This column took a break last week as yours truly spent a few days in Las Vegas helping to represent Blogcritics at the first ever BlogWorld and New Media Expo. Instead of doing a re-cap of the releases here, I'll refer you to Chris Beaumont's column. He liked Ratatouille, which is in my Netflix queue as we speak. Overall, last week seemed to have more to offer than the current crop.

I was hoping that this week might yield at least a release date for season three of Battlestar Galactica, but there's still no news on that front. I'd like to ask Santa to put that set under my tree this year, and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, a release date isn't really too much to ask for, is it?

Of the recent theatrical releases making their way to DVD this week, Shrek the Third and Ocean's Thirteen are the most notable. I've seen neither of these in the theater — I liked the first Shrek just fine, but never saw a need for a sequel or two. Ocean's Thirteen might be worth a rental, though; I do like George Clooney, and a well-done caper film is usually entertaining, so I think this one rates at least a rental.

In a nod to the upcoming holiday, Paramount Home Video has released a two-disc collector's edition of the perennial Frank Capra favorite, It's A Wonderful Life. Given that the only addition here is a colorized version of the film (blasphemy!), you can probably spend your money on something else if you already own a copy of this film. If you don't already have a copy, I highly recommend watching it the way Capra shot it — in black and white.

Speaking of perennial favorites, this week also brings the release of a 20th anniversary edition of The Princess Bride, one of the most watchable, quotable, and entertaining films ever made. I realize this is the fourth release for this one (I've got one of them myself), and I'm not sure if the extras are different enough to warrant a re-purchase, but if you inexplicably don't already own this one, what are you waiting for?

If more challenging fare is to your liking, The Criterion Collection has released a seven-disk, restored edition of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 15-hour work, Berlin Alexanderplatz. Based on a German novel by Alfred Doblin, the work was originally produced as a mini-series for German television in 1980. The set includes, among other things, a new high-definition digital transfer from a 2006 restoration, several documentaries, and improved English subtitles. A pricey set, this would make a nice gift for the serious film student on your list.