It’s Christmas week.

Panic is setting in.

There are last-minute gifts to buy.

Here are some DVD and Blu-ray solutions.

Of course, if you don’t know whether the person you are gifting has a Blu-ray player or watches standard DVDs only, find out before you shop.

DVDs will play in a Blu-ray machine (and look slightly better for it) but Blu-rays will not play in a DVD machine.

My suggestions cover a lot of territory and tastes and are recent releases.

Each is special — not just a routine title or basic presentation — so each qualifies as a special gift, depending on the preferences of the person you are gifting.

The movies:

The Mel Brooks Collection (Blu-ray only)

This stellar nine-disc set brings nine of Brooks’ best films to the high-def format, along with a 120-page souvenir book. The choices here define this actor, writer and director’s kooky career as a thoughtful funnyman from 1970 through 1993: The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, History Of The World Part I, High Anxiety, To Be Or Not To Be, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men In Tights. Mel, we luvs ya for your impish jokes but also your wry socio-political satire.

Coraline: Limited Edition Gift Set (both DVD & Blu-ray)

One of my favourite films of 2009 is back in a beautifully packaged, two-disc gift set with the illusion of 3D packaging, a digital copy and a sweet drawer holding the discs and a souvenir booklet and postcards. Just don’t bother watching the 3D version — because home 3D is not like the stunning 3D in theatres. But Henry Selick’s stop-action animation remains marvellous in 2D and the story of parenting and childhood rebellion is still effective.

Star Trek: Original Motion Picture Collection/Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection (both sets are available in both DVD & Blu-ray)

The entire Star Trek movie universe has been upgraded. For better (there were many) and worse (clunkers such as Star Trek V), here are all the movies in two box sets (not counting the revival version of 2009). Look back in wonder, especially at the Blu-ray editions. Paramount did a terrific job of rejuvenation.

Julie & Julia: Exclusive Gift Set (DVD only)

I am a sucker for a good idea — and this is one for foodies. Nora Ephron’s charming movie, with Meryl Streep heading for yet another Oscar nom as chef Julia Child, is packaged with one of Child’s books, Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom. That’s wise, too.

Tarantino: The Ultimate Collection (DVD only)

With Inglourious Basterds emerging as one of the top films of 2009 — and certain to generate Oscar noms — it is good timing for this six-disc collection of five of Quentin Tarantino’s crazyass creations (counting Kill Bill as one title). You will find: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill: Volume 1, Kill Bill: Volume 2 and Deathproof. Too bad about the cardboard sleeves (they scratch the discs) and the cheeseball collectible (a plastic miniature samurai sword) but the career content is terrific.

The Complete Love Comes Softly DVD Collection

For faith-based viewers who want wholesome family entertainment that is actually watchable, this is it. All eight movies made from Janette Oke’s novels are here, from Michael Landon Jr.’s original Love Comes Softly to this year’s Love Finds a Home.

Gone With the Wind: 70th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Giftset (both DVD & Blu-ray)

The gobsmackingly beautiful restoration of this 1939 Hollywood classic is gorgeous on DVD and absolutely amazing on Blu-ray. Plus the bonus materials are so extensive you won’t lack for anything — and the giftee who loves Hollywood melodrama will love you, too. Frankly, Scarlett, I give a big damn about this collection. Ditto for the new DVD and Blu-ray editions of The Wizard of Oz, which I have already written about extensively.

The Samuel Fuller Collection: The Collector’s Choice (DVD only)

Help a cinephile friend discover one of the most under-appreciated of Hollywood’s noir filmmakers. Fuller influenced a coming generation and this set not only shows how but includes testimony from Martin Scorsese & friends about what Fuller’s legacy means to them.

The William Castle Film Collection (DVD only)

In contrast to Fuller, William Castle was a irrepressible showman who dabbled in cheap theatrics. But surveying his career makes one appreciate the wiles of a Hollywood horror legend — and his movies are all good fun.

John Wayne/John Ford Film Collection

Iconic actor John Wayne and bombastic but sublimely talented director John Ford knew each other for decades. Amid the love, and the brawls, they made great American movies together. This collection houses five of them from They Were Expendable to The Wings of Eagles.