The U.S. Coast Guard teamed up with the American Red Cross to place more than 200 Coast Guard recruits with around 80 South Jersey families for Christmas. It was all part of Operation Fireside, a program that has placed recruits with families in South Jersey during the Holiday season since 1981.

The program allows recruits to experience Christmas with a host family while they’re away from their loved ones during their basic training program.

“Our new Coast Guardsmen will be conducting dangerous frontline Coast Guard missions in the U.S. and abroad within days of graduation, and we make them Coast Guardsmen by pushing them to new levels of physical, mental and emotional toughness,” said Capt. Bill Kelly, the commanding officer of Training Center Cape May. “The volunteers of Operation Fireside make them feel at home, which is probably one of the greatest gifts for a service member separated from their family during the Holiday season.”

The American Red Cross Southern Shore Chapter in Cape May Court House, N.J. has coordinated Operation Fireside every year since the program began. The Red Cross solicits and tracks both volunteers and host families while the Coast Guard at Training Center Cape May pairs the recruits with a family.

The recruits met with their families Christmas morning and stayed through dinnertime. The recruits are allowed to spend the day relaxing, eating and calling home until they return to training after 8.

"There's no doubt in my mind, I can speak for every recruit that's come through Cape May, that we really appreciate this," said Ryan Perez.

“We’re proud to say supporting military members is just one of our many Red Cross missions, and the families who host these men and women are also honored to have them in their homes,” said Donna Croskey, the Operation Fireside coordinator for the Red Cross.  “Even after the Holidays, many of the host families attend the recruits’ graduation ceremony and stay in touch long after boot camp.”

The day after Christmas is one of the biggest shopping days of the year as people rush to area stores and malls to use those gift cards they just got or return a gift that they didn't want.

Dec. 26 also marks some major sales at all types of stores so check those circulars or store websites before you go. Here is a list of some post-Christmas sales and coupon highlights.

As for when the shopping begins, many area malls across our region will be opening earlier and possibly staying open later to give people all day to shop.

Here are the Dec. 26 hours for selected malls:

Berkshire Mall
7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Cheltenham Square Mall
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cherry Hill Mall
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Christiana Mall
9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Concord Mall
7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Coventry Mall
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cumberland Mall
7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Deptford Mall
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Exton Square Mall
7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Franklin Mills
9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Gallery at Market East
8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Granite Run Mall
7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Hamilton Mall
7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Lehigh Valley Mall
7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

King of Prussia Mall
8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Moorestown Mall
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Neshaminy Mall
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Pier Shops at Caesars
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Plymouth Meeting Mall
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Shore Mall
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Springfield Mall
8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Voorhees Town Center
8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Willow Grove Park
8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The gifts have been given, the dinner has been eaten and Christmas 2012 is becoming a thing of the past.

So what do you do with that Christmas tree?

More than 30 million live Christmas trees were sold last year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. It’s unknown how many of those wound up taking up space in landfills.

According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, compostable yard waste takes up at least 18 percent of landfills. Recycling Christmas trees is a great way to knock that percentage down.

“Many Delawareans have been recycling their Christmas trees for many years and we encourage everyone to establish or continue this eco-friendly tradition,” said DNREC’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Section program manager Bill Miller. “Recycling these trees that are a product of nature is a wonderful way of giving back to the environment.”

Starting Dec. 26 and running through Jan. 26, there will be various drop-off locations and possibly pickup opportunities to recycle your Christmas tree for free in the First State. For a tree to be accepted in Delaware and other Tri-State recycling locations, the tree must be stripped of all decorations, tinsel, wire, hooks, tree stands, etc. and untied -- basically the tree should look like a tree.

• Click here for a full list of Delaware drop-off locations

Similar recycling programs are in place throughout the area. (If you don’t see your area listed you should call your local sanitation department to find out if a program is in place.)

In Philadelphia, the Streets Department will accept trees at their Sanitation Convenience Centers located at 3033 S. 63rd Street, Domino Lane & Umbria Street and State Road & Ashburner Street from Jan. 7 to Jan. 19 (except Jan. 13) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be civic “treecycling” at various locations Jan. 5 to Jan. 6 (click here for a list).

In New Jersey, Burlington County is offering treecycling at the Resource Recovery Complexes in Florence and Mansfield Monday through Saturday. (Click here for more details.)

