Try entertainment gifts for Christmas
By Bruce R. Millerbmiller@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Friday, December 12, 2008
Haven't done that Christmas shopping yet? Don't worry. There's still time to buy those gift cards.
But, if you want something a little special, look in the entertainment aisles.
You'll find plenty of stuff from "High School Musical 3," "The Dark Knight" and "Horton Hears a Who?"
But, if you really want to veer, think outside the DVD box.
Some ideas:
Movie posters
What about getting a movie poster from a current release? Rick's Movie Graphics and Posters (www.ricksmovie.com) can hook you up with everything from "Slumdog Millionaire" to "WALL-E." The store has plenty of classic posters, too ("Star Wars," anyone?) and offers the same kind of "one-sheets" you see in theaters. Because they're not reprints, they're probably going to run in the $25-$35 range. But they're worth it if the movie is right.
Broadway memorabilia
Did "Wicked" cause a tornado of emotions when you saw it? Was "The Lion King" king? If you didn't get the merchandise at the theater, you can still buy it at playbill.com or at broadwaycares.com. Both sites have scads of T-shirts, posters, CDs, hats -- you name it. They're packed with stuff from the latest shows but, occasionally, you can find something "vintage." Among the hot stuff now? "Equus" posters featuring Daniel Radcliffe (remember, Harry Potter?). The poster features a striking image of a horse. Then, too, it's got Radcliffe's name on it -- sure to be a collectible in years to come.
Books
You could settle for something safe like the John Lennon biography. Or you could take a risk and buy a coffeetable art book (Keith Haring has a new one that's exhaustive -- and telling) or a "making of" film tome.
"The Art of 'Bolt'" just came out and it has a fascinating story to tell. Amid hundreds of sketches used to create the film, you learn how the animated film morphed during its inception. You get to see some of the signs that were merely seen in passing. And you can appreciate the look Bolt acquired after several test runs. The book puts the film's animators center stage and lets them tell how they created another Disney classic.
My fave: David Sedaris' "Holidays on Ice." It features the story that later became "The Santaland Diaries" (now playing at Shot in the Dark Productions). In it, Sedaris tells what it's like to be an elf at Macy's in New York.
Siouxland gifts
No, there aren't "Children of the Corn" Christmas ornaments -- yet -- but Sioux City Gifts (siouxcitygifts.com) has Sioux City soap and candles (sadly, one doesn't smell like Sioux City). It boasts the whole line of SUX merchandise and has tiles with old-school posters, postcards and signs on them. Gift baskets are available if you have problems turning on the creativity. Also new: Jill Miller's holiday CD.
Tickets
Wanna please someone next year, as well as this year? Give him or her tickets to a Siouxland arts event. You can find plenty of offerings at Ticketmaster.com. And, the Sioux City Symphony, Lamb Productions, the Sioux City Community Theatre, the Sioux City Concert Course, Shot in the Dark Productions, the Siouxland Civic Dance Association and many others can offer seats to their shows, just by calling their box offices.
DVDs
First, you need a Blu-ray player. (It's the wave of the future.) Then, you want "The Dark Knight" on Blu-ray. It's got all the bells and whistles and it shows off the system to its fullest. On regular DVD, it's pretty spectacular, too. "Mamma Mia!" is also an option (try singing along) and you just might want to try some of those Discovery Channel shows that pop in high-definition. Want to be even more cutting edge? Get ready for 3-D television. Samsung has a version that's expected to lead the field when more programming is available. (Just think, you've already got a start on next year's list!)
But, if you want something a little special, look in the entertainment aisles.
You'll find plenty of stuff from "High School Musical 3," "The Dark Knight" and "Horton Hears a Who?"
But, if you really want to veer, think outside the DVD box.
Some ideas:
Movie posters
What about getting a movie poster from a current release? Rick's Movie Graphics and Posters (www.ricksmovie.com) can hook you up with everything from "Slumdog Millionaire" to "WALL-E." The store has plenty of classic posters, too ("Star Wars," anyone?) and offers the same kind of "one-sheets" you see in theaters. Because they're not reprints, they're probably going to run in the $25-$35 range. But they're worth it if the movie is right.
Broadway memorabilia
Did "Wicked" cause a tornado of emotions when you saw it? Was "The Lion King" king? If you didn't get the merchandise at the theater, you can still buy it at playbill.com or at broadwaycares.com. Both sites have scads of T-shirts, posters, CDs, hats -- you name it. They're packed with stuff from the latest shows but, occasionally, you can find something "vintage." Among the hot stuff now? "Equus" posters featuring Daniel Radcliffe (remember, Harry Potter?). The poster features a striking image of a horse. Then, too, it's got Radcliffe's name on it -- sure to be a collectible in years to come.
Books
You could settle for something safe like the John Lennon biography. Or you could take a risk and buy a coffeetable art book (Keith Haring has a new one that's exhaustive -- and telling) or a "making of" film tome.
"The Art of 'Bolt'" just came out and it has a fascinating story to tell. Amid hundreds of sketches used to create the film, you learn how the animated film morphed during its inception. You get to see some of the signs that were merely seen in passing. And you can appreciate the look Bolt acquired after several test runs. The book puts the film's animators center stage and lets them tell how they created another Disney classic.
My fave: David Sedaris' "Holidays on Ice." It features the story that later became "The Santaland Diaries" (now playing at Shot in the Dark Productions). In it, Sedaris tells what it's like to be an elf at Macy's in New York.
Siouxland gifts
No, there aren't "Children of the Corn" Christmas ornaments -- yet -- but Sioux City Gifts (siouxcitygifts.com) has Sioux City soap and candles (sadly, one doesn't smell like Sioux City). It boasts the whole line of SUX merchandise and has tiles with old-school posters, postcards and signs on them. Gift baskets are available if you have problems turning on the creativity. Also new: Jill Miller's holiday CD.
Tickets
Wanna please someone next year, as well as this year? Give him or her tickets to a Siouxland arts event. You can find plenty of offerings at Ticketmaster.com. And, the Sioux City Symphony, Lamb Productions, the Sioux City Community Theatre, the Sioux City Concert Course, Shot in the Dark Productions, the Siouxland Civic Dance Association and many others can offer seats to their shows, just by calling their box offices.
DVDs
First, you need a Blu-ray player. (It's the wave of the future.) Then, you want "The Dark Knight" on Blu-ray. It's got all the bells and whistles and it shows off the system to its fullest. On regular DVD, it's pretty spectacular, too. "Mamma Mia!" is also an option (try singing along) and you just might want to try some of those Discovery Channel shows that pop in high-definition. Want to be even more cutting edge? Get ready for 3-D television. Samsung has a version that's expected to lead the field when more programming is available. (Just think, you've already got a start on next year's list!)
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