Between the new TV season, all of the award-seeking movies, and the artisan taco trucks parked on every corner, trying to find time to shop for holiday gifts is a difficult task. But as Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth used to say on Futurama, “Good news, everyone!” That’s because it’s time for RT’s 2016 Holiday Gift Guide & Puppet Show! Here you’ll find something for everyone, including all the cinephiles, TV addicts, readers, streamers, board game afficionados, gamers, drinkers, toy collectors, Trekkies, Trekkers, Avengers, Ghostbusters, Jedis, and Sorcerers Supreme.
The Godfather Notebook
The Godfather is considered one of the greatest movies of all time, but it wasn’t easy to make. Available for the first time, Regan Arts’ The Godfather Notebook is a replica of Francis Ford Coppola’s film journal, which includes all of his production notes and exclusive photos, and is also available in a Signed Deluxe Edition that includes a page from the script, memos, 17 index cards with notes from the wedding scene, and more.
Most tablets and movile devices don’t have great speakers. This, however, is easily rectified with iHome’s new iBT82 Weather Tough Bluetooth Speaker, which can stream audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device. It’s also waterproof, dustproof, and comes with a carrying case so you can bring it with you when you want to watch Stranger Things out in the woods.
Get It HereThe Transformers: The Movie – 30th Anniversary Edition
Forget the Michael Bay debacles. For fans of The Transformers, the only real movie is the animated one from 1986. Available for the first time on Blu-ray, this 30th Anniversary Edition from Shout! Factory boasts a remastered, 4K transfer of the film and includes a new documentary, animated storyboards, making-of featurettes, the original TV commercials, and more.
These expansions to the LEGO Dimensions video game add new missions, playable characters and, of course, toys from your favorite movies and TV shows. There are “story packs” (which add multiple game levels and toys) for Fantastic Beasts and the new Ghostbusters, a Mission:Impossible level pack, and a whole lot more. Look for them at your local retailers.
A Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition HBO’s Game of Thrones Coloring Book
To mark the 20th anniversary of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice debut, Random House presents an illustrated hardcover edition of the novel with a full-page drawing for every chapter. If you prefer to put your own spin on Thrones art, HBO’s coloring Book has thirty-five line drawings, all based on images from the show.
Considering all the harrowing experiences they’ve had, it seems like every fan of Rick and Morty could use a reassuring huggable plush toy. Standing between 7.5 and 12-inches tall, J!NX’s Rick and Morty Plush Toys include Rick, Morty, and a few of the other memorable characters from the show.
There are a lot of streaming devices available, and if all you watch are the Marvel shows on Netflix, any of them will do. But if you want one that can also stream games, you’ll need the GEM Box from Emtec. Besides stream videos, it can also stream games from your PC and console games from GameFly, or let you play Android games natively (it comes with four).
There are those who enjoy the TV show Outlander and those who base their entire belief system on the TV show Outlander. It’s for the latter group that we present The Making of Outlander, a fully-illustrated hardcover that includes interviews with stars Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, and Tobias Menzies, as well as a look at the writers’ room and the overseas locations, plus more.
Who you gonna call? Diamond Select Toys offers multiple action figures from the Ghostbusters movies, including a Select line of 7-inch tall figures of the original cast, which have 16 points of articulation and character-specific accessories. On the adorable end, their Minimates for the new movie are 2 inches tall with 14 points of articulation, and are available in pairs.
While action fans loved Mad Max: Fury Road, director George Miller actually felt it needed a little something. Or rather, a little less of something: color. In this special Blu-ray from Warner Bros., you get the theatrical version of the movie and Miller’s preferred black & white version, plus an explanation for that preference from Miller himself.
Creating movie backgrounds is an art unto itself. In Regan Arts’ handsome volume The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, Richard M. Isackes and Karen L. Maness — professors in University of Texas at Austin’s Theatre department — present oral histories from background artists who worked on classic Hollywood movies, over 300 images from these films, and numerous behind-the-scenes photographs.
While he may not have his own signature drink, car, or self-introduction, Jason Bourne is still as good a spy as that British dude who changes his look every few years. In The Bourne Ultimate Collection, which is available on Blu-ray and DVD, you not only get all five films, but also such extras as commentaries, deleted scenes, multiple making-of featurettes, and more.
Hasbro is offering a slew of action figures in various sizes of Cap, Iron Man, and a bunch of other heroes, plus more. If you prefer something a bit more detailed, Kotobukiya’s 7-inch ARTFX+ statues of Iron Man and Captain America come with bases that lock together so you can show them side by side, back to back, or going supermano-a-supermano.