New Castle County
Polly Drummond Hill Community Yard Waste Demonstration Site
Located in the Pike Creek area on Polly Drummond Hill Road, about 1/2 mile north of Kirkwood Highway.
Hours: Daily 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise posted.

Brookhill Yard Waste Site (new site, operated by Holland Mulch)
NOTE: Open Dec. 26 for Christmas tree drop-off only at this time.
1034 S. Chapel Street, Newark, DE 19702 (main Holland Mulch office phone: 302-765-3100)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – noon*, Closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1

Copeland’s Mulch Depot (free if the tree was purchased at Copeland’s; otherwise $2)
2 Honeysuckle Drive, Stanton, DE 19804; (phone 302-633-9536)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.*, Closed Dec. 26 through Jan. 1

Holland Mulch
135 Hay Road, Edge Moor, DE 19809 (phone 302-765-3100)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – noon*, Closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1

Wilmington Organic Recycling Center
612 Christiana Avenue, Wilmington, DE  19801 (phone 302-266-7678)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday, 6 a.m. – noon*, Closed Jan. 1

Sussex County
Blue Hen Organics
33529 Fox Run Road, Frankford, DE 19945 (phone 302-732-3211)
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.*, Closed Jan. 1

Grizzly’s Landscape Supply Service
18412 The Narrow Road, Lewes, DE  19958 (phone 302-644-0654)
Hours:  Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.*, Closed Jan. 1

Kaye Construction
22288 Coverdale Road, Seaford, DE 19973 (phone 302-629-7483)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.*, Closed Dec. 26 through Jan. 1

Selbyville Pet and Garden Center (free for active customers within the last 6 months)
38205 DuPont Boulevard, Selbyville, DE 19975 (phone 302-436-8286)
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.*, Closed Jan. 1

Stockley Materials
25136 DuPont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947 (phone 302-856-7601)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.*, Closed Jan. 1

Sussex Tree Inc. Garden Center
20144 John J. Williams Highway, Lewes, DE  19958 (phone 302-645-6262)
Hours:  Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.*, Closed Jan. 1

There are also other groups that will pick up trees curbside in Delaware.

Looking for that last-minute item to make your Christmas meal complete?

Some local grocery chains will be closing early Christmas Eve and most won’t even open on Christmas but there are some options (besides Wawa) if you need to pick something up on Christmas.

Here are the hours:

ACME:
Open until 6 p.m. Christmas Eve / 1 p.m. Christmas Day

ALDI:
Open till 4 p.m. Christmas Eve / Closed Christmas Day

GIANT:
Open until 6 p.m. Christmas Eve / Closed Christmas Day

ShopRite: 
Open until 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve / Closed Christmas Day

Trader Joe's:
Holiday Hours: Open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve / Closed Christmas Day

Wegmans:
Open until 6 p.m. Christmas Eve/ Closed Christmas Day
Will reopen 7 a.m. on Dec. 26.

Whole Foods:
Open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve / Closed Christmas Day

Don't see your favorite store listed? Call before you go to see if they will be open.

Here is a list of store hours from malls across our region before the Christmas holiday.  Don't forget to check out the last minute deals.

Cherry Hill Mall
12/21: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/22: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cumberland Mall
12/21: 8 a.m. to midnight
12/22: 7 a.m. to midnight
12/23: 7 a.m. to midnight
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Moorestown Mall
12/21: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/22: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Exton Square Mall
12/21: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/22: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Plymouth Meeting Mall
12/21: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/22: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Springfield Mall
12/21: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/22: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.


The Gallery at Market East
12/21: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
12/22: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
12/23: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
12/24: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Voorhees Town Center
12/21: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/22: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Willow Grove Park
12/21: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/22: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 

Still haven’t finished your Holiday shopping? Here’s the good news.  Several malls are holding extended hours in the remaining days before Christmas. The bad news? You won’t be alone. Expect some huge crowds as procrastinators from all over scramble to get those last minute gifts. Here are the hours for malls across the area:

Cherry Hill Mall
12/22: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cumberland Mall
12/22: 7 a.m. to midnight
12/23: 7 a.m. to midnight
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Moorestown Mall
12/22: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Exton Square Mall
12/22: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Plymouth Meeting Mall
12/22: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Springfield Mall
12/22: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Gallery at Market East
12/22: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
12/23: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
12/24: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Voorhees Town Center
12/22: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Willow Grove Park
12/22: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/23: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
12/24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Invites:

Evite

Punchbowl

Paperless Post

For the Kitchen:

Epicurious

All Recipes

Five-In-One Kitchen Timer

8,500 Drink & Cocktail Recipes

Party Tunes:

Pandora

Last.fm

Slacker

Spotify

Turntable.FM

With all the horror in the world, sometimes all we need is some random kindness from a complete stranger to reinforce our faith in humanity.

