S&V Gift Guide: The Sequel

When you have a hit, don't quit! Inspired in some measure by Dune: Part Two's recent smash success on the big screen, we thought, why not revisit our curated sampler of new and exciting gifts you can treat yourself or someone else to? After all, Mother’s and Father’s Days are right around the corner, and then there are all those birthdays and anniversaries that fall throughout the year. So we bring you this “sequel,” packed with more 4K and Blu-ray discs and some cool gear — 25 items in all.

Saw 10-Film Collection Blu-ray (Lionsgate)
This massive 10-movie set marks the upcoming 20th anniversary of the revenge-seeking, trap-setting, self-mutilating horror franchise, and it’s brimming with sequels. S&V contributor Brandon DuHamel and I were recently discussing the merits of the series and I stand by my assertion that these movies found their groove early on and did a mostly respectable job giving audiences what they kept coming back for, in unflinchingly gruesome detail. They’re all here in HD on Blu-ray (sorry, no 4K):

  • Saw (2004)
  • Saw II (2005)
  • Saw III (2006)
  • Saw IV (2007)
  • Saw V (2008)
  • Saw VI (2009)
  • Saw: The Final Chapter (2010) (A.k.a. Saw 3D, though strictly 2D here.)
  • Jigsaw (2017)
  • Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)
  • Saw X (2023)
All appear to be straight repacks of existing discs — 10 Blu-rays plus 13 companion DVDs in total — so you get a staggering amount of past bonus content, though some of the discs are not clearly marked, which can lead to some frustration. The first seven movies are unrated, while the final three carry an R rating along with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. To round out the collection, Lionsgate includes a digital copy of each movie and a set of two-sided photo/art cards.
$58.62, amazon.com


Hanna-Barbera's Superstars 10: The Complete Film Collection Blu-ray (Warner Archive Collection)
From September 1987 to November 1988, the Hanna-Barbera Studio released a series of made-for-TV feature films that revisited many of their most beloved cartoon characters — including three Yogi Bears and three Scooby-Doos — in new adventures, with the legendary Mel Blanc and other original voice performers returning for the occasion. Warner Archive recently assembled 10 of these films in Hanna-Barbera's Superstars 10, a gleeful tribute to a simpler time when the Jetson family, Huckleberry Hound, Fred Flintstone, and other iconic cartoon personalities entertained kids on Saturday mornings.

  • Yogi's Great Escape
  • Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers
  • The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones
  • Yogi Bear and the Magical Flight of the Spruce Goose
  • Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats
  • The Good, the Bad and Huckleberry Hound
  • Rockin' with Judy Jetson
  • Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School
  • Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf
  • Yogi and the Invasion of the Space Bears
All of the films have been remastered in high definition and are presented in their original 4:3 aspect ratio. In an interesting bit of animation history, the bulk of these films were made using traditional “cels” — a transparent sheet on which the animation is hand-drawn — while the final two were produced using digital ink and paint, which turned out to be the wave of the future for the medium. Back then the results were still a little bumpy though, so Reluctant Werewolf and Space Bears are the least impressive of the otherwise colorfully punchy upgrades in this set. Extras are comprised of 1979’s Scooby Goes Hollywood and 1972’s environmentally themed, all-star Yogi's Ark Lark.
$60.08, amazon.com

The Ring Collection 4K (Shout! Studios)
The Ring is a true standout in the horror genre, owing largely to its original story, strong visual style, and taut direction of a terrific cast. The sequel holds its own, though viewers will want to check out the much-later “threequel” Rings to see how the trilogy plays out. All of the films have been freshly remastered in 4K with Dolby Vision high dynamic range — the first supervised by one-and-done director Gore Verbinski — and are also presented in HD on Blu-ray Disc:

    The Ring (2002)
    The Ring Two (2005)
    Rings (2017)
New extras join the original supplements presented here, including a feature-length documentary about the transition from Hideo Nakata’s Japanese Ringu films to these American incarnations and an audio commentary on the first sequel.
$60.24, amazon.com

Dark Water 4K (Arrow)
More Hideo Nakata, anyone? His 2002 J-Horror gem, Dark Water (also remade Stateside) makes a splash in familiar territory as a single mom faces the supernatural, this time in a mysterious — and leaky — apartment building. Arrow has paired the original Japanese lossless 5.1 with a 2160p Dolby Vision presentation, both of which go a long way toward maintaining the film’s creepy mood. Extras are comprised of creator interviews, a vintage “making of,” and a new companion booklet.
$31.99, amazon.com

We Are Rewind Portable Cassette Player
For anyone who used their portable cassette player a lot (me), took it everywhere (me) but dropped it more than once (also me), We Are Rewind’s line of retro-styled players is a pretty big deal — a sort of spiritual “sequel” to my beloved Sony TPS-L2 Walkman. The blue “Kurt” model channels serious first-gen Walkman vibes with its aluminum body and big, chunky control buttons. Dust off your favorite old cassettes and get your hands on some blanks because Kurt can also record from stereo sources via its line-in jack. Oh, and don’t forget to snap off those protection tabs on your homemade mixtapes to avoid unpleasant accidents.

