Clever Laziness

Shelf

A simple digital bookshelf of my favorite media. This isn’t everything I’ve consumed or own (physical or digital). But rather, just the stuff that I enjoyed the most and would watch/read/play again and again. Anything with a little mark on the top right means it’s currently in progress. You can click on the star rating to see a brief commentary.

For more info on the inspiration behind this, checkout my post On Owning Your Data.

Warning: Ratings, comments, and preference on each and every one of these items are mine alone. If you find anything offensive, well, sounds like a personal problem to me.

anime

  • 5 Centimeters per Second

    Makoto Shinkai

    As much as it pains me to see these two kids not end up together, I appreciate the more realistic take on young love. This is usually how things end up.

  • 86: Eighty-Six

    Toshimasa Ishii

    It’s mechs and war done right, with just the right amount of drama and romance.

  • A Silent Voice

    Naoko Yamada

    I often find it hard to relate to these sorts of characters. I’m more of a “kick ’em in the knees until they stop bullying you” type of person. But watching the asshole grow and do his best to correct his mistakes was nice.

  • Attack on Titan

    Hajime Isayama

    What Game of Thrones wanted to be.

  • Erased

    Taku Kishimoto

    I often find myself daydreaming about what I would do if I traveled back in time to when I was a kid, but with my memories intact. I too would kick some people’s asses and help out my loved ones.

  • Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

    Yasuhiro Irie

    This was the first time I cried with an anime. Nina, forever in our hearts.

  • Ghost in the Shell

    Mamoru Oshii

    Damn, they really don’t make ’em like they used to. There’s just so much texture and feel to the animation of this time. Cyberpunk like this wouldn’t work any other way.

  • KonoSuba

    Takaomi Kanasaki

    There’s so much isekai crap. But this has the right amount of self-awareness to be fun to watch.

  • Naruto

    Masashi Kishimoto

    I grew up with Naruto. Watched it from day one. So regardless of the quality of the story —which I believe to be great—, I will always love this show. Because I can pinpoint important moments of my childhood to Naruto episodes.

  • Naruto Shippudden

    Masashi Kishimoto

    Just like Naruto, Shippudden was there with me throughout my teenage angst and right into adulthood. I can listen to these intros and immediately recall important moments of my life.

  • Neon Genesis Evangelion

    Hideaki Anno

    This falls under the “saw it as a kid and clearly didn’t get it” category. Saw it as an adult and damn does it hit differently. Loneliness is a motherfucker.

  • Princess Mononoke

    Hayao Miyazaki

    If Lord of the Rings was a kids anime. My favorite of the Ghiblets.

  • The Last: Naruto the Movie

    Tsuneo Kobayashi

    Naruto ends here and nothing else happens afterward. You will never change my mind. This is the only ending I needed. My boy grew up to be happy.

  • Violete Evergarden

    Taichi Ishidate, Haruka Fujita

    I’ve always had a hard time getting my feelings across. But my mother thought me early on how to express them via letters when the words just couldn’t come out. This story touches on a very emotional part of my life.

  • Weathering With You

    Makoto Shinkai

    I really hope my marriage is this adventurous when society crumbles due to climate change.

  • Your Name.

    Makoto Shinkai

    My wife and I cry every time we watch this. I too would travel through time to be with her.

books

  • American Gods

    Neil Gaiman

    I grew up in a cult (sorta). Today, I don’t believe in anything but the inevitable end of the universe. Reading about deities as fictional characters felt more aligned with how I view religion in general.

  • An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

    Hank Green

    If life in the 2000s has thought me anything, it’s that social media is not the problem. People are.

  • Death's End

    Cixin Liu

    If I could leap through time and watch the end of it all, I would.

  • Dune

    Frank Herbert

    This was a masterpiece. I really don’t know what else to say.

  • The Dark Forest

    Cixin Liu

    Knowing it’ll end, that it’s coming, but you just don’t know when. The anxiety eats away at you until you destroy yourself.

  • The Three-Body Problem

    Cixin Liu

    If aliens came to visit us, we’d be immediately annihilated. No species sufficiently advanced to travel the stars would come just to say hi. They’d come for something they need.

  • Turtles All The Way Down

    John Green

    I am a simple unsalted piece of loaf. My greatest source of anxiety is not having enough time to read all the crap I want to read. This was a wonderful insight into the mind of someone that goes through life without having full control of their being. And it helped me connect with those around me that feel the same way, a little more.

comics

  • Humanity Lost

    Callum Stephen Diggle

    Amazing world building. But more than anything, it’s wildly interesting to see the roles reversed; humans become the enemy. None of that shinny high-tech bullshit. This is what we’ll likely become in the far future if we don’t end up annihilating ourselves.

  • Something is Killing the Children

    James Tynion IV

    Pretty sure this is what SCOTUS thinks we’re doing to the kids.

games

  • Alien: Isolation

    Creative Assembly

    I felt in the Alien world. One of my favorite movies of all time. This was just awesome to play.

  • Celeste

    Matt Makes Games

    I failed and died more times than I could count. But it was ok. The game made me feel like it was ok to get back up and try again. That was nice.

