After a brief hiccup yesterday, The Dork Shelf Guide to Holiday Shopping is back on track! Today, we have a special focus on DVD and Blu-Ray box sets. But we’ll be back to our usual melange of gift ideas tomorrow.

Miss a day? Check out our directory and find out what cool picks for the holiday season you have missed so far!

Game of Thrones Season 1 & 2 with 3 exclusive Funko Pop Vinyls

With the groundbreaking and game changing third season coming on DVD and Blu-Ray this coming Feburary, getting loved ones caught up with seasons 1 & 2 of Game of Thrones might be the best gift anyone can give.  The struggle of the seven noble families fighting for control of the mythical lands of Westeros has captivated audiences for the past few years, and anyone in the know needs to get all their friends who aren’t in the know into this damn show so you can stop annoying them when you want to talk about it.  Hands down some of the best story telling on TV in years, and you can get them together with these crazy fun figurines from Funko. What’s not to love? (Available from most major retailers)

The Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season Limited Zombie Tank Head Edition

In the wake of the fourth season’s recent mid-season finale, it’s pretty easy to forget that not everyone has caught up on one of the more popular shows on the air today.  It’s vailable in a limited edition “zombie head tank” package (water not included!), specially created once again by McFarlane Toys thanks to the overwhelming positive response that the special packaging got for Season 2.  It’s the same 5 disc set with all the same special features as the standard release, but for any zombie devotees and super fans of the show this immaculate designed zombie recreations are a must have and look fantastic. (Available from most major retailers)

The Jack Ryan Collection

With the upcoming release of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit this January, it’s action times four as all the adventures of the late Tom Clancy’s iconic CIA hero are together in the same place for the first on Blu-Ray.  From Alec Baldwin in the Hunt for Red October, to Harrison Ford in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, and Ben Affleck in The Sum of All Fears the different takes on the character should get people ready for Chris Pine to take over the role next year..  Now available in one set, these four discs are the same Blu-Rays as the original release, but it still makes for hours of action filled entertainment. Great for anyone looking to upgrade to Blu-Ray or simply looking to add these iconic action thriller’s to their shelves for the very first time. (Available on Blu-Ray from most major retailers)

Don Cherry’s Rock ’em Sock ’em Hockey Silver Anniversary Collection: Volumes 1-25

With over two million units sold since the series launch in 1989, Don Cherry’s Rock ’em Sock ’em Hockey has been one of the best selling sports videos in Canadian history.  Hockey fans young and old will delight as for the very first time all volumes are now available in one set, include those that were only ever previously available on VHS.  This set makes for a perfect gift for any die-hard hockey fan who likes their action as cold as ice and hard enough to rattle the boards in your home theatre. (Available on DVD from most major retailers)

James Dean: Ultimate Collector’s Edition

Taken from the world of cinema far too soon, James Dean: Ultimate Collector’s Edition gives us the iconic actor’s only three features on Blu-Ray together for the very first time.  Rebel Without a Cause, Giant, & East of Eden comprise this box set (all are also available separately) and simply sparkle on Blu-Ray.  This set includes historical documentaries, behind the scenes photos, production memos, a 40 page collectable book ,and mini reproductions of the theatrical posters.  One of Hollywood’s original tragic bad boy’s, this set is a must have for any classic film lover and devotee of popular cinema as these films hold the test of time now even 60 + years later. (Available on Blu-Ray from most major retailers)

 

Dexter: The Complete Series Collection: Blu-Ray

It’s time to relive those final moments on the table as the blood curdling smash TV show Dexter is together in one place for the very first time.  This newly released complete series collection features all 8 seasons with their original special features intact; all housed in a replica blood slide box used by Dexter to catalog his victims on the show.  On top of all that there is a specially designed book called “Grafix: The Art of Dexter,” a collection of photography, fan art and iconography from the show. There’s also an exclusive bonus disc with over four hours of brand new behind the scenes interviews along and two exclusive documentaries that dive into the evolution of one of the most unique shows on television over the past 8 season.  While admitedly difficult to fit on your shelf and falling off considerably towards the end, this is a piece of TV history that any fan would love to add to their collection. (Available on DVD and Blu-Ray from most major retailers)

 

