For a quick look at all 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 all the movies, DVDs, CDs, and video games that we've included in our weekly entertainment 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 all the movies and DVDs in our weekly guides, plus iTunes or MySpace links to our music selections. We've also included GameSpot links to our video game choices. So check out this wealth of A&E info!

Movies opening in C-U

“There Will Be Blood”
Rated R, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Genius filmmaker P.T. Anderson (“Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia”) presents this dark, universally acclaimed portrait of a turn-of-the-century prospector (Daniel Day-Lewis) who, upon receiving a mysterious tip-off, transforms himself from a down-and-out single father mining silver into a powerful oil tycoon.

“Untraceable”
Rated R, dir. Gregory Hoblit & David Rosenbloom
FBI Special Agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) is in a race against time to find a tech-savvy murderer who broadcasts his grisly ventures on the Internet.

“Rambo”
Rated R, dir. Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone directs and stars in this resurrection of his popular “Rambo” action films about a fearless soldier who must rescue aid workers captured by the Burmese army.

“Meet the Spartans”
Rated PG-13, dir. Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer
From the creators of “Epic Movie” and all those other “Movies” comes this lampoon of historical war films. Kevin Sorbo (TV’s “Hercules”), Wu-Tang Clan rapper Method Man, and Carmen Electra appear.

Kumars’ Pick: “There Will Be Blood.” Friday. Boardman’s. See you there.

CD releases this week

“Venus On Earth”
Dengue Fever
Named after everyone's favorite tropical disease, Dengue Fever combine Cambodian pop lyrics with psychedelic indie rock to create a fusion that is as infectious as it is musically intricate. The group was formed in 2001 after band member Ethan Holtzman was inspired by a trip to Cambodia and discovered vocalist Chhom Pinol singing in a nightclub in the Little Phnom Penh area of Long Beach. Their 2005 album “Escape from Dragon House” was named the No. 1 international release of the year by Amazon.com.

“Hey Venus!”
Super Furry Animals
All of the music for this album has been out since August online or on vinyl, but the physical CD release is finally here. Although Super Furry Animals tend to cross genres like freeway lanes, it's a safe bet that “Hey Venus” will be a stable contribution to the band's already impressive musical library.

“Pocket Full of Sunshine”
Natasha Bedingfield
The UK singer/songwriter and former member of the Christian dance/electronica group The DNA Algorithm releases “Pocket Full of Sunshine,” her follow-up to the smash success and theme-songdom of 2004’s “Unwritten.”

“Let Your Tape Rock”
Damemas
Describing their own music as sounding like “a botched NYPD drug raid,” these Brooklyn rockers provide an unpolished and aggressive take on the standard guitar/drum combos to demand your attention and provide a hardcore sound, with a bit of influence from Hawaiian folk music and other eclectic sources.

“Mission Control”
The Whigs
Named after everyone's favorite now-defunct political party, this pop-rock band out of Athens, Ga., bring the classic combo of guitar and smooth vocals to provide a classic sound straight out of the garage canon.

Laura's Pick: I was already impressed with the only track from “Venus on Earth” up on Dengue Fever's MySpace before I even realized that the lyrics aren't in English, but in Khmer, the national language of Cambodia. Everyone should at least give them a listen. Super Furry Animals would be a solid choice as well, but all of that's been out for a few months already.

DVD releases this week

“Sydney White”
Rated PG-13, dir. Joe Nussbaum
Director Joe Nussbaum puts a modern spin on the classic story of Snow White in this tale of a college freshman (Amanda Bynes) who rejects her snooty sorority sisters and bands together with the dorky outcasts of campus. For Gargoyle senior editor Sarah Pfander's review of “Sydney White” when it first appeared in theaters, click here.

“The Game Plan”
Rated PG, dir. Andy Fickman
Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays a star quarterback who discovers he has a daughter and reevaluates the purpose of his fast-paced, glamorous life.

“Saw IV”
Rated R, dir. Darren Lynn Bousman
Mastermind serial killer Jigsaw, unhindered by his own death, wreaks grisly havoc from the grave.

Kumars’ Pick: Pass.

Video game releases this week

“Burnout Paradise”
Electronic Arts
High-speed racing, aggressive driving, and huge crashes are the types of elements present in this racing game. Containing 120 unique events and various wicked ways to make your car break rules and create havoc, “Burnout Paradise” is available on the Xbox360 and Ps3 for $59.99.

“Advance Wars: Days of Ruin”
Nintendo
The fourth installment of the popular “Advance Wars” series, this turn-based strategy game takes place in the future where a meteor strike has killed 90 percent of the human population. A whole new cast of characters is introduced, and in order for them to survive, they have to fight against disease, barbarians, and men who seek to establish power. “Advance Wars: Days of Ruin” is available on the Nintendo DS for $29.99.

“Endless Ocean”
Nintendo
As the title implies, this game is about a scuba diver who endlessly explores the fictional Manaurai Sea in search of sea creatures and treasure. The marine wildlife living in the Manaurai Sea ranges from small fish and penguins to dolphins, sharks, manta rays, and massive whales. Because the game is for the Wii, the player can solely use the Wii remote to guide the scuba diver and play over the Nintendo wi-fi connection with other divers. “Endless Ocean” costs $29.99 for the Wii.

Gordon’s Pick: Fans of the “Burnout” series should definitely check out “Burnout Paradise,” whose game play, such as the damage system, has been completely reinvented to make it realistic on the next-gen consoles. Likewise, anyone who likes turn-based strategy games should get “Advance Wars: Days of Ruin.” Fans of the “Advance War” series may be disappointed by the new cast of characters that is introduced. And unless you think finding sea creatures and sea treasure is interesting or are planning to become a scuba diver in the future, I would stay away from “Endless Ocean” for fear of its game play becoming too repetitive.

Local shows this week

Karl Burke, Tim Fast
8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24
Aroma Café, 118 N. Neil St., Champaign, free, all ages
Minnesota singer/songwriter Tim Fast teams up with Karl Burke for acoustic/folk tunes at the Aroma Café. Burke is scheduled to take the stage at 8 p.m., followed by Fast at 9.

Mustard Plug, The Drastics, Alleyway Sex
8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26
Courtyard Café, 1401 W. Green St, Urbana, $5 with UIUC ID, $8 without
Two skacore/punk bands, Mustard Plug from Grand Rapids, Mich., and C-U's own Alleyway Sex join Chicago reggae/jazz group The Drastics for a night of fun at the Courtyard Café.

Laura's Pick: Even though I firmly believe that the Midwest is certainly not a thriving hotbed for ska/punk/whatever they are, I've never seen Alleyway Sex and I feel like I really should. They're just such a big part of our local music. Also what I've heard of The Drastics is enticing enough to brave the cold this Saturday.