This week's releases
Here’s a look at the movies, music, video games and books hitting stores this week.
Movies
A few movies will debut in theaters tonight, including crime drama “Alpha Dog,” starring Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Justin Timberlake. Hilary Swank stars in “Freedom Writers,” a film based on the diaries of Long Beach teenagers after the Los Angeles riots.
Music
Diana Ross’ first studio album since 1999, I Love You, features a number of classic love songs, including “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” which was recorded with Queen guitarist Brian May. Also being released: Frank Sinatra compilation Romance.
DVDs
Jessica Simpson and comedian Dane Cook star in “Employee of the Month,” which will be released this week along with “Gridiron Gang,” a football drama starring the Rock and rapper Xzibit and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.” A handful of television DVD sets will land on shelves, including season seven of “The King of Queens.”
Video Games
This week Nintendo will release “Wario Ware: Smooth Moves,” a party game for the Nintendo Wii containing over 200 “microgames,” some of which last only a few seconds. The game is the first of the “Wario Ware” series to take advantage of the Wii’s motion-sensing controller.
EA Sports’ “NCAA March Madness 07” will hit stores this week for the Playstation 2 and Xbox 360, letting players take control of their favorite college basketball teams. At least their second favorite team, until the Bison are properly represented.
Also being released: the “World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade” PC expansion and “The Shield” for PC and PS2, based on the television drama.
Books
Former attorney and bestselling author Linda Fairstein’s ninth crime novel, “Bad Blood,” will be released this week along with Christopher Moore’s “You Suck: A Love Story.” Moore’s absurdist fiction has won him national acclaim, and he recently received a Quill Book Award for his 2006 novel “A Dirty Job.”
Also being released: Martin Amis’ “House of Meetings,” John Lescroart’s thriller “The Suspect” and Martha Grimes’ “Dust.”