DVDs for Christmas

Trouble finding the perfect Christmas gift? You can’t go wrong buying a DVD. Here’s my Top 10 list. Some of these might surprise you, but fans of these movies or television shows would certainly appreciate these more than your generic DVD in the big crate at Wal-Mart.

Cinderella Man. Just released, this movie should win a few Oscars. Russell Crowe plays Jim Braddock, a washed up boxer who’s lost his punch and works hard to keep food on the table for his family during the Depression. Because a different fighter can’t show up for a fight, Braddock’s former manager gives him a second shot and he comes back in rare form, pounding the faces of everybody who enters the ring.

Ninth season of MASH. Best military series ever made. Funny, at times, dramatic and always original.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force season four. A cartoon featured on Adult Swim, Aqua Teen is unlike any other adult cartoon. It never attempts to take political stances like Southpark or Family Guy. Nor does it stick to a plot. It’s just filled with hilarious, occasionally gross, scenes from its four main characters: Frylock, a talking box of fries with powers; Meatwad, a cute ball of meat who’s naïve; Master Shake, a walking, talking milk shake with a straw and attitude toward everybody; and Carl, a hairy New Jersey guy who’s foul and very rude. However, it’s only funny for those who like to laugh at very stupid things.

Lost. Very addictive and for good reason, it’s the best T.V. drama in the past 10 years.

24. Another addictive drama. Surprisingly, FOX has stuck with Keifer Southerland and the rest of the 24 cast. I say this because any time FOX lands a quality show, they cancel it within two seasons. At any rate, this would be a great gift to anybody anxious for the new season coming out in January.

Firefly. Speaking of great series canceled by FOX, Firefly was the best fantasy series on television for six weeks in 2002. They may have lost their contract, but the actors rebounded by creating Serenity, which topped the Box Office for one week in this summer. Essentially, this series is a cross between an old western – with .45s and holsters -- and Star Wars – with spaceships and foreign planets. Fans of either genre should appreciate this DVD series.

Godfather. Good for any man, any time.

The Shawshank Redemption. This is one of the most widely owned DVDs in the world. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on two of the best-ever acting performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

Pulp Fiction. A classic that makes one think, laugh and think some more.

Frankenstein. A must have for anybody who likes horror.