Though Kurt triggers memories of a bygone era, the player includes a couple of 21st-century wrinkles: a 12-hour rechargeable lithium battery and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity for streaming to a wireless speaker, making it the world’s first wireless cassette player. (I can attest that those weren’t a thing in the ‘80s.) Unfortunately, the player does not support today’s wireless earbuds, but the company does offer an optional set of Walkman-esque on-ear wireless headphones for $52 that come with swappable foam ear cushions in black, yellow, and orange. In addition to blue, the cassette player is offered in orange (Serge), gray (Keith), and black with yellow highlights (Amy); Kurt, Serge, and Keith sell for $159, while Amy can be had for $169.
$159, wearerewind.com


First Blood 4K Steelbook (Lionsgate)
Rambo: Last Blood 4K Steelbook (Lionsgate)
Proof that John J. Rambo's hemoglobin is good from the first drop to the last, Lionsgate has cleverly released the bookends to his five-movie saga in spiffy standalone steelbooks. As happens, the debut (the only one not “Rambo”-branded) is arguably the best of the entire lot, a powerful drama about the plight of returning Vietnam War veterans infused with intense action.

The coda, meanwhile, brings the pathos we’d hope for after 37 years, balanced by the violence we’ve come to expect. An HD Blu-ray, digital copy and archival extras are included with each set (generously so for First Blood) and the metal packaging is adorned with new artwork for these Walmart-exclusive editions, which is different from the artwork used in the five-movie set released in 2020.
$26.96, First Blood
$34.99, Rambo Last Blood


Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - The Making of the Classic Film by John Tenuto & Maria Jose Tenuto (Titan Books)
Sociology professors by trade, husband and wife authors John and Maria Jose Tenuto always find fascinating insights in their explorations of pop culture, and this deep dive into one of the best damned sequels, arguably the best damned Star Trek, and quite simply one of my favorite films of all time, is no exception. An oral history touching upon almost all aspects of the making of Star Trek II, the research and revelation proffered within these photo-filled chapters range from delicious trivia to jaw-dropping profundity, ultimately transporting us to 1982 and into the 23rd Century. Wrath of Khan was something of a movie miracle, a low-budget underdog that managed to reinvigorate the entire franchise for decades to come. With the Tenutos’ love of their subject evident on every page, this overdue yet certainly welcome coffee table tome is kinda miraculous, too.
$50, titanbooks.com


Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - Khan's Necklace Limited Edition Prop Replica (Factory Entertainment)
And now a little something for Khan aficionados who want to take their fandom a step further. Some of cinema’s truly great props and costumes are fraught with subtext. Take for example the necklace Khan first wears ironically on Ceti Alpha V following the events of “Space Seed.” It’s a surprisingly complicated bit of kit, Khan’s deep contempt for the Federation manifest in the broken Starfleet insignia and cannibalized techno-fragments he used to fashion his unique statement piece.

All of Factory Entertainment’s prop replicas are born of exhaustive research, made for fans by superfans. After studying the surviving originals, the design team identified all of the individual vintage electrical components used by the prop makers more than 40 years ago. The parts of this necklace were recreated in solid metal, detailed right down to electrical wire of the correct gauge and color, then hand-finished to be virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. The necklace feels substantial when held and looks great when worn, even for those of us who lack pecs like those of the late Sr. Montalbán. It arrives packaged inside a beautifully illustrated magnetic-closure gift box with a numbered certificate.
$199.99, factoryent.com


Icons Unearthed: Star Wars Blu-ray (Mill Creek Entertainment)
I devoured this TV docu-series upon first viewing and can’t wait to jump in all over again now that it is available on Blu-ray. Directed by Brian Volk-Weiss in his own cheeky style, this is the behind-the-scenes tale of the classic Star Wars Trilogy and its three sequels, laid bare across six episodes with a runtime that is not parsed out in the way you probably expect. The always entertaining yarn-spinner Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO in the Star Wars films, is here among the usual suspects along with important previously unsung participants like film editor/ex-wife Marcia Lucas (remarkably in her first-ever on camera interview) and set decorator Roger Christian, both of whom have revealing stories to tell. Unlike the TV series, with this Blu-ray release we are treated to several intriguing hours of additional interviews with Lucas, Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian).
$29.99, millcreekent.com

Return of the Jedi: The Accessories (HeroesVillains.com)
Did somebody mention Star Wars? With spring in full swing and summer fast approaching, how about a hike through your nearest woodlands, with gear inspired by the Original Trilogy’s final chapter? The Endor Hip Sling Bag ($75, left) offers pockets to spare and even a removable mini-pouch for earbuds or cash that you can reattach just about anywhere. The hardware and accents are sturdy and the netted bottle holder is slyly reminiscent of the trap the Ewoks used to scoop up Luke, Han, Chewie, and the droids.

