With Christmas right around the corner, I thought it might be fun to make a few holiday gift suggestions for those people looking for that perfect item for the documentary lover in their lives. Have a look below and see if any of these choices might fit the bill because as we’ve all learned, Santa doesn’t know shit about documentaries.

The History Channel’s “The World Wars: the Complete History of WWI and WWII

Here’s the perfect gift for Dads and Granddads alike. The History Channel’s The World Wars: the Complete History of WWI and WWII is an extensive 14 disc collector’s set of one hour episodes covering some of the greatest WWI and II stories. That’s right, 25 hours and 38 minutes of wartime goodness! The set isn’t one series but rather a collection of episodes from a selection of different programs featured on A&E, the Biography Channel and the History Channel. The shows themselves are pretty straightforward; narration over stock footage and archival photographs. It’s the abundance of content that makes this set stand out. The perfect gift for any war buffs! Highlight episodes include: “Bomb Plot to Kill Hitler”, “Operation Sea Lion”, “North Africa: The Desert War” and just in time for the holidays…”The Christmas Truce”.

You can purchase The World Wars: The Complete History of WWI and WWII collection here.

The Complete Monterey Pop Festival

A classic concert documentary for the ultimate music fan, the Criterion Collection’s ‘The Complete Monterey Pop Festival’ blu ray release benefits from a faithful HD transfer, a collection of great bonus features three solid audio tracks: Original Uncompressed Stereo, Remixed Uncompressed Stereo and Remixed DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Classic rock and documentary fans alike will not be disappointed.

Gimme Shelter

Here’s another solid Criterion release that works as a great gift for music fans. Gimme Shelter is probably my favourite ‘rockumentary’ and the blu ray release is probably the best the film will ever look. The colours are rich and the film-like presentation isn’t completely faithful to the source material. Also, expect a great selection of bonus features including an insightful audio commentary from directors Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin and collaborator Stanley Goldstein.

Oscilloscope’s Circle of Trust

This is one selection that is definitely on my Christmas wish list. Adam Yauch’s Oscilloscope Laboratories has built quite the reputation for their impeccable taste in films and their attention to detail — sleek cardboard DVD packaging and awesome artwork — that clearly has taken hints from The Criterion Collection’s way of business. This Christmas season Oscilloscope has announced a cool new way of purchasing their releases: The Oscilloscope Circle of Trust. For $150 US you get:

Next 10 Oscilloscope DVD releases

DVDs will arrive about one week before the official street date

All shipping and handling charges are included

Ability to purchase one of each previous Oscilloscope DVD release for half price (plus shipping & handling)

Optional auto-renew

Gift purchase option available

Sounds good right? You can head over to Oscilloscope Laboratories and sign up for the subscription here.

Werner Herzog: DVD Edition – Documentaries and Shorts

This is a great gift for Herzog fans and documentary fans in general. This six disc collection rounds up some of Herzog’s hard to find shorts along with some of his previously released made for television docs. The presentation is simple; no fancy artwork or booklets. It’s all about content with this set. You’ll get some of Herzog’s earliest work — including his very first film Herakles — and some of his strangest work. Precautions Against Fanatics is described simply as an ‘Elaborate on-camera practical joke’. The price may be a little steep — 150 Euros, which works out to about 218 US dollars BEFORE shipping from Germany — but this collection is definitely worth it.