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"PHRAZES FOR THE YOUNG," Julian Casablancas (Cult Records/RCA)

When The Strokes emerged earlier this decade some talked as though the New York City garage band would save rock music -- a ridiculous notion since rock wasn't dying and even if it were, one band certainly wouldn't save it.

Robert Zemeckis may just be the father of the performance-capture, 3-D mania sweeping through Hollywood.

His "Polar Express" inspired DreamWorks animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg to declare, "It was the most exciting experience I'd had in a movie theater."

A guide to movies from a family perspective:

"A Christmas Carol"

-- Rated: PG.

-- Suitable for: Children 6 or 7 and up, keeping younger in mind. It will help if they're familiar with the story and know it will end happily.

Bertrand Russell is an unexpected comic book hero, but then, "Logicomix" is full of surprises.

In the world of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," this is the mother of all crossovers.

A three-part story will intertwine all three "CSI" shows -- the original "CSI" set in Las Vegas, "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: NY." The crossover begins with the "Miami" episode (airing 10 p.m. Monday, CBS).

Deborah Heiligman knew it would make a great book: the idea that Charles Darwin's religious wife Emma was terrified that her beloved husband would go to hell for his theory of evolution.

"That's funny." (Man at prairie crossing)

"What?" (Roger Thornhill, played by Cary Grant)

"That plane's dustin' crops where there ain't no crops." (Man)

Forget turning lemons into lemonade. I'm beginning to think writer Geoff Johns can turn lemons into fine wine.

Johns has gained a reputation for fixing characters that have become radioactive because various revamps have made their histories too convoluted. He did it with Hawkman, he did it with the 1960s Green Lantern and Flash, and now he's doing it with the Legion of Super-Heroes.

A viewer's political allegiance will largely dictate whether he or she chooses to watch HBO's "By the People: The Election of Barack Obama" (9 p.m. Tuesday). For virulent Obama opponents, the documentary represents just another opportunity to paint the media with an extra-large Obama-lovers brush. For supporters, it's a chance to re-live the president's rise to power.

"SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS," Pink Martini (Heinz)

Pink Martini is talented enough to deliver a fine classical album yet much too twisted to do anything so straightforward.

The 12-piece act from Portland, Ore., hops into a time/travel machine for "Splendor in the Grass," its fourth release since 1997, and drops in on at least four different continents and a half dozen decades.