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9 - MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION:
WALKING ON THE MOON
This space documentary may not have the same gee-whiz impact it did when it played six stories high and in 3-D when it was in IMAX, but fans of the final frontier will want to own this one. With brevity and humor, writer, narrator and producer Tom Hanks sums up man’s history of yearning to break free of our big blue marble, culminating in the six manned missions to Luna from 1969 to 1973 (while quietly poking fun at the conspiracy theorists who maintain it was all done in a television studio). Space nuts will also enjoy Disney’s similar Roving Mars, also available, and for those with a larger budget, there is the old stand-by, Carl Sagan’s still vital 7-disc “Cosmos” series or the History Channel’s more modestly priced, The Universe: The Complete Season One. For those who prefer a straight narrative, there’s a spiffy special edition of The Right Stuff, plus Ron Howard’s skillful thriller Apollo 13 and the inspiring October Sky starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
10 - UA 90TH ANNIVERSARY PRESTIGE COLLECTION
To celebrate its 90th birthday (and to prevent having to pay a tribute to new overlords Fox if they wait any longer), the beleaguered studio is packaging 90 films – a total of 110 DVD’s – in this megaset. Some of it, as one might expect, qualifies as fine gemstones, like West Side Story, Inherit the Wind and The Manchurian Candidate. Mirroring these polished treats are about as many cubic zirconiums, like the Bond misfire On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the Leonardo DiCaprio cash-in The Man in the Iron Mask and the Diane Keaton alleged comedy, Baby Boom. There is all manner of goodness and badness between them, and considering the volume of titles and the Amazon.com price, under $7.00 a movie (and in a lovely photo album-style presentation), it is a tremendous value. And it sure is a nice alternative to Warner’s 198-film megaset, which carries a price tag steeper than a good used car at over $4000.
11 - FAMILY GUY: FREAKIN’ PARTY PACK
The resurrection after cancellation that Seth MacFarlane’s scrappy answer to “The Simpsons” experienced was unprecedented, and the surge in popularity it has seen since will likely keep it on the air long after McFarlane’s so-so “American Dad” has faded away. This collection features 17 DVD’s, covering 4 1/2 seasons plus Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin - The Untold Story. Party accoutrements include “Family Guy” ping-pong paddles, net, balls, 100 poker chips and playing cards, all in a plexi carrying case. Alas, the most awaited episode, the Star Wars spoof, “Blue Harvest,” won’t be out until January 15.
12 - HEEERE’S JOHNNY: THE DEFINITIVE DVD COLLECTION FROM THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON
All of the best moments from television’s master of the golden age of late night talk, Johnny Carson, are now available in this swell anthology. The set contains four unique DVD sets highlighted by the never-before-released at retail, Timeless Moments, a 6-disc collection that was previously exclusive to Carson Club Members but is now available as part of this compilation and not sold separately. The box set also includes the 3-disc set of The Ultimate Johnny Carson Collection, the 2-disc set of Stand-Up Comedians and Carson Country. Each release includes audience favorites, numerous guest appearances and hilarious moments from the show. This dazzling DVD set comes enclosed in high-end collectible gatefold packaging designed as curtains to mimic the opening of the show. As skilled as Leno, Dave and Conan might be at what they do, they will never be Johnny, something that one look at any of these dozen discs easily show.
TOMORROW AT NOON: the Carsonesque Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show, Ken Burns’ staggering World War II documentary The War and the long-awaited Apocalypse Now doc Hearts of Darkness and David Lynch’s hallmark of weirdness, Twin Peaks: The Complete Series.