On Film
by Scott Phillips
A Gift-Giving Guide for Movie Lovers
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s this issue finds its way into the homes of our readers, holiday shopping season will be in high gear. Here are some suggestions for filmrelated gifts to satisfy the cine phile on your Christmas list: XReal One Pro: These AR (augmented reality) eyeglasses are made from Ray-Ban frames with built-in miniature speakers from Bose. Hook up your favorite device (phone, tablet, etc.), and you’ll find yourself watching your favorite shows and movies on a 171-inch virtual screen. Think of it as an Apple Vision Pro without the fourfigure price tag. It’s the perfect way to watch in privacy on vacation, on a plane or any time the kids don’t need to be members of the audience. The XReals are slightly bigger than a pair of sunglasses, so you won’t look like you’re in a science fiction film while you use them. If your vision is less than 20- 20, you can buy prescription inserts for around $50 for perfect clarity. You can also bypass the built-in speakers to avoid broadcasting your viewing to people sitting around you by simply sending the audio to your favorite ear buds or headphones via Bluetooth. The Wes Anderson Archives: If it’s fall, it’s the season for a mammoth home video box set from the Criterion Collection. Past filmmakers who’ve gotten the boxed treatment include Ingmar Bergman and Federico Fellini. For 2025, Criterion gathered the first ten films from Austin filmmaker Wes Anderson on 4 K UHD and Blu-ray. Some of Anderson’s films (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel among others) have been released by Criterion previously as individual discs, but they’ve never looked and sounded this good.
Anderson is known as a meticulous production designer, and this box set reflects his attention to detail. Each film comes with a small hardback book of material curated by Anderson for the set. It’s a treasure trove. Maybe one day we’ll get The Wes Anderson Archives Volume II. (Pro Tip from an avid collector: all Criterion releases are 50% off in November at Barnes & Noble.) MUBI: I’ve sung the praises of this streaming service before, but it’s been a while, so I’ll do it again. This is the best cinephile streamer out there. Many will point to the Criterion Channel, but MUBI’s eclectic selection of films from around the globe just edges them out in my book. My Netflix watch list probably has ten or so films on it. My MUBI watch list has dozens. When I finish watching films for my various reviews and critic’s homework, I reward myself with an afternoon in front of MUBI, and it only puts a small dent in what they have to offer. MUBI also offers a companion magazine featuring deep dives into the eclectic cinema on their streaming service and beyond. Sight and Sound: This magazine from the United Kingdom is hands down the best film periodical out there. I’m a physical media lover (print magazines, hardback books, CDs, DVDs, etc.), but the digital subscription to Sight and Sound is a steal. For about $45, you get a year of access to every issue of the magazine past and present. Sight and Sound has a comprehensive digital archive spanning decades. Your annual subscription gives you a lifetime of interviews, reviews, essays and other written content. It’s a no-brainer for film fans and filmmakers alike.
——————————————————————————————————————————— Scott Phillips is a Columbus resident and serves as the President of the Southeastern Film Critics Association. His reviews and other work can be found at Forbes.com.
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