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 some of 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

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
Rated PG-13, dir. Steven Spielberg
After almost 20 years, Harrison Ford returns to his iconic role as archaeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones in this long-awaited fourth installment. Shia LeBeouf and Cate Blanchett inexplicably co-star.

“Recount”
Rated TV-MA, dir. Jay Roach
This isn't a theatrical release; instead, you'll need access to HBO to see this recreation of the November-December 2000 debacle that led to the Bush presidency. Director Jay Roach is best known for his work on the Austin Powers movies, but a director with a comedic sensibility was necessary to do justice to the cosmic joke that was the 2000 presidential recount. The cast is a who's who of superb actors: Kevin Spacey and John Hurt shine, of course, but look for the marvelous Tom Wilkinson as Bush family consigliere James Baker and Laura Dern in a career-defining performance as Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, a person decidedly not ready for her close-up. The film premieres 8 p.m. CST Sunday and will no doubt be available soon thereafter at any time via HBO on Demand.

Kumars’ Pick: Yeah, I’ll see “Crystal Skull.” Spielberg isn’t high on my list of favorite directors and the presence of LeBeouf and Blanchett (as the main villain, no less) make the “Crystal Skull”’s claim to legitimacy dubious at best, but with movies like this, you’ve got to at least see it to have an opinion.

CD releases this week

“Arm’s Way”
Islands
Islands gained indie-rock fame with their first release; 2006’s “Return to the Sea” was a beautiful but jumbled mix of calypso, dancehall, pop, and hip-hop. “Arm’s Way” displays the group’s new, more succinct (but still exploratory) sound, even without founding member Jaime Thompson. One thing that hasn’t changed is the creative instrumentation the group is known for, as “Arm’s Way” features clarinets, violins, pianos, and African tribal drums throughout the album.

“3 Doors Down”
3 Doors Down
The same mainstream rock powerhouse that brought you “Kryptonite” in 2000 releases their fourth studio album. Singles include “It’s Not My Time,” which has been No. 1 on the U.S. mainstream rock charts for three weeks, and “Citizen Soldier,” which was previously released in 2007 as part of a recruitment campaign for the National Guard.

“No, Virginia”
Dresden Dolls
Mixing theatrical vocals with heavy-metal drumming, The Dresden Dolls don’t cross genres, they defy them with their dramatic sound. “No, Virginia” is a collection of previously unreleased songs from their last album, “Yes, Virginia,” along with music from their recording sessions in winter 2008.

Laura’s Pick: The Dresden Dolls are actually pretty good, but I wouldn’t recommend their B-sides. Plus it seems like an entire album of a sound that um … “unique” would get really headache-inducing after a while. This pick goes to Islands, because their blend of instrumental creativity, pretty tenor vocals, and morbid lyrics create a product that truly shouldn’t be missed out on. I’m still kicking myself in the face for not going to their concert here. Also, it looks as though 3 Doors Down have gotten even more pathetic than usual.

DVD releases this week

“George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead”
Rated R, dir. George A. Romero
Horror legend George A. Romero follows up his classic zombie flicks with this 21st-century update about a band of college filmmakers who return from a shoot to find that the dead have risen and the infection is spreading to all spheres of their lives.

“National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets”
Rated PG, dir. Jon Turteltaub
There are 18 pages mysteriously missing from the diary of Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth. It is up to treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) to discover the truth about the murder of one of America’s most revered historical figures.

Kumars’ Pick: Thanks, but no thanks.

Video game releases this week

“Haze”
Ubisoft
Shane Carpenter is a 25-year-old soldier of the biomedical Mantel Global Industries that developed Nectar, a nutritional supplement that allows soldiers to fight stronger and smarter. However, Nectar has horrifying side effects, which Carpenter soon discovers. He turns against the Mantel industry and attempts to bring it down. “Haze” costs $59.99 for the PS3.

“Wii Fit”
Nintendo
This is an exercising game that introduces four activities: yoga poses, muscle workouts, aerobic exercises, and balance games. The game will allow players to track their BMI progress and is played on the Wii Balance Board. “Wii Fit” costs $49.99 for the Wii.

“UEFA EURO 2008”
EA Sports
A soccer game based on the upcoming EURO 2008 soccer tournament, “UEFA EURO 2008” has 52 playable teams and eight stadiums to compete in. “UEFA EURO 2008” costs $49.99 for the PS3 and Xbox 360, $39.99 for the PSP, and $29.99 for the PS2.

Gordon’s Pick: Nothing. Maybe “Wii Fit” if you like to exercise, or if you want to exercise more. Be warned that “Wii Fit” doesn’t really play like a game, emphasizing more on the exercises like doing push-ups, jogging, and other type of activities.

Live music in C-U

Guitar Night at the Iron Post
• 7-10 p.m., Thursday, May 22
• Iron Post, 120 S. Race St., Urbana, $3
Seven talented guitarists will perform throughout the night.

Brokshade
• 7-11 p.m., Friday, May 23 & 7-11 p.m. Saturday, May 24
• Creative Dramatics Workshop, the corner of White and Byron streets, Sidney, FREE
Uni senior Grant Loos' rock band, Brokshade, will perform for two nights in a row this weekend along with two opening bands, one from Tolono/Sidney and the other from Terre Haute, Ind.

A Benefit for Darfur: Greenwood, The Signal, and Todd Reese @ the IMC
• 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Saturday, May 24-Sunday, May 25
• Independent Media Center, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana, $7
This is a benefit organized by Uni sophomores Sindha Agha and Loic Hostetter. All proceeds will go to Africare, a nonprofit organization that runs a large refugee camp in Darfur.

Sindha's pick: Definitely go to Grant's show on Friday and my show on Saturday! I guarantee that the benefit will be amazing and packed (or so it seems).