PopMatters.com

WATCH

"Coen Brothers Gift Set" ($49.98)

This new five-DVD gift set is perfect for the film buff in your family who loves a good story gone bad, told with an absurd twist on an otherwise classical form.

"Engineering an Empire: The Complete Series" ($59.95)

A fascinating look at the literal building of empire through architecture. From Ancient Greece and Egypt through to the British Empire, this series is enlightening and thought-provoking.

"Harry Potter Years 1 - 5 Limited Edition Gift Set" ($199.97)

Encased in a miniaturized replica of the famous boy wizard's traveling trunk, this delightful DVD set should make any movie loving muggle more than happy.

"Heeere's Johnny: The Definitive DVD Collection" ($99.99)

Some things get funnier with age; "The Tonight Show" is one of them. Besides, it's good to get a laugh in, along with the memory.

"The History Channel Presents Modern Marvels - Technology" ($20.99)

"The History Channel Presents Modern Marvels - Architectural Wonders" ($35.99)

For the curious who wonder how things work and how things get made, these History Channel collections are splendid gifts.

"Ingmar Bergman: Four Masterworks - The Criterion Collection" ($99.95)

Here is the perfect primer for the Bergman novice, as well as a stunning reminder of the man's artistry and import.

"James Bond Ultimate Collector's Set" ($289.98)

Bond fans rejoice. You can now have every single Bond movie ever made, complete with a wealth of extras detailing every last element of the Bond universe, in one big box. Each film is restored and burns up the screen as never before.

"The Man From U.N.C.L.E. The Complete Collection" ($249.95)

One of the most popular and influential pop-culture TV phenomena of the 1960s has also been one of the most elusive. Now at long last, all 105 episodes of the definitive spy series hit the market in an attractive silver attache case.

"My So-Called Life: The Complete Series" ($69.99)

Unrequited love, the all consuming crush, the horror of hormonal changes, the tedium of school, trouble with parents, the emergence of individual identity... the teenager in us all can relate.

"The Noel Coward Collection" ($79.98)

Noel Coward was the personification of English wit, sophistication and cool. This is an essential set for any fan of British culture or those with a fine sense of wit and refined tastes.

"Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series" ($79.98)

The stunningly beautiful BBC documentary series takes the viewer to the remote corners of the globe with some of the most spectacular nature photography ever committed to film.

"POV: 20th Anniversary Collection" ($249.95)

The 15 DVDs in this beautiful set represent the wide range of documentaries aired on PBS over 20 years. It's a thoughtful gift for those who care about important social issues.

"The Stanley Kubrick Collection" ($79.98)

The newest collection of Kubrick masterpieces ("2001: A Space Odyssey" and "A Clockwork Orange" among others) provides two-disc redefinitions of the maestro's magnificent output.

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: The Complete Series" ($59.98)

Aaron Sorkin's signature sharp, snappy dialogue and historically and pop-culturally adroit characters that can pull an educated pun out of thin air, lickety-split, is so much more fun than the conversations we have with most people in everyday, real life.

"Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics" ($99.95)

Scholastic's 16-DVD set is a treasure trove for all the smart kids in your life, as it features more than 100 timeless children's stories.

"Twin Peaks: The Definitive Gold Box Edition" ($99.99)

For fans of David Lynch's delightfully obtuse hour long drama, previously released DVD versions were missing two major elements -- the original pilot and input from the director himself. This latest incarnation changes all that.

"The X-Files: The Complete Collector's Edition" ($329.98)

All nine seasons of the groundbreaking series are offered in deluxe fashion, packaged with the "X-Files" movie and a wealth of cool extras. For fans of classic TV and geeks alike, this is the mother lode.

LISTEN

"The Brit Box" ($64.98)

For Anglophiles and pop lovers alike, "The Brit Box" is quite a treat, with its 78 songs of UK alt-pop from 1985 to 1999.

"The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1976 / 1977" ($14.98 each)

Two mid-'70s TV specials from the coolest dude in country music. With Cash and a host of country luminaries, turn the holidays into a twangfest.

"City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music" ($32.98)

"Preservation Hall Jazz Band: "Made in New Orleans: The Hurricane Sessions" ($69.98)

The tuneful musical gumbo from national treasure New Orleans is always a splendid gift. "City of Dreams" is four CDs of funk, blues, piano boogie, and second-line parade inspired songs. Ultra special is "Made in New Orleans," with a two-CD/DVD set from the legendary Preservation Hall band and all manner of unique replica photos, Mardi Gras Doubloons, and archival material hand assembled down in the Big Easy.

