a few of my favorite things

I firmly believe that I am made up of the things that I love. Here are a few of the works and people that have really inspired me.

games

If you want a more comprehensive breakdown of the many games that I have played, you can check out my GG. These games are in no particular order but they are all games I think are very special.

  • God of War. Specifically, the two most recent entries. Brilliant, deliberate narratives that are as personal and intimate as they are mythic and huge.
  • Outer Wilds. Perhaps the most captivating and emotional experience I have had in a video game. I beg that you play it.
  • Disco Elysium. Sharp writing in an intricate world with commentary bleeding through the cobblestone. One of my favorite narrative experiences in games.
  • Inscryption. The marriage of my two favorite things: a twisted meta narrative and brilliant system design.
  • Return of the Obra Dinn. When I think of the perfect intersection of puzzle and cinema, I think of Obra Dinn.

    • movies

    Of course, you could also check out my Letterboxd. These people and individual movies have either been integral to forming my taste and style or recent hits that have really blown me away.

  • Dir. Thomas Vinterberg. The Celebration, The Hunt, and Another Round all make it into my monumental-movies-about-humans category of favorites.
  • Dir. Shane Black. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys both were formative movies to my style as a writer. I thought: that's how I want to write.
  • Dir. Bong Joon Ho. Memories of Murder and Parasite are both immense movies. And Bong Joon Ho embodies the kind of thematic consistency that I'd love to have.
  • Weapons. If I were to pick one movie to be the blueprint for pacing, excellent tonal variety, and parallel perspective done right— it's Weapons all the way down, baby.
  • Crazy, Stupid, Love. No movie has hit the 3rd Act Reversal high of Crazy, Stupid, Love. Perhaps no movie ever will.
  • RRR When they talk about movies being larger than life, this is the largest. Simply monumental in every way.

    • television

    I feel as if I haven't watched some of the TV greats, like Sopranos and Twin Peaks. There's still time. Until then, you'll have to deal with this paltry list of absolute excellence.

  • Wtr. Damon Lindelof. While Lost is iconic. It was The Leftovers that solidified Damon as one of my favorite writers. Then Watchmen just doubled that bet.
  • The Rehearsal. I'm confident in calling The Rehearsal the biggest rollercoaster ride of the century and we're only a couple of decades in.
  • I Think You Should Leave. No sketch comedy show has made me feel the way I Think You Should Leave makes me feel. I quote it constantly, I love it dearly.
  • Severance. The kind of mystery show I just can't get enough of. I love a show that builds a community through the weekly discussions between episodes.

    • comics

    I've been a huge DC comics person for most of my life, so forgive me the biases. I've recently been branching out into a lot of creator owned comics and smaller publishers and will update this page when those begin to sweep me off of my feet.

  • Wtr. Grant Morrison. From Animal Man to his iconic run with Batman, Grant will always be a favorite of mine in all of their weird and wild glory.
  • Wtr. Scott Snyder. His New 52 run with Batman is one of my favorite runs of all time and I'm currently enjoying Absolute Batman. He's one of those writers that just tickles my brain with how cool the subject matter is.
  • Wtr. Deniz Camp. A recent favorite because of Assorted Crisis Events and Absolute Martian Manhunter. If I could be in the mind of any one comic book writer for a day, it would be Deniz Camp. I have got to start reading The Ultimates as well.
  • Art. Francesco Francavilla. When I read Batman: Black Mirror I was blown away by the art and instantly became a fan of Francavilla. One of the few modern artists whose work I find instantly recognizable.
  • Art. Hayden Sherman. Another artist whose work I felt immediately magnetized towards. Absolute Wonder Woman and Dark Patterns both are absolutely gorgeous.

    • books

    I used to read a lot. Now I read a little. Nevertheless, these are winners.

  • Left Hand of Darkness. It has everything: subterfuge, interplanetary politics, a long hike riddled with sexual tension. This book is the benchmark for good sci-fi for me.
  • Sharks in the Time of Saviors. Though the author is not native Hawaiian, this book absolutely captures the experience of living as a Hawaiian today. It is also a brilliantly written book.
  • A. Tana French. Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series was life changing. Every book was unique with such brilliant character development it took my breath away. Every book is excellent but The Likeness and Faithful Place are probably my favorites.