Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat and yet you’ve still not bought anything to fill your nearest and dearest’s stockings. More importantly, you’ve probably not given them comprehensive present-buying instructions either. Well don’t fret. Ever ones to help facilitate laziness, Empire has trawled the far reaches of the globe (well, the internet anyway) to find the 50 most desirable items for Santa to cram in his sack. From box sets to gadgets and the occasional comedy jumper, we’ve got you covered.
![Logitech Harmony Ultimate] Logitech Harmony Ultimate
Hardware One device to rule them all. One device to find them. It may not quite have all the advantages of The One Ring but Logitech's Harmony Ultimate is without doubt The Dark Lord of all universal remotes. Like the rest of Logitech's Harmony range, the Ultimate organises everything by activity. Want to 'Watch Netflix'? The remote will turn on and configure all the required devices and control them for the duration of your viewing. It's an elegant, intuitive solution to the 'where the hell is that fifteenth remote?" problem and once you've embraced it, there's just no going back. The Ultimate is an evolution of the old Harmony Touch, retaining the former's balance of hard buttons and programmable touchscreen with added gesture support. The reason the Ultimate really lives up to its name, though, is through the included Harmony hub, which transforms a versatile remote into a complete home automation system. Not only can the hub take on all Infra-red duties, letting you point the remote any which way you like, but it also adds the capacity to control Bluetooth devices like the PS4 or Fire TV, which are impervious to traditional remotes. Add in the ability to swap in your smart phone and take control of the whole system via the Harmony app and this could very well revolutionise your whole home cinema experience.
The Science Of Interstellar by Kip Thorne
Book Scientific consultant (and an executive producer) for Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, Kip Thorne is just the theoretical physicist to explain what the wormhole went on in the space-based epic, especially as it was his work on gravitational physics and astrophysics that inspired screenwriter Jonathan Nolan in the first place. Be sure to bring your brain along before you read it, mind: it's arguably the most head-scratching cinematic stocking filler out there this festive season.
Seinfeld - Complete Season 1-9
WATCH The biggest trouble with being a Seinfeld fan – and there aren't that many troubles with being a Seinfeld fan – is space. While there was a special black 20th anniversary edition that compiled all 11 Seasons together in one neat box, it was rather expensive, so buying each series individually was your best option. This is now no longer the case, as a more economically viable (and distinctly bluer) box is now on sale for the show's 25th anniversary. Hoochie Mama!
Sherlock Bookends
Stocking Filler It's not enough to own all three series of Sherlock on Blu-ray: you need a bust of both Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, as well as some natty art cards. Well, "need" is a strong word, but if you consider yourself an aficionado, once you've seen these bronze-effect bad boys, your desire to own them (and hug them and kiss them) is going to be pretty overwhelming.
![Hydra In The Shadows Glow-In-the-Dark T-Shirt] Hydra In The Shadows Glow-In-the-Dark T-Shirt
Clothing Technology meets Marvel lore meets HYDRA meets S.H.I.E.L.D. meets your chest. Ingenious.
![iPad Mini] iPad Air 2
Hardware There are many reasons why we think the iPad Air 2 is the best tablet on the market and it's not just because Empire's iPad Edition looks so good on it. Thinner and lighter than last year's Air, the Air 2 is a sleek, beautiful beast with the heart of a lion – Apple's new A8X chip chewing up even the most graphics-intensive games without breaking a sweat. The inclusion of Touch ID is a welcome one but for film fans the two biggest enhancements are the wi-fi and the screen. The step up to 802.11ac wireless is a major upgrade for those planning to stream HD video via Netflix, Amazon or similar, while the new fused display makes everything look brighter and more vivid (while happily eliminating the slight plasticky feel to the glass that was introduced with the Air). Added to the new display is a (long overdue) new anti-reflective coating, which significantly cuts down on glare and unwelcome distractions while reading or watching films – anyone who's tried to watch something like The Dark Knight on the train whilst angling the screen just-so to avoid the overhead lights will utter a silent prayer to the tablet gods. For movies on the move, gaming on the go or… well, just about anything else, this is the gadget of choice.
