Media

A round up of this month’s hottest new releases

BY RYAN RAYHILL

DVDS

Into the Wild
(Paramount)
Rated: R

Based on the book by Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild could easily be viewed as a film about a slacker. But director Sean Penn delivers a poetic journey about a suburban kid (Emile Hirsch) who seemingly has everything and throws it all away to live a Thoreau-esque existence. Guest turns from Hal Holbrook and Vince Vaughn add some humanity to the film, but the boundless scenery, stretching from the Southwest up to Alaska, often steals the show. In the end, it’s Hirsch’s performance that makes it an enthralling experience from top to bottom.

In the Shadow of the Moon
(THINKFilm)
Rated: PG

This riveting documentary, presented by Ron Howard and directed by David Sington, takes a fresh look at the 12 Apollo astronauts, the only ones to ever venture onto alien soil. The film weaves the vivid tapestries of their journeys together with a unique period of American history. With re-mastered footage from the NASA film library, it manages to uplift, as well as put into sobering perspective the fragility of the Earth and humanity alike. Extras: Filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes, never-before-seen footage of Apollo missions

MUSIC

Missy Higgins
On a Clear Night • Warner Bros. Records

Young Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins has been a runaway smash hit in her home country by fusing neo-folk soul with catchy pop. While On a Clear Night runs the gamut of styles, including country and piano balladry, it’s Higgins’ voice that keeps our attention, remaining both haunting and playful throughout. Neil Finn of Crowded House joins the unassuming Higgins on the record, but his presence serves more to highlight her honest, smoky vocals than to overshadow. On a Clear Night successfully takes aim at American fans of Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan, and draws them into Higgins’ intimate world of youthful joy and heartache.

GAMES

Devil May Cry 4
(Capcom)
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Rated: Mature

Despite its name, this series is more about arcade action and witty characters than evil—and this version ups the ante with its entry into the “next-generation” consoles. As Nero, you pick up where Dante, star of the last three titles, left off, taking out ghosts and goblins with visually amazing combos of sword and gunplay. Wild button-mashing is the name of the game; throw a fiend in the air and attack him in a variety of ways before the effects of gravity take hold. Stunning to look at and a blast to play, it’s a must-have for any action fan.

Turok
(Touchstone Studios)
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Rated: Mature

Based on the 1950s comic, this latest Turok game attempts to reinvent the series that follows a line of dinosaur-hunting warriors across time. A group of special-ops soldiers must hunt down a war criminal that has genetically altered the creatures of a recently discovered planet to create his own army. Turok must battle other super-soldiers, as well as man-eating plants, giant bugs and dinosaurs to bring a rogue agent to justice. With eye-popping visuals and innovative ways to approach every situation, Turok successfully takes the series to new heights.