The "Last Minute Christmas" DVD List

I know you're proactive. You've been working on your Christmas present list for months, snagging little things on sale here and there to fill in the little gaps. Now you can sit, relax, and await the festivities with a knowing glow, comfortable with the knowledge that you've covered all your bases and have something for everyone.

Sure.

My Christmas season shopping technique closely resembles a Turkish fire drill — madly rushing hither and yon, panicking when I realize that I've utterly forgotten one aunt, a mother-in-law, and three acquaintances, finally reaching apoplexy when I realize that I as yet have not one damned thing for my wife — and I again thank all that's holy that online shopping is available and convenient and ships right to their door. With giftwrap, at which any self-respecting male is, quite frankly, terrible.

So, for your last minute items for that DVD lover out there, here's some can't miss gems and true items of perfection. And the beautiful thing is you can order today and still get it there in time for Christmas. Note that these aren't full reviews (how could you miss it?), but little capsule descriptions to inform, delight, and entertain. Perhaps just inform. Ahem. Make with the clicking!

For the action movie buff:

• Let's hope they don't have this one yet... The Usual Suspects. If there's ever been a quintessential crime-gone-wrong action-drama, this is it. Kevin Spacey is flawless as small-time con man Verbal Kint, who tells his story of surviving Keyser Soze. Forget The Sixth Sense, this is the movie that defines "twist".
• Memento should be required watching for anyone that owns a DVD player. Guy Pearce portrays Leonard Shelby, a man unable to make new memories, unable to remember what happened just 15 minutes ago. A man tracking down the person who raped and murdered his wife. This may sounds remotely compelling, but add the following storytelling element to it and you've got an instant classic: it's told from the end to the beginning in 10 minute segments. You may know what happened, but you won't know why until later. Carrie Anne Moss puts in a solid performance (oh, the two scenes at the house) as does Joe Pantoliano. Carefully crafted and subtly acted, this one is deserving of a place in anyone's movie drawer.

For the kids in the group:

• Pixar makes good again with Finding Nemo. Somehow they have the unerring capacity to perfectly anthropomorphize anything, this time breathing life, vibrancy and emotion into the undersea world. Boiled down to its essence, this is the story of a father's quest for his "kidnapped" son. He travels far — physically and otherwise — and experiences much in his quest. You'll be hard-pressed to find a more solidly effective performance from Ellen DeGeneres than her characterization of the forgetful fish Dory. The animation and backdrops are stunning. Click!

The Catch-All:

• The Adventures of Indiana Jones box-set. I shouldn't have to explain this one. At last the entire series is available on DVD and includes a feature-length documentary on the making of all three movies. Young, old, who cares, there's something for everyone in this set. You can't beat this set for pure action and enjoyment. (Updated note: this one is on backorder, so if it absolutely must be there by Christmas, make another selection.)

Hopefully this will help those of you needing some last-minute help with the Christmas selections. And if all else fails, gift certificates are a great way to say "I appreciate you and am thinking about you but have no clue what your taste in films might be so I'm punting."

Article Author: ColdForged

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