Game of Thrones - Season 1-3
Watch If you don't know your Braavosi from your Dothraki or the Wildlings from The Wall then we can only assume you've been living in an ashram for the past four years. Still, it's never too late to join the the rest of the human race in bowing down before the altar of George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones. Red Weddings, deadly duels, doublecrosses, dwarves and a dollop of incest – this is TV at its best so buy the box set and brush up before the next series airs.
Alien: The Archive
Book For Alien fans (that's all of you, right?) this in-depth look at the whole franchise is better than porn. Featuring a raft of lovingly-collated storyboards, concept art and candid behind-the-scenes shots from all four films, this is a treasure trove of unseen content. New interviews with the likes of Sigourney Weaver, Ridley Scott, H.R. Giger and more are just icing on this beautiful, facehugger-shaped cake. Get it!
Harry Potter Cat Collars
Stocking Filler If your feline friend happens to be called Crookshanks, Mrs. Norris, Mr. Tibbles, Mr. Paws or Tufty, stop everything and buy one of these Harry Potter house-themed cat collars. They should also work on half-Kneazles, but there wasn't one available in the Empire office to check, so right now it's just an educated guest.
![Lego Lonely Mountain] Lego Lonely Mountain
Toys The power of Lego to take movies and reinvent them in the medium of bricks makes us yearn for them to repeat the trick with GoodFellas, Seven Samurai and Citizen Kane – because who wouldn't want a Lego Xanadu? In the meantime, this Hobbit recreation of pre-Desolation Smaug in the Lonely Mountain will do us nicely. It's crammed with detail (panic-stricken Bilbo, grumpy Dwalin) and plot points (spot the actual Arkenstone), not to mention a whole mess of action. Benedict Cumberbatch not included.
![Jorg Gray 3700-12] Jorg Gray 3700-12
Hardware Fashionable timepieces are all well and good but there's a difference between just having a posh watch and packing a seriously badass bit of wristwear. California-based watchmaker Jorg Gray, however, manages to combine the two. Manufacturers of the 'official timepieces' for both the US Secret Service and the London Metropolitan Police, Jorg Gray makes watches with attitude, the kind of things you could imagine Jason Bourne having strapped to his wrist while cracking skulls. The stealth-themed JG3700-12 is our pick of the bunch with black strap and face, coupled with bronze accents and a suitably chunky 'don't mess with me' profile. For the more genteel, less special-ops inclined, the JG6500 is also a solid choice. Fact: President Obama wears one.
Darth Vader Toaster
Stocking Filler Providing new ways to motivate you out of bed in the morning is this Vader's head toaster. Simply place two slices of bread into the slots and Bob's your uncle, a couple of minutes later you've got breakfast to see you into work. Especially if you work on a Death Star.
HTC One M8
Hardware If you're after a powerful, beautiful smartphone with Android under the bonnet then you can't do much better than HTC's stunning One M8. One of the most aesthetically pleasing phones in existence, The metallic chassis screams class and the 5" screen is glorious to behold. Add in expandability via microSD and this really is the 'Droid you're looking for.
Logitech Keys-To-Go
Hardware Don't get us wrong, we love tablets, but sometimes there's just no substitute for a real, honest-to-goodness, physical keyboard. If you're looking for light, portable and yet still pleasantly tangible, Logitech's Keys-To-Go puts the convenience of a full QWERTY in your pocket. Bluetooth-powered for wireless connectivity and handily water resistant to prevent that inadvertent Starbucks spillage from ruining your day. The battery lasts three months and it's compatible with iPhone, iPad and, interestingly, Apple TV.
![Withnail & I box set] Withnail & I Box Set
Watch The biggest sell about this repackaged limited edition of Withnail & I is the 2K restoration from the original camera negative, but the box itself is also pretty... well, pretty. There's a 200-page book inside, as well as a free copy of How To Get Ahead In Advertising, just for fun.