ARTFX+ Statues:
· Captain America
· Iron ManTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Limited Edition Giftset
This giftset from Paramount Home Video not only has the two new movies about the heroes in a half-shell on both Blu-ray and DVD, but it also has tons of extras, including deleted scenes, an extended ending to the first flick, multiple making-of featurettes, and more. Even cooler, it includes two reversible masks and comes in a metal lunchbox shaped like the garbage truck they drive in the new movie.
A 4K HDTV is only as good as the content it displays. If you own one, consider an Xbox One S or PS4 Pro. Sure, they’ll let you play incredible next-gen video games, but both will also stream 4K video from services like Netflix, while the Xbox also plays 4K Blu-rays (but not games), and the PS4 Pro plays games in 4K (but not 4K Blu-rays).
For the upcoming Assassin’s Creed movie, Funko has released their signature POP! vinyl toys for its characters, including Aguilar (Michael Fassbender in the past), Callum Lynch (Fassbender in modern times), Maria (Ariane Labed’s character), and Ojeda (Hovik Keuchkerian’s character).
If there’s one thing everyone needs around the holidays, it’s a good stiff drink. Y’know, a regular Coke instead of Diet. Since you might as well drink in style, why not do so with Ghostbusters and Back to the Future Glass Tumblers? These 16oz glasses feature characters and scenes from their respective franchises.
In honor of the franchise’s 50th anniversary, Paramount is honoring Star Trek with Blu-ray giftsets that celebrate the series’ past and future. The 50th Anniversary Collection is a giant boxed set full of classic content (including the animated series) and extras, plus more. But If you’re into their new adventures, though, there are also two store-specific Blu-ray giftsets for Star Trek Beyond.
Given that winter has been coming for five years now — 20 if you count the books — there’s no excuse for you not to have a good pair of gloves. These Game of Thrones Gloves HBO not only let everyone know how you spend your Sunday nights 10 weeks a year, but when it gets cold, they’ll tell you with the message “WINTER IS HERE,” which appear magically as if summoned by some crimson-haired pyromaniac. Look for them in the HBO store on December 1.
Samsung Gear VR
In the future, all reality will be virtual. Until then, we’ll have to wear headsets. Compatible with all of the current Samsung smartphones, Samsung’s Gear VR system immerses you 360° in such games as Minecraft, EVE Gunjack, and dozens more. There’s also a virtual arcade where you can play classics like Pac-Man and Galaga, and it can be used to watch movies and TV like a personal IMAX theater.
It’s one of the greatest sci-fi action movies of all time, and certainly one of the best sequels ever made. In honor of it turning the big 3-0, Fox is releasing this Anniversary Edition Blu-ray, which has both the theatrical and director’s cuts of the classic 1986 film, as well as deleted and extended scenes, making-of featurettes, an art gallery, and a new featurette called “The Inspiration and Design of Aliens.”
Hail to the king, baby! No, the other one, Ash Williams, the big kahuna from the Evil Dead movies and the TV show Ash Vs Evil Dead. From the latter, we get these new action figures from NECA, which stand 7 inches tall, with multiple points of articulation. You have your choice of Hero Ash, Value Stop Ash, and Eligos.
He’s jolly, wears red, and embodies the holiday spirit. No, not Santa. Deadpool! To celebrate the holidays right, you should hang some Deadpool Adult Crew Socks from your mantle with care. Oh, and you should also get the new holiday themed DVD/Blu-ray combo pack of Deadpool, which are sure to warm the cockles of any heart.
While audiences remain split over the movie, even those who disliked it agreed: Ben Affleck made a solid Batman. For fans of Batfleck, NECA has the new Batman V Superman 1/4 scale Batman action figure, which is just shy of 19 inches tall and has nearly 30 points of articulation. It also includes two sets of hands, two Batarangs, and a grapple you can attach to his belt.
It’s not easy to watch things on your phone with others. That won’t be an issue if you get yourself a Pocket Projector Micro from Brookstone. About the size and weight of a paperback, it can project images up to 50 inches diagonally, has a built-in speaker and a two-hour rechargeable battery, and can connect to most smartphones and other gadgets via an included HDMI cable.
Get It HereStar Wars Original Soundtrack Picture Disc
In 1978, at the tender age of 10, I wore out the Star Wars soundtrack record my parents gave me. Now I can relive that sensation with the Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope O.S.T. Limited Edition Picture Disc. And, of course, my parents’ turntable. Besides all of the classic music from the movie, these records are emblazoned with striking imagery from the film.