"Classic Bluegrass: A Collection" (3-disc version: $39.98 / 10-disc version: $119.98)

The first-ever cross-licensed set spanning the full range of bluegrass history runs from early Bill Monroe up to the present in Alison Krauss and all the highlights in between. This is the best collection of this classic American musical form.

Elvis Costello: "My Aim Is True (Deluxe Edition)" ($29.98)

A must-have reissue of Elvis Costello's first record. It's a batch of unaffected pop and rock tunes with no allegiance to the new wave or a self-imposed genre.

"Flower Power: The Music of the Love Generation" ($149.95)

This 10-CD set captures the diversity of late '60s and early '70s music in all its trippy, funky, rocking and folky glory.

Billie Holiday: "Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles" ($49.98)

For jazz fans and fans of American music in general, the early recordings of Billie Holiday should already be gospel -- essential and cherished source material for the foundational pleasures of all the music that would come later.

"Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970" ($64.98)

San Francisco in the late '60s is one of the most highly mythologized places and times in rock history. The musical and attitudinal highs and lows of the Bay Area scene are on full, accurate, and coherent display.

Over the Rhine: "Snow Angels" ($16.98)

"Snow Angels" exudes the peace and quiet that everyone longs for at Christmastime, and does so with class.

"Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story" ($14.99)

This Samuel L. Jackson-narrated documentary delivers the Stax history with vibrant interviews and a steady stream of rare concert and TV footage starring Redding, Sam and Dave, the Staple Singers, and many soulful more.

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra: "A Very Ping Pong Christmas" ($16.98)

For fans of funk, jazz, and jam-session styles, these genres are expertly blended into a category-defying sound. Each piece is head-bobbingly good.

Sly and the Family Stone: "The Collection" ($69.98)

"The Collection" is for anyone who loves great music. Sly & the Family Stone's music is not just a feel-good grandiosity, but a bid for higher things.

Sony Wireless Digital Audio Streamer ($349.99)

Stream all the MP3s housed on your computer or network or listen to web radio from this stylish device with superb sound. The system integrates with iTunes and all major services as well.

The Staple Singers: "The 25th Day of December" ($11.98)

It's not only a great way to put the Christmas season and its music back into perspective; it's also one of the year's most essential reissues in any genre.

Zune (2nd Generation) ($149.00- $249.00)

Here's an iPod alternative with a sleek and colorful design, a killer display, competitive prices, and a social component, allowing users to share music.

READ

"Cool Green Stuff" by Dave Evans ($14.95)

Just the thing for your favorite eco-conscious consumer pal, this mini coffee table book highlights practical, whimsical, and artistic objects, each made from recycled materials put to innovative use.

"Iconic America" by Tommy Hilfiger and George Lois ($60.00)

A beautifully matte behemoth, "Iconic America" is a direct analogue of the country it purports to characterize. Let your cultural critic, with a penchant for the visual, ponder over this.

"The Intellectual Devotional" by David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim ($24.00)

The second in a series of daily meditations for the mind, this simple book of intellectual exercise is designed to revive the reader's memory and provide fresh insights into American history.

"The Making of Star Wars" by J.W. Rinzler ($35.00)

"Mad About Star Wars" by Jonathan Bresman ($21.95)

Two ideal picks for the sci-fi geek in your life: Every detail in the making of "Star Wars," including rare photos and drawings, and a volume with 30 years worth of parodies poking fun at the epic film series.

"The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-a-book With Rare Collectibles from the World of Marvel" ($49.95)

Any comics or superhero film fan will adore this book, with its colorful history and replica drawings and collectibles.

"Moby-Dick: A Pop-Up Book" by Sam Ita ($24.95)

Imagine: the tale of Moby-Dick brought to three-dimensional life in a mere eight pages. It manages this with comic book-style panels and graphics and masterly pop-up paper art.

"Monster Spotter's Guide to North America" by Scott Francis ($14.99)

This is a terrifyingly fun stocking-stuffer for the monsterly inclined, be they explorer wanting to see for themselves, or storyteller in need of fresh ideas.

"No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach" by Anthony Bourdain ($34.95)

More diary than travelogue, Bourdain's book is a more congenial companion than either Frommer's or Zagat's, and the jokes are better, too.

"Our Dumb Century: The Onion Presents 100 Years of Headlines from America's Finest News Source" ($23.95)

Fans of satirical news will find nothing to be disappointed with in this hilarious collection of stories and images from The Onion.

"The Sound of Music Companion" by Laurence Maslon ($40.00)

This is an addictive coffee table book that will be treasured by any fan. It covers the musical, the movie, the von Trapps and the actors who played them, and it's loaded with pictures.

