Holiday feast: top 5 DVDs for Christmas

Just back from Brian Setzer's rocking Christmas show over at Universal. My son Nick and I had good close seats for the sold-out show, which has become a snazzy L.A. tradition.

Setzer, the guy from the Stray Cats, works with about 20 musicians and a couple of female singers. We went last year, which was good, but this show was something special -- tight and hard-driving as well as festive. Many good vibes. Setzer seemed quite proud of the concert and his musicians. A lot of old folks there, Nick noted, including me.

Settling in for the final weekend before Dec. 25, I got to thinking about which DVDs to break out. I was never one for "It's A Wonderful Life," but maybe we'll give it another try: Paramount just put out a double-disc version with a restored black & white print (and a colorized version for those trying to get in some last-minute naughtiness).

Here are the top 5 Christmas DVDs in our house:

A Christmas Story. This 1983 film seems to have become America's favorite holiday film. Everyone loves the tale of Ralphie the kid and his quest for a Red Ryder BB gun. Doing its bit for peace on Earth, Warner Home Video has released the classic in both warring high-def formats: HD DVD and Blu-ray. The high-def discs port over most of the extras from the 2003 double-disc DVD.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. A remastered version of this animated masterpiece came out last season via Warner. A real treat for those who've only caught "Grinch" on television. The featurette "From Whoville to Hollywood" extends the too-short viewing experience. Boris Karloff narrates and Chuck Jones animates. Woo-Who!

Bad Santa. Heard Billy Bob Thornton on a radio show last night talking about how he keeps a Christmas tree up all year and listens to holiday music in the summer. Here's his gift to those of you with, um, savory tastes. Probably the nastiest Christmas movie to see a theatrical release. Certainly one of the funniest. And still it ends up being all holiday sappy. Awwww. Dimension slipped this one onto Blu-ray right before the holidays. A great looking video with two versions to pick from: the director's cut, same as the "Bad Santa" DVD from last year, and a new uncensored version.

A Christmas Carol. The one from 1951 with Alastair Sim. Released this season by VCI in a double-disc collector's edition. I always enjoyed the 1938 version with Reginald Owen as well. Generous extras on VCI's set. Amazing what a little Dickens and a bit of undigested beef can unleash. ...

Holiday Inn. Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby make magic as they sing and dance their ways around a resort that's only open on holidays. Features some of Irving Berlin's timeless songs, notably "White Christmas." Extras include a 45-minute look at Crosby and Astaire. This spruced-up version of the 1942 film was released last fall by Universal.

Read the DVD Spin Doctor' list of best Christmas DVDs, Blu-rays for 2008.

Check out some more new holiday DVDs.

Merry Christmas, folks -- hope you get what you want.

Comments

[Liz]

Those are some good choices. We just gave that Christmas Carol dvd to my future dad-in-law for his birthday (what a curse to be born so close to Christmas!) so I'll see if I can't borrow it back one of these days; I don't believe I've watched it in many years. A Christmas Story was a tradition in my family for many years, and one I'll certainly continue when I have kids of my own.

[Glenn]

Thanks for the comments, Liz, welcome.

I had a friend born on the 4th of July. Said he was crushed when his parents finally told him all those fireworks weren't really for him.

Christmas Story looks like a real keeper. It's the only holiday movie my teens remember with affection and enthusiasm. Great to see something so relatively new become so widely treasured.

Glenn