Indie legends Death Cab for Cutie take the stage at Assembly Hall on Sunday night in a show that's likely to draw plenty of Uni students. Meanwhile, basketball fans will love the latest game releases, and Adam Sandler fans will be all over the DVD release of "Zohan." Check out the week in entertainment with regular contributors Laura Dripps and Gordon Ruan along with newcomers Lor Sligar and Will Fernandez.

MOVIES OPENING IN C-U THIS WEEK

"Trouble the Water"
Not Rated, dir. Carl Deal & Tia Lessin
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, "Trouble the Water" begins with home video of an aspiring rapper and her husband as they survive Hurricane Katrina, and it follows the hurricane's aftermath as the citizens of New Orleans struggle to rebuild. "Trouble the Water" plays through Thursday at Boardman’s Art Theatre in Champaign; Bill Maher's "Religulous" will open at Boardman's on Friday. For information about "Religulous," see last week's guide.

"Body of Lies"
Rated R, dir. Ridley Scott
A CIA agent (Leonardo DiCaprio) is sent to Jordan to capture a terrorist. He forms a shaky working relationship with a Jordanian covert operations official (Mark Strong). He also remains in close contact with an overworked U.S. government official (Russell Crowe) who appears to be uninterested in the case. But when the lead on the case is lost, the three must rely on each other despite vast differences in methodology.

"The Express"
Rated PG, dir. Gary Fleder
"The Express" follows the true story of Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), a halfback for Syracuse who became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. From dealings with his paternal-but-angry coach (Dennis Quaid) to journeying to play in the racist South, Davis' inspirational story paved the way for countless future sports heroes.

"Quarantine"
Rated R, dir. John Erick Dowdle
Television reporter Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman (Steve Harris) are on an assignment one night following a Los Angeles Fire Department station. After being called to an apartment building, they learn first-hand the effects of a strange disease after they are quarantined inside with the infected.

"City of Ember"
Rated PG, dir. Gil Kenan
For years, the City of Ember has been isolated below ground. When generator problems threaten the lives of its citizens, it's up to two teens to find a way to escape before it's too late for the entire city.

"Ashes of Time Redux"
Rated R, dir. Wong Kar-Wai
Wong Kar-Wai’s only martial arts film is briefly re-released in theaters. A heartbroken hitman moves to the desert, where he meets skilled swordsmen to help with his work. This version includes lost footage and a new score by Yo-Yo Ma.

"Choke"
Rated R, dir. Clark Gregg
A sex-addicted man works as a historical re-enacter by day, and pays his mother’s hospital bills by going into restaurants and intentionally choking on their food by night. Based on the book by Chuck Palahniuk, author of "Fight Club." (This movie opened in C-U last week after debuting in limited release the week before.)

Laura's Pick: I love Wong Kar-Wai, but this has got to go to "Trouble the Water." Besides chronicling a very important part of our country’s recent history, it's supposed to actually be a pretty uplifting film. "Choke" is also worth seeing if you have the stomach/parental permission for it, because Palahniuk is a good novelist. "Body of Lies," "The Express," and "Quarantine" all look mediocre; "City of Ember" looks awful.

NEW CD RELEASES IN STORES THIS WEEK

"Break Up the Concrete"
The Pretenders
This anti-corporate classic rock group has proved itself time and again, ever since their debut album in 1980. Their new release has a really wide variety of styles, and the lyrics are extremely strong. While not experimental, the songs are solid and different enough from each other to keep it interesting, while frontwoman Chrissie Hynde’s deep vocals make this album truly entrancing. Highlight songs include "You Don't Have To" and "One Thing Never Changed." (Summary by L.S.)

"Dig Out Your Soul"
Oasis
The British boys with the Beatlesque representations are back with their 10th album. The band offers up the same classic rock riffs and Lennon-like rhymes that have led to major hits like "Wonderwall" and "Stop Crying Your Heart Out." This album will not disappoint long-time Oasis fans. The only thing I have against it is a lack of variety; if you’ve heard one song you have heard them all. But if you’re digging the British boys' beats, then you will love this album. (Summary by W.F.)

"Tell Tale Signs"
Bob Dylan
Mr. Tambourine Man comes out with another great album, a combination of rare and unreleased records, mainly from the last 20 years. This album is a must-buy for any Dylan fan, young or old, or just anyone who enjoys good songwriting. (Summary by W.F.)

"Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan"
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan's hit "I Will Remember You" has been the stuff of graduation soundtracks since its release in 1995. In this two-disc set, McLachlan compiles her hits with a few new releases. The only drawback is that this is a really long album. Twenty-seven tracks is kind of a lot, and some could probably be cut. If it were condensed into just one album of about 16 tracks, it’d be more listenable. The set feels more like a big collection of her songs than a cohesive album. But the songs are good, definitely the sort of things you could just lie back and sleep or do homework to. McLachlan’s voice is really pretty and captivating. Highlight songs include "Stupid" and "Adia." (Summary by L.S.)

Lor's Pick: Definitely take a look at "Break Up the Concrete." This is one of the Pretenders' strongest albums in my view since their self-titled debut album in 1980. Lyrically strong, vocally genius, the songs on this album can stand on their own but also combine to make a totally cohesive album with great flow. Worth checking out, for sure.

NEW DVD RELEASES IN STORES THIS WEEK

"You Don’t Mess with the Zohan"
Rated PG-13, dir. Dennis Dugan
Zohan (Adam Sandler) is regarded as the best Israeli counterterrorist soldier of all time. He fakes his own death to accomplish his dream, moving to New York City and becoming a hairstylist, but he winds up giving away a bit more than just new 'dos. John Turturro co-stars as Zohan's nemesis, The Phantom.

"The Happening"
Rated R, dir. M. Night Shyamalan
A schoolteacher (Mark Wahlberg) and his family race to escape the strange pattern of deaths that have suddenly stricken America in this horror thriller by M. Night Shyamalan, writer and director of "The Sixth Sense" and "Signs."

"The Visitor"
Rated PG-13, dir. Thomas McCarthy
Richard Jenkins stars as Walter, a widower and economics professor drifting through life. When he travels to Manhattan for a conference, he encounters a young foreign couple who have taken up residence in his rarely used city apartment, and his life changes in significant ways.

Laura’s Pick: For fans of independent films, "The Visitor" is worth renting. It had a good run last spring at Boardman's. Among the Hollywood releases, "The Happening" looks like a less-terrible movie, but as far as which one I would actually spend two hours watching, "Zohan" wins, just for the ridiculous fake accents.

NEW VIDEO GAME RELEASES IN STORES THIS WEEK

"NBA Live 09"
EA
The latest installment of the "NBA Live" basketball series, this game introduces a whole new list of features. FIBA teams have been expanded to 24, a rewind feature allows players to replay previous games with statistical updates, and a DNA feature provides NBA data for all the teams on how well they perform. "NBA Live 09" costs $59.99 for the Xbox360 and PS3, $49.99 for the Wii, $39.99 for the PSP, and $29.99 for the PS2.

"NBA 2K9"
Sega
Similar to its rival "NBA Live 09," this basketball game offers new features such as improved graphics and player information updates and feedback systems. "NBA 2K9" costs $59.99 for the Xbox360 and PS3, and $29.99 for the PS2.

"Fracture"
LucasArts
In 2140, the world has been split in two by global warming. In the east are the Atlantic Alliance, and in the west the Republic of Pacifica. You play as Jet Brody, a soldier of the Atlantic Alliance, who must defend his homeland from the enemy. "Fracture" costs $59.99 for the Xbox360 and PS3.

Gordon’s Pick: The two basketball games, "NBA Live 09" and "NBA 2K9," are the highlights of the week. Which one to get, though? "NBA Live 09" has more features overall than its rival, but the "NBA 2K" series is known to have excellent game-play mechanics and has been rated the best basketball series for the past seven years. Each of the two games has its own advantages and disadvantages, so I leave it up to each gamer's personal taste to decide.

PERFORMANCES IN CHAMPAIGN-URBANA

Death Cab for Cutie
7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 12
Assembly Hall
This much-anticipated concert by the famed American indie band is sure to draw many Uni students. Death Cab are touring in support of their most recent studio album, "Narrow Stairs," which was released in May. Rolling Stone critic Will Hermes, in the course of giving the album four out of five stars, described "Narrow Stairs" this way: "Elaborate multitrack recording has been replaced with the sound of a band in a room: drum hits elbowing through overmodulating bass lines, feedback squalls obscuring piano and vocals, clotting the air like smoke. The sense of claustrophobia even extends to the breaks between tracks, which are nonexistent or fleeting; songs are cut off by noise bursts or begin with the lurch of a tape-machine capstan. This fits the material — the album is as dark as anything the band has done."

OG Pick: Not much competition here. Death Cab.