music, DVDs and video games

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Mike Pearson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 26, 2008 at 1:13 p.m.

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This season we champion a return to basics with ideas for great music, movies and video games. "Born to Run: The Unseen Photos" by Eric Meola, $14.98 at barnesandnoble.com

Remember when $50 could fill the floor beneath the tree with entertainment treasure? Then the suits caught on and began repackaging their product in the ubiquitous holiday boxed sets - basically the same CD or DVD coupled with some "bonus" accoutrements and a bigger price tag. You want outtakes, B-sides, director's commentary and a booklet of behind-the-scenes photos? You've come to the wrong gift guide this year. This season we champion a return to basics - because we all just want the music or the movie anyhow.

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DVDs

Let's face it: You won't find any top-tier DVD box sets for less than $50, but if you're a discriminating shopper willing to settle for offbeat fare, there are deals to be had. And, of course, you can always find single-disc hit movies and Blu-ray titles for less than $50. Here are a few recent releases worth a look for stocking stuffers.

The Best of Howdy Doody 1949-1954

Remember Howdy Doody, that paragon of 1950s TV virtue (or least of TV humor)? Mill Creek Entertainment is offering two box sets of the puppet's TV career of either 40 or 20 episodes. This is clearly a gift for the nostalgia prone. The 40-episode set includes a photo "Memories Book" and interviews with Bob Keeshan and Buffalo Bob Smith.

* How much: $29.98 for the 40-episode set, $14.98 for the 20 episode set.

* Where: online and in stores

UFO Hunters, The Complete Season One

For the UFOlogist in the family, this History Channel series will provide hours of entertainment and conspiracy-based conversation. The 13 episodes follow Bill Birnes, Ted Acworth and the rest of the team from UFO Magazine as they cross the globe trying to debunk (or confirm) 20th century UFO sightings and trace evidence. No definitive answers, but lots of "What if?" fun.

* How much: $39.95

* Where: online and in stores, ranging from Amazon.com to Barnes and Noble

Bond in Blu-ray

For the first time ever, the James Bond movies are being released in the Blu-ray format. Six titles are available thus far: Dr. No, Die Another Day, Live and Let Die, For Your Eyes Only, From Russia with Love and Thunderball. Now you can see some of your favorite Bond villains and action sequences in digital clarity.

* How much: $34.98 each

* Where: online and in stores

Waterworld

You'll need to be a Kevin Costner fanatic or an advocate of apocalyptic cinema to want this 1995 thriller about a time when the Earth is covered in water and Costner's seafaring drifter is caught up in a battle with Dennis Hopper (yes, he plays a bad guy again). This is the first time Waterworld has been on DVD.

* How much: $19.98

* Where: online and in stores

Touch of Evil

Whisper the name "Orson Welles" to the true cineast and he or she will begin twitching like a junkie in need of a fix. That'll surely be the case with the release of Touch of Evil on DVD for the first time. Universal's two-disc offering includes three movies: The original 1958 theatrical version, the restored 1998 version (based on a 58-page memo by Welles of the cuts he wanted restored) and a pre-1958 version of the film as envisioned by Welles before the studio got its hands on his masterpiece. The collection also includes that aforementioned memo by Welles.

* How much: $26.98

* Where: online and in stores

The Polar Express

This Robert Zemeckis-directed film is fast becoming a holiday favorite. Now, you can get the story of a little boy's fantastical trip to the North Pole in both Blu-ray and 3-D versions.

* How much: $34.97, Blu-ray, $20.97 in 3-D

* Where: online and in stores

I Am Legend Ultimate Collector's Edition

Available Dec. 9, this collector's edition of the Will Smith sci-fi vehicle includes the theatrical version and an alternate version with a "controversial" ending. New special features include filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes and collectibles (movie-related book and cards).

* How much: $49.92

* Where: online and in stores

300 Limited Collector's Edition

Perfect for the warrior inside you - or in someone else. In addition to the blockbuster film about the doomed Spartans and their king, Leonidas (based on the Frank Miller graphic novel), you get a 52-page hardcover art book and a Lucite display with motion film image.

* How much: $49.92

* Where: online and in stores

WALL-E

This Disney Pixar production was a hit at the box office and is being talked about not just for a best animated film Oscar, but also for best picture. The Waste Allocation Load Lifter of the title meets a sexy search robot named EVE. Enchanted, he chases her across the galaxy. The film comes in two Blu-ray versions and three standard editions.

* How much: $35.99 Blu-ray, $29.99

* Where: online and in stores

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Comedy

George Carlin, Carlin on Campus

This long-out-of-print album contains some classics from the late Carlin, including his Baseball and Football riff. And who can resist a disc that ends with a bit titled An Incomplete List of Impolite Words.

* How much: $12.98

* Where: GeorgeCarlin.com or in stores

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Music book

Born to Run: The Unseen Photos, by Eric Meola

You know how bands put out those really big, thick, well-made and expensive coffeetable books full of unseen photos and interviews? Those start off with a big list price, have an initial selling period, then drop off the face of the Earth into the bargain bin. Meola's $40 book on the Born to Run photo sessions is the latest casualty. Your favorite Boss fan is going to love it.

* How much: $14.98

* Where: BarnesandNoble.com

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CD reissues

The accelerating death of the music industry has the labels emptying the vaults faster than ever, and it's not just dead guys anymore.

