Screen (DVD) No Time Like the Past Dr. Who: The Complete First Series When the BBC announced that it was producing a new iteration of its �venerable sci-fi franchise, tremors shot through nerdspace. The critical question: Who would play the part of the time-traveling good doctor? Well, the casting team nailed it with Christopher Eccleston. One of nearly a dozen Doctors Who since the show's debut in 1963, Eccleston combines goofy �wonder with a finely played streak of tragedy. The series' 13�episodes, available in the US only on DVD, are mature and suspenseful, with none of the cheesiness that occasionally stymied the old show. It's engaging television, with no prior fanboy-ness required. But if you are, by chance, the kind of �person who as a kid convinced his mother to crochet him an 18-foot-long scarf like the one the Doctor wore in the 1970s (thanks, Mom!), watching the apparently immortal Time Lord collect companions and fight evil Daleks will feel cozily familiar. – Adam Rogers
Music Coldcut Sound Mirrors Remix legends Matt Black and Jon More are back with a stacked plate of dance blasts. Jon Spencer's explosive guitar updates "Everything Is Under Control" with a welcome shot of grungy rock. And Saul Williams' poem about a suicidal businessman makes "Mr. Nichols" a classic. Stunning work. -�Scott Thill 
Music Cat Power The Greatest Alt-folk chanteuse Cat Power (aka Chan Marshall) recorded her latest at Ardent Studios, the home of Memphis soul. Legendary musicians contribute that signature groove, but a few tunes sound like uninspired Bonnie Raitt castoffs. She shines on other tracks, like "The Moon," that add a hint of twang to her inimitable, spare melancholy. – Jon J. Eilenberg
Games (Gamecube) Chibi-Robo You: an adorable 3-inch-tall pet robot. Your mission: Make your new family happy. Clink around the house by day, cleaning up messes. By night, make friends with the baby's toys and hack your attachments with scrap metal. Along the way, try to solve Mom and Dad's marital problems. – Chris Kohler
Games (PS2) Ape Escape 3 Hundreds of superintelligent primates have escaped to wreak havoc, and it's up to you to capture them in this terrific release. Ape outfits you with monkey radar, atomic slingshots, and remote-controlled exploding flan. Not weird enough for you? A bonus game skillfully parodies the Metal Gear Solid stealth series. – Chris Baker 
Print The Rock From Mars: A True Detective Story on Two Planets Kathy Sawyer With more plot twists and scandals than a rock star's biography, Sawyer's tome tells the story of a star rock, ALH84001. Found in Antarctica, the meteorite held signs of microbial Martian life and sparked a debate about how to define life itself. – Sabrina Ford
Print The Wal-Mart Effect Charles Fishman Backed by balanced reporting, Fishman asserts that Wal-Mart's "always low prices" have a far-reaching effect on every world citizen – even those who have never set foot inside the store. Economic globalization is a loaded topic, but thankfully, this isn't yet another screed against free markets. – Eric Steuer
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