DVDs, CDs and Books, July 12, 2011

DVDS

"Rango" (PG): Johnny Depp reteams with "Pirates of the Caribbean" director Gore Verbinski for an inventive animated amalgamation of "Chinatown," spaghetti Westerns and the drug-conjured lizards of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," as a theatrically inclined chameleon is bounced from his pet lizard tank into the Mojave Desert, where he wanders into the critter-populated town of Dirt and takes on the role of gunslinger.

Elsewhere on the recent release front, in "The Lincoln Lawyer" (R), a bottom-feeding criminal defense attorney (Matthew McConaughey) agrees to represent a rich kid (Ryan Phillippe) accused of savagely beating a girl, setting the stage for a case that’s far twistier than he expects. "Arthur" (PG-13), a remake of the 1981 charmer, casts Russell Brand as the childlike, perpetually sloshed heir happily squandering the family billions. And parents (Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne) try to prevent evil spirits from capturing their comatose child in "Insidious" (PG-13), a chiller from the demented creators of "Saw."

Leading the titles that never reached local theaters: "Miral" (PG-13), about a Palestinian girl ("Slumdog Millionaire’s" Freida Pinto) coming of age in the midst of the Arab-Israeli conflict . "White Irish Drinkers" (R) tells another coming-of-age tale, this one centered in 1975 Brooklyn . And Thailand’s award-winning "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" (not rated) focuses on a dying man visited by apparitions representing his dead wife and lost son. Topping the week’s vintage classics: a three-disc comedy treasure trove, "Buster Keaton — Short Films Collection: 1920-1923" (not rated). Among today’s TV-to-DVD transfers (all unrated): "Damages: The Complete Third Season," "Robot Chicken: Star Wars III," "Agatha Christie’s Poirot Movie Collection, Set Six," "Entourage: The Complete Seventh Season," "MI-5: Vol. Nine" and "ER: Season 15 — The Final Season."

CDS

Yes, "Fly From Here": We can hear you now: Just say "no" to Yes.

Oh come on now! Don’t begrudge these prog greats just because they can be on the pretentious side at times.

Besides, this is the band’s first new studio album in 10 years. And no doubt they’ll pack a decade’s worth of top-notch noodling into this one.

Also in stores: Alkaline Trio, "Damnesia"; Breathe Carolina, "Hell Is What You Make It"; Colbie Caillat, "All of You"; Kasey Chambers, "Little Bird"; Incubus, "If Not Now, When?"; Brian McKnight, "Just Me"; Sepultura, "Kairos"; Blake Shelton, "Red River Blue"; Sublime with Rome, "Yours Truly"; Suicide Silence, "The Black Crown"; Tesla, "Twisted Wires & the acoustic sessions …"; George Thorogood and The Destroyers, "2120 South Michigan Ave."; Theory of a Deadman, "The Truth Is …"; We the Kings, "Sunshine State of Mind"; and Chris Young, "Neon."

BOOKS

"A Dance with Dragons" by George R.R. Martin: After years of delay, the epic fantasy writer continues his Song of Ice and Fire series ("Game of Thrones" on HBO) with this fifth installment, which finds Daenerys Targaryen facing many an enemy as Tyrion Lannister makes his way toward her. Meanwhile, Jon Snow must confront foes within the Night’s Watch he commands and beyond the Wall they guard.

Also this week, Maggie Stiefvater concludes her best-selling "Shiver" trilogy with "Forever."

Also hitting shelves: "Conquistadora" by Esmeralda Santiago; "The Devil All the Time" by Donald Ray Pollock; "Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life" by Sandra Beasley; "Dragon’s Oath" by P.C. Cast; "Dreams of the Dead" by Perri O’Shaughnessy; "Eyes Wide Open" by Andrew Gross; "The Last Werewolf" by Glen Duncan; "Of Thee I Zing: America’s Cultural Decline from Muffin Tops to Body Shots" by Laura Ingraham; "Quinn" by Iris Johansen; "Seven Deadly Sins: Settling the Argument Between Born Bad and Damaged Good" by Corey Taylor; "A Stolen Life: A Memoir" by Jaycee Dugard; and "Then Came You" by Jennifer Weiner.