Sling bag not your style? Check out at the compact Return of the Jedi Utility Crossbody ($95, right). It could pass for a compact messenger bag, and even converts into a backpack, sporting rough-and-ready waxed canvas for the main body, adorned with a collection of sweet embroidered patches from past travels.

Or maybe you or that special someone would rather slip into the Rebel Commando Endor Cargo Vest ($95, middle), part of Heroes & Villains’ new line of sleeveless accouterments. The forest camouflage print will help you blend in while the distinctive embroidery lets you stand out. Because you can never have too many places to carry your stuff, there are asymmetrical cargo pockets plus a curved side-entry chest pocket for easy access opposite a zippered pocket for more secure storage. What I love most about H&V’s designs is that each is unique, meaning they do a lot more than simply change up the color or decoration when they switch between the movies, TV shows, and celebrated characters in their ever-growing arsenal of licensed outerwear and accessories.
Endor Hip Sling Bag
Return of the Jedi Utility Crossbody
Rebel Commando Endor Cargo Vest

Universal Classic Monsters Limited Edition Collection 4K (Universal Studios)
Universal’s impressive repackaging of its eight core monster classics, originally set for release during the 2023 holiday season, was one of the initial sparks for the prequel to this guide — that is, until it was delayed and pushed into the new year. The collection lands in an oversized hardcover book befitting the greatest menagerie of horror icons ever from a single studio. Shout-out to cover artist Tristan Eaton, who had previously created a series of monster murals on location at the Universal Studios backlot, but here combines the whole gang into a wicked mashup that includes that invisible dude (which couldn’t have been easy to paint). The 4K discs included in the collection are:

  • Dracula (1931)
  • Frankenstein (1931)
  • The Mummy (1932)
  • The Invisible Man (1933)
  • The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
  • The Wolf Man (1941)
  • Phantom of the Opera (1943)
  • Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Happily, the discs are packed on individual nubs instead of being jammed into cardboard pockets. Without exception, the movies benefit from outstanding 4K HDR presentations (all but Phantom in black-and-white), each served up on a single disc loaded with extras. Blu-ray discs are not included but you do get a full set of Movies Anywhere digital copies.
$129.99, amazon.com


The Shootist Blu-ray (Arrow)
John Wayne’s last movie plays much like a final tour of the battlefield, uniting him with past co-stars, cinema greats, and the next generation actors (Jimmy Stewart, Lauren Bacall, and Ron Howard, respectively). With poignant direction by Don Siegel, this was a western for a new era: A notorious gunslinger faces a battle he can’t win as his reputation follows him to what he had hoped would be a peaceful end. While not 4K and not presented in one of Arrow’s industrial-strength slipcases, this is nonetheless a special edition through and through, with a new HD remaster and audio commentary, some extremely insightful featurettes, a two-sided poster, and those always-nifty lobby cards.
$28, arrowvideo.com


The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - The Complete First Season 4K
Moon Knight - The Complete First Season 4K
Andor - The Complete First Season 4K
Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series 4K (all Walt Disney)

Disney understands that Star Wars and Marvel fans love collecting physical media, hence four more series from the Disney+ streaming service have found their way to 4K disc. Falcon “sequelizes” shortly after the events of Avengers: Endgame, as Sam Wilson frets about what to do with Cap’s shield and the world struggles with just about everything following the second snap. Spun off from the pages of Werewolf by Knight, Moon Knight is a psychological action/horror series also set post-Endgame, albeit less specifically so. Andor rewinds five years from Rogue One, a rule-breaking slow-burn that builds to an epic finale, delivering one of the best iterations of the galaxy far, far away since the original Star Wars trilogy. Obi-Wan unfolds about midway between Episodes III and IV and, although not my personal favorite, it brought a few surprises and the return of the oh-so-affable Ewan McGregor as the o.g. Jedi Knight.