![Breaking Bad Tin] Breaking Bad Tin
Watch If you felt the meth drum packaging was a little out of reach, or just didn't like any form of drug-related paraphernalia lurking about your house, then this is the Breaking Bad boxset for you, housed as it is in an entirely uncontroversial tin. It also comes with an extra copy of the first season on Blu-ray to give to a friend in order to get them, you know, addicted, as well as Breaking Bad-themed fridge magnets. Seriously – magnets.
![Kindle Voyage] Kindle Voyage
Hardware While movies are the grease that makes the Empire world go round, there's still nothing quite like curling up with a good book (or cough issue of Empire). Enter then the new Kindle Voyage. Kindles have long been the kings of dedicated e-readers and the Voyage is the jewel in Amazon's e-ink crown. A 300 pixel-per-inch resolution might not be Retina display levels but for an e-reader it's a huge step up, making letters crisp and clear at any size. The backlight, which debuted on the Paperwhite, now auto adjusts its brightness dependant on ambient light, meaning you never have to interrupt that marathon race to the end of a book just to turn a lamp on. The squeezable bezel also lets you turn pages (forward and back) without actually lifting a finger, taking laziness to decadent new levels. This is, without exaggeration, the best e-reader money can buy – a must-own for the serious bookworm.
The World Of Ice And Fire
Book It's not enought to watch Game Of Thrones (or indeed read it), you need to LIVE it. Enter this in-depth history of Westeros, providing an Ordnance Survey-level look at Game Of Thrones' locales and landmarks. Containing just about everything you could ever want to know about the saga, this tunning tome is also bedecked with maps, illustrations and other assorted eye candy.
Stylish Phone Accessories
Stocking Filler There's not normally anything sexy about charging cables but the selection from Native Union manages to add form to the function. Our picks of the bunch are the JUMP Cable – a charging cable and backup battery all rolled into one – and the beautiful, hand-crafted CLIC Wooden case. It's a phone case. Carved out of wood!
Street Fighter Christmas Jumper
Clothing While Dark Bunny Tees' Die Hard Christmas jumper remains perhaps the best cinematic sweatshirt available, perhaps something game-related might tickle your fancy this yuletide. Be warned, however – if you're spotted out and about wearing this, expect many, many, many people to run up to you and shout "Hadouken!" very loudly. Mulled wine will do that to you.
![Turtle Beach Elite 800] Turtle Beach Elite 800
Hardware As our office Call Of Duty sessions will attest, there's no point being a crack shot with every assault rifle if you can't hear the News Editor sneaking up behind you to plant a knife in your back. The solution? Other than a £3000 sound system, your best bet is a pair of cutting edge gaming cans and Turtle Beach's Elite 800 headphones may be the best of the lot. There are a great many simulated 7.1 channel headphones out there but the Elite 800s also simulate vertical planes, allowing you to tell if that incoming griefer is in front, behind, above or below you. Distractions are eliminated thanks to the addition of active noise cancelling, allowing you to focus entirely on the game at hand. Add in a magnetic charging stand, Bluetooth wireless and a boomless, invisible microphone and these are serious headphones for serious gamers. The 800s are compatible with PS3 and PS4 only, so Xbox owners might want to try the lesser, but still solid, Stealth 500X instead.
![Fabric Flavours] Kids' Badge Sweatshirts
Clothing There are few things cuter than children in superhero sweaters but why not go one better and let the little ones decorate them themselves? Fabric Flavours' new range of hero-themed junior attire come with a bunch of themed badges that kids can spread around their garments at will. Batman, Spider-Man and Superman variants are available but why limit yourselves? Buy them all and mix things up!
100 Ideas That Changed Film
Book A man so full of film knowledge that if you so much as shook him, an entire new wave would fall out, David Parkinson has lent his erudition as an Empire writer for many years. Nice man that he is, he's also lent it to this essential film studies guide. From magic lanterns to Mary Poppins, from clapper loaders to Yoda, it's all here. A perfect festive gift for the film student in your life.