The Doors, Live at the Matrix 1967

These tapes have bounced around as bootlegs for years and now get the definitive release on a double-disc set.

* How much: $24.95 (and cheaper).

* Where: Online and in stores

Bob Dylan, Bootleg Series 1-3

Although the eighth installment of this series has just surfaced as Tell Tale Signs, this first and definitive set is still in print - and has dropped from its original $40 list price. Bargains don't get bigger.

* How much: $24.98

* Where: Amazon.com

The Grateful Dead, Rocking the Cradle

The Dead's legendary 1978 shows at the pyramids in Egypt are re-released on two discs and a bonus DVD.

* How much: $34.98 and much cheaper.

* Where: online and in stores

The Sex Pistols, There'll Always Be an England

As long as the band's last show with Sid Vicious in January 1978 stays semi-released on the gray market this is the best you're going to get: A DVD documentary and concert film of a recent set of shows in London. The Pistols are very lucky their songs are timeless.

* How much: $19.98

* Where: Everywhere. Johnny Rotten likes money after all.

The Clash, Live Revolution Rock and Live at Shea Stadium

At first glance the Revolution Rock DVD looks like a hodgepodge rip off - a bunch of songs taken from a bunch of different gigs. Instead it holds up as a great look at some of the band's best songs, spanning the history. Live at Shea Stadium is a CD of their gig opening for The Who in '82, one of the last echoey gasps from a great band.

* How much: $14.98 DVD, $16.97 CD

* Where: Everywhere fine discs are sold

The Replacements' entire catalog

Who cares if your intended has never heard The Replacements? You owe it to yourself and everyone around you to spread this music far and wide. The Minneapolis band's entire catalog has been remastered and expanded.

* How much: $18.98, but you can do better.

* Where: Online and stores everywhere.

Live at Twist & Shout Series

The legendary Denver CD store was already known for great in-store appearances from artists including Elvis Costello and Rise Against. The store has started its own label in conjunction with artists to release their performances. On board so far: Jason Isbell, John Butler and Ben Harper.

* How much: $7.99 to $14.99

* Where: At the store or TwistandShout.com

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Video games

Buying gifts for gamers on the cheap can be quite the task. Never mind the initial cost of a console, typical titles can run as much as $60 a pop, and that's not including those fancy collectors' editions which can come in at $90. Most of these gift ideas might not be proper games, but they come close when the wallet is light:

Jenga: Donkey Kong Collector's Edition

Jenga is great for what it is, a tabletop game that has you piling up chunks of wood until your tower falls over. But what it's always been missing is a bit of plot, and perhaps a Italian plumber or two. In this special edition of the classic, gamers flick a spinner and follow the directions as they try to move their Mario up the tower to topple Donkey Kong and save Pauline. Don't worry, you still have to stack up bits of wood too. First to the top or highest Mario when the tower topples wins.

* How much: $24.95

* Where you can get it: Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

Petz Dogz Pack and Petz Stuffed Dog

Webkinz is just too popular among kids not to have a contender or few. The latest challenge for the crumpled dollars of little gamers everywhere comes from Ubisoft via their Nintendogs-esque pet simulator Petz. Petz Dogz Pack is a pretty straightforward puppy game for the DS. But if you pony up the extra $20 for a stuffed plush dog from Ubi you can use the code it comes with to bring the critter to life on your Nintendo portable. Me? I'm holding off until Ubisoft releases its plush monkey for Petz Monkeyz House next spring.

* How much: Petz Dogz Pack, $29.99, and Petz Stuffed Dog, $19.99.

* Where you can get it: Gamestop

Meat Bun gamer shirts

Who says gamers don't have good taste in clothes? Most of the companies out there that make cheap, game-themed T-shirts, that's who. Fortunately for gamers with good taste, there's Meat Bun, a boutique T-shirt design company that specializes in game-themed shirts. Although the company keeps a short list of current designs to choose from (seven currently), they more than make up for the lack of selection with a panache rarely associated with things like classic arcade shooter 1942 and edugame Type or Die!

* How much: $16 to $26

* Where you can get it: Meatbun.us

Halo Interactive Strategy Game

Don't have an Xbox 360 but still want to play the console's most popular title? Not a problem. Halo Interactive Strategy Game comes packed with 15 sculpted character pieces from the popular 360 shooter as well as a 3-D modular board that you can use to re-create classic maps or make up your own. There's even a DVD that shows some in-game footage so you can pretend you're duking it out with your pals over Xbox Live rather than across the kitchen table.

* How much: $49.95

* Where you can get it: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com

• November 28, 2008

  12:38 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  NiceJay writes:

  Unfortunately, most everything in your post is true. Couple the way gas prices were during most of this year with buying holiday gifts, and many will be in the poorhouse come Jan, 2009.

  As we know, although it can be costly, most kids seem to always want the latest digital software. I still feel the holidays are mostly for the kids and I like to keep them happy so I found a way I think will keep them happy.

  They like the games,movies,ipod,music,etc.. so I'm parting with at least thirty bucks to get them access to http://www.directtv2pc.com. That way they can download most of the digital stuff they like.

  Not being a cheapskate they will get a little more, but this holiday season is one of uncertainty economically and watching the budget is a nobrainer.

• December 7, 2008

  6:35 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Cliffjumper writes:

  Kids go through these things fast. I went to Gameshop and got most of my list for 20% off used. My Boys don't care at all and they get all the games they wanted.

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