DVDs make the perfect holiday treat

Shopping for holiday gifts can be a chore. It isn’t so much the actual schlepping to the mall, it’s also the demolition derbies that occur in the parking lots, the free-for-alls at the sale racks, the waiting in line at the registers, the waiting in line at the food courts, the pack-muling of packages, more waiting in line at the registers, and finally the search to discover where the heck you parked.

But the worst is the actual selection of gifts. For instance, if Uncle Fred never leaves his recliner, you don’t want to buy him roller blades. If Aunt Josephine hates to cook, then she would probably have little use for a cutlery set, other than to cut you out of her will.

But you really can’t go wrong with entertainment. Everybody likes to be entertained, and everybody likes to get his or her entertainment as cheaply and as conveniently as possible. That’s where the DVD comes in. Contained in one small, light, rectangular box is a digital warehouse of audio and visual delights. Give one of those out as a holiday gift and you’re sure to get a hug and a kiss, although the pleasure may vary depending on the recipient.

Yet there is still the little matter of matching the proper DVD gift to the right person. For that, here’s a handy list of suggestions to take with you to the mall, although I would advise you to print this out rather than carrying your computer. It just makes more sense.

Box sets for someone special
If you really want to make an impression on that video junkie in your life, consider a box set, for the simple reason that it provides more stuff to watch.

For fans of Monty Python, may I suggest “The Complete Monty Python’s Flying Circus 16-Ton Megaset,” which has all 45 episodes of the classic comedy show plus bonus disks with live performances. And if that isn’t enough to split a gut, consider seasons 5 and 6 of “Seinfeld,” which include “The Puffy Shirt” and “The Jimmy.” And for tastes that may veer just outside the mainstream, there’s the “Beavis and Butt-head, Vol. 1 — The Mike Judge Collection” and “Aeon Flux: The Complete Animated Collection.”

If you know someone who loves movies, especially classics, and you want to make them dance with glee around the Christmas tree, there are some box sets that deserve mentions. With Peter Jackson’s take on “King Kong” coming to theaters soon, a nice companion piece is “The King Kong Collection,” featuring three originals: “King Kong,” “Son of Kong” and “Mighty Joe Young.” For elegance and wit, there is “The Complete Thin Man Collection,” featuring those hard-drinking sleuths Nick and Nora Charles.

If your favorite person has a favorite actor or actress,  you can tailor your gift to his or her taste. There is The Bette Davis Collection (including “Mr. Skeffington” and “Dark Victory”), The Joan Crawford Collection (which contains “Mildred Pierce” and “The Damned Don’t Cry”), The Steve McQueen Collection (actually, there are two out and another on the way, so peruse the titles carefully) and “The Complete James Dean Collection.” (Note: Don’t place the Davis and Crawford collections side by side. Joan and Bette didn’t like each other, and I wouldn’t want to be held responsible if something happens.)

Gifts for guys and gals
Naturally, guys and gals have different tastes. You wouldn’t give “Steel Magnolias” to a football coach. You wouldn’t give “The Dirty Dozen” to a manicurist.

So pay attention in order to avoid an uncomfortable situation. For that testosterone-spewing manly man, may I suggest some butt-kicking action. In “Unleashed,” Jet Li lays some hurt down on scads of criminal types in an effort to clean up his life. Then there’s the ultimate director’s cut of “The Warriors,” a cult classic by Walter Hill about a gang on the run in New York City. Another pleasing option is “Batman Begins,” the newest chapter in the saga of the Caped Crusader, this one superbly directed by Christopher Nolan (“Memento.”). A recut version of “Sin City,” the ultra-hip crime thriller based on the graphic novels of Frank Miller and directed by both Miller and Robert Rodriguez, hits stores on Dec. 13. And for a mellower guy experience, the choice is clear: “The Big Lebowski.” This new collector’s edition features interviews with the Coen Brothers and new insights into “The Dude.”

On the distaff side, there is “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” about four close friends who share a pair of pants over the course of a summer. “Clueless,” which stars Alicia Silverstone as a high school girl who likes to shop and talk about boys, gets a makeover in a new “Whatever!” Edition. For sheer romance, it’s hard to top “Titanic,” which is out in a special collector’s edition. And while “A River Runs Through It/Legends of the Fall” may not seem like an ideal gift for a female, I’m fairly certain that Brad Pitt takes his shirt off in both movies.

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