Colette's Picks

What to give your spineless friend who secretly dreams of becoming a badass:

Crows Zero II (Amazon, $21.95)

Oh gosh, Colette is recommending an Oguri Shun film. Big shocker there. Seriously though, the film is a solid action flick with more to offer than just Shun's scrumptiously handsome face. Directed by the well-known Takashi Miike, this is a follow-up to the 2007 film which told the story of rough-and-tumble kid Takaya Genji and he shows up brand new to Suzuran high school, which looks more like a war zone than a place to study. The sequel boasts more fights, amps up the bravado and is all around fun to watch. It's definitely a good choice to get your sense of GAR blasting!

What to give the guy who owns every Final Fantasy VII Cloud statue ever made

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Blu-Ray (Amazon, $21.99)

Okay, so maybe the film itself is a little murky as far as story goes, but hey, it's Final Fantasy. And you get to watch Cloud and Sephiroth have intensely awesome fights. In crisp, gorgeous Blu-Ray. Sure, it may not be a deep experience, but man, it's fun, and sometimes that's all you really want is to watch something pretty and sort of mindless.

What to give the friend who loves both Japan and rocking out with his cock out:

Detroit Metal City (HKFlix, $33.95)

If you missed the manga that the Detroit Metal City movie is based on, you missed out big time, because it's absolutely hilarious. However, the film is a great way to catch up fast. It stars Kenichi Matsuyama, who you may remember as playing L in the Death Note films, and he shows his absolute versatility by slipping into the dual roles of Soichi Negishi, the mild mannered quiet type who dreams of becoming a pop star, and Krauser II, the lead singer of heavy metal ensemble Detroit Metal City. Whether you buy this for yourself or as a gift, it's sure to provide plenty of laughter.

What to give the friend with the Totoro shrine in her bedroom:

Ponyo on the Cliff By the Sea (HKFlix, $14.95)

Sure, the US release of Ponyo hasn't hit store shelves yet, but you really don't have to wait. The Malaysian release has English subtitles and is playable in all regions, so you can watch it now if you're in the mood to see Ponyo again. The tale of the adorable tadpole and her journey to the world above the sea is everything beautiful and nostalgic that every Studio Ghibli film seems to effortlessly provide, and I think you might have to be seriously depressed not to enjoy this simple, lovely film.

For the guy who likes his dramas bloody and mysterious:

The Vengeance Trilogy (HKFLix, $34.95)

This is just a deal, plain and simple. For 35 bucks, you get the entire trilogy made by director Park Chan-Wook, which includes Oldboy, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. In case you aren't familiar, Oldboy is a modern classic about a man out for revenge. All three films are pretty solid and for the price, you really can't beat this. Your friend will thank you for this one.

Ben's Picks

For the friend who can't get enough of the Major:

Ghost in the Shell 2.0 (Amazon, $18.99)

A complete reproduction of the original classic 1995 film, Ghost in the Shell 2.0 is a masterful Blu-ray edition of one of the standbys in anime films. Re-recorded Japanese dialogue, a re-recorded soundtrack, and a few minor changes bring the film to life. Even if you have the original, the upgraded hi-def quality in picture and sound are more than worth the price of entry. A thrilling, action-packed psychological thriller, Ghost in the Shell will not disappoint.

What to give the friend who still isn't tired of giant robots and whiny protagonists:

Evangelion 1.01 (Amazon, $19.99)

Describing Evangelion that way is probably a disservice: the series has had so much impact on anime and manga as a whole, it's hard to ignore it. That said, if you didn't like the original series, you'll probably like Evangelion 1.01, as it takes everything bad and tosses it out, while keeping all the good from the original. The animation is top-notch, and really shows the scale of the story. Retelling the original in a fresh way, 1.01 is a perfect addition to any otaku shelf, and will probably foster new fans as well.

For the guy who thinks the Friendship Party is out to get him:

20th Century Boys 1: The Beginning of the End (Amazon, $22.49)

20th Century Boys is possibly one the best live-action adaptions of a manga yet: every onscreen character somehow perfectly represents their original, from looks to attitude. The story (of course) is also fantastic, focusing on the exploits of Kenji and his friends as they attempt to save the world from Friend. If your "friend" is a fan of the manga, or simply enjoys thrilling story-driven movies, this film is hard to pass up. The only knock is the occasionally spotty special effects -- but that will hardly bother you once you get sucked into the intense story.

For that friend who hates anime:

Afro Samurai: Complete Murder Sessions ($34.49)

At first the premise of Afro Samurai seemed a tad silly, maybe even ridiculous, but as I heard more and more about it, I realized what a truly awesome concept it was. Samuel L. Jackson as a samurai? Count me in! What was even better was that Afro Samurai really broke into the mainstream and caught the interest of people who never thought of themselves as anime fans. If your pal has a dislike for moe or GAR, just give them a taste of Afro Samurai -- I'd bet it'll convert them pretty quick.

Retro Recommendation: for the friend who is living in the past:

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Amazon, $23.49)

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a Studio Ghibli whore. However, many people overlook some of their older films. Sure, everyone has seen Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke, but what about Porco Rosso or this Retro Recommendation: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind? One of Miyazaki's favorite works, the film is a selection from the manga he drew and wrote. Many enjoy it as an environmentalist tale warning about taking care of our planet, but I see it as a much deeper tale, about the princess Nausicaa herself, and her personal journey. Definitely not one to miss for the nostalgic fan.