A Window into my Letterboxd
Games where my opinion or experience is similar to a corresponding movie
20 Games
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Simultaneously harrowing and comforting, both evoked such vast, ranging, personal thoughts and emotions from me and when they were over I was left with an overwhelming sense of awe that in both cases I still to this day don’t properly know how to put into words.
Simultaneously harrowing and comforting, both evoked such vast, ranging, personal thoughts and emotions from me and when they were over I was left with an overwhelming sense of awe that in both cases I still to this day don’t properly know how to put into words.
The Raid (2011)
Both know exactly what they are and don’t waste your time pretending they’re anything different. Every decision, narrative or directorial, is aimed at optimizing that action packed thrill ride.
Both know exactly what they are and don’t waste your time pretending they’re anything different. Every decision, narrative or directorial, is aimed at optimizing that action packed thrill ride.
The Raid 2 (2014)
Both are great, both have much of the same kickass DNA as their predecessors. But both try to have more elaborate stories, almost try to be something they’re not, and I think they both lose an itty bit of that focus as a result.
Both are great, both have much of the same kickass DNA as their predecessors. But both try to have more elaborate stories, almost try to be something they’re not, and I think they both lose an itty bit of that focus as a result.
Parasite (2019)
Both these unique, humble little indie titles that spread around pretty much through word of mouth alone and got to stand toe to toe with the AAA big boys come awards season. If only Hades had the same success Parasite had on that front.
Both these unique, humble little indie titles that spread around pretty much through word of mouth alone and got to stand toe to toe with the AAA big boys come awards season. If only Hades had the same success Parasite had on that front.
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
There are a lot of games that others would probably think of first when comparing to the original Star Wars trilogy. The Halo trilogy is probably it’s closest cultural equivalent, the big twists of Final Fantasy VII are probably just as iconic and widely spoiled as Empire’s. But the one I choose to equate it to is undoubtedly the original Spyro. My experience with both as a kid was a magical, transformative experience to me like very little else. As an adult I can revisit them countless times and never get sick of them, they make me feel like a kid again, take me right back to my parents’ rec room, back to simpler times.
There are a lot of games that others would probably think of first when comparing to the original Star Wars trilogy. The Halo trilogy is probably it’s closest cultural equivalent, the big twists of Final Fantasy VII are probably just as iconic and widely spoiled as Empire’s. But the one I choose to equate it to is undoubtedly the original Spyro. My experience with both as a kid was a magical, transformative experience to me like very little else. As an adult I can revisit them countless times and never get sick of them, they make me feel like a kid again, take me right back to my parents’ rec room, back to simpler times.
The Phantom Menace (1999)
Both share a unique quality in that part of what makes them so frustrating is that they constantly tease you with glimpses of what they could have been. They also suffer from similarly stilted dialogue, sterile characters and performances and squandered world building, not to mention defenders always directing you to outside sources, insisting that if you study up on expanded material it becomes good.
Both share a unique quality in that part of what makes them so frustrating is that they constantly tease you with glimpses of what they could have been. They also suffer from similarly stilted dialogue, sterile characters and performances and squandered world building, not to mention defenders always directing you to outside sources, insisting that if you study up on expanded material it becomes good.
The Force Awakens (2015)
When they came out, they were masterpieces, 10/10, the hype completely blinded me to any sort of flaws. Gradually though, those flaws started slipping through the cracks in my fanboy goggles, and when a certain later entry in the franchise came out, I realized there was a lot that I was okay with that I probably shouldn’t have been. I still like both to a certain extent, but that affinity has become very much measured since.
When they came out, they were masterpieces, 10/10, the hype completely blinded me to any sort of flaws. Gradually though, those flaws started slipping through the cracks in my fanboy goggles, and when a certain later entry in the franchise came out, I realