Christmas Gift Guide: 100 Presents You Need To Buy

Film This festive period's biggest and best blu-ray releases - the perfect stocking fillers...

6. The Dark Knight Rises

Get the must own DVD of the year when The Dark Knight Rises is released on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Download from December 3rd.In the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, Gotham City is threatened by the masked terrorist Bane, forcing Batman to return from an eight-year absence and fight for his city one more time. It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane. For more information on The Dark Knight Rises visit the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheDarkKnightRisesUK Buy It

7. The Amazing Spider-Man

One of the most beloved and iconic super heroes of all time reemerges in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, debuting on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, DVD, all with UltraViolet„, on Friday, November 9th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Presented for the first time in at-home 3D, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN tells the story of teenage Peter Parker, who grapples with both high school and amazing super-human crises as his alter-ego Spider-Man battles The Lizard. Directed by Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer), THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN stars Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) as Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man, and Emma Stone (The Help) as Gwen Stacy. The film also features Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill) as Dr. Curt Connors, a.k.a. The Lizard, Denis Leary (TV€™s Rescue Me) as Captain Stacy, Campbell Scott (TV€™s Damages) as Richard Parker, and Irrfan Khan (Slumdog Millionaire) as Rajit Ratha. Rounding out the all-star cast are Martin Sheen (TV€™s The West Wing) as Uncle Ben and two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actress, Sally Field (Norma Rae, 1979; Places in the Heart, 1984), as Aunt May. Buy It

8. Ted

One of the most original, outrageous and downright hilarious comedies to hit the screens in years, Ted is the inspired first motion picture from Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy. MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of Ted. In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish€and has refused to leave his side ever since.

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9. The Expendables 2

The boys are back! And this time, it's war! The number 1 summer blockbuster will be available to own on DVD, Blu-Ray and download on 10th December 2012. Sylvester Stallone heads up the greatest ever action cast, including Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, with Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean Claude Van Damme rounding off the legendary line up. Barney Ross' (Stallone) team of mercenaries are back fro war. When what should have been an easy paycheck results in one of their own being killed, they are hellbent on avenging their fallen brother. Their personal mission brings them fae to face with a lethal adversary who could topple the balance of world power. But the villains hadn't reckoned with The Expendables... With a loaded set of extras, The Expendables 2 will blow you away this Christmas. It's the all-action sequel you've been waiting for! Buy It

10. Men In Black 3

Get ready for a groovy, out-of-this-world 3D adventure - on 5th November, Men In Black 3 was released on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD with UltraViolet. Earning more than $620 million in box office worldwide, this action-packed sci-fi comedy will be released for the first time in 3D for the home. The time-travelling, third installment of the Men in Black franchise reunites two-time Academy Award nominee Will Smith (2007, Best Actor, The Pursuit of Happyness; 2001, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Ali) and Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones (1993, Best Supporting Actor, The Fugitive), along with Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin (2009, Best Supporting Actor, Milk), as they travel back in time to 1969 so Agent Jay (Will Smith) can save Agent Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) from an alien assassination. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and written by Etan Cohen, Men In Black 3 is jam-packed with car chases and monocycle pursuits, as the famous, black-suited duo employs a brand-new collection of galactic gadgets to fight off retro aliens. The film also features Academy Award winner Emma Thompson (1995, Best Adapted Screenplay, Sense and Sensibility), and Jemaine Clement (Despicable Me). The Blu-ray is packed with extra features, including featurettes, a Spot The Alien game and a look behind the scenes. Win ItBuy It

11. It's A Wonderful Life

Repeatedly voted as one of the greatest and most inspirational films ever made and the most loved Christmas movie of all time, Golden Globe winner and five-time academy award nomineeIt€™s a Wonderful Life is the definitive Christmas classic. Directed and produced by Frank Capra, George Bailey€™s journey of remorse and reawakening with the help of guardian angel Clarence Odbody is a timeless celebration of love, family and friendship. Revel in one of the most celebrated and uplifting films of the all time this Christmas, available on DVD and Blu-Ray which includes the original black and white and full colour versions of the film. Win ItBuy It

12. Short Circuit

Number 5 is alive in the classic 80s comedy sci-fi adventure Short Circuit which is now available on Blu-ray for the first time courtesy of Second Sight Films. An experimental military robot escapes after being struck by lightening, giving it human intelligence. He escapes and finds a home with madcap Stephanie Speck (Ally Sheedy), who believes he is an alien, but hot on his trail are scientists Newton Crosby (Steve Guttenburg) and his assistant (Fisher Stevens), who must get to their creation before the army, who plan to put Number 5 out of service permanently. This hugely entertaining adventure makes its Blu-ray debut, along with a DVD release featuring some great special features and will be released on 19 November 2012. Win ItBuy It

13. Flight of the Navigator

Flight of the Navigator is the action-packed classic 80s adventure into another world and makes its Blu-ray debut courtesy of Second Sight Films. The year is 1978 and 12-year-old David Freeman is knocked unconscious while playing. He wakes up and discovers it€™s now 1986 and he€™s been missing for eight years. NASA believes he€™s been abducted by aliens and want to use him for their research. But with the guidance of a strange unseen entity he discovers a hidden spaceship and with the help of MAX the computer sets off on an incredible mission to get back to the past where he belongs. This family sci-fi adventure comes to Blu-ray for the first time as well as a DVD release on 19 November 2012 courtesy of Second Sight Films and makes a perfect gift for Christmas. Win ItBuy It

14. Total Recall

Prepare for non-stop excitement and pulse-pounding thrills in this explosive action thriller. Colin Farrell stars as Douglas Quaid, a factory worker who visits Rekall, a revolutionary company that can turn his superspy fantasies into real memories. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, the line between fantasy and reality blurs as Quaid becomes a man on the run and the fate of his world hangs in the balance. Co-starring Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel and Bryan Cranston, Total Recall is bursting with mind-blowing action sequences and spectacular visual effects, the ultimate high-energy thrill-ride! Also included in the Blu-Ray is a voucher code to redeem a playable game demo of €œGod of War„: Ascension€, the newest installment of the multi-million selling God of War franchise. Buy It

15. Prometheus

Returning to the genre he helped define, Sir Ridley Scott has crafted the most unforgettable experience of 2012 in Prometheus. This gripping, thought-provoking and often terrifying masterpiece features a stellar ensemble cast including Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green and Idris Elba and is a must-have for any self-respecting film fan. After scientists Elizabeth Shaw (Rapace - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) and Charlie Holloway (Marshall-Green - Devil) discover mysterious cave drawings that point to the origins of mankind, they soon find themselves aboard the spaceship Prometheus, sponsored by Weyland Industries and on a journey to uncover the secrets of humanity. Overseen by the imperious Meredith Vickers (Theron - Snow White & The Huntsman), looked after by the android David (Fassbender - X-Men: First Class), and backed up by a team of scientists Shaw and Holloway arrive on the isolated moon LV-223 to discover an abandoned alien spaceship and the truth... that not all is as it seems... Prometheus is available to buy from HMV now. Buy It

16. The Sting Limited Edition Digibook

In 1930s Illinois, young hustler Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) vows revenge after his older partner (Robert Earl Jones) is murdered at the behest of kingpin Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw) in retribution for a con pulled on one of his runners. Travelling to Chicago, Hooker teams up with old hand Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman), and together they plan the ultimate 'sting' against Donnegan. This re-teaming of Robert Redford and Paul Newman, following the success of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', won seven Oscars and helped repopularize the music of Scott Joplin, which features heavily on Marvin Hamlisch's soundtrack. Buy It

17. Titanic

Nothing on earth can rival the epic spectacle and breathtaking grandeur of Titanic, the sweeping love story that sailed into the hearts of moviegoers around the world ultimately emerging as the most popular motion picture of all time. Leonardo DiCaprio and Oscar nominee Kate Winslet light up the screen as Jack and Rose, the young lovers who find one another on the maiden voyage of the 'unsinkable' R.M.S. Titanic. But when the doomed luxury liner collides with an iceberg in the frigid North Atlantic, their passionate love affair becomes a thrilling race for survival. From acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron comes a tale of forbidden love and courage in the face of disaster that triumphs as a true cinematic masterpiece. Titanic is available to buy from HMV now. Buy It

18. Red Lights

Two investigators of paranormal hoaxes, the veteran Dr. Margaret Matheson (Sigourney Weaver) and her young assistant, Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy), study the most varied metaphysical phenomena with the aim of proving their fraudulent origin. Simon Silver (Robert De Niro), a legendary blind psychic, reappears after an enigmatic absence of 30 years to become the greatest international challenge for both orthodox science and professional skeptics. Tom quickly begins to develop an obsession with Silver, whose magnetism becomes stronger with each new manifestation of inexplicable events. As Tom gets closer to Silver, tension mounts, and his worldview is threatened to its core. Red Lights is available to buy from HMV now. Buy It

19. Woman In Black

Based on the classic ghost story, THE WOMAN IN BLACK tells the tale of Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a lawyer who is forced to leave his young son and travel to a remote village to attend to the affairs of the recently deceased owner of Eel Marsh House. Working alone in the old mansion, Kipps begins to uncover the town's tragic and tortured secrets and his fears escalate when he discovers that local children have been disappearing under mysterious circumstances. When those closest to him become threatened by the vengeful woman in black, Kipps must find a way to break the cycle of terror. The Woman In Black is available to buy from HMV now. Buy It

20. Arthur Christmas

How can Santa deliver billions of presents to the whole world in just one night? With an army of one million combat-style Field Elves and a vast, state-of-the-art control center under the ice of the North Pole! So how could this incredible operation have MISSED one child?! To Santa€™s young son, Arthur, it threatens to end the magic of Christmas. With retired Grandsanta, a rebellious young elf, an old sleigh and some untrained reindeer, Arthur sets out in a crazy mission to deliver the last present! Deck the halls with excitement, fun and wonder in this new Christmas classic! The Blu-ray boasts kid-friendly extras, including the €œElf Recruitment€ video, and a behind-the-scenes featurette - €œUnwrapping Arthur Christmas," in which viewers can learn more about The Claus family, Santa€™s elves and the heartwarming story. Also included are five progression reels that explore how filmmakers created the characters and key scenes in the film. Buy It

21. Inspired by the Big Bang Theory T-Shirt - Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock.

If rock paper scissors doesn€™t have enough variables for you, take a leaf out of Sheldon Cooper€™s book and add in Spock and lizard. In case you don't know the rules; scissors cut paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitate lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, and as it always has, rock crushes scissors. Got it? Buy It

22. Inspired by the Big Bang Theory T-Shirt - Bazinga

Take physicists Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper, add aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz and astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali and some surreal, clever and geeky humour and what do you get? One of the best American comedies for years. Bazinga! Buy It

23. Vader Hands T-Shirt

So Lucasfilms, birthplace of Star Wars, are being bought out by Disney, birthplace of Bambi. We always thought that Star Wars needed more butterflies and baby rabbits. Alternatively, Luke€™s dad could just rock some Mouse ears. After all, what says €˜evil empire€™ better than Disney? Buy It
 
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WhatCulture's former COO, veteran writer and editor.