"Street World: Urban Art and Culture from Five Continents" by Roger Gastman et al. ($35.00)

Scrawled graffiti, crafted murals, bright ads in the windows of mom & pop stores, fake ads with real political commentary, sub-culture sleaze, pop culture sharp. It's hefty. It's visual, it's emotional, with some astute text for context.

"Rock and Roll" by Lynn Goldsmith ($50.00)

"Punk 365" by Holly George-Warren ($29.95)

This season brings two excellent coffee table books spanning rock history. Goldsmith's tome begins simply with a 1964 snap of the Fab Four's Cuban boot-heeled feet and ends with the 1980 John Lennon vigil. For a punk dose, pick up "Punk 365," featuring the shutter work of seminal talents Bob Gruen, Roberta Bayley and a dozen others.

"Take Me to Your Leader" by Ian Harrison ($25.00)

Filled with facts about human behavior and expression that will have the most stout believer in his familial roots wishing he that he were from another planet.

"The Tokyo Look Book" by Philomena Keet and Yuri Manabe ($29.95)

An indispensable guide for Westerners interested in Tokyo's vibrant street fashions, this book captures the city's most stylish denizens, while guiding us through Tokyo's various subcultures.

"The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman ($24.95)

One leaves this book with a greater appreciation for the preciousness of this world. Give this to the budding environmentalist, and the one who could use a bit of a nudge in that direction.

PLAY

"Crysis" - PC ($49.99)

"Crysis" is bar none the most visually impressive game ever. "Crysis" outdoes everything that any of the consoles have to offer in the graphics department.

Discovery Channel FX5500 Weathertech ($99.95)

For gadget lovers, the Weathertech will sit cozily in your home and report the inside/outside temperatures and humidity, as well as offering the latest weather forecast and a handy clock and alarm.

"ESPN 21st Century Sports Trivia" - board game ($29.99)

This is "Trivial Pursuit" for sports geeks of the first order. With a 24-second shot clock counting down, the pressure is on, as players must answer all manner of "rookie" to "pro" level questions.

"Fishing Master" - Wii ($29.99)

Those trapped inside for the winter might appreciate the zen that a good fishing experience brings so go ahead, let your quest for the rarest fish begin.

"Heavenly Sword" - Playstation 3 ($59.99)

What other game provides as much girl power in the year of the Spice Girls reunion? None. The environments are stunning, and it's a joy from start to finish.

"Hue Are U?" by Dewey Sadka ($16.95)

Nothing says holiday gift like a personality test in a book, or box in this case, that can reduce your every nuance to an easily classifiable genre type. Are you a Thinker, Humanitarian, Pioneer, Builder or something else altogether?

Limited Edition Fender Die-Cast Replica Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Bass Guitars ($49.00)

For the musician or hard core music fan with a shelf or desk to decorate, come these amazingly realistic, art-quality, mini Fender guitars.

"Mutant Storm Empire: Xbox Live Arcade" - Xbox 360 ($10.00)

A fantastic game that provides an extremely fun, and at its highest level staggeringly hard gaming experience. It's also one of the most affordable gifts you could possibly come up.

"MySims" - Nintendo DS ($29.99)

For a portable platform, the cutesy style and the oddly addicting gameplay of "MySims" is perfect. It really is a fun little game that the whole family can enjoy.

Nintendo DS Lite Gold with "Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass" (Bundle) ($159.99)

The best hand-held console in gold limited edition form, along with one of the timeless RPG games in "Zelda," is an irresistible combination.

"The Orange Box" - Xbox 360 ($59.99)

Even if puzzles aren't your bag, just about everyone will find something to love in "The Orange Box." Other video game companies be warned, Valve just raised the bar on giving gamers their money's worth.

"Spider-Man: Friend or Foe" - Xbox 360, Wii, PC ($19.99-$49.99)

The vaguely exaggerated, cartoony graphic style goes perfectly with the humor and the outlandish premise, and you get all of this for a bargain price.

"Super Mario Galaxy" - Wii ($49.99)

This is a serious contender for video game of the year. If you have a Wii and don't own "Super Mario Galaxy," sell it. The game is that good.

"Warhawk" - Playstation 3 ($39.99)

"Warhawk" is the best multiplayer online experience that the PlayStation Network has to offer.

"What's Yours Like? The Game That Tells It Like It Is" - board game ($29.99)

For those who like "20 Questions" and "Charades," this is a fun game that will challenge your assumptions about what you think you know about your friends.

GIFT GUIDE STAFF: Sarah Zupko, Karen Zarker, Bill Gibron, Mike Schiller, Darwin Hang, Michael Keefe, Zeth Lundy, Ryan Smith PopMatters is an international magazine of arts and culture. Find more PopMatters content at www.popmatters.com.