“I had an associate from Kmart call me and say my items were paid off by a Christmas angel,” Berks County mom Stacey Weidner said Tuesday.

Stacey says that an anonymous stranger paid the bill for $450 in toys for her 4-year-old daughter that she put on layaway at the Kmart in Shillington, Pa.

With the holidays overshadowed by the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., Stacey says the gracious gesture means even more.

“There’s so many tragic events going on in today’s world and it’s hard to find good people nowadays.”

She wasn’t the only person given an unexpected gift by a stranger at that Kmart store. At least one other mom says their layaway bill was picked up by the “layaway angel.”

Lori Amato says that someone stopped by the store and paid off the $161 layaway bill she had after buying a video game system and shoes for her son and two daughters.

“I was really happy and to know that there are people that actually still care and still want to help out,” Lori said.

Kmart wouldn’t say how much the secret Santa gave or how many people’s layaway bills he or she covered.

Lori says that maybe it was karma since she had earlier dropped off Christmas trees for people who couldn't afford them. And, Stacey used the random act of kindness as an opportunity to spread the good cheer.

“I just felt so blessed and I immediately thought to myself this is not intended for me. I have to pay this forward in some way,” Stacey said.

Stacey contacted the Wilson School District and they put her in touch with the nurse at Shiloh Hills Elementary in Sinking Spring.

“She said, ‘there’s a little girl that would love to be blessed by me as the Christmas Angel.’ So with that being said over the weekend I had an absolute blast at Toys R Us!”

Stacey went out and spent $450 -- the same amount the “layaway angel” spent on her. She bought toys for the little girl who’s the same age as her daughter.

Looks like a few acts of kindness really can brighten the holiday season.

“This morning when I woke up I just felt different than I felt over the past weekend. I’m going to do something really good this morning.”

Stacey, you did.

"Brave"
The tale of Pixar’s first action heroine Merida cannily featured plenty of elements evoking Disney’s classic princesses, though the bow-toting Scots lass is perfectly capable of pursuing her own happy ending. The Ultimate Collector’s Edition – a five-disc 3D combo pack is a highland fling filled with amazing extras, including an alternate opening, an analysis of the character’s accented English, and the beautiful animated short “La Luna.”

"Arthur Christmas 3D"
Those who may have missed Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Studio’s utterly charming and decidedly snarky take on Santa Claus’ clan – with his klutzy youngest son Arthur weathering family dysfunction in a bid to, of course, save Christmas – will be delighted to discover this holiday-classic-in-the-making, which also features extras like an Elf recruitment film and even Justin’s Bieber’s take on “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.”

"Finding Nemo"
One of Pixar’s most beloved films is still making a big splash – after a welcome return to theaters earlier this year in a richly detailed 3D version, the modern animated classic swims into the Blu-Ray format for the first time, available in a variety of configurations. The five-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition delivers the full aquarium, with the 3D Blu-Ray edition, a standard Blu-Ray version and bonus features, a DVD and a digital copy – plus the short film “Partysaurus Rex,” the wildest “Toy Story Toon” to date.

"Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Vol. 2"
Cartoons don’t come any faster or flat-out funny than the 50 timeless, still-hilarious and painstakingly remastered shorts – assembled from Warner Bros. legendary Looney Tunes stable, starring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd (in their legendary Hunting Trilogy) and the rest of the madcap creations that burst forth from the minds of brilliant animators including Chuck Jones, Tex Avery and Friz Freleng, (who receive their own spotlights in the many extra features – plus bonus cartoons from Avery’s even crazier stint at MGM).