Carl Fredricksen Figure
Stocking Filler The Grinch who stole our hearts, Carl Fredricksen's trademark scowl and tennis-ball cane are both in this hugely ace Pop figurine. Line him up alongside the similarly cute Dancing Groot, Black Widow, Heimdall or Dumbo under your Christmas tree, or tie him to a balloon and send him off towards Paradise Falls. Your choice.
![The Hayao Miyazaki Box Set] The Hayao Miyazaki Box Set
Watch For too long now, Studio Ghibli's finest feature films have only been available in the UK individually. Now, the long-awaited Blu-ray box set is finally here, and it is beautiful, coming with its own special bonus disc section and and a new self-portrait of the great Miya-san.
Amazon Fire TV
Hardware The streaming set-top box war cranked up a notch this year with more players on the field than ever before. Shouldering the competition aside with its burly shoulders, though, was Amazon's Fire TV, which launched in October and immediately put the competition to shame. Swaggering to the fore with a quad-core CPU and 2GB of RAM, the Fire TV is amongst the most powerful little black boxes on the market, towering above the likes of Apple TV, Roku or Google's Chromecast. It takes advantage of the horsepower, too, with an emphasis placed on the box's gaming as well as streaming potential (there's a dedicated game controller you can buy separately). The UI is clean and simple, with an impressive voice search function meaning you can just tell it what you want instead of having to painstakingly spell out film titles via virtual keyboard. Amazon Instant Video content is prioritised (naturally) but Netflix, iPlayer and assorted other services are also catered for. iTunes stalwarts are out of luck but for everyone else this is a beast of a streamer packed inside a very small box.
Rocking AT-AT
Toys Have a small child? Love Star Wars? Like assembling cool things? This is the "Rocking AT-AT" for you. Thinking about it, if the actual AT-ATs were on rockers, perhaps they wouldn't fall over so easily. Something for J.J. to think about there.
Game Of Thrones Bow Ties
Clothing A Lannister always pays his debts, and you will always look cool in a bow tie. Make your neck not that much warmer (but significantly more flash) with these handmade silky papillons, printed with whichever house sigil you like.
Star Trek Car Emblems
Stocking Filler Turn your car into the Starship Enterprise – kind of – with these special custom emblems. You can pick between Kirk's ship or Picard's, or you could avoid Roddenberry's oeuvre entirely and make your Volkswagen Polo suddenly "look like" Red Dwarf's Starbug or Doctor Who's TARDIS or... well, the list goes on and on.
![Sonos Play:5] Sonos Play:5
Hardware Not to be confused with 22 Jump Street's mind-warping narc WHYPHY, the Sonos Play:5 is all about Wi-Fi. It's a wirelessly enabled sound system that's controlled from your Android, iPad, iPhone, Mac or PC – or, if you're a massive show-off – all five, via Sonos' Controller Apps. With its high-fidelity sound, it's also pitch perfect to handle your favourite soundtracks and scores.
![The Complete West Win] The Complete West Wing
Watch If you have any doubt that Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing is among the greatest TV shows ever made then we refer you here immediately. Seven seasons of awesomeness in one affordable package. Buy it for yourself, buy it for your friends, buy it for your family. Frankly, it's mandatory viewing for all people of quality.
Star Wars Posters
Book There have been five Star Wars books released of late, and Jonathan Rinzler (Lucasfilm's Non-fiction Editor) has saved the best for last: an imposing, impressive, imperious coffee table tome that tells the many tales behind the posters that helped make Star Wars what it's become today. For a taste of what to expect, read our feature on the book here.
Mad Catz M.M.O.Te Mouse
Hardware World Of Warcraft veterans will be familiar with that most first world of first world problems - too many abilities, too few mouse buttons. The solution? A dedicated MMO mouse with more buttons than you can shake an axe at. The M.M.O.Te puts 12 such buttons at the tip of your thumb, plus another eight programmable ones elsewhere, spanning three customisable profiles. The result is the possibility of up to 60 separate commands - all without so much as looking at the keyboard. Even the most demanding of hotkey-bashing arena fighters should find their needs well catered for.
