2010 Father’s Day Blu-ray Gift Guide

It’s probably a safe bet your father either has a Blu-ray player or wants one. So what better way to celebrate Father’s Day this year than with getting him some great titles to watch in glorious high definition (and really, isn’t seeing his favourite movie in the best quality possible better than another tie or golf club?). Whether he’s into sci-fi, westerns or great TV, I’ve got a recommendation that should please him and make you the star child you’ve always secretly longed to be.

Mobsters, Cowboys, and Army Men

Sergio Leone’s The Man with No Name Trilogy (which includes films A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) is one of the best collections of westerns ever made, and features one of Clint Eastwood’s most stellar characters. The set also includes some truly intriguing special features that will please most fans. If mobster flicks are more up your dad’s alley, the release of the 20th anniversary edition of Goodfellas gave me an entirely new appreciation for the film. Not only does it come in a wicked “Digibook” case with 35 pages of photos and notes, but the extras are top notch too. The 1968 John Wayne-driven Vietnam flick Green Berets is good for the dad who never turns off the History Channel. While being far from a classic, it is still a good watch and for Wayne fans, it’s a must-have.

What’s on Television?

No surprise here that The Sopranos Season 1 is my top pick. As if the show wasn’t amazing enough, seeing it the way it was meant to be seen — in high-def — is a must. If pops is into Family Guy, Volume 8 just hit shelves last week and Family Guy Something, Something Dark Side is a great straight-to-DVD/Blu-ray Star Wars spoof. Dexter and Mad Men both have multiple seasons available on Blu-ray and are also great shows with strong characters and storylines. Lastly, a show I recently stumbled upon, the HBO costume drama Rome, has the complete series available in one stunning box set that includes all 22 episodes as well as 13 commentary tracks, an interactive guide, about 10 featurettes, and a ton more.

Going Natural

With BBC’s Life hitting shelves recently, there is no question that it should be the top gift this Father’s Day. Just make sure to get the David Attenborough-narrated version and not the Oprah version (she sounds like she’s reciting to a kindergarten class). Planet Earth is another title that you and your father should both already own, and for a purely awesome visual experience, Under the Sea 3-D is a title that will blow you away.

Laughs and Glitter

Caddyshack, arguably one of the funniest movies ever made, is not necessarily required to be seen in high definition. But the release Warner Bros. just put out is the best video quality were ever going to see from this movie so you might as well grab it while it’s hot. If dad is into strippers and sleaze, the 15th Anniversary “Sinsational” Edition of Showgirls is actually a really nice set that should get him excited.

Thrills and Chills

Is the father figure in your life a sci-fi nerd? Minority Report is one of the best-looking Blu-ray titles ever released and should be required viewing when setting up a Blu-ray system. Same goes for Avatar. The updated War of the Worlds, while lacking in special features, has an amazing picture and killer lossless audio track and should also be considered. If psychological thrillers are more up the old man’s alley, Shutter Island and Edge of Darkness are both worthwhile titles, while darker horror films like the The Wolfman remake and original A Nightmare on Elm are two titles I can’t stop watching.

Not Yet on Blu-ray

Unfortunately Blu-ray is a newer technology and not every title is available yet. That said, a couple of regular DVD suggestions I’d go with include the recent Charlie Chan Collection (featuring the titles Dark Alibi, Dangerous Money, The Trap, and The Chinese Ring) and the amazing Clint Eastwood set, Clint Eastwood: 35 Films, 35 Years which also comes with the short version of the documentary The Eastwood Factor.

Those are some of my suggestions to show dad you really care. Did I miss something you would recommend? Post a comment below or email brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com. Happy Father’s Day!