"Pixar Short Films Collection, Vol. 2"
This follow-up volume to the earlier collection of groundbreaking shorts from the masters of computer animation features a dozen instances of the filmmakers’ most creative and accomplished short work to date – such brilliantly executed confections as the magical “Presto,” the endlessly inventive “Night & Day” and the beguiling “La Luna” – as well as short tales set in the worlds of “Toy Story,” “Cars,” “Up,” Wall-E” and “Ratatouille.” Even better: early student work by Pixar wizards John Lasseter, Pete Docter and Andrew Stanton.

"Ice Age: Continental Drift"
A decade after their debut, prehistoric heroes Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary) and Sid (John Leguizamo) – as well as saber-toothed squirrel Scrat – continue to go with the ice flow in their fourth Paleolithic opus – and second in 3D. It's filled with interactive activities, songs and accompanying videos featuring some of the biggest names in pop music, and a sing-a-long mode featuring interpretation in American Sign Language.

"Cinderella: Diamond Edition"
One of Walt Disney’s bona fide masterpieces and perhaps the most potent fairy tale fantasy of the past century gets the Bibbity-Bobbity-Blu-Ray treatment for the very first time, emerging as magical and vibrant as ever. The 1950 gem is available in a variety of combo packs, the most lavish of which is a six-disc limited edition jewelry box complete with accompanying storybooks – none of which turns into a pumpkin at midnight.

"Madagascar 3"
The wildly popular third installment in the saga of the mismatched zoo creatures from the Big Apple – including Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melmen the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) may be the best of the bunch, and the Blu-Ray debut comes with extras like a hilarious collection of deleted scenes, and, for a real 3D experience, your own wearable rainbow wig.

"Secret of the Wings"
Decades after her Disney-fied debut in “Peter Pan,” Tinker Bell continues to soar in popularity. In her very own direct-to-video fairy franchise, Tink comes face to face for the first time with her sister Periwinkle. Tink’s first 3D adventure features the voices of Anjelica Huston, Lucy Hale, Timothy Dalton, Lucy Liu, Raven-Symone and many more.

"The Muppet Christmas Carol"
Twenty years ago Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and the rest of Jim Henson’s raucous cast of characters tweaked the Dickens out of the venerable story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, played with panache by token human Michael Caine, and the results continue to charm as a holiday must-watch. Top among the extras: the “cluck-along” featuring holiday standards performed by Muppet Chickens.

Looking to fulfill that McRib craving this Christmas? Well, there could be a McDonald’s store open near you on Dec. 25.

Christmas, traditionally a day when many businesses close, could be McDonald's best chance to make some extra money this year, meaning more stores than ever could be open.

Marketing and media news agency Advertising Age reports that an internal memo from McDonald’s USA CEO Jim Johannesen went out to McDonald’s franchise owners on Nov. 8 that stated Christmas Day is “our largest holiday opportunity as a system.”

That system includes thousands of stores, only about 10 percent of those stores are company owned, the rest are franchises, according to Ad Age.

In the past many of those stores were closed for Christmas, but in recent years more stores have opened.

AdAge mentioned another memo, dated Dec. 12, that spoke of the gains of opening on holidays.

Mr. Johannesen pegged average sales for company-owned restaurants…  at "more than $6,000" this Thanksgiving. People close to the company said that about 6,000 more locations opened their doors this Thanksgiving than did last year. Presuming their sales were on par with company-owned stores, that's about $36 million in additional sales.

...

"Our November results were driven, in part, by our Thanksgiving Day performance," said Mr. Johannesen in the Dec. 12 memo. "Thanks to proper planning and your great execution, we capitalized on the opportunity to be open while our customers were on the road -- and those customers rewarded us."

AdAge says McDonald's could be in line to make up to $84 million on Christmas if every one of its 14,000 U.S. stores opens on Christmas. Each franchisee decides if they will open on Christmas.

McDonald's spokeswoman Heather Oldani released this statement to NBC10:

“There are many different traditions that our customers and employees celebrate during the holiday season.  Like other retailers, we respond to our customers’ needs for convenience by being open when they need and want us, including the holidays.  For McDonald’s restaurants, our employees are given the opportunity to voluntarily work these holiday hours, are compensated for working these hours and rewarded for their service.

The majority of McDonald’s restaurants across the country are owned and operated by independent business men and women -- some of whom have opted to open their restaurants during the holidays.”

According to AdAge, the workers who do volunteer to work on Christmas at company-owned restaurants won’t receive overtime.