Under The Dome

From the mind of Stephen King, the small town of Chester’s Mill is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by a mysterious transparent barrier.  Cut off from civilization as they know it with dwindling resources, the townspeople struggle to survive as military forces try to get them out, with everyone trying to figure out the true nature of the dome and if it will ever be able to be penetrated.  The biggest smash hit of the summer TV offerings, this one-off TV event ended up being so popular that it’s being renewed for another 13 episode run, and while I’m not 100% sure how well that would work, this set is in keeping with the old school TV mini-series storytelling from the 1980’s that King excelled at. It makes for gripping event television that would be perfect to curl up with on a cold day during the holidays.  Easily one of the best on screen Stephen King TV adaptations to date, this set available on DVD and Blu-Ray has special features that include 5 behind the scenes looks at the making of the series, a gag reel and deleted scenes. (Available on DVD and Blu-Ray through most major retailers)

The Rutles Anthology

It’s the return of the Pre-Fab Four with the deliciously witty Beatles parody/homage titled All You Need Is Cash. Created by Monty Python alum Eric Idle and SNL impresario Lorne Michaels, it’s now on available Blu-Ray.  Featuring appearances from some of the original Not Ready For Prime Time Players like John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray, as well as a brilliant score and even an appearance from George Harrison himself, All You Need Is Cash went down in history as one of the original rock mockumentaries and was a direct inspiration for Rob Reiner’s This Is Spinal Tap.  Newly remastered with a new 5.1 audio mix, this classic spoof has never sounded better, and the special features include a brand new interview with Idle, the original SNL clip of the Rutles, and the follow up mockumentary Can’t Buy Me Lunch.  Perfect for some great music and some even bigger laughs. (Available on Blu-Ray through most major retailers)

 

Ultimate Fight Collection 2013

One of the more dynamic and powerful forces in not only sports but entertainment as well, the Ultimate Fighting Championship had yet another banner 12 month period.  This set chronicles the action that took place inside the octagon between July 2012 all the way through to June 2013, when the organization notably crowned it’s very first flyweight and women’s champions.  With over 200 fights featuring the likes of Anderson Silva, Georges St Pierre, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, Chael Sonnen, Cain Velasquez and Ronda Rousey this 20 DVD set is a one stop shop for any fight fan on anyone’s list.  (Available on DVD from all major retailers)

 

Mystery Science Theater 3000: 25th Anniversary Edition Collector’s Tin

A show about a man and his homemade puppet compainions watching cheesy movies could that held audiences captive celebrates its 25th anniversary with 4 new to DVD episodes as well and 2 that have been long out of print.  The titles include Moon Zero Two, The Day The Earth Froze, The Leech Woman, Gorgo, Mitchell and The Brain That Wouldn’t Die.  The special features on this 5 disc set include a three part documentary: Return To Eden Prairie: 25 Years Of Mystery Science Theater 3000 along with various interviews, behind the scenes looks at the show as well as the original trailers and 4 mini posters by artist Steve Vance.  It’s classic television unrivaled in flat out hilarity. (Available on DVD through most major retailers)

Family Ties: The Complete Series

The entire Keaton clan wants to come home for the holidays, with seven seasons of the beloved 80s sitcom together in one place in a collectable photo album.  This 29 DVD chronicles 1960s baby boomers Steven and Elyse Keaton (Michael Gross and Meridith Baxter) getting into all sorts of hijinks while raising their high speed, conservative loving kids of the high speed 1980’s (Michael J Fox, Tina Yothers and Justin Bateman).  Special features include a cast and series creator reunion from 2008, gag reel, various behind-the scenes segment, the rarely seen pilot for The Art of Being Nick staring Scott Valentine as Nick Moore, along with various profiles on Michael J Fox, a look at the making of the show and a PSA for the Michael J Fox foundation.  For any child of the 1980’s this is a trip down memory lane to the days when catching your favorite show was a destination event for families and friends everywhere. (Now available from most major retailers)

Weeds: The Complete Collection

For 8 seasonsWeeds followed the trials and tribulations of Nancy Botwin (Mary Louis Parker), who after the unexpected death of her husband embraced her new profession of becoming the neighborhood pot dealer.  Balancing suburban family life with her new profession ended up being more dangerous then she had ever anticipated.  This 16 Blu-Ray disc set includes all 8 seasons in their original form with all of the special features intact as well as a digital copy for every episode in the series.  This set may inspire some non-traditional “baking” over the holiday season, but creator Jenji Kohan’s unique vision ended up being some enjoyably high quality television. (Available on Blu-Ray from most major retailers)