OPENING FRIDAY: Ray; PG-13, 152 minutes. On Friday movie fans all over the country will get a chance to find out why Oscar buzz has been swirling around comedian/actor Jamie Foxx for his lead performance in this biography of music legend Ray Charles, who died June 10. Regina King (Jerry Maguire) co-stars for director Taylor Hackford (An Officer and A Gentleman).
MOVIE DVD: Dawn of the Dead; Universal (1978); $29.98; R, 104 minutes. It must have taken some guts (if you'll excuse the expression) to remake George Romero's zombie masterpiece but the critics agree that this exercise is worthwhile for horror fans. Shopping malls may be slightly out of fashion, but the undead still know they're the best place to party. Also available in an unrated director's edition. With commentary track, deleted scenes, making-of featurette.
GAME: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus, XBOX, PS2, GameCube, $49.99; rated E; www.konami.com. The Turtles are back, this time warped into an alien world. With a fluent co-op mode, better fight controls and the addition of the block button, this game surpasses its predecessors. The unlockable arcade mode, is reminiscent of the old Super Nintendo title, Turtles in Time.
TV: Radio Music Awards, 9-11 p.m. Monday; Channels 5, 2. Radio-friendly performers who dominated the airwaves in 2004 are honored live in Las Vegas. Scheduled to appear include: Green Day, Gretchen Wilson, Tim McGraw and Destiny's Child. Janet Jackson (left) is honored with the Legend Award. Hosted by Carson Daly.
TV DVD: The O.C.-The Complete First Season ; Warner Home Video; $69.95; 7 discs. Savor the guilty pleasure of watching the entire 27-episode season of this edgy hit Fox show, which stars Benjamin McKenzie (left), before season two hits the airwaves. Cool clothes, fast cars, fistfights, mansions, fistfights, romance, did we mention the fistfights? DVD extras: Season 2 sneak peek, Inside the Real O.C. featurette, deleted scenes.
Contributors: Margaret A. McGurk, Enquirer staff writer, previewed Ray; Lance Moody, a film editor living in Mason, previewed Dawn of the Dead; Isaac Levine, a freshman at Indian Hill High School, previewed the video game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus; Karl Dailey, a novelist living in Bellevue, previewed the Radio Music Awards and The O.C.
Know your media? E-mail Gil Kaufman (gkaufman@enquirer.com) if you are interested in contributing. We'll rotate the panel every few months.
HALLOWEEN
Music for Monsters
Make yourself a mix of ghoulish sounds
Horror flicks rock it hard, rip it loud
Rockers roll release party into costume fest
Halloween rock treats
Grown-ups grab Halloween
Makeup tricks
Set the Mood
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Sculptor's detail is his strong point
Seeing 'Galileo' is in the stars
Troupe tweaks 'Romeo & Juliet'
Peter Jennings reporting from Devou Park
New this week
Art prof exhibits three-dimensional paintings at Solway
New Pops CD fetes the ballet
'Wise Women' gives age a new image
PEOPLE
The barber of Garfield Place
Five awarded 'Spirit of Cincinnati'
DJ wants back in the saddle
Parker stumps for Kerry
Seymour leaves elegant mark on city
Milford company a big hit with Jessica, gal pals
REVIEW
Guided by Voices bids a sloshy adieu
LIFE & LEISURE
Style Notes
Insatiable shopper
The brooch is back
TRAVEL
Ohio Statehouse makes a capital tour
Columbus filled with history, art, shopping
Find 'weather-proof' fun at Great Wolf waterpark
Amish invite tourists into home for a meal
