By Jono Baron & Erin Hayes

Gargoyle senior editor & staff reporter


Posted Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, The OG, arts

EACH WEEK WE'LL look ahead to the next releases in entertainment, from movies opening in C-U to DVDs and CDs hitting the stores. Plus we'll give you the heads-up on the best local concerts and performances scheduled for the coming week.

MOVIES OPENING IN C-U THIS WEEK

“Norbit” (official site)

Eddie Murphy returns in this comedy, where he takes on the roles of three separate characters (Norbit, Mr. Wong, Rasputia). Norbit, a mild-mannered, geeky fellow, is engaged to the morbidly obese Rasputia when his old sweetheart, Kate, comes back to town. Hence, Norbit struggles to be with Kate and must free himself from Rasputia's clutches.

Opens Friday at the Beverly 18 and Savoy 16.

“Hannibal Rising” (official site)

You all probably know the character of Dr. Hannibal Lecter from Sir Anthony Hopkins' Oscar-Winning 1991 performance in “The Silence of the Lambs.” Now, Hannibal is revealed in his younger state, starting in childhood and going up through his arrival in the U.S. In this film, Dr. Lecter is played by French actor Gaspard Ulliel, so it will be interesting to see whether he can rise to the challenge of such a renowned role.

Opens Friday at the Beverly 18 and Savoy 16.

Jono's Pick: Save your money. Last week's lack of intelligent mainstream cinema left a shockwave. In fact, this week looks even more void of entertaining films. I see movies like “Norbit” advertised on television, and I can only remember Michael Belmont's own thoughts on this issue: “What were they thinking?” So I'm sorry, Gargoyle readers, but this week's another pass.

Erin's Pick: Save your money. Taking my cue from Jono's previous response, I am planning to keep that $6.50 this week. Nothing particularly notable appears to be coming out, except possibly “Hannibal Rising,” which will only be of note supposing that it isn't completely terrible. I don't know what they were thinking, loading the movie with an obscure cast; I suppose Hannibal Lecter's name is supposed to carry the whole thing. But of course, I haven't seen it, so this film may surprise everybody and turn out to be good. In any case, I'm not particularly interested in spending my Friday night sitting through it, or any of the other movies coming out this week.

NEW CD RELEASES (in stores Tuesday, Feb. 6)

The Apples In Stereo, “New Magnetic Wonder”

One of the original indie bands of the Elephant Six Collective, The Apples in Stereo release their first CD since “Velocity of Sound” five years ago. Lead singer Robert Schneider displays his musical invention, the “Non-Pythagorean Scale,” and legendary artist Jeff Mangum (best known for his band, Neutral Milk Hotel) returns from a hiatus of nearly 10 years to perform backup vocals and drums, among other things.

Bloc Party, “Weekend In The City”

Followup to 2005's “Silent Alarm,” Bloc Party's release features a more synthetic sound, with a shift in attention from rhythm to lyrical reflection. This album shows a change in the London band's style, but it keeps enough of the overall feel to preserve their essence as a group.

The Used, “Berth”

Fans of The Used's last CD/DVD, 2003's “Maybe Memories,” have been looking forward to this two-disc release. The second disc features DVD footage from the Vancouver show of the 2005 Taste of Chaos tour (the latest edition of which is coming to C-U in March), fan questions and answers, and three multimedia tracks.

Erin's Pick: The Apples In Stereo, “New Magnetic Wonder.” All around, this sounds like a pretty notable album. I think what truly did it for me, though, was Jeff Mangum; as soon as I heard he was on this album I was resolved to get it. Neutral Milk Hotel is one of my favorite bands, and I'm really psyched to see if his presence on this record is detectable, and what he sounds like now. Plus, “New Magnetic Wonder” is enhanced with a couple of short videos talking about the “Non-Pythagorean Scale,” a hidden track, written explanations and graphs about the scale, and full versions of the cover art.

Jono's Pick: The Apples In Stereo, “New Magnetic Wonder.” While I'm not as keen as Erin is on The Apples' introduction of an experimental music scale — add graphs and mathematics to rock, and you've essentially lost me — I love The Apples In Stereo's earlier work, such as 1999's “Her Wallpaper Reverie,” which is characteristic of an overall retro sound with crisp melodies and playful lyrics. I'm not sure if their original lightheartedness will hold fast on this latest release — it's been awhile since they were truly active. But with that said, I would be excited to hear a new album by The Apples that maintains their old style. After all, any band that writes a song based on “The Powerpuff Girls” deserves a chance.

