Still holiday shopping? So are we -- and we've been taking notes. Introducing our series of gift guides for your "easy to figure out, but hard to shop for" friends. Today, Jackalope Ranch's Gift Guide for the Film Fanatic.
Finding the perfect gift for the cine enthusiast in your life can be as impossible as finding a good Nicholas Cage film. Movie tickets are painfully generic -- even if you package them creatively in a popcorn tub. A movie rental gift card is even worse considering the nearest Blockbuster has long since been boarded up.
What to get that person who displays Grinch-like behavior at the mere suggestion of watching classic holiday flick The Santa Clause (or any Tim Allen movie for that matter)?
See also: -The Death of Film (Again): A Short History of an Art Form's Long Passing -Five Must See Movies in November
Here are five gift ideas from around town and across the Web that will surely satisfy your film buff's celluloid taste.
5. For the Red Carpet Filmgoer Who says gifts have to come in boxes? Treat your movie maven to a luxurious silver screen experience at the iPic Theaters at Scottsdale Quarter. It puts an elegant spin on the standard dinner-and-movie night because you actually eat dinner during the movie. You can bring your dinner into the theater with you or, if you prefer, have it delivered directly to your seat. If you'd rather eat at a table, there are several dining options as well as a full cocktail bar within the cineplex. This theater offers the usual selection of new releases and blockbuster hits -- the only caveat being that your feet don't stick to the floor as you try to exit the theater.
iPic Theaters has all the glitz and glam of a star-studded Hollywood movie premiere -- except there is no red carpet and very little chance of spotting a celeb. OK, it's nothing like a movie premiere but it beats the popcorn-scented experience you'd get at your usual cinema, right?
4. For the Wannabe Director
A must for your beloved film buff are tickets to next year's Phoenix Film festival. It's the ultimate gathering of local cine savants and provides a wide selection of films for every taste. It also gives your beloved movie critic the opportunity to corner Bill Goodykoontz and discuss his unfair review of The Last Airbender. Festival passes are already on sale but the film selection won't be announced until February.
3. For the Movie Night Habitué
For the film buff who loves the finer things in life, the Francis Ford Coppola Winery has paired the director's masterpiece Apocalypse Now DVD with the Director's Cut Cinema 2009. This dynamic DVD-wine duo is the perfect way to spice up a movie night. According to Mr. Coppola himself (well, his website anyway), you'll enjoy the bold flavors of raspberries, cherries, cloves, and a cigar box that match the intensity of this surreal Vietnam War epic. And when your beloved aficionado finally uncorks Coppola's cinematic bouquet, pour yourself a glass, swirl the wine gently and inhale deeply. Then give in to your temptation and utter in your most gravelly voice: "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning." 2. For the Indie Lover
FilmBar is the Valley's watering hole for Indie and foreign filmgoers. Housed in a Moroccan-themed art house, FilmBar's patrons come for the impressive selection of sub-cultural films, the wide range of craft beers and the cozy atmosphere. The micro-theater shows new and old independent films, foreign films, cult classics and screens local filmmakers' films and documentaries. With a membership card (called a Film BarFly Frequent Filmer Card), you'll give your film fanatic 12 movie tickets, anytime happy hour drink prices, free popcorn and special promos on FilmBar swag. It's really a gift that will keep on giving all year long. The membership card can be purchased online or at FilmBar. 1. For the Admirer of Classics
Selecting the right DVD to add to a connoisseur's collection can be tricky business but this year you can't go wrong with the beautifully restored Lawrence of Arabia on Blu-ray. (Unless, of course, they don't own a Blu-ray player, in which case you should probably toss one in with your gift.) The boxed set, which itself is gargantuan, includes three Blu-ray discs, the original soundtrack album with unreleased tracks, a frame from the original 65mm print, extra documentaries explaining the restoration process and a hard-bound coffee table book. So indulge your classics lover and celebrate the 50th anniversary release of this cinematic masterpiece with the Bu-ray collector's edition. Nothing could be more impressive on a appreciator's shelf than the almighty Lawrence of Arabia boxed in all its 21st-century glory.
