The holiday season is a popular time for DVD and Blu-ray box sets, particularly if you have a friend or loved one who is a big fan of a TV show or movie. The box sets available this year -- most with special features and behind-the scene bonuses -- offer something for vampire fans, war-story enthusiasts, those who enjoy classic films and others.
Here are few we especially like:
"True Blood: The Complete Third Season" -- When Marietta native Alan Ball brought "True Blood" to television in 2008, he described it to the AJC as
"Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume One" -- Eh, what's up, Doc? That would be this limited collector's edition box set featuring 50 theatrical shorts -- starring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Sylvester, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote and more -- for the first time on Blu-ray. The set comes with a 52-page book with photos and cartoon guide by animation historian Jerry Beck, a collector's character glass and a framed certificate of authenticity. Retails for 79.98; edition without the collectibles retails for $59.99.
"Captain America: The First Avenger" -- Marvel Comics superhero Captain America is a guy after America's own heart. After being turned down on numerous occasions for military duty because of his health and slight stature, Steve Rogers becomes a super soldier after participating in a government experiment. The film grossed more than $350 million at the box office this summer. Now on DVD, "Captain America: The First Avenger" three-disc set includes the film on Blu-ray in high-definition 3D and 2D, as well as standard DVD with a digital copy. The set includes behind-the-scenes bonus material, an original Marvel short film, six mini-features and a sneak peek into the ultimate Super Hero team, Marvel's The Avengers. Retails for $49.99; two-disc set available for $39.99.
"Prohibition" -- In a year when Georgia widely embraced Sunday alcohol sales, this Ken Burns PBS documentary seems pretty timely. Burns and Lynn Novick explore the rise and fall of the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The five-and-a-half hour film features expert interviews, vintage footage and photographs. The film is set in three installments: "A Nation of Drunkards," "A Nation of Scofflaws" and "A Nation of Hypocrites." Retails for $39.99.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's: 50th Anniversary" -- Yes, it's been five decades since party girl Holly Golightly stepped out of cab wearing that little black dress and proceeded to enjoy a continental breakfast outside a Tiffany's store in New York City. The film helped make Audrey Hepburn a fashion and style icon for years to come. The film has been restored and remastered for the anniversary edition, which includes 90 minutes of special features and photo galleries. Retails for $29.99.
"Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection" -- British author J.K. Rowling touched a generation when she released the first Harry Potter book, "The Philosopher's Stone" (renamed the "Sorcerer's Stone" in the United States) in 1997. The seven-book series would become eight blockbuster films from 2001 to 2011. Fans young and old watched as Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, grew from a 10-year-old orphan to a confident teenage wizard. This new DVD box set includes all eight movies. Unfortunately, there are no extras or special features. Blu-ray set retails for $139.99, DVD $98.92.
"Band of Brothers / The Pacific Special Edition Gift Set" -- "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific" are two Emmy-winning HBO miniseries based on real-life experiences of Army and Marine units during WW II. The 10-part "Band of Brothers" begins with the E Company's basic training out of Georgia's Camp Toccoa, and follows the unit through the end of the war. "The Pacific," on the other hand, recounts the journeys of three individual Marines during their military operations on the other side of the world. Both series were produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. The set retails for $199.99 for Blu-ray, $159.98 for DVD.
"Mr. Magoo: The Television Collection, 1960-1977″ -- Long before late actor Jim Backus was Thurston Howell III, on "Gilligan's Island," he was the voice of cartoon's Mr. Magoo, a short, near-sighted retiree who seemed to put himself and others in harm's way, though no real danger ever came. The collection from Shout Factory includes 26 episodes of "The Mr. Magoo Show," 26 episodes of "The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo," 16 episodes of "What's New Mr. Magoo?" and the prime-time TV special "Uncle Sam Magoo." Retails for $79.97. Available on Amazon for $52.99.
"The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Season Four" -- While some might have cringed at the introduction of a "friend who happens to be a girl" for Sheldon, a serious romance for Howard and a new girlfriend for Leonard (so what if it happened to be with Raj's sister?), others will agree "The Big Bang Theory" needed some additional estrogen. That isn't to say the daffy-but-somehow-grounded Penny is starting to wilt as an appealing character. Quite the contrary. The addition of more females in Season Four of Chuck Lorre's nerd-fest only heightened the hilarity watching the boys' heads -- and hearts -- spin. DVD retails for $44.98 , Blu-ray $54.97.
"Tracy & Hepburn: The Definitive Collection" -- Ever since they made their first film together (1942's "Woman of the Year"), Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn seemed like soul mates, on and off screen. The pair continued to forge a strong partnership with eight more movies, including "Keeper of the Flame," "Without Love," "The Sea of Grass," "State of the Union," "Adam's Rib," "Pat and Mike," "Desk Set" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," which was released just 17 days after Tracy's death in 1967. This 10-disc set also includes a tribute from Hepburn to Tracy. Retails for $59.98.
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