I stumbled across this little gem in the Wolfsbane and Mistletoe collection (Christmas and werewolves; how can you possibly go wrong?) and it is easily the funniest story I've ever read. I was literally doubled over, in tears, laughing so hard that it hurt, from start to finish. The outrageous narrative really shouldn't work but it does. This author has completely won me over with comic creativity. No matter how many times I read this one, I find it just as hilarious and ingenious. It's weird, completely ridiculous and totally over the top...so if you're looking for something more traditional and broody, this certainly isn't for you. But if you can let go and enjoy something for the preposterous, insane ride that it is, Shapeshifters Anonymous is an absolute must-read! For that matter, I recommend the whole Wolfsbane and Mistletoe anthology, although this was certainly the winner of the bunch.

I've never actually heard of Titanfall, but these illustrations by Tu Bui are epic works of science fiction art.

No matter how many times I watch it, this spectacular piece of art by Spazzlings gets me all choked up and misty-eyed as it overlays sound bytes of political speeches and famous activists over both news clips and film shots that show the miserable state of the world and yet the hope that lies just underneath the surface, all to the powerful theme track of Sunshine.

I'm not going to bother with a full review for this one because you just need to see it. That's all, just go rent it, buy it, watch it and be blown away.

I remember sitting through Hereafter in theatres and, while I didn't love the movie overall, I found the tsunami scene impressive at the time. After seeing The Impossible, the flood in the other film just looks like a giant CGI mess. The way in which they filmed the tsunami in this one (segmented scenes with real water) takes the realism to a whole other level that I haven't seen matched by any other movie yet.

The story, based on true events recorded by a family lucky enough to survive the Boxing Day disaster, is incredibly powerful and heartwrenching. I can't remember the last time I saw a film that felt so brutal and raw. It's horrible to watch but beautifully done, and the performances will blow you away.

As a side note, I also highly recommend the documentary Tsunami: Caught on Camera, which intercuts home video footage of the tsunami from several different countries with devastating interviews with some of the survivors from those locations. It's pretty hard to watch since, unlike the family here, most of them did not have a happy ending, but it is definitely worth seeing.

This guy is so incredible, I have no words.

It's always been there, of course, given my lifelong obsession with ancient mythology, but after my recent trip to France, my love of Neoclassical paintings has been renewed with a vengeance. So I thought I'd put together a quick list of my favorite painters of the genre.