Media

BY RYAN RAYHILL

A round up of this month’s hottest new releases

DVDS

Cloverfield

Paramount Home Entertainment • Rated PG-13

From the minds behind “Lost” and “Alias” comes one of the most hyped and mysterious projects in recent years. The film follows a group of young Manhattanites when a party they are at is interrupted by a 50-story creature that obliterates everything in its path. Michael Stahl-David leads a group of party-goers to rescue his love interest, who’s trapped in a crumbling apartment, and they often find themselves directly in the monster’s way. The film—with its shaky, handheld-camera effect—provides both visceral thrills and, at times, palpable frustration as constant jerky motions make it difficult to tell what is happening. And despite the monster’s size, there are almost no clear shots of it or explanation of its origin. Regardless, Cloverfield is one of the most memorable and exciting films of its kind. Extras: Making of, director commentary, deleted scenes, alternate endings

MUSIC

Craig David
Trust Me
Warner Bros.

Recorded largely in Cuba, British R&B star Craig David’s fourth album features all the flash you might imagine from such a tropical environment, including David Bowie-sampling “Hot Stuff (Let’s Dance).” It’s not all a dance party, however, with ballads providing a more sensitive sound, such as on “Awkward”—a sullen duet between ex-lovers. Rounded out by the reggae-flavored “She’s on Fire” and UK-garage-rap-meets-R&B style of “This is the Girl,” it’s a sharp collection of music that no fan of urban pop should ignore.

The Veronicas
Hook Me Up
Sire Records

Australian twins Lisa and Jessica Origliasso are pop sensations in their native country, and with this album, the spritely duo looks to boost their US presence with a mix of dance-heavy hooks. After spending time on the LA electrodance scene, they have eschewed their original punky style for catchy synth-pop. It quickly becomes evident that the Veronicas are soulful vocal talents who easily sidestep comparisons to their pop princess peers. This album will leave you eager to hear what they are capable of in the future.

GAMES

Speed Racer
(Warner Bros. Interactive)
Wii, DS, PlayStation 2 Rated: Everyone

Speed Racer’s high-octane adventures have entertained fans since the 1960s Japanese series came out. And, with a live-action movie from the makers of The Matrix series in theaters this summer, the franchise is due a fast and furious new game. It’s all about speed as you spin, flip and jump at up to 500 mph across gravity-defying race-courses against 19 other racers. Vehicles handle differently, and special “In the Zone” moves add to its wild arcade feel.

Iron Man
(Sega)
Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2 Rated: Teen

Based on the new comic-book hero film, Iron Man follows the Marvel character as he goes from wealthy weapons designer Tony Stark to the titular terrorist-battling superhero. A veritable one-man army, he has any number of weapons at his disposal, and players can expect plenty of thrilling fight sequences. Graphically, the game is stunning, and gamers with higher-end systems will be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the game and the film.