Holiday Buying Guide

MOVIES

Paul Robeson Collection

Portraits of the Artist
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$99.95

He was a college football phenomenon at Rutgers, the holder of a Columbia University law degree, the lead in Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones, the singer of "Ol' Man River" in stage and film versions of Show Boat, a star in Hollywood and British movies. Robeson was something else in pre-mid-century show business: a proud, sometimes defiant black man. This Criterion set displays the Robeson charisma in a silent melodrama (Oscar Micheaux's Body and Soul), the movie version of The Emperor Jones and four films he made in England and Africa when his majestic sexuality proved unacceptable to racist America. Documentary extras reveal Robeson's intelligence, passion and charm. A must-have collection.

— Richard Corliss

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Music

From Nirvana and Pink Floyd to the world's most famous music magazine, Josh Tyrangiel's picks will have you rocking out through New Year's

TV Box Sets

For your boob-tube-loving friends and family, TIME's TV critic James Poniewozik explores the best shows of yore

Coffee Table Books

Richard Lacayo offers the most interesting, elegant and beautiful hardbacks that even the choosiest of loved ones will treasure

Movies

Movie critic Richard Corliss reviews the best DVD releases of the holiday season, from Stanley Kubrick's 40th anniversary collection to Ingmar Bergman's Four Masterpieces

Video Games

TIME's Lev Grossman explores the most action-packed and beautifully designed games for Xbox, Wii and PS3 systems

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