These are all big-budget shows with high production values, presented here in native 4K with HDR10 (you get Dolby Vision on Disney+) and Dolby Atmos. Each is an undeniable improvement over the streaming versions, spread across twin 100-GB discs (three for Andor, actually) with more than ample bitrates for a difference we can see and hear, notably in the shadow detail and bass reproduction respectively, with a special shout-out to the creative Atmos implementation on Moon Knight. All arrive in glossy steelbook cases with box art by Attila Szarka and include lots of featurettes and a handful of colorful concept art cards. The Marvel titles include a gag reel and deleted scenes and there’s even a director commentary for the last episode of Obi.
$44.96, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
$44.96 Moon Knight
$55.99, Andor
$44.96, Obi-Wan Kenobi


The Beatles Collector's Advent Calendar (Insight Editions)
Advent calendars are great fun, so why should they only be enjoyed in December? Turns out they’re available year-round, and one of the coolest we’ve seen delivers a collection of compact, often surprisingly useful mini-gifts that celebrate the reign of the Fab Four, each created specifically for this assemblage and hidden inside one of the 22 drawers and two envelopes. Open one a day and that’s exactly three weeks in Beatle Time, or devour them all at once — whatever makes you happy. And if you’re like me, you’ll pause to marvel that someone dutifully packed each and every one of these compartments, most of the contents wrapped in festive Beatles tissue paper. So as not to give too much away, my favorites are #3, #12, and #14: correspondence-focused pencils that will provide years of enjoyment every time you write a card or letter. The mini-gift designs are quite clever and look great on display when not in use, and the quality is a cut above with many crafted from ceramic, wood, cotton, or metal. Even the “calendar” itself is its own present, a scaled representation of Billy Shears’ bass drum from Sgt. Pepper’s.
$150, insighteditions.com


The Roundup: No Way Out 4K (Capelight Pictures/MPI)
A sequel not to Kevin Costner’s 1987 thriller No Way Out, but to the 2022 South Korean crime thriller The Roundup, which in turn was a sequel to 2017’s The Outlaws, a trio of films known collectively as the Crime City series with a fourth chapter on the way. (Similar to how China’s Police Story III was rebranded Supercop, you don’t have to watch the first two films to jump onboard.) Police dramas have been done so many times here in the States that it’s refreshing to see the well-worn formula through a different lens, especially with a star like Ma Dong-seok (also known as Don Lee, one of the Eternals), a dynamic force of nature who along with his team is out to stop more really, really bad guys, whatever it takes. This media-booked collector’s edition arrives in native 4K with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack that includes the original Korean language track and an English dub.
$36.05, amazon.com


RED 2-Film Collection 4K Steelbook (Lionsgate)
As I personally inch closer to being "RED" (“Retired, Extremely Drowsy” in my case), these adaptations of the Warren Ellis/Cully Hamner comic book about graying covert agents take on new relevance. These oldsters might be past their prime, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still kick some butt, and kick they do. In another Walmart exclusive, Red 1 (2010) and Red 2 (2013) are reissued here on 4K and HD Blu-ray in a metal-encased steelbook. Both are extremely enjoyable action/comedies, presented in Dolby Vision with killer Atmos sound and featuring star-studded casts that include Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Brian Cox, who can do no wrong. Extras include a complement of deleted scenes but the niftiest bonus might be the commentary by an actual retired CIA field officer.
$34.96, walmart.com


Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom 4K (Warner)
This sequel to the DC Extended Universe’s biggest hit (I know, right?) might have brought Zack Snyder’s experiment in interconnected superhero movies to a screeching halt, but Jason Momoa’s late-2023 undersea adventure is a dazzling demo disc, just like its predecessor. The sprawling, fantastical opus is a Dolby Vision/Atmos wonder with its bold comic book hues, tiny details, and wild front-to-back/top-to-bottom/side-to-side 360-degree audio action. A genuine treat for the eyes and ears.
$29.95, amazon.com

Wish 4K (Walt Disney)
Except for the fun of spotting Disney Easter eggs (reportedly more than 100 in all), Wish isn’t quite my bag, but your kids will dig it and its sumptuous colors and immersive Atmos mix make for some great showoff material. Wish is only available on 4K disc as part of a steelbook combo pack — and a rather spiffy one at that — sold exclusively at Walmart.
$34.96, walmart.com


April Fool’s Day and Orca Original Motion Picture Soundtracks (Varèse Sarabande/Craft Recordings)
In 1986, when the slasher flick was near peak popularity, horror maestro Charles Bernstein composed one of his best scores for one of the genre’s most murderously underappreciated movies, April Fool’s Day (which of course is the sequel to March 31st). More of a clever dark comedy than straight-on horror, it required a fresh, previously unheard tone, and that’s what we’re given in this two-LP set, which expands Bernstein’s work in both its orchestral film rendition here for the first time alongside the original synthesizer performances, with plenty of bonus tracks and new, in-depth liner notes.

Launching Varèse’s new Reel Cult reissue series for B-movie soundtracks, Ennio Morricone’s score for the Jaws-inspired 1977 thriller Orca returns to vinyl for the first time in decades. It’s a complex sonic stew evoking the sorrow and vengeance building within the titular beast, enhanced by wordless vocals, as the menacing Great White pursues the affable sea captain (Richard Harris) who killed his mate and child. Some inspired details make this edition truly special, from the track titles in the composer’s native Italian to the blood-red vinyl platter and impressive jacket, which also contains a poster.
$33, April Fool’s Day
$32.99, Orca

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