Darth Vader Night Light
Stocking Filler Irrefutable proof that night lights are not for sissies, this is perhaps the most foreboding way to reassure kids (or adults) that there isn't a boogieman under their bed – there's one on their bedside table.
![Dorothy's Film, Book, TV And Game Maps] Dorothy's Film, Book, TV And Game Maps
Stocking Filler Fancy a stroll down Mulholland Drive? Want to cut through Elm Street on the way to Gosford Park? These custom maps can make it happen. All your favourite films have been swapped in for more traditional place names, resulting in the ultimate geeky atlas. it's not just films either; whether literature, movies or pixels are your particular passion, your needs can be cartographically cared for.
Mad Catz Pro Racing Force Feedback Wheel
Hardware The roar of the engine, the squeal of the tyres and the patter of flying gravel on the windshield: there's nothing quite like strapping into the driving seat of the latest console racer to bring out the boy racer in all of us. A controller, however, is no substitute for a real wheel in your hands and Mad Catz' suede-wrapped Force Feedback Wheel for Xbox One is about as opulent an accessory as you could ever hope to own. Boasting dual motors for maximum feedback, the wheel lets you really feel the terrain beneath your tyres (something that comes into its own during Forza Horizon's off-road challenges) and the adjustable steering sensitivity (arcade and simulation modes are possible) caters to every class of driver. Dedicated petrolheads with a penchant for high end racers could ask for nothing more.
Green & Blacks Chocolate
Stocking Filler Mmmmmmm, chocolate. Posh chocolate to be precise, and lots of it. You can't go wrong with cocoa-based confectionary at Christmas time and thanks to the assortment of funky flavoured gift boxes on offer from Green & Blacks, you can feel festively sick and delightfully decadent at the same time.
• Buy it here
Dancing Groot
Toys It's no secret that the best thing about Guardians Of The Galaxy (which was choc-full of excellent things) was the dancing Groot during the end titles. "I want one!" we all cried. Well, someone listened and now you can have one. Awww, look at his widdle face!
![An English Ghost Story by Kim Newman] An English Ghost Story by Kim Newman
Book Empire's very own Kim Newman has this amazing habit of writing books. An English Ghost Story is his latest, a ghost story set in – you're not going to believe this – England. We liked it. You will too.
![Dorothy's Film, Book, TV And Game Maps] Saitek S.T.R.I.K.E. 5 Gaming Keyboard
Hardware It may look like some kind of experimental weapons platform but beneath its mental looks the S.T.R.I.K.E. 5 is a fully customisable, PC gamer's dream. Whether your poison is RTS, RPG, FPS, MMO or MOBA, this beast can be configured to fit your particular needs. Its modular design means that each segment from number pad to macro strip can be repositioned for maximum accessibility, while the OLED screen can display anything from respawn timers to volume levels with the touch of a button. A serious keyboard for serious gamers.
![iPhone 6 / 6 Plus]
iPhone 6 / 6 Plus
Hardware While there will always be those who refuse to drink the Apple Kool-Aid, it's hard to look at the latest iPhones and not immediately want to own one. From the new, thinner profile (a mere 6.9mm and 7.1mm respectively) to the ludicrously sexy tapered glass edges, these handsets are pure phone porn. The bump up in screen size from the iPhone 5 is a noticeable improvement on the 6 but the 6 Plus takes things to another level with a 1920 x 1080 screen resolution (the same as your 60" HDTV, in case you're wondering). Half iPhone, half iPad (iPad Nano?), the 6 Plus is a movie fan's dream, boasting the resolution and screen size for an outstanding movie-viewing experience but with the portability to still (just about) fit in your pocket. The new iPhone camera is also light years ahead of previous models, with noticeably faster auto-focus and an additional optical stabilisation function on the 6 Plus to improve clarity in low light conditions. The best iPhone yet? No doubt. The best phone? We think so, but Android stalwarts will doubtless hold the line.