  • Dead Cells

    Motion Twin

    This truly is a masterclass in rougelike game design. Always changing and never boring. I could play this for hours on end.

  • Hades

    Supergiant Games

    Aside from being gorgeous and fun, you should watch the Noclip documentary on YouTube about the making of this game. The folks over at Supergiant are amazing and that series alone will convince you to play this wonderful game.

  • INSIDE

    Playdead

    I want more of this. Nothing flashy or fancy. Just a simple story with a bit of mystery.

  • Journey

    ThatGameCompany

    I got to experience this magnificent piece of art during a bitter sweet time in my life. And it has a direct connection to a special place in my heart.

  • Pokémon Legends: Arceus

    Game Freak

    Damn, they really tried. I think the concept is great and I would love to explore more of the pokemon world like this. But they really didn’t even try with the graphics.

  • The Last of Us

    Naughty Dog

    This should be the future of storytelling. I lived this story. And it was amazing.

  • The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

    Nintendo

    It was a bit different than previous Zelda games. But it was unique and familiar. I felt nostalgic, but not too much. And I played this through a couple of significant life events. So it always brings back those memories and holds a special in my life.

  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

    Nintendo

    When I was a young boy, my father took me into the city, while I played Zelda the whole time. If I had any sort of dreams about what the franchise would be when I grew up, this far exceeded those expectations.

  • The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

    Nintendo

    I played the original a while back and loved it. And while I thought the additional content was a bit overwhelming on this remake, the overall game stayed the same. I loved this game. It was the right type of nostalgia. The art style felt like what I imagined when recalling my original gameplay when I was a kid.

  • The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

    Nintendo

    I’ll take existential dread Zelda any day. Death looms at every corner of this game. Love it.

manga

  • 19 Days

    Old Xian

    After I left the cult and became an atheist, I wanted to know more about the outside world. I came across this manhua and was trusted into the world of boys’ love. And that’s how I learned that people should be allowed to love anyone they want.

  • All You Need Is Kill

    Hiroshi Sakurazaka

    Sometimes killing is the answer.

  • Attack on Titan

    Hajime Isayama

    This is peak fiction. Fight me.

  • Black Pararox

    Junji Ito

    It never seizes to amaze me how casually the Japanese see death. It’s not that they romanticize it. More like they’re just indifferent to it.

  • Dandadan

    Yukinobu Tatsu

    I’m a sucker for horror. But every chapter of this manga is just great.

  • Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

    Tsukasa Abe, Kanehito Yamada

    I’ve always wondered about the life of someone like Legolas after the events of the One Ring. Most of the friendships he made would eventually die of old age while we remains. What is that experience like? Frieren is living through that herself and she takes us along her journey of self-discovery while remembering those that seemed transient in her life, but to whom she meant the world.

  • Hellstar Remina

    Junji Ito

    The earth is about to be destroyed “It’s the devil’s work! Let’s sacrifice a women and it’ll stop!”

  • Junji Ito's Cat Diary - Yon & Mu

    Junji Ito

    If you’re a cat owner, you’ll understand. It’s an endless love/hate relationship with your furry friend. But one that’ll leave a hole in your heart once it ends.

  • Kaiju No. 8

    Matsumoto Naoya

    If you liked Pacific Rim, you’ll love this. It’s just some good kaiju action-packed fun.

  • Nan Hao and Shang Feng

    Brownie

    I wish I had a friend like this growing up. But instead, I chose god.

  • Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

    Hajime Kamoshida

    This hits on so many of the genres I enjoy and there’s like two panels with a bunny girl on the entire series.

  • Rascal Does Not Dream of Petite Devil Kohai

    Hajime Kamoshida

    These titles are so misleading. There’s no small satan’s child, but there is a lot of physics.

  • SQ: Begin W/Your Name!

    Tan Jiu

    After leaving the cult, becoming an atheist, and discovering the world of yaoi, I wanted to read more about people loving people. Then, a wonderful person by the username of crosseyedcyclops recommended this great manhua about two girls falling in love. Been reading it religiously ever since.

  • Uzumaki

    Junji Ito

    Junji does an amazing job at capturing cosmic horror. It’s a slow burn that when it hits you, makes you feel despair and discomfort to your core.

movies

  • 2001 A Space Odyssey

    Stanley Kubrick

    What more can I say that hasn’t already been said. This shit is a masterpiece.

  • Annihilation

    Alex Garland

    The real horror here is what too much distance does to a relationship.

  • Arrival

    Denis Villeneuve

    What a beautifully told story. The aliens were pretty cool too.

  • Blade Runner

    Ridley Scott

    I still don’t know what the loud “huuuuaaaaaannnnnnnnnnggg” background sound is. Spaceship taking off?

  • Blade Runner 2049

    Denis Villeneuve

    This dude is no longer The Notebook Guy. What an amazing performance. As always, Denis builds an amazing world and takes you deep into it.

  • Color out of Space

    Richard Stanley

    I’ll take Nick Cage screaming “COCK SUCKER” alone in the car any day.

  • Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

    Stanley Kubrick

    This movie was hilarious until it became too real.

