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The Frank Capra classic "It's A Wonderful Life," starring Jimmy Stewart, is out on Blue-ray. |
Something for everyone
You’ve got the obvious DVD picks on your shopping list. But if you could use another idea or two - or two dozen - consider these new titles, collections, and enhanced reissues.
Classics/favorites/etc.
GONE WITH THE WIND 70TH ANNIVERSARY ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION
Rhett and Scarlett arrive on Blu-ray in a tchotchke-filled red velvet keepsake box. (Warner, $84.99; standard DVD set, $69.92)
THE WIZARD OF OZ 70TH ANNIVERSARY ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION
More Blu-ray wonderfulness from the studio vault, packaged with a theme wristwatch and other goodies. (Warner, $84.99; standard DVD set, $69.92)
PAUL NEWMAN: THE TRIBUTE COLLECTION
“Butch Cassidy,’’ “The Hustler,’’ and “The Verdict’’ are all in this 13-film box, complete with nicely done coffee table book. (Fox, $89.98)
ROCKY: THE UNDISPUTED COLLECTION
Stallone hits Blu-ray with every round from the Oscar-winning original through his “Rocky Balboa’’ comeback. (
FORREST GUMP
Forrest runs onto hi-def. Also available packaged with a faux box of chocolates - with genuine chocolate scent. (Paramount, $39.99; gift box, $44.99)
WATCHMEN: THE ULTIMATE CUT
In keeping with its source comic book, the superhero feature gets a lengthy reedit incorporating an animated pirate allegory. (Warner, $43.87; Blu-ray, $59.99)
Television
STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES - SEASON THREE
Catch an alternate version of the series pilot with a different opening in the latest “Trek’’ set to hit Blu-ray. (You’d do well, of course, to grab the J.J. Abrams-directed feature, too.) (Paramount, $118.99; available Dec. 15)
ALLY McBEAL: THE COMPLETE SERIES
All five seasons of short skirts, unisex restrooms, and Vonda Shepard tunes. And you thought it was just bygones. (Fox, $199.98)
THE SHIELD: THE COMPLETE SERIES COLLECTION
Michael Chiklis’s Detective Vic Mackey crosses the line again - and again and again - in this sharply designed set, packaged to look like a squad room desktop. Gotta love the grisly crime scene photos scattered among cop-fuel junk food. (Sony, $159.95)
THE STEVE COOGAN COLLECTION
If you only know the British cutup from “Night at the Museum,’’ this set offers a comprehensive course on his C-list talk-show host Alan Partridge and more. (BBC Video, $129.98)
DAWSON’S CREEK: THE COMPLETE SERIES
Flash back to the days before Michelle Williams was in “Brokeback Mountain,’’ Joshua Jackson was on “Fringe,’’ and Katie Holmes was a local fixture as Mrs. Cruise. Oh, and James Van Der Beek pops up here and there, too. (Sony, $119.95)
HOGAN’S
This most historically dicey of sitcoms gets full series treatment, complete with alternate pilot edit and new Richard Dawson interview. (Paramount, $162.99; available Tuesday)
Family/animation
SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS
Big Bird and friends celebrate the big anniversary, managing to squeeze in clips from every season. (Genius Entertainment, $29.93)
PEANUTS ’70s COLLECTION VOL. 1
Feast on the gang’s Thanksgiving special, as well as the Easter Beagle’s visit and DVD-debuting episodes spotlighting Schroeder and sleuth Snoopy. (Warner, $29.98)
WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Wonka bars confected by Gene Wilder still taste best, especially in high definition. (Warner, $34.99)
THE MIGHTY B!: WE GOT THE BEE
Think Amy Poehler is coming into her own on “Parks and Recreation’’? Check her out as a hilariously hyper Girl Scout in this under-the-radar ’toon. (Paramount, $16.99)
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS - THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE
The saga lives on in this flashy computer-animated series spinning off from (and incorporating) last year’s feature film. (Warner, $44.98; Blu-ray, $59.99)
G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO - THE COMPLETE SERIES
Mercifully, this summer’s live-action feature is the only thing not stuffed into the mini foot locker housing this set, which includes the ’80s cartoon’s entire run, archival toy commercials, a dog tag flash drive, and more. (Shout! Factory, $179.99)
JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE COMPLETE SERIES
It’s been an underwhelming year for comic-book movies but a pretty swell one for comic-book cartoons, including this encoring Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman team-up show. Makes “Super Friends’’ look super-lame. (Warner, $99.98)
ADULT SWIM IN A BOX
Standout seasons of “Space Ghost Coast to Coast,’’ “Robot Chicken,’’ and other Cartoon Network late-night staples are packaged in a set that also includes a half-dozen woulda-coulda-shoulda pilots for other ’toons. (Warner, $69.98)
Holiday fare
TCM GREATEST CLASSIC FILMS COLLECTION: HOLIDAY
Turner Classic Movies’ series of theme compilations are generally a bargain, and this one is no exception, bundling 1938’s “A Christmas Carol’’ with “Christmas in Connecticut,’’ “The Shop Around the Corner,’’ and “It Happened on 5th Avenue.’’ (Warner, $27.92)
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Every time a bell rings, Frank Capra’s classic gets another reissue - this time on Blu-ray, with bonus colorized version. (Paramount, $29.99)
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
“Save the neck for us, Clark!’’ The Griswolds’ foolish yule offering gets decked out in hi-def, with movie quote coasters and other knickknacks. (Warner, $39.92)
FOUR CHRISTMASES
Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon log a bit of family time in last year’s holiday hit. (Warner, $28.98; Blu-ray, $35.99; available Tuesday)
Compiled by Tom Russo. Titles are available now unless specified. 
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