Basically, it’s possible that you may be able to pick up a Big Mac to eat at the Christmas table this year. But, if you really have that craving, or just can’t wait until Dec. 26 to pick up a McRib sandwich, you should call first to make sure they’re open.

While everyone enjoys Christmas, it's ultimately a holiday that thrives on the happiness of children. From remote-controlled helicopters and tablets to the latest video games, kids these days have eclectic tastes. Quite the difference from the days of Teddy Ruxpin.

Here's our guide to get that special little tike the perfect gift this season.

Furby: This is not your '90s Furby. This one interacts with your iPod touch, iPad and iPhone and comes with a free app so you can play games with it and even feed it. Fear not you digitally defunct parents, there's still plenty to do with the toy without the app.

Boo: If you've seen the adorable pup on Facebook, you know your little one will find her just as charming. At nine inches tall, it's extremely close to the same size as the dog and is extremely lifelike.

Nerf Firevision Football: This makes a great gift for a younger football fan or even a teen. Armed with a pair of glasses that will allow you to see the ball in the dark, the Firevision football makes sure the fun never has to stop. Even cooler, there are different color glasses, so kids can coordinate their own teams for an even cooler experience.

LeapPad2 Explorer: Is your youngin' addicted to your iPad? Why not get them a tablet of their own? This one however will help them learn and comes prepackaged with tons of apps with games and learning exercises. Acting as a playful distraction, it plays music and video, and has a front and back camera to take photos and record video.

Air Hogs R/C Heli Replay: Radio-controlled helicopters are extremely expensive in hobby shops, but Airhogs makes durable products that can be flown anywhere in the house and outside. This helicopter turns your smart phone into your remote and makes for a great first experience into model aviation for children of all ages. It's also something adults will enjoy playing with.

Remote Control Machines: Another great gift for kids of all ages, Thames and Kosmos' radio controlled machines allow you to make your own remote controlled, well, anything. Using your imagination and a box full of small motors and building pieces, you can create a bulldozer, car, three-wheeler, crane, antique car, plow, folding car, formula one racer, three-blade dozer, and even a robotic arm. The set is also compatible with the company's previous kits, making it perfect for family to buy expansions.

GIFT GUIDE: DVDS FOR THE KIDS

Skylanders Giants Starter Pack: This isn't your normal video game. Accessible on a console, on the web and mobile, it's essentially the closest thing to a Massively Multiplayer Role-Playing Game a child could have. Figures, placed on a stand, come alive on the television screen. With a plethora of figures and characters, there are limitless ways to play.

Y-Volution YFliker F1 Scooter: This is one cool scooter. Coming in a variety of colors and sporting a sturdy three-wheel design, it'll keep your kids outside and active.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Secret Sewer Lair Playset: This is simply a mammoth toy set. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in a huge way and this set will allow your kids to have their imagination run wild at the Turtles' home. For those '80s babies, it's also a fun way to reconnect with your favorite childhood superheroes and share the fun with your kids.

WWE Brawlin' Buddies: Wrestling isn't the safest thing for your kids to do, but these soft, cuddly versions of their favorite WWE Superstars will make wrasslin' a walk in the park. The dolls even speak their signature catchphrases and "battle sounds."

"Casablanca"
Celebrating its 70th Anniversary, the film that many consider to be one of the greatest screen love stories of all time thanks to defining performances from stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, continues to feel as exotic and romantic as ever. Now in a new transfer to Blu-Ray, the 1942 classic comes in both a single disc package and an elaborate three-disc limited edition collector’s set that features more than 45 minutes of brand-new bonus content alongside nearly nine hours of documentary, as well as a treasure trove of collectible memorabilia.

"Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection"
The Master of Suspense at last receives an extravagant Blu-Ray treatment, collecting most of the crème of his directorial crop in one lavish high-def assemblage: 15 of Hitch’s finest, most notably his masterworks “Vertigo,’ “Psycho,” “Rear Window,” “North By Northwest” and “The Birds.” Each disc is filled to overflowing with commentaries, documentaries featurettes and archival elements, and the set includes a 50-page book spotlighting the behind-the-scenes ephemera from the filmmaker’s legendary oeuvre. For Hitchcock completists, additional titles in his acclaimed filmography not included in the set have also seen recent releases, including “Notorious,” “Rebecca,” “Spellbound,” “Dial M for Murder” and “Strangers On a Train.”