Inside HBO's Game of Thrones II: Seasons 3 & 4
Book As you'd expect from such a first-rate production as Game Of Thrones, this luxury hardback behind-the-scenes book is full of detailed episode and character breakdowns, high-res pictures and artwork, but trust us, once you've bought it, you'll want the first volume as well.
Star Wars R2-D2's Droid Workshop
Book Finally, you yourself can build your own astromech droid, as originally manufactured by Industrial Automaton prior to 32 BBY. Admittedly, it'll have to be with cardboard and not with metal, but with the accompanying kid-friendly play book, you probably don't want metal scratching all that paper anyway.
Star Trek – The Next Generation: Picard's Jacket
Clothing "The most accurate Picard Jacket replica in existence!" screams the official blurb for this particular piece of officially-endorsed Star Trek merchandise, and with the close-up snaps of the "microsuede shoulder material", it's hard not to believe its authenticity. Bare in mind that it doesn't come with the communicator badge – though you probably already have one of those, right?
![Bose Quiet Comfort 25+] Bose QuietComfort 25
Hardware If you use public transport, travel by plane or really occupy any space likely to be shared with other people, then noice-cancelling headphones are all but mandatory. Long the overlords of this particular niche, Bose is a company that knows how to help you ignore people and its flagship QuietComfort 25s are a misanthrope's best friend. Lightweight, long-lasting and with a peerless level of background blockage, these will ensure that your quiet time is never anything but.
Pivos Xios XS
Hardware Where the Fire TV has the mass-market end of the streaming set-top-box field in its grasp, those willing to do some tinkering under the bonnet will find Pivos' Xios XS a very attractive alternative. Unlike the Fire's locked-down ecosystem, the Xios XS (like the Xios DS before it) is built on an open Android platform, with all the flexibility that comes with it. Sitting on top of the Android backend is the TOFU Media Centre UI (essentially a reskinned iteration of XBMC Gotham with grey and pastel purple replacing the black and blue), and as a front end for your entertainment needs TOFU performs extremely well – which you'd expect from an XBMC clone. Local content is streamed seamlessly, with additional data scraped from online sources to add cast lists, pack shots and short synopses. Being entirely open, the XS also puts Google's entire Play Store at your disposal, opening the device to an endless stream of apps to suit almost any taste or need. All of this does requires rolling your sleeves up a little, though, so this is by no means a gift for luddite in your life. Those with a touch of nerd in their DNA, however, will love every minute of it.
The Goonies Playing Cards
Stocking Filler Holy S-H-I-T! You're probably expecting a "Do the truffle shuffle!" joke here, aren't you? Well, you're not getting one. Instead, here's a link to the artist who created the designs for these cards, Nat Iwata, whose work is truly excellent.
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug - Bookend Edition
WATCH Sherlock may have busts, but Smaug has bookends. There's something about films and TV shows starring Benedict Cumberbatch that warrants beautifully-designed shelf furniture, it seems. Also, it looks like you get a Blu-ray copy of The Desolation Of Smaug with this particular dwarven duo, so that's a bit of a bonus.
![Stanley Kubrick Masterpiece Collection ] Stanley Kubrick Masterpiece Collection
Watch There have been a few Stanley Kubrick collections in recent years, but none as glorious-looking as the new Masterpiece Collection. It's pretty snappy on the outside and within are Blu-rays of eight of the great man's movies, along with an entirely new Kubrick documentary, a hardback book, two other docs and a wealth of commentaries and rare interviews. This is how we learn to stop worrying and love Christmas.
![An Empire Subscription]
An Empire Subscription
Stocking Filler £25 for 12 issues is too good a deal to miss. Make someone's day / year and get them a subscription, and enjoy (at least) a dozen texts from your lucky friend saying how grateful they are, spread out handily over the next 365 days.