By Kevin Kelly

So you managed to end up with a stash of holiday loot, gift certificates, or the newest gift-giving craze: gift cards. Now you're wondering what to spend 'em on? Fear not, you can use our handy-dandy post-holiday DVD self-gift-giving guide-a-palooza to pick out a nice DVD set for yourself. Or, if you're still in a giving mood, for someone else. However, we say since giving unto others is considered to be the best thing, just consider yourself an other. Works every time.

So, this list is broken up into a few different categories, but you'll notice that it skews a bit onto the geeky side. You'll just have to blame me for that one, because I skew slightly geeky myself. However, that's not to say I don't appreciate a good comedy, drama, or documentary from time to time. Check out this list of the best box sets from 2007, and stop letting those gifts burn a hole in your pockets.





Comedy:

SEINFELD: THE COMPLETE SERIES. This is the mother lode of DVD sets, and instead of being presented in a goofy, wacky box set that says "Hello!" like Kramer when you open the box, it's presented in a very swanky, slipcased, classy looking presentation. You get every episode of the show, a ton of bonus items, a coffee table book about the show, and you can display it in style. That's of course if you didn't buy it at Best Buy, in which case it comes in a big goofy fridge, complete with magnets. If you happened to pick that one up, maybe you can use the fridge to keep your dignity in. Check out how far the show went from those first few episodes to the last season, and you'll get all misty-eyed.





KING OF QUEENS: THE COMPLETE SERIES: Okay, granted, this one comes packaged in something goofy, which I was complaining about for Seinfeld, but somehow I just can't be mad at this cute little IPS truck. Plus, you can open up the back, where all the DVDs are housed, and the engine compartment houses the booklet that serves as a guide to the show. At least it doesn't honk and spout off Kevin James clips when you open it up. If you're a KoQ fan, then you'll seriously love this set. I mean, you'll seriously be infatuated with it enough to possibly marry it. Sicko.




Action/Adventure:

THE YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES: Volumes One and Two: This show was best when it featured the teenaged Indiana Jones, but the young Indy stories have started to grow on me over the years. Paramount finally released these sets on DVD last year, with a Volume Three coming out this year around the 4th feature film, and it's about time. Harrison Ford even guest stars as old Indy in one episode, plus it is loads better than the STAR WARS prequels. Trust me.





THE BOURNE COLLECTION: These films managed to to surprise everyone, who knew Matt Damon could kick so much ass? Each film was progressively better than the last, and the final one surprised cynics by not sucking. I was one of those doubters, but I was still sitting there in the theater seat munching my popcorn each time a new Bourne film came out, so it's no surprise that I had to pick up this boxed set to keep hope alive. Maybe I'm actually a secret government sleeper agent, programmed to go nuts when someone says to secret code word. You never know.



Documentary:

PLANET EARTH: You've probably heard everyone in the world talking about this set, or seen it displayed everywhere from Target to Borders bookstores. Let me say without any qualm whatsoever: the hype is totally understated. Quite simply, this is one of the most amazing documentaries about the planet we live on that I've ever seen in my life. You can't help but be moved as you watch this and find out things that you've never known before, including things that will make it seem like you're living on an alien planet. If you have access to an HD or Blu-ray player, then I can't recommend picking one of those versions up enough. It'll blow your eyeballs away.



BLUE PLANET: Made by the same crew that did PLANET EARTH, it's yet another look at the Earth, this time focusing solely on the bodies of water that surround us. While the other set by be a half-notch above this one, it doesn't mean it's any less stunning. Again, pick up an HD version of this if you can as well, for the same reasons as above. This played in IMAX theaters (and in some cases, still does) around the world, and allows you a peek into a world you've only seen hinted at in movies like THE ABYSS and James Cameron's ALIENS OF THE DEEP.




ATLAS OF THE NATURAL WORLD: Africa and Europe: Made by the BBCs Natural History unit (how is it that the BBC and British crews just kick so much ass at documentary filmmaking? Seriously, they must be breeding these guys there. This six-disc set focuses on the African and European continents from the dawn of time to the rise of human civilization, and shows how much things have changed over the eons. Truly stunning stuff. Unfortunately, it's not available on HD, but it doesn't look any less stellar in this DVD format.





Sci Fi:

THE X-FILES: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION: This is a massive box set that includes every single episode of the show, tons of bonus materials like a guidebook, a comic book, a mini-poster, and more, all housed in a giant box with a hidden shelf underneath that conceals the extra goods. It's more Mulder and Scully than you can shake a stick at, including over 9,0000 minutes of television PLUS this X-FILES: FIGHT THE FUTURE feature film, and that's not including the all extra materials. The only thing that bums us out is that they didn't include spinoff series THE LONE GUNMEN, so you'll have to pick that up separately if you're a completist. You can't go wrong with this thing.



BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SEASON ONE: HD-DVD: Yes, I have an HD-DVD player that's tacked on Voltron-style to my Xbox 360. Yes, I know the recent defection of Warners to the Blu-ray camp has probably killed off the HD-DVD format, but that didn't stop me from picking up BSG in HD. Why? Because I frakkin' love this show, and it looks amazing in HD. Plus they tossed in some new special features, so I feel like I'm not getting entirely ripped off. Did I mention it looks gorgeous?





DOCTOR WHO: SEASON THREE: This is still one of those shows that I find tough to admit liking to others. Sure, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is the cool kid of the moment, but DOCTOR WHO has been around since the 1960s. The recent reboot that is now in its third season is nothing short of spectacular. David Tennant has been soaring to the same awesome campy heights that Tom Baker managed all those years ago, and there's the added advantage of the special effects being slightly better. Considering the normal BBC special effects, that's actually saying something. This set has a slew of extras, including the Christmas special and David's video diaries. Sonic screwdriver not included.



HEROES: SEASON ONE: While Season Two might have started out with a bit of a whimper instead of a bang, the first season still shines on DVD. In fact, you'll easily get sucked in and find yourself watching several episodes at a stretch. Before you know it, you're done. Hopefully NBC will release Volume Two, the first half of Season Two, on DVD soon, since the writers strike is keeping new shows from being made. Tons of extras, commentaries, and a couple of wacky superpower related games make this a loaded up special edition worth picking up. And yes, you guessed it... if you can pick up the HD version, make sure you do. You'll see details you never noticed before.



STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES: SEASON ONE: That's right, again with the HD-DVD. Now, I have to confess that I was never really a big fan of the original series, having grown up all The Next Generation and such, but this set has made me see everything, literally, in a brand new light. They upgraded the special effects for the show, the shots of the Enterprise, and filled it chock full of extras, so this actually surprised me enough to start recommending it to everyone. Now I'll have to pick up the next two seasons, which I hope they'll still be putting out in HD-DVD format. That's turning out to be a blessing and a curse... a blessing in how good it looks, and a curse given that it might die a sad death. The good news is, it has the regular DVD edition on the flipside.




BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT: Here it is, the grand finale of the list. There was no way I'd be living this thing off the list. I splurged for the massive box sex, and it's a behemoth. It comes packaged in a ultra-slick Blade Runner briefcase, meant to look like the Voigt-Kampf test machine that Deckard uses in the film. Plus you get limited edition photos, a miniature origami unicorn, a replica Spinner police car, a lenticular motion card of Deckard inside a lucite magnet block, and of course, the movies. Oh, and a letter from Ridley Scott himself, personally thanking you for paying off his third house in Malibu. Er, I mean buying the film. Seriously, this is a fantastic edition of the film, and it didn't even look this good when it originally hit the screens. Without a doubt, the finest looking set I've ever purchased. Now I just have to find somewhere to hide that briefcase.