  • Dune

    Denis Villeneuve

    This was a masterpiece. I really don’t know what else to say.

  • Ex Machina

    Alex Garland

    The parallels between our current reality and what’s to come are unsettling.

  • Get Out

    Jordan Peele

    A house-in-the-woods in the mountains of Caucasus are always a hit or miss. You’ll either see some lame dancing or get killed.

  • Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets

    Chris Columbus

    I’m not sure how Dumbledore didn’t see that little shit was crazy.

  • Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1

    David Yates

    There’s a moment when the team is all alone. The music stops. You hear the wind. And you see their faces and the look of abandonment. They were all alone now. And afraid.

  • Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 2

    David Yates

    If there’s even been a time for you to slow clap, it was here. My boy Ron did it.

  • Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

    Mike Newell

    Harry, isn’t of being a little shit to Neville, how about you show some appreciation for his intellect? It’s because of people like him that the dragon didn’t roast your ass.

  • Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

    David Yates

    Snape really was like “it’s my spell you little shit, sit back down”.

  • Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix

    David Yates

    It’s your fault Sirius died, Harry.

  • Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

    Alfonso Cuarón

    I was too young to appreciate the work of art Alfonso made for us.

  • Harry Potter and The Sorcorer's Stone

    Chris Columbus

    When I saw this movie in the theater, I knew I wanted to leave the cult.

  • Hereditary

    Ari Aster

    Picture this. You’re sitting in a packed theater in the dead center because they are the best seats in the house. You just had a nice sushi dinner with your partner and are enjoying a crazy horror flick. So some cuddling is involved. Then, you see heads flying and shit. Your stomach begins to turn. The movie just keeps getting more intense. You’ve never felt this anxious and uncomfortable before. This is 4D cinema. You can feel what the characters are feeling. Then, the movie ends and you realize you have to take a massive shit. Sushi messed you up.

  • Interstellar

    Christopher Nolan

    My biggest fear in life is forgetting. I never want to forget the precious moments of my life and the experiences I’ve had. But there’s always the possibility I’ll get old and start to forget from time to time. When Cooper comes back from the Gargantua planet and sees what he’s missed from his kid’s life, I always cry. Because that is how I imagine life with Alzheimer’s would be like.

  • Knives Out

    Rian Johnson

    Twists done right.

  • Midsommar

    Ari Aster

    Once again, I find myself watching an Ari movie while having digestive problems. At this point, I’m just going to start doing it with all of his movies. It gives them an extra layer of unsettlingness.

  • Nacho Libre

    Jared Hess

    I’ve seen this dumb movie so many times I can quote most of it. It’s so offensive, but I love it!

  • Napoleon Dynamite

    Jared Hess

    Your mom goes to college!

  • Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood

    Quentin Tarantino

    I don’t know what exactly I love about this movie. It’s a great film. But for me, I think it’s the feeling of just enjoying the characters’ everyday life.

  • Pig

    Michael Sarnoski

    If John Wick was a chef and they took his pig instead of killing his dog. This was wierdly fascinating film.

  • Prometheus

    Ridley Scott

    I saw this movie on the first date I had with my wife. I don’t know if it’s good or bad. I just have a great memory attached to it.

  • Sinister

    Scott Derrickson

    I thought working from home would be this exciting. Instead, I just got fatter.

  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

    Rodney

    Best Spider-Man. You’re wrong.

  • The Hateful Eight

    Quentin Tarantino

    This film is wonderfully long. The scenery alone is great reason to watch this.

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    Peter Jackson

    Frodo grabs the One Ring and reads the inside: “Live, Love, Laugh”

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

    Peter Jackson

    I’ve cut out family because they’ve touched my food. I feel for Frodo.

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

    Peter Jackson

    When Eowyn offers her disgusting stew to Aragorn in The Two Towers, there’s a strand of hair in it.

  • The Shining

    Stanley Kubrick

    Jack is your everyday asshat. How nobody saw it from the beginning is beyond me.

  • The Silence of the Lamb

    Jonathan Demme

    I first saw this film when I was a sweet summer child. Why my parents allowed it is beyond me. I became a man that day.

  • The Witch

    Robert Eggers

    This is more or less what my life in the cult was like.

shows

  • Bob's Burgers

    Loren Bouchard

    I relate to Gene on a spiritual level.

  • Dark

    Baran bo Odar

    What a fucking wild ride. This show does time travel beautifully. And I never lost interest in any of the characters.

  • Halt and Catch Fire

    Christopher Cantwell, Christopher C. Rogers

    God, I wish my life in tech was this exhilarating. So fucking cool.

  • Legion

    Noah Hawley

    When WW3 comes and I end up this messed up in the head, I too want to bend reality to my will.

  • Mr Robot

    Sam Esmail

    What I love about this show is how they romanticize being that big of a nerd.

  • Silicon Valley

    Mike Judge, John Altschuler, Dave Krinsky

    This show is a documentary involving 80% of the people I’ve worked with.

  • The Expanse

    Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

    This is just fucking great sci-fi.

  • The Office

    Greg Daniels

    I too worked an office job once. Everyone was Angela.