The Christmas holiday is right around the corner, next Tuesday to be exact. That means that this week's batch of new releases will be the final round of fresh DVD titles that can be given as gifts. So, make sure you get out there and get the freshest titles for your loved ones. I know that I love to open up those familiarly shaped packages to find a new shiny disk to add to the collection. Fortunately, this week brings its fair share of new titles to store shelves, and a number of highly desirable ones to boot.

Last week brought a pair of high profile titles in The Bourne Ultimatum and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Only one of those titles made its way to my shelves. Can you guess which one? Considering where I am and where you are, I cannot hear your answer. Let me just answer it for you, The Bourne Ultimatum was last week's winner. If you read this column regularly, you will likely have guessed based on last week's pick.

This week brings plenty of new movies to drool over. You will surely be making some last minute updates to your wish list once you have a gander at these goodies. There are a number that were in the running for this week's prestigious selection as Pick of the Week. After a long and hard battle in my mind, one of them stands tall. The king of the mountain is: Stardust.

"Why Stardust?" you ask. Well, after careful consideration, it seemed like the title that was most in need of the promotion. When it arrived in theaters during the weekend of August 10 it faced significant competition from the new Rush Hour 3 (which also happens to be reaching DVD this week), as well as the continued success of both The Bourne Ultimatum (on DVD last week) and The Simpsons Movie (another source of DVD competition this week). Not to mention the fact that fantasy does not seem to be a big seller unless the title contains words like Rings, Potter, or Narnia.

"Why should I care about Stardust?" you now ask. That answer is easy. Stardust is a wonderfully made fantasy adventure filled with action, romance, and comedy. It will draw comparisons to The Princess Bride due to its near perfect balance of those genres, yet it stands on its own. It is a breath of fresh air with its balanced juggling act of plot threads and tone. There is an easy flow that lulls the viewer into its enchanting spell. It is a wonderful alternative to the lame comedies, generic action, all too serious dramas that have been in theaters.