NEW DVD RELEASES (in stores Tuesday, Feb. 6)

“Flags of Our Fathers” (official site)

Along with “Letters from Iwo Jima,” this film is one of two World War II films directed by Clint Eastwood that takes place in the midst of the fight for Iwo Jima. “Flags of Our Fathers” gives an American perspective of the onslaught, from the war front to stateside, documenting the propaganda associated with American victory. The DVD itself comes in a fullscreen or widescreen edition but lacks many other features.

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (DVD site)

“All Quiet on the Western Front” is one of the most powerful World War I movies ever made — and it has two Academy Awards to prove it. It follows a group of German schoolboys turned soldiers who discover the horrors of trench warfare: Death and meaningless violence set the tone for the entire film. This re-release, by Universal Cinema, mostly repackages the original film in an updated DVD format with multiple language tracks and a few additional commentaries. Its low price makes it a good buy.

James Bond Ultimate Edition Remasters (official site)

Multiple Bond films (titles include “Goldeneye,” “Goldfinger,” “License to Kill,” “For Your Eyes Only,” “Thunderball,” and “The Spy Who Loved Me”) are being released this week in remastered formats. All DVDs include behind-the-scenes and making-of shorts, archival documents and deleted scenes, screen tests, and biographies.

“The Science of Sleep” (official site). With the death of his father, Stéphane Miroux returns to France to be with his mother. There, he falls in love with his neighbor Stéphanie and feels that he is able to show her the world of dreams inside his head.

Erin's Pick: “The Science of Sleep.” I didn't get to see this film when it was in theaters, but it looked fascinating. Its surreal quality was enticing, and I will look forward to experiencing that from the DVD. And, “The Science of Sleep” stars Gael García Bernal, a very attractive Mexican actor well-known for his performance in 2001's “Y Tu Mamá También,” so this film should be a visual pleaser as well as a tonal one.

Jono's Pick: “Flags of Our Fathers.” I've heard nothing but rave reviews of this film. When I first saw the previews for it, it looked like just another generic World War II movie. In actuality, “Flags of Our Fathers” is about propaganda — it analyzes a societal mentality on war instead of just showing a bunch of guys firing rifles and dodging grenades. While the special features seem somewhat thin, my expectation is that the film itself will be enough entertainment for buyers.

LOCAL SHOWS & CONCERTS

Saturday, Feb. 10: Oceans, Snowsera, Baby & Hide, Coco Coca, Sam Vicari, 8 p.m., The Iron Post, $7. This is quite the exciting lineup. Coco Coca and Baby & Hide both follow an entertaining electro vibe (Coco Coca in a much more rock-oriented fashion, while Baby & Hide stick to a more experimental-disco-ambient style). Meanwhile, Sam Vicari is a falsetto-utilizing teen-rocker influenced by the likes of Weezer, and Snowsera broadcast pop-punk sensibilities. Oceans round out the act as an interesting blend of grungy, rough vocals and pretty guitars.

Saturday, Feb. 10: Green St. Records Showcase: Jack Pine Savage, The Greytones, Mad Mardigan, Boba Fett and the Stormtroopers, 9 p.m., Illini Union Courtyard Café, $5. This U of I student-run record label shows off its selection of artists for the 2006-07 school year.

Erin's Pick: I'm going to have to go with the Coco Coca show at the Iron Post. I've wanted to see Coco Coca for a few months, but every time he plays, it's at an 18-and-over joint. But not this time! While the Iron Post is a bar, its shows are open to all ages, and its environment is very friendly and homey. And sure, I bet the Green St. Records show will be pretty radical, but honestly, I need a change of scenery. I haven't been to a show outside the Courtyard in months, and I haven't visited the Iron Post since September.

MISCELLANEOUS

Through Feb. 20: “Hip Hop Expressionz 2” art & culture show, Illini Union Art Gallery. This exhibit is a hard-hitting look at the culture of hip hop and social strife in America today. It is definitely worth a look-see; the Illini Union Art Gallery is free to enter, and it's incredibly near our school.