For a quick look at the entertainment choices the Gargoyle has featured this year, be sure to visit our A&E Hitlist. There you'll find at-a-glance info about the movies, DVDs, CDs, and video games that we've included in our weekly guides since the school year began. In addition, you'll find links to external reviews (usually by Roger Ebert or New York Times critics) of the movies and DVDs in our guides, plus iTunes or MySpace links to our music selections. We've also added GameSpot links to our video game choices. So check out this wealth of A&E info!

Movies opening in C-U

2008 Latin American Film Festival
Various directors
Recent films from Argentina (“The Aura”), Mexico (“The Violin”), Peru (“Madeinusa”), Brazil (“Alice's House”), and Bolivia (“Cocalero”) visit C-U during the 2008 edition of the Latin American Film Festival at Boardman’s Art Theatre. The weeklong festival begins Friday. For times and other details, click here to visit the event’s site.

“Leatherheads”
Rated PG-13, dir. George Clooney
Academy Award winners George Clooney and Renee Zellweger star alongside John Krasinski (“The American Office”) in this lighthearted account of the birth of professional football.

“Nim’s Island”
Rated PG, dir. Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett
Nim (Abigail Breslin), a young girl with a fantastical imagination, and Alexandra (Jodie Foster), a children’s author with a fantastical repertoire that mirrors Nim’s own adventures, must team up to find Nim’s kidnapped father on a magical island. No, I’m not sure I understand this either.

“The Ruins”
Rated R, dir. Carter Smith
Four young Americans on vacation in Cancun find their dream getaway transformed into a gruesome nightmare when they incur the wrath of hellish Mayan curses in an elaborate set of ruins.

“Shine a Light”
Rated PG-13, dir. Martin Scorsese
The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ron Wood put on a show for the ages at the Beacon Theatre in New York in Martin Scorsese’s heavily anticipated concert film.

Kumars’ Pick: Scorsese and the Stones should be interesting, if nothing else, but the real must-sees this week are the gems on show at Boardman’s for the Latin American Film Festival. I don’t know how many I’ll be able to catch, but we should all make an effort to expand our cinematic horizons by checking out the cream of the overlooked crop from those countries south of the border.

CD releases this week

“Last Night”
Moby
Not quite electronic, not quite pop, not quite eclectic, Moby provides a genre that is all his own. The tracks are already available on his MySpace page for listening.

“Accelerate”
R.E.M.
R.E.M.’s last album, 2004’s “Around the Sun,” was generally regarded as a commercial failure. This time around the legends who brought you “Losing My Religion” and a huge collection of solid rock albums have put out a release that, so far, has received more praise from music critics.

“The Bright Lights of America”
Anti-Flag
“The Bright Lights of America” differs from the “political punk” band’s previous work by including elements like children’s choirs and orchestral instrumentation to produce a less abrasive effect. Listed influences include The Clash, Against Me!, The Smiths, Fugazi, the Pixies, and Dead Kennedys, among others.

“Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow”
Sevendust
Heavy guitars, throaty screaming, and a generally unhygienic appearance? Yep, Sevendust has the makings of a great metal band. "Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow" showcases the band's original 1997 lineup. Chris Daughtry and Alter Bridge member Myles Kennedy are rumored to have appearances on the album.

“This is Ivy League”
This is Ivy League
Harmless folk? Quiet rock? Polite indie pop? Regardless of title, This is Ivy League debut with their docile tunes and soft crooning to make you just want to hum along or fall asleep.

Laura’s Pick: Moby! Though his latest effort won't make anyone forget “Play” (his 1999 masterpiece), “Last Night” features some infectious tunes and decent beats. Check out his MySpace page to listen to the complete album. Plus, now that Eminem is irrelevant, we don't have to pretend to agree with his Moby-directed insults.

DVD releases this week

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Rated R, dir. Tim Burton
When Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) unfairly sentences Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) to imprisonment, Barker returns as the barber Sweeney Todd to exact his gruesome revenge. Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Timothy Spall, and Christopher Lee round out a stunning ensemble cast.

“Alvin and the Chipmunks”
Rated PG, dir. Tim Hill
Jason Lee stars in this screen adaptation of the beloved animated series about a man who adopts three chipmunks (voices of Justin Long, Jesse McCartney, and Matthew Gray Gubler).

Kumars’ Pick: There’s really no contest here. “Sweeney Todd” was easily one of 2007’s finest, a perfectly executed tongue-in-cheek gorefest with a heart of stone and a gleefully perverse take on justice fitting of the pantheon of Burton successes. “Alvin and the Chipmunks” was, well, I don’t know. I didn’t see it.

Video game releases this week

“Great War Nations: The Spartans”
Dreamcatcher
The legendary Spartans are now under your control in this RTS game. Use the power of the Spartan hoplites and their fearsome fighting abilities to become supreme ruler of Greece. “Great War Nations: The Spartans” costs $39.99 for the PC.

“Overclocked”
Lighthouse Interactive
One stormy night, U.S. Army combat psychiatrist David McNamara is called to treat five psychologically unstable adolescents and a woman who suffer from memory loss and unusual pain. While treating them, McNamara discovers shocking revelations. “Overclocked” costs $29.99 for the PC.

“Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis”
Gust
Vayne Aurelius lived in a world of loneliness until he enrolled into the Al-Revis Academy of Alchemy. At this special academy, students learn the lore of alchemy, fight creatures, and make their own items. In this fourth installment of the “Atelier Iris” series, the player will assume the role of Vayne and guide him through Al-Revis Academy to become an alchemy master. “Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis” costs $39.99 for the PS2.

Gordon’s Pick: Nothing good this week, but PC owners will be pleased by next week’s releases of “Assassin’s Creed,” “Portal,” and “Half Life 2: Episode Pack.”

Live music in C-U

The Safes, Post Historic, Robots Counterfeiting Money, MITN
8 p.m., Thursday, April 3
Illini Union Courtyard, 1401 West Green St., Urbana, cost not posted
Chicago’s upbeat yet gritty powerpop trio of brothers, The Safes, will take away Thursday’s show with their well-executed and catchy tunes. While the other performers are a bit less impressive, they are well matched and the show’s acts will transition fluidly. The highly-praised O’Malley brothers are a must-see.

So Long Forgotten, Good Night & Good Morning, The Signal, Snowsera
7 p.m, Sunday, April 6
Error House, 505 Haines Blvd., Champaign, $5
Local hits So Long Forgotten, Good Night & Good Morning, The Signal, Snowsera will play another low-key house show.

Sindha’s Pick: Having no school on Friday makes the Thursday show a possibility for Uni students, and since several of the acts are bands from Chicago, they will probably be talented performers, regardless of music style. The Safes seem mainstream enough — I don’t say that in a derogatory way — that probably most of us students would enjoy their show. Therefore I’d recommend Thursday’s show, especially considering that a Sunday night show isn’t really feasible for high school students.