It's the holidays everywhere and you can't go to a store or the mall or even to the gas station without seeing or hearing some jingle about tis' the season. Advertisers spend the most money around this time to lure you into the 'perfect' gift for that someone special (or for yourself :)). It's also the best time to release the top selling movies on DVD and their special/collectors/limited/gift set/deluxe/extra-extra-extra edition counterparts. I was browsing the other day at my local Borders and noticed some of the newest gift packs recently released which seemed in abundance this year. I've taken the time to list some of my seasons best picks for gifts, for yourself or for your collection. 

The Da Vinci Code (Special Edition Giftset) For the blockbuster adventure-seeker type, the big movie this holiday is definitely The The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) DaVince Code. This DVD comes in standard 2-disc set complete with the standard makings and featurettes and it comes as a special edition gift set. The gift set includes an "authentic, working cryptex" and a replica journal by Robert Langdon. The set is has a list price of $80.95 which is pretty ridiculous, but most retailers are selling it closer to $60.

King Kong (Deluxe Extended Limited Edition DVD Gift Set) The big ape of last holiday is trying to squeeze a few more dollars out of itself with yet another dvd set. King Kong (Three-Disc Deluxe Extended Edition) A 3-disc set has been released and a Deluxe Extended Limited Edition DVD Gift Set (no kidding, that's really the title). Like the Da Vince Code, this set offers the 3-disc set and a Limited Edition Weta sculpture of Kong climbing the Empire State Building. From what I've heard they do amazing work, so the statue should be very good quality. The set is listed at $79.98 but is selling at around $50. Could be worth it if you collect statues, I don't see value outside of that.

Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (Four-Disc Extended Edition + Bookend Gift Set) The Lord of the Rings for kids this movie has been called. I personally thought it was great fun and executed perfectly, some thought otherwise. A new dvd set is about to be released which comes with 4 dvds with loads of extras, a pair of bookends, 10-page companion and certificate of authenticity (because no one would ever believe). The set lists for $79.99 but is retailing around $55-$70.

Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition This is truly an Ultimate Edition if any were to be named such. The new edition which is to be released Nov. 28th, along with Superman Returns (Widescreen Edition) Superman Returns stand alone dvd, includes a whopping 14-disc set! Fourteen, 14, Four-Teen! The set has all 5 films: Superman: The Movie (Four-Disc Collector's Edition), Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman II (Two-Disc Special Edition), Superman III (Deluxe Edition), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (Deluxe Edition), Superman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition), Bryan Singer's Journals (Extended Edition), Look, Up in the Sky!: The Amazing Story of Superman, You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman. The variations of Superman II are intriguing especially the Richard Donner cut which he adds an additional 15 minutes of footage 'never-seen-before'. Superman: The Movie has 4 discs including the 2000 expanded edition, For you TV fans, here are collected television series.

Forbidden Planet (Ultimate Collector's Edition) Robby the Robot makes his landing back on earth in this nicely packaged tin containing the film Forbidden Planet. The set includes extras like spin-offs featuring Robby, a documentary about UFO's in the 50's, Sci-Fi movie trailer gallery, Collectible Robby the Robot replica all in a tin case. The set lists for $59.99 but you can get for around $45.

Six Feet Under - The Complete Series Gift Set The complete 5 seasons of HBO's drama about life in a funeral home. The packaging on this set is quite interesting, where the top of the box is fuzzy like grass and the rest of the box is a piece of dirt. Inside the box are all 63 episodes across 24 discs, commentaries and featurettes. The set lists for $279 but you can get it for roughly $200 which is cheap as hell when you could buy each set individually for almost $100 each like I did. Friends - The Complete Series Collection Who can get enough of Friends? NBC thinks we can't. Here is the second complete collection of Joey, Chandler, Ross, Rachel, Monica & Phoebe released in one huge box with all 10 seasons, the first set was limited and seems to be OOP. Fortunately this one is a little more easy on the wallet - listing at only $299, you can get it at Amazon for only $182.88. There are 40 discs in this one and a 60-page book about the pilot pitch plus commentaries and gag reels. You must be a Friend fanatic to really want this.

M*A*S*H - Martinis and Medicine Complete Collection Right before Robert Altman died, the complete M*A*S*H television series was released in a clever military style medi-case package. The set holds all 255 episodes from it 11 series run plus the full length movie from Altman across 36 discs. The set also include bloopers, iinterviews, reunions, memories and so forth. A very good looking and reasonably priced set which retails for $199 but you can get it for roughly $180.

Twilight Zone: The Complete Definitive Collection Ah this is the kind of set I live for... had I not already bought this twice over. But, still a worthy set to own for you Twilight Zoners or the television completest in you. Seems to be roughly the same material as the individual seasons so I cannot see any add value in getting this set besides saving about $100 bucks. The set lists for $299, but you can find it for $180-$225. Television is big on DVD, seems bigger than when it was on TV. Television shows you forgot about when you were growing up, to shows that just aired last week are making its ways onto DVD's and then in to completed series. Below are even more sets am simply mentioning for the mere fact I could be here til next Christmas writing this. Enjoy.

Alias - The Complete Collection (Seasons 1-5 + Rambaldi artifact box)

Star Trek The Animated Series - The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek

HomicideLife on the Street - Complete Series Megaset

The Criterion Collection Gift Set 2004 (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films