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

“The Counterfeiters”
Rated R, dir. Stefan Ruzowitzky
In the Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film of 2007, a master counterfeiter (Karl Markovics) in Nazi-era Berlin is thrown into a concentration camp, where he is recruited by the Nazis to forge fake foreign currency to weaken the Allied nations’ economies.

“The Forbidden Kingdom”
Rated PG-13, dir. Rob Minkoff
Jackie Chan and Jet Li are united at last onscreen in this kung-fu actioner about an American teen (Michael Angarano) who is transported back in time to ancient China, where he joins a crew of warriors on a quest to free the king.

“88 Minutes”
Rated R, dir. Jon Avnet
In this thriller, Al Pacino stars as Dr. Jack Gramm, a college professor who moonlights as an FBI forensic psychiatrist, who receives a death threat informing him that he has 88 minutes to live. Gramm goes on the hunt, searching for his would-be killer before his time runs out.

“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”
Rated R, dir. Nicholas Stoller
When TV sitcom star Sarah Marshall (the gorgeous Kristin Bell) dumps her boyfriend Peter (Jason Segel), Peter takes a vacation to Hawaii to take his mind off of the traumatic break-up, only to discover that Sarah is staying at the very same resort — with her new boyfriend.

Kumars’ Pick: The creative influence and approval of producer Judd Apatow (and the presence of Apatow troupe members Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill) bode well for “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” which I’m tipping as very likely to outdo your average mainstream comedy. “88 Minutes” looks as formulaic as “The Forbidden Kingdom” looks gratingly trite. “The Counterfeiters” looks like a gem. I’ve got a lot to do this weekend, what with the Islands show and other assorted tomfoolery, but I’ll definitely make time for this.

CD releases this week

“E=MC2”
Mariah Carey
What can be said about Mariah Carey that she hasn’t already established with her 18-year-long recording career? The pop/R&B star has had the most No. 1 singles of any solo artist in the United States, including “Touch My Body,” the lead-off single from her new album. After losing some popularity in the early 2000s, Carey made an impressive comeback with 2006’s “The Emancipation of Mimi.” In her latest, “E=MC2,” look out for collaborations with T Pain, Damian Marley, and Young Jeezy.

“Konk”
The Kooks
The Kooks released their debut album “Inside In/Inside Out” in January 2006, and it's been nothing but success for the UK indie legends ever since. The first single off of “Konk” — “Always Where I Need to Be” — has already reached No. 3 on the UK singles chart. The album is also being released as a double-disc collection titled “RAK.”

“The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV: Air & Earth”
Thrice
Spin Magazine describes Thrice as “Part Tom Waits meets Isis, part Coldplay as performed by a robot orchestra.” With lyrics like “My fear just fuels the hate machine/ The sky is falling/ And no one will live the last sea/ The sky is falling/ And no one will care as long as it lands over seas” on their track “The Sky is Falling,” Thrice use quiet vocals and nature-inspired themes to put their spin on the “post-hardcore" movement.

“The Sound Inside"
In Flight Radio
The Brooklyn alt-rock quartet's second album has already received critical praise for its “angular, atmospheric alt-rock.” Says Filter-Mag.com: “Their latest song, 'Red Flags,' takes elements of their 2006 self-titled indie release, shoegaze, Brit-pop, and a recently added guitar player to fatten up their sound to epic proportions.”

Laura’s Pick: The Kooks are cool and all, but “Konk” has been met with pretty mediocre reviews. Personally, I’m going to save my money for another week.

DVD releases this week

“Lars and the Real Girl”
Rated PG-13, dir. Craig Gillespie
“Lars and the Real Girl” follows shy, delusional young Lars Lindstrom (the effervescent Ryan Gosling), who strikes up a deep, meaningful relationship with a sex doll.

“Alien vs. Predator: Requiem”
Rated R, dir. Colin & Greg Strause
The otherworldly stars of the “Alien” and “Predator” franchises face off again in this sequel.

“Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”
Rated R, dir. Sidney Lumet
Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman and Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke star as brothers who decide to rob their parents’ jewelry store in Sidney Lumet’s critically acclaimed chronicle of moral decay.

“Juno”
Rated PG-13, dir. Jason Reitman
When smart, snarky 16-year-old Juno (Ellen Page) discovers she is pregnant with her best friend’s child, she decides to give it a home with a well-off but childless couple (Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner). This movie somehow got overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Kumars’ Pick: It’s not that I don’t understand how anyone could love “Juno”; on the contrary, it makes perfect sense. I think the Ben Stiller-Will Ferrell-Vince Vaughn era of American comedies has so starved the moviegoing public of sophisticated comedic fare that a blatantly manufactured, abysmally written (what I don’t understand is how this won, of all things, a Screenplay Oscar) McIndie film like “Juno” or “Little Miss Sunshine” actually passes for outstanding filmmaking. Also overrated, but less infuriatingly so due to its relatively low profile, is “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.” The splendid title aside, Lumet’s latest is a trite and pompous parable from a truly legendary filmmaker (“Serpico,” “Dog Day Afternoon” and “Network” are absolutely essential) whose previous film was a mob-themed comedy with Vin Diesel. The other two, I haven’t seen, but many of the same people who disliked “Juno” had vaguely positive things to say about “Lars and the Real Girl.” The cerebral charm of Ryan Gosling is key.

Video game releases this week

“Okami”
Capcom
For many years, the eight-headed demon Orochi had been sealed away. However, he is able to break free, and in revenge enshrouds the artistic Kamaki village in darkness. Now, the sun goddess wolf Amaterasu sets out on a journey to remove and bring color back to his village. “Okami” costs $39.99 for the Wii and $29.99 for the PS2.

“Gran Turismo 5 Prologue”
Sony Computer Entertainment
This latest installment of the well-praised “Gran Turismo” racing series now introduces 71 playable cars, new tracks, and a My Page interface. The game does not deviate from the game-play formula, still maintaining its acclaimed realistic racing experience. “Gran Turismo 5 Prologue” costs $39.99 for the PS3.

“Europa Universalis: Rome”
Paradox Interactive
Your objective in this real time-strategy game, set in the era before the Punic Wars, is to establish the Roman Empire. In order to do so, however, you must lead your generals to combat, use diplomacy, govern your civilians, and much more. “Europa Universalis” costs $49.99 for the PC.

Gordon’s Pick: Okami finally brings another great action-adventure game on the Wii! Even though this game was released two years ago on the PS2, the added Wii controls, beautiful art, and game-play mechanics make this an excellent addition to the Wii. “GTA 5 Prologue” is an excellent driving-simulator racing game, and anyone who likes this genre should get it. But be warned that this game is not the high-speed and crashing car game. If you want that type of racing, check out “Burnout Paradise.” As for “Europa Universalis: Rome,” it’s extremely similar to “Rome: Total War” except just more complicated. Ignore it.

Live music in C-U

Ben Folds, Ben Lee
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15
Foellinger Auditorium, 709 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, $31
The former front man of Ben Folds Five, an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, will perform Tuesday night at Foellinger Auditorium.

Travis Tritt
7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17
Assembly Hall, 1800 S. First St., Champaign, $29.50 to $38.50
Country superstar Travis Tritt will finally come to the Assembly Hall for his much-delayed show, which was originally scheduled for Oct. 11.

Islands, Headlights
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18
U-C Independent Media Center, 202 S. Broadway Ave., Urbana, $13
Montreal’s quirky and talented indie group of six, Islands, will join local shoegaze/indie-pop band Headlights for a show at the IMC this Friday.

Sindha’s pick: Islands all the way. They are incredibly talented, an evolved version of The Unicorns, laced with hints of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade. This show is definitely one that must not be missed. Not to mention that Headlights just popped out a new album, and I’m sure they’ll be playing parts of it.