December has arrived, and with Halloween behind us - all the popcorn and (fake) blood finally shampooed out the carpet - it's the perfect time to see what Blu-ray has on offer for the best holiday of them all: Christmas!

Yes, I know it's an ad. But once you see these on the telly, its safe to start watching Christmas films.

We all have our favourite movies we absolutely have to watch this time of year but just when we've collected them all on DVD along comes Blu-ray. Okay, so it means we have to fork out money for something we already own but on the plus side we get to see the films in HD with beautiful new transfers, loss-less sound and, if you're lucky, expanded special features. Some iconic Christmas movies such as The Great Escape, The Sound of Music or Christmas With The Kranks (oops, how'd that get in there? Shoo!) haven't made it to Blu-ray yet so let's start with what is currently available.

A strange meeting of bone-crushing violence and final reel mother-son bonding, Home Alone is one of those films that everybody disses (watch them do the 'Kevin' scream) but if you catch it on TV you have to see it through. It's not out on Blu-ray in the UK but you can import the Family Fun Edition from America which has a fabulous Chris Columbus/Macaulay Culkin commentary, deleted scenes and blooper reel.

That's right, "Mac", do the face!

Sticking with inappropriate violence in kid's movies, how about Gremlins? Yep, the one where cute fuzzball Gizmo writhes in agony when splashed with water and his horrific offspring gets fried in the microwave, scarring impressionable children for life. It's lost none of its dark humour and the new transfer, while not perfect, is better than you'd expect for a 25 year-old film. Best of all there's a commentary track with Joe Dante, Phoebe Cates and Zach Galligan.