Gift Guide – Blu-ray box sets

Star Wars: The Complete Saga

Nine discs, six films, one enthralling universe, and about a million different versions released to date – all to line George Lucas’ pockets. But this is the best version yet, with the original films looking fantastic in HD (though the less said about the added effects, the better). Alright, that’s a bit negative – but let’s be honest, we’re all going to buy it anyway.

The Pacific and Band of Brothers Complete Collection

£37, hmv.com

For once the ailing HMV has undercut Amazon and Play with an amazing combination of The Pacific and Band of Brothers on Blu-ray for a mere £37. The beach invasion at Normandy, the battle of the Tenaru or that mortar scene in the frozen woods of Russia – all need to be seen and heard in Blu-ray HD. Perfect for the armchair soldier in your family.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – The Extended Edition

£40, amazon.co.uk

With The Hobbit trailer recently unleashed, it’s time to swot up on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films as soon as possible. A mere two notes with the Queen’s pretty face will get you the full 12-odd hours of Middle-Earth action – with those stunning sweeping shots of the New Zealand landscape in HD, as they were meant to be seen. Warning: this may make the wait until next December for The Hobbit even tougher.

Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection

£35, amazon.com

From his pudgy-faced Quidditch-fumbling days right up to his snake taming latter years – all of Harry Potter’s adventures are here in HD, and yet the seven discs will only cost you £35. Why not give a little more dosh to J.K. Rowling? She probably needs it to pay her servants that million pound bonus.

Rio and Ice Age 3D

£30, amazon.co.uk

Christmas is going to mean sitting through kid’s films to keep the whole family happy – so do it on your own terms. If you have to watch a blue bird or an extinct creature flap about on your 50-inch plasma, why not do it in glorious high definition 3D? This double-pack of animated adventures is one of the few 3D Blu-ray box sets in the UK right now, so at that price it’s a bargain – and the kids will love it.

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About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.