"Singin’ In the Rain"
After 60 uncontested years as the most beloved movie musical ever made, Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor’s song-and-dance sequences are more dazzling than ever in a new Blu-Ray transfer. The Ultimate Collector’s Edition box set lives up to its billing: along with the expected wealth of commentaries, outtakes, extras and a brand-new documentary, it also includes an essential tool for keeping sunny when it’s soggy outside – an umbrella.

"Tarantino XX"
Even if you already own every one of maverick writer-director Quentin Tarantino’s eight groundbreaking, genre-busting films included in this set commemorating 20 years of quintessentially cool cinema – “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Jackie Brown,” “Kill Bill, Vol. 1,” “Kill Bill, Vol, 2,” “Death Proof,” “Inglorious Basterds” and the Tarantino-penned, Tony Scott-directed “True Romance” – there’s plenty of new stuff to film-geek out over, like two full bonus discs exploring the filmmaker’s revolutionary career.

"The Postman Always Rings Twice"
One of the most influential crime noir tales of all time, author James M. Cain’s steamy pulp classic still sizzles with the Blu-Ray bow of its 1946 big-screen adaptation, with sultry, platinum blonde Lana Turner embodying the ultimate film femme fatale who lures hapless drifter John Garfield into her knotty, duplicitous scheme to rid herself of her increasingly unnecessary husband.

"Sunset Boulevard"
Writer-director Billy Wilder’s mesmerizing portrait of a delusional Hollywood has-been (Gloria Swanson) drawing an opportunistic almost-was (William Holden) into a web of self-delusion remains both a pitch-black dark comedy and seminal film noir tragedy. Along with in-depth bonus material and a restoration designed to best convey the black-and-white film’s contrasting lights and darks, the most arcane extra is a song penned by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans for the film that was cut for fear of being too inside-Hollywood for 1950s audiences.

"Bond 50"
To mark five decades of espionage, action, girls and gadgets, this comprehensive collection of the world’s most enduring film franchise includes all 22 of 007’s cinematic missions – from Sean Connery’s debut performance as James Bond in 1962’s “Dr. No” to Daniel Craig’s second turn as the secret agent in 2008’s “Quantum of Solace” and every official Bond film – including those featuring George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan – in between, along with more than 130 hours of bonus dossiers.

"Francis Ford Coppola: 5-Disc Collection"
A quintet of classics from the visionary filmmaker whose epic scope and intimate touch changed the way movies were made in the 1970s. Even when two of the five are variant versions of the same film – 1979’s Vietnam opus “Apocalypse Now” and 2001’s significantly extended “Apocalypse Now Redux” – the set delivers a far-reaching look at the director’s output over several decades, including the ‘70s (“The Conversation"), the 80s (“One From the Heart”) and the 2000s (“Tetro”).

"Lawrence of Arabia"
Director David Lean’s magnificent telling of the desert adventures of T.E. Lawrence during World War I celebrates its 50th Anniversary with an appropriately epic pair of releases of the newly restored masterwork: a two-disc edition that also includes extras like a full-length making-of documentary and multiple featurettes; and a four-disc limited edition collector’s set that delivers even more behind-the-scenes material, a previously unseen deleted scene, a CD soundtrack, an 88-page book with rarely seen photos and 70mm film frame from the movie.

"The Avengers"
Easily the movie of the year, both in box office appeal and pop cultural resonance. Marvel and parent company Disney took the superhero trend one step further by uniting its top tier of solo film stars – Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the Hulk – and some A-list newcomers. There are multiple versions of the home video to consider, but we’ll suggest the five-disc set available exclusively at Target, which features a bonus documentary chronicling the step-by-step creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"Ted"
In a year filled with sequels, reboots and novel and comic book adaptations, writer/director/voice actor Seth McFarlane’s off-kilter, decidedly dirty and ultimately warm and fuzzy tale of a boy and his magically talking teddy bear aging into co-dependent slackers was the freshest concept of all – and definitely the funniest. If the theatrical version wasn’t edgy enough, the Blu Ray comes with an unrated edition, as well as a feature on how Ted and Mark Wahlberg’s motel fight scene was choreographed.
(Available Dec. 11)

"The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Dark Knight" Trilogy Limited Edition Set
Director Christopher Nolan’s grand finale to his acclaimed Batman epics – the most dark and serious-minded take on the Dark Knight yet – gets the Blu-Ray treatment. Beyond being definitive viewing for any would-be Gotham Citizen, it comes with what’s become a rare set of extra treats, most significantly a documentary on the history of the iconic Batmobile. Even better, a limited edition collector’s set offers all three of Nolan’s Batman films.
 