Sure, we’re still a little annoyed at Entertainment Weekly for spoiling what happened to you-know-who on The Walking Dead recently. But even we can’t deny that their coverage of this zombie show is impressive. Besides seasonal recaps, exclusive photographs, and interviews with the cast and crew, this 96-page paperback also features art from the artists who draw the original Walking Dead comics.
Get It HereGame of Thrones: The Complete Seasons 1-6
Courtesy of HBO, this all-inclusive Blu-ray or DVD boxed set not only includes every episode to date, but also all of the seasonal extras like numerous commentaries by the cast and crew, deleted and extended scenes, and enough making-of featurettes to start a film school.
Get It Here Chancellor Chewman Throw PilloW R2D2 Pinball Coffee Table
He is… the most interesting Wookiee in the galaxy. And now you can pay homage to Chewbacca with the Chancellor Chewman Throw Pillow from Fancy, available in four sizes. As for his pal R2D2, he gets a place to put his oil martinis, with Fancy’s R2D2 Star Wars Pinball Coffee Table.
Admittedly, the title of the Color Your Own Doctor Strange coloring book is somewhat misleading, because a lot of people will think, “Benedict Cumberbatch is my Doctor Strange,” and this book is all about the comic book version. But if you can forgive Marvel, you’re sure to appreciate the crayon-ready outlines crafted by such iconic comic artists as Steve Ditko, Chris Bachalo, and Frank Brunner.
It sounds like the kind of thing you’d dream about but never expect to really see: a fantasy movie made by Jim Henson that stars David Bowie. And it was glorious. In honor of its 30th Anniversary, Sony Pictures has prepared three special editions on Blu-ray: a regular edition, a 4K HD edition, and a limited edition gift set. All include three new featurettes in addition to the vintage ones.
During the second season of Mr. Robot, Elliot (Rami Malek) kept a journal to record his most intimate thoughts, and now you can read all of them. Crafted by creator Sam Esmail and writer Courtney Looney, the book not only includes Elliot’s journal entries — with mysterious sketches and notations — but it also has a newspaper clipping, an envelope, and other artifacts that might give you some insight into Elliot’s mind.
Get It HereStar Wars: Catalyst – A Rogue One Novel
In the upcoming movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, we find out what happened just before Episode IV: A New Hope. In the novel Star Wars: Catalyst, we find out what happened before Rogue One. Written by James Luceno — author of other Star Wars novels — the story follows scientist Garlen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen’s character) as he continues his research into focusing energy, only to learn he’s also working on something ominously named The Death Star.
Martin Scorsese’s 1976 classic remains one of the best films in both his oeuvre and in the career of star Robert De Niro. Celebrating its longevity, the Taxi Driver 40th Anniversary Blu-ray collection not only includes all previously available extras, but also boasts a new Q&A with Scorsese, De Niro, co-star Jodi Foster, and others.
Get It HereStar Wars & Game of Thrones Board Games
Now you can geek out and enjoy game night with the family at the same time. Hasbro has Star Wars versions of Clue, Monopoly, and Trivial Pursuit, as well as a weird BB-8 version of Operation. For something more fantastic, pick up HBO’s Clue: Game of Thrones, which is probably way harder since everyone on that show has killed someone, died, or killed someone as they were dying.
Sony Pictures has made some big moves in the animation realm in recent years, and now you can enjoy them all while keeping your lunch from being crushed. This collection includes recent hits like the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Hotel Transylvania movies, as well as Open Season, Arthur Christmas, Surf’s Up, and more, all of which are housed in a classic metal lunchbox.
To celebrate the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Hasbro is releasing detailed 6-inch, highly articulated Black Series action figures of Jyn Erso, Captain Cassian Andor, K2-SO, and others; 12-inch figures of Jyn, Darth Vader, and more; and the Rapid Fire Imperial AT-ACT Playset, which shoots NERF darts and comes with 3.75-inch figures of Jyn, C2-B5, and the AT-ACT driver. Look for them at your local retailers.
Little Box of Horrors
While music may be the soundtrack of our lives, what if you’d like that soundtrack to be done by professionals? Well, if your life is scary, Varèse Sarabande have you covered with this limited edition 12-CD collection that includes the soundtracks to such iconic horror movies as The Fly, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Scream. Otherwise, Lakeshore Records has issued soundtracks for both Mr. Robot and Stranger Things. Look for Little Box of Horrors on 11/18 here.
