Boxes, Santa sure has his boxes. But this holiday season, the best box of all is a box with a boxed set in it.
Once again, boxed DVD or Blu-ray sets are the big hit of the gift-giving season.
This being the Hoosier state, the “James Dean Ultimate Collector’s Edition” (Warner Home Video) might be the set that creates the most interest. This Blu-ray is a limited, numbered six-disc set that contains Fairmount’s finest in his three films (“East of Eden,” “Rebel Without a Cause” and “Giant”) and three feature-length documentaries about Dean’s life.
The collection, packaged as a double-wide gift set, also contains a 48-page photo book with behind-the-scene images.
The impressive restoration process of all three films included 4k reconstructions from original camera negatives at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging. Also, the stereo soundtrack was reconstructed from the magnetic soundtrack stripes of Cinemascope release prints.
Other top boxed sets include:
“Doctor Who: The Complete Series 1-7 Limited Edition Blu-ray Gift Set” (BBC Home Entertainment): This is the biggest beast of a boxed set available this holiday season. On the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, what better way to celebrate than the high-definition release that includes the complete adventures of the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), available for the first time, newly remastered, on Blu-ray. These first through fourth series are accompanied by the fifth through seventh series (Matt Smith), the complete specials (Tennant), a bonus Blu-ray with a bevy of features including the best of the Christmas specials. Also, the boxed set contains a “Doctor Who” comic book, a Doctor Who universal remote control sonic screwdriver and three exclusive original art cards. In all, there are 29 discs.
Other BBC megasets include “Keeping Up Appearances: The Collector’s Edition,” a 10-DVD set starring Patricia Routledge as a world-class snob. The set includes every episodes plus more than 200 minutes of bonus content. Also, “Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It” contains every episodes from the award-winning series on 10 discs.
Let’s face it, the newest TV dynasty is “Duck Dynasty.” Now, from Lionsgate Home Entertainment comes “Ducky Dynasty Seasons 1-3 Collector’s Set.” Get ready to head into the woods and have a laugh or two, because this gift set surely provides the best of what A&E offers.
“Fraggle Rock: 30th Anniversary Collection” (Gaiam Vivendi Home Entertainment) was released earlier this year but is still an ideal holiday gift. The innovative TV classic aired 1983 to 1987 and is available in its glorious wonder. All four seasons are accompanied by a red plush keychain, the complete animated series and a new graphic novel.
“The Gene Autry Show: The Complete Television Series” (Timeless Media Group): For the first time, all 91 episodes from the show’s five-season run (1950-1956) are packaged together: uncut and fully restores from Autry’s personal film and TV archive. The 15-DVD set includes impressive bonus features, including select episodes of Autry’s “Melody Ranch” radio show, Autry commercial appearances, plus an entire bonus DVD focusing on Autry’s other TV series (“The Range Rider,” “Annie Oakley,” “Buffalo Bill Jr.” and “The Adventures of Champion.”).
“The Jack Ryan Collection” (Paramount Home Media Distribution): Brush up on Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan in advance of the Christmas Day release of the newest thrilling drama starring Chris Pine. Wax poetic of Harrison Ford, Sean Connery and Ben Affleck in the movies “Patriot Games,” “Clear and Present Danger,” “The Hunt for Red October” and “The Sum of All Fears,” packaged together in choice of Blu-ray or DVD.
“Zatch Bell Megaset” (Cinedigm) is a 12-DVD set that includes all 100 episodes from the first two seasons. The series was ranked 64th in top 100 anime series of all time by TV Asahi.
“Robotech: The Complete Set” (A&E Home Video) compiles all 85 episodes from the three Robotech Wars, plus adds the two-movie collection and bonus features.
“Bruce Weber: The Film Collection” (Cinedigm) packages together for the first time an anthology of the photographer and filmmaker’s most celebrated documentaries: “Let’s Get Lost,” “Chop Suey,” “A Letter to True” and “Broken Noses.” A 32-page booklet accompanies the set.
“Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series Collector’s Edition” (Lionsgate) ties together the incredible baseball season of the beloved team. Available on Blu-ray or DVD, the set boasts seven full-game broadcasts from all six games of the 2013 World Series and the pennant-clinching ALCS Game 6. Also, bonus features contain highlights and milestones from the season, extended highlights of each postseason victory, and choice of four audio channels (TV broadcast, home and away radio, Spanish-language audio).
“Mystery Science Theater 3000: 25th Anniversary Edition” (Shout! Factory) is a quarter-century celebration of cult-movie craziness. The five-DVD set is housed in a collectible silver-colored tin and contains the films “Moon Zero Two,” “The Day the Earth Froze,” “The Leech Woman” and “Gorgo.” A stack of bonus features includes a three-part documentary and mini-posters. Yet another bonus DVD contains two long-out-of-print fan-favorite episodes: “Mitchell” (Joel’s last episode) and “The Brain that Wouldn’t Die” (Mike’s first episode).
“Here’s Edie: The Edie Adams Television Collection” (MVD Entertainment Group) spotlights the early 1960s shows starring the glamorous musician and actress: “Here’s Edie” and “The Edie Adams Show.” The four-DVD set contains the 21 episodes that include music giants Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Bobby Darin, Johnny Mathis and Sammy Davis Jr., comedians Bob Hope, Rowan & Martin, Buddy Hackett and a slew of others. Bonus footage includes commercial promos, a Muriel Cigars promotional film (Adams was famously its spokeswoman), and Adams’ musical numbers from numerous Ernie Kovacs shows (Adams was Kovacs’ wife).
“Power Rangers: Seasons 8-12” (Shout! Factory): Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise with this “powerful” set that contains 26 discs and 196 episodes plus loads of archival bonus features as well as new featurettes.
“Released! The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998” (Shout! Factory): U2, the Police, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Alanis Morissette and other top musicians headline this DVD release that benefits Amnesty International. All four DVDs from the series are digitally restored from the original master tapes. Three of the four titles have never been issued before in any video or audio format. A 40-page booklet accompanies the set.
“Farscape: The Complete Series 15th Anniversary Edition” (Cinedigm) is available in either Blu-ray or DVD and features 88 complete and unedited episodes from the four-season run (1999-2003). A 16-page miniature comic book rates as an excellent addition.
“Under the Dome” is the CBS hit summer miniseries, available on Blu-ray or DVD with all the episodes plus Stephen King-based bonus features. The Blu-ray comes in an eye-catching dome-shaped package.
“Downton Abbey: Seasons 1-3 Deluxe Limited Edition” (PBS Distribution) features all three seasons and never-seen deleted scenes.
“The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts: Complete Collection” is an amazing boxed set available exclusively online at deanroasts.com. All 54 roasts on 25 discs provide all the roasts from “The Dean Martin Show” and “The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts.” Roastee legends from 1973 to 1985 provide a laugh a minute. More than 15 hours of bonus features include comedy sketches from “The Dean Martin Show,” exclusive interviews, rare home movies, 11 featurettes, a collector’s book and more.
“Mama’s Family: The Complete Series” features all six seasons of the TV series that debuted on NBC in January 1983. The 24-DVD set, featuring all 130 episodes starring Vicki Lawrence, includes more than 10 hours of bonus content, including a cast roundtable reunion, the 1982 CBS movie “Eunice” and an exclusive new interview with Lawrence and Carol Burnett. Visit mamasfamilydvds.com.
The much-anticipated “China Beach” finally made its DVD debut, 25 years after it first aired with a complete collection last year. Those who missed out can begin purchasing the series one season at a time. “China Beach: The Complete Season One” is available and includes the two-hour pilot and an exclusive “looking back” featurette.