OK, now this is what we’d call a banner week for the Blu-ray format. We’ve got special anniversary releases of some great films, all-encompassing collector packs, Oscar winners, holiday movies, action blockbusters and more.

Let’s start with the two anniversary edition standouts—Say Anything… (20 years old now and still keeping us young) and North by Northwest (50 years since Alfred Hitchcock gave us this masterpiece). Will you be blown away by the audio? Probably not. Awed by the video? Perhaps not, though it will be interesting to see the 50-year old Hitchcock movie restored. These are just two all-time greats that can be rewatched with ease, making them solid additions to any movie library.

If that’s not enough, Paramount is giving its “Sapphire” special Blu-ray treatment to another deserving film, which has a 15th anniversary, Forrest Gump. Unforgettable performances abound in this Oscar winner, and with a tremendous music soundtrack and special effects, it’s sure to be a total winner on Blu-ray.

If you want to get into the holiday spirit now that we’re past Halloween and into November, there’s a trio of films to grab for stockings or under the tree—A Christmas Carol, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and It’s a Wonderful Life, the 1946 classic that’s bound to feature an impressive grayscale, black and white imagery on Blu-ray.

In case you missed summer blockbuster movie action, there’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, as well as the Transformers Gift set that features the two movies in that series, so you can really rev up your dedicated theater screens and surround-sound systems. For more action-packed movies, you can grab a whole slew at once with the James Bond 10-pack collection or the complete Rocky collection both out this week.

Here are all of this week’s releases, courtesy of Blu-ray.com:
Aliens in the Attic
The Answer Man
Art in the 21st Century: Season 5
Botany of Desire
A Christmas Carol
Command Performance
Direct Action
Earth 2100
Equator: Challenge of Change
Food, Inc.
Forrest Gump
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Howards End
I Love You, Beth Cooper
It’s a Wonderful Life
James Bond 10-Pack Collection (Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Quantum of Solace)
Love Actually
Mummies: Secret of the Pharaohs
The Narrows
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
North by Northwest
Not Forgotten
Richard Bangs’ Adventures with Purpose: Morocco, Quest for the Kasbah
Richard Bangs’ Adventures with Purpose: New Zealand, Quest for Kaitiakitanga
Richard Bangs’ Adventures with Purpose: Norway, Quest for the Viking Spirit
Richard Bangs’ Adventures with Purpose: Switzerland, Quest for the Sublime
Rocky: The Undisputed Collection (Rocky I, II, III, IV, V, Rocky Balboa)
Say Anything…
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Complete Season One
The Taking of Pelham 123
Transformers Gift Set
Two Girls and a Guy
Wild Asia: Kingdoms of the Coast
Wings of Desire
Witchblade: The Complete Series

About the Author:
Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!