Latest DVDs, CDs, books: April 3

A look at some of the DVDs, CDs and books hitting stores this week.

DVDS

"War Horse" (PG-13): Director Steven Spielberg's visually resplendent tale recalls old-fashioned Hollywood epics as it follows its equine protagonist from the placid English countryside through the horrors of World War I.

Matt Damon, meanwhile, plays a newly widowed writer trying to overcome his grief -- and help his children do the same -- by moving to a ramshackle animal park in "We Bought a Zoo" (PG). The award-winning documentary "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" (not rated) traces puppeteer Kevin Clash's path from Baltimore to "Sesame Street." And an ex-cop and a hotel maid meet at a speed-dating event, form a relationship -- and find their lives taking a dark turn -- in the award-winning Italian thriller "The Double Hour" (not rated).

Turning to movies that never played local theaters, "Angels Crest" (R) features Las Vegan Thomas Dekker (currently starring in TV's "The Secret Circle"), Jeremy Piven, Elizabeth McGovern and Mira Sorvino in a tale of small-town tragedy, while "Enter Nowhere" (R) explores the mysterious connections between three strangers (Sara Paxton and showbiz kids Scott Eastwood and Katherine Waterston). And a young American ("Castle's" Stana Katic) travels to Ireland to investigate a friend's mysterious death in "The Truth About Kerry" (not rated).

CDS

Rascal Flatts, "Changed": "Changed?"

What does that mean?

That on their latest record, Rascal Flatts will no longer come with more well-written, precisely executed and terminally boring, by-the-numbers country pop?

Probably not.

The album title has "Changed" -- and that's about it.

Also in stores: Candlebox, "Love Stories & Other Musings"; Dr. John, "Locked Down"; Flying Colors, "Flying Colors"; Great Lake Swimmers, "New Wild Everywhere"; High On Fire, "De Vermis Mysteriis"; Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson, "Thick As a Brick 2"; Lostprophets, "Weapons"; Nicki Minaj, "Pink Friday ... Roman Reloaded"; MxPx, "Plans Within Plans"; Orbital, "Wonky"; Obie Trice, "Bottoms Up"; and Wilson Phillips, "Dedicated."

BOOKS

"The Lost Years" by Mary Higgins Clark: The daughter of a biblical scholar who believes he's found a letter written by Jesus Christ becomes the target of a killer after discovering her father murdered in his home.

Also this week, Alexander McCall Smith adds to his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series with "The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection," in which a dream of a tall stranger becomes reality for Precious Ramotswe.

Also hitting shelves: "The Beginner's Goodbye" by Anne Tyler; "The Big Cat Nap" by Rita Mae Brown; "Black Heart" by Holly Black; "Dorchester Terrace" by Anne Perry; "The Fame Game" by Lauren Conrad; "Gypped" by Carol Higgins Clark; "The Haunted" by Bentley Little; "Heaven Is Here" by Stephanie Nielson; "The Last Hope" by Erin Hunter; "More Than You Know" by Penny Vincenzi; "Paris in Love" by Eloisa James; "Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Art" by Christopher Moore; "The Shoemaker's Wife" by Adriana Trigiani; and "Trickle Down Tyranny: Crushing Obama's Dream of the Socialist States of America" by Michael Savage.