Whip ItVincent Pictures
This coming-of-age comedy features Bliss, a small town indie girl. In “Whip It,” the out-of-place pageant girl becomes a roller-derby vixen in her search for the meaning of life and happiness. A girl-power-meets-punk-rock soundtrack mixes with a fiery cast showcasing Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore and Juliette Lewis, among others, to entrance the audience. Don’t expect Oscar-worthy cinematography, but this is a memorable movie by director Barrymore. Audiences will not be disappointed.C. VogelsB+ZombielandRelativity MediaIt’s time to nut up or shut up. With enough blood and guts to feed a horde of the undead, “Zombieland” delivers great visual wit and slapstick humor in this post-apocalyptic fright comedy.The guilty-pleasure flick follows the weak Columbus and the zombie-ass-kicking professional Tallahassee as they cross the country looking for new homes in the “United States of Zombieland.” Hilarious situations, clever dialogues and countless unimaginable ways to kill zombies make “Zombieland’s” 80 minutes almost too short. Remember your rules of survival, and see “Zombieland.” Just remember to double tap it.J. ClappB+ 
FameMGM Studios and Lakeshore Entertainment“Fame” follows the lives of art school students while they deal with constant self-doubt. The film has a lot of heart and enthusiasm. The vocalist will send chills up the audiences’ spines, and the dance scenes will send them leaping in the isles. But the plot is not as strong. The movie failed to truly capture all the trials and tribulations of an entire high school career. As soon as one character became interesting, the scene switched to another character.In comparison to the ’80s version of “Fame”, the problems which plagued the lives of the art school students were superficial and silly.L. Nunez
C+ 
Alice in ChainsBlack Gives Way to BlueVirgin RecordsAlice in Chains topped the charts in the ’90s, but the group’s career was cut short following the untimely overdose of lead singer Layne Staley in 2002. “Black Gives Way to Blue” is the band’s first record since 1995 and the first to feature new vocalist William DuVall, which has been unsettling to some hardcore fans. But the problem with this album isn’t the band’s new singer — the songs just aren’t comparable to its classic material. Save for a few good songs like “Pick My Brain” and the title track, featuring Elton John on piano, this album is lackluster at best.B. BourgeoisC-ScooterUnder the Radar, Over the TopSheffield Tunes / UniversalGet ready to turn up the bass and rave all night. Scooter’s “Under the Radar, Over the Top”, the group’s 15th studio album, needs to be enjoyed at full blast. H.P. Baxxter and Co. take listeners for a no-holds-barred ride from beginning to end. The ground-shaking beats and the off-the-wall, nonsensical raps typical of Baxxter are at their best on the album, especially on catchy tracks like “Where the Beats…” and “See Your Smile.” While the album may be “over the top” for some, it will be hardcore gold for others.A. White
AYeah GhostZero 7Warner Music UKIn Zero 7’s third album release, the group strays from its electronica roots in a schizophrenic manner with tracks ranging from bluesy soul and steel drum-tinged acoustic to inane techno. The first four tracks are the best part of “Yeah Ghost,” but these tracks are the ones which depart the most from Zero 7’s typical style. The album turns into techno mush beginning with “Medicine Man,” and it lasts to the end with “Methods.” Tracks like “Mr. McGee” and “Pop Art Blue” redeem the album somewhat, but Zero 7’s third release is no stunner.E. Slack
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