You'll be a better person if...you listen to Clint Mansell's score to The Fountain

There are some things in life that make you wonder how you lived life without it. Clint Mansell's musical score to pal Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain is one of those things. It's haunting yet thrilling but ultimately heartbreakingly beautiful (especially if you've see the film).

Even Hollywood seems to be taking notice since two December releases are currently using the music in their trailers.
Francis Lawrence's I Am Legend brilliantly (although briefly) uses "Death is the Road to Awe"[Clint Mansell - Death is the Road to Awe]. The title of the piece shadows the plot of the movie in which a vampiric virus causes the death of everyone on earth except for one man. Death is literally all around him from the deserted streets of Manhattan to the threat of death from vampires every night.

The Fountain's "Tree of Life" [Clint Mansell - Tree of Life] is being used in the trailer for Ridley Scott's Blade Runner: The Final Cut (which itself has an excellent score by Vangelis). Like the I am Legend trailer, the title of the piece conveys perfectly one of the major themes of Blade Runner- what constitutes a life. The film leads the viewer to ask themselves "What is it that makes us human?" and "Can only a human have a life and not just a lifespan?". Blade Runner's significant influence can be felt all over cinema and television. One notable descendant is Battlestar Galactica from the philosophical questions it prompts to its somber setting (especially when contrasted to its somewhat campy origin). And they both feature Edward James Olmos going after androids/replicants/skin jobs/cylons/toasters only to then let some of them go.

Both films have graphic novel adaptations available through Vertigo. I've especially been keen on The Fountain one in particular because of its beautiful paintings.

You'll be a better person if...you religiously visit FilmDrunk.com

FilmDrunk.com is absolutely the funniest entertainment blog ever. Just drop everything (or anyone) you're doing and go there now!

Check out this great post on how the WB hates (Wonder) women.

And if you follow celeb gossip (I actually can't think of anyone I would call a friend who doesn't) you can check out their sister blog, WWTDD. Which is *gasp* the funniest gossip blog ever.

You'll be a better person if...you BLACKOUT with Britney

So I have been listening to the album on loop for a good 3 hours and I must admit that it has provided a fantastic soundtrack to my comic-book reading this week. Surprisingly Why Should I Be Sad? with its sticky-as-molasses beat(courtesy of very Hit-or-Miss Pharrell) complimented Casanova #10 quite well (boring comic book nerds insert groan here). [ In case you're curious, She-Hulk #22 goes well with Break the Ice-because you know she likes to smash things]

On the European Front: After Madonna, Kylie, and Sophie hear Heaven on Earth they're going to beat themselves (or more likely their managers) for not getting this song. It's a pure EuroTrash Delight. Someone please find Michel Gondry and tell him to direct this video ASAP for the sake of the EU & its colonies (POP included).

Warning: I strongly advise not to look at the album cover directly or your retnas will suffer permanent damage. Use album cover as coaster if problems persist.

Blackout is out this TUESDAY (Oct 30) just in time for your Halloween-induced debauchery.

You'll be a better person if...

You head over to PopCultureShock and check out The Bruce Timm Gallery. For those poor souls who don't know who Bruce Timm is prepare to be enlightened.

Bruce Timm is an Eisner winning animator, writer, director and producer.
More importantly he's given us Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series (my personal fave), Batman Beyond, The New Batman Adventures, Superman:The Animated Series, and Justice League.

Timm (along with Paul Dini) created Harley Quinn who happens to be one of my favorite characters ever on B:TAS. Kevin Smith even named his daughter after the character!

Fans call his series collectively the Timmverse. And yes, like all fandoms they argue about canonical issues within the verse. Which makes for some fun fights.

Plus he's an Aquarian. And what can I say? Aquarians Rock!!!

So the moral of this post is this: Bruce Timm is Awesome. Please bask in his Awesomeness.

^Check out his awesome Buffy.

You’ll be a better person if…..

This is where I become your pop-culture Yoda leading you away from the Bad (HEROES) and into the Good.

You Watched: Torchwood
• John Barrowman is the shit and if you don’t believe me get yourself learned and watch CPW (or as laymen call it: Central Park West)

• Its got a lot of sex for a sci-fi show. So ya of course there is some inter-species copulating for our enjoyment. But who hasn’t had a fling with a time traveler PLUS how can you not religiously TiVo a show with an even alien encounter to booty call ratio???

• At the very least you get to see the beautiful capital city of Wales, Cardiff. Which is where they speak Welsh. And yes Welsh is a real language.

• Oh and next season is going to feature a guestage by James Marsters. Do Captain Jack and James Marsters get it on? OF COURSE!!! You are now free to write some fan-fic.