"The Hunger Games"
With many popular fantasy franchises aimed at teens coming to their conclusion of late, the first film installment of author Suzanne Collins’ bestselling sci-fi allegory was a welcome arrival, especially with Oscar-caliber actress Jennifer Lawrence in the lead as Katniss Everdeen. The most on-target extra: a featurette on Collins at the phenomenon behind her creation.

"Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
Lest we forget that amid all the big screen adventures aimed at young eyes, adults enjoy a tale well told, director John Madden’s exotic escapade involving a bunch of expatriate British senior citizens retiring abroad to a hotel in India that doesn’t quite live up to its hype, but delivers on the promise of a new life, turned out to be the sleeper hit of the year – and an ideal film for repeat viewings.

"The Bourne Legacy"
After stints in “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and “The Avengers” Jeremy Renner proves to be a good fit for just about any franchise, slipping seamlessly – and butt-kickingly – into the lead of the now-Matt Damon-less adventure as Aaron Cross, and the movie’s unique timetable, concurrent with prior Bourne action. The extras take the viewer deep into the creation of the film’s signature stunt sequences and globetrotting location shoots.
(Available Dec. 11)

"Prometheus"
With its intriguing is-it-or-isn’t-it-a-prequel-to-“Alien” pedigree, stunning visuals from director Ridley Scott and shaded performance by Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Noomi Rapace, the sci-fi/horror hybrid proved to be a polarizing experience for moviegoers, with some finding it brilliant and others left scratching their heads. The debate will remain as lively on Blu-Ray and those in the film’s thrall will be just as captivated by its eloquent use of 3D on the home screen.

"MiB3: Men In Black 3"
Perhaps the most expectations-exceeding sequel of the past year, the third outing is a surprise treat, continuing the franchise with more novel twists and a considerably warmer heart than director Barry Sonnenfeld and stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin might have delivered. Among the most intriguing features: compatibility with Sony’s forthcoming Movie Touch tablet technology, which opens up an unprecedented level of interactivity within the viewing experience.

"The Amazing Spider-Man"
Marvel’s friendly neighborhood wall-crawler got a major makeover from director Marc Webb focusing on the budding romance between high school dork-turned-superhero Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and adorable science nerd Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Although the storyline is a tad familiar, both the director and stars give it enough fresh twists to launch a promising new franchise, and the Blu-Ray – which also comes in a 3D edition – spins a dense web of production miscellanea within Spidey’s big reboot.

"The Expendables 2"
A sequel equal in firepower, Sylvester Stallone’s ragtag collection of movie action heroes gets a shot in the bulging bicep with some new faces – Liam Hemsworth and Yu Nan – some welcome old faces – Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme – and a Planet Hollywood-sized shootout with Stallone, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger that the first film neglected to include. Quite simply cinematic steroids for the action-addicted.

"Mad Men Season Five"
Always one of the most talked-about TV series, the fifth season of creator Matthew Weiner’s evocative exploration of the 1960s ad industry provoked even more buzz than usual, from Don’s new marriage and Betty’s altered appearance, to Joan’s game-changing move and Lane’s fateful choice. The Blu-Rays go even deeper into the show’s dense mythology with featurettes on topics like the razor-sharp dialogue, artist Giorgio de Chirico, Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball and even a history of Daylight Savings Time.

"Desperate Housewives Complete Series"
After eight seasons of revealing peeks of sex, sin and scandal behind the white picket fences of suburbia, the ladies of Wisteria Lane shuttered their blinds once and for all, but the sudsy dramas can be revisited in their entirety in this set that collects all 179 episodes on 46 discs – plus new bonus features including details from the last days on set, creator Marc Cherry’s finale cameo, and a retrospective of over 50 characters killed off over the course of the show. All packaged in a replica of Mary Alice’s familiar steamer trunk.