Rating the Hottest Gifts This Holiday Season
The holidays are almost here! Do you know what to expect in your stocking on Christmas morning? Our roving band of reviewers have collected a quick list of the hottest gifts to arrive under the tree. How do the items on Santa’s Top 5 stack up?
MOVIES
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End ~ Disney DVD and Blu-Ray – Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow in this pulse-pounding conclusion in the Pirates trilogy. Rescued from Davy Jones’ locker, Jack is forced to unite the world’s pirate lords in an all-out assault against the British Royal Navy and the cursed Flying Dutchman. The 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD includes some bonus features, but not a lot. Also, the film lacks a commentary track – a definite disappointment. Rating: 3 out of 5 candy canes.
MUSIC
Carnival Ride ~ Carrie Underwood – Since winning the American Idol crown in 2005, Underwood has proven that she’s more than a wannabe pop star. She took home 2 Grammys for her first album, Some Hearts. Her new album, Carnival Ride, shows her continued improvement as a vocalist. Underwood co-wrote 4 of the songs on this CD and seems to hit a new level of maturity. On Carnival Ride, she treads into some familiar territory, but her style of melding country and pop will continue to wow fans. Rating: 4 out of 5 candy canes.
BOOKS
His Dark Materials Trilogy ~ Philip Pullman – With the release of The Golden Compass on the big screen, the books that inspired the movie are getting renewed interest. The fantasy story follows Lyra, a young girl whose destiny takes her on a remarkable quest where she meets nomadic Gyptians, armored polar bears and balloon aeronauts. The books are not for kids, but teens should find them interesting, complex, and filled with wondrous mirrors of our own world. Rating: 4 out of 5 candy canes.
VIDEO GAMES
BioShock – In the underwater city of Rapture, you will find a world where science couldn’t be stopped. Undead creatures roam the corridors, where you too are trapped under the ocean. This first-person shooter from 2K Games allows you to biologically mod your body with plasmids, hack devices and systems, upgrade your weapons and craft new ammo variants. It is sure to please Xbox 360 fans, but owners of other consoles will have to settle for the PC version. Rating: 4 out of 5 candy canes.
ELECTRONICS
Apple 8 GB iPod nano – Whoever said that the best things come in small packages must have been thinking of the iPod nano. This 8GB media player now includes a larger, 320-by-240-resolution display for video. Enjoy up to 5 hours of TV shows, movies, video podcasts and other video. Or get 24 hours of music on a single charge! Thinner and sleeker than ever before, the iPod nano is perfect gift! Rating: 5 out of 5 candy canes.
