Hollywood unlocks the combo

DVD or Blu-ray? It doesn't really matter this holiday season with Hollywood's answer for techno-scattered households: combo packages containing both discs. Some even include a third version of the movie, a digital copy for computers and mobile devices.

So with one $25-$40 purchase (or half that price on sale), the kids can watch the latest hit on the DVD player in the family room, dad can crank it up in high-def in the home theater and mom can pass the time on her laptop on her next business trip.

Not surprisingly, family films dominate the offerings. They include recent favorites such as "Despicable Me" (coming Dec. 14), "Toy Story 3," "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Shrek Forever After" (coming Dec. 7).

Grown-up blockbusters also are in the mix, such as "Inception" (coming Dec. 7), "The Expendables," "Iron Man 2" and "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" (coming Saturday). And while most offerings are newer films, the combo packages also include classics such as "Fantasia" (coming Tuesday, paired with "Fantasia 2000"), "Beauty and the Beast," "The Sound of Music" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly."

There's even a "Peanuts Holiday Collection" -- deluxe versions of the Charlie Brown Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials -- if you want a housewarming gift for a holiday get-together. It comes with or without a collectible snow globe ($43-$70).

The DVD/Blu-ray packages are clearly marked for those browsing in stores. Or search for "Blu-ray DVD combo" to see what's available through online sellers such as Amazon.com.

Classics redone for Blu-ray

As proof, look no further than Warner's recently released versions of the original "King Kong" ($35) and "The Maltese Falcon" ($25), Kino's new reconstruction of the silent landmark "Metropolis" ($40) and Criterion's remaster of another silent great, Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" ($40) -- among many other can't-miss releases from all three home-video companies.

High-def makeovers extend to the TV realm, too, where the first two seasons of the groundbreaking series "The Twilight Zone" ($100 each) are now out. Two acclaimed TV series documenting World War II, "Victory at Sea" ($50; www.periscopefilm.com) from the early '50s and the nine-disc "The World at War" ($150) from the early '70s, have also been gussied up (although fans complain of a cropped image on the latter).

Not all of the coveted classics are on Blu-ray -- or at regular retailers. Warner and Sony have created online-only stores where less-popular titles from their vast catalogs are made to order in store-quality packaging for about $15 to $30 each. The Warner Archive (www.warnerarchive.com) includes everything from animated cult TV series such as "Thundarr the Barbarian" to old dramas such as 1947's "Killer McCoy" with Andy Rooney to 1990's "Men Don't Leave" with Jessica Lange. Sony's service (www.columbia-classics.com, then click on "Screen Classics by Request") includes the 1965 epic "Genghis Khan," "Hart to Hart" TV movies and many old genre films, such as "Jungle Moon Men" and "The Night the World Exploded."

What's on television

TV fans of a certain age will be glad to know that one of the most requested series of all time, the 1970s hit "The Six Million Dollar Man," is finally available on DVD. The catch is that the 40-disc, five-season monstrosity is available only by mail for the next year, so order early (www.6mdm.com or 1-800-950-7887; $240). Also new, and much easier to find in any store, is Season 1 of the Emmy-winning spinoff "The Bionic Woman" ($40).

TV shows spawned by premium cable networks also make good gifts for nonsubscribers. This year's crop includes HBO's stunning World War II series "The Pacific" ($80-$100), Season 1 of Starz's violent "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" ($60-$80) and Season 1 of Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" ($35-$40).

A bigger 'Avatar' returns

Finally, the biggest movie of all time, "Avatar," is back in a three-disc collector's edition ($35-$55) that adds an extended version and a wealth of extras for those disappointed with the no-frills edition released earlier this year. Meanwhile, the 3-D version of the movie on Blu-ray is available only to people who buy a Panasonic Viera 3-D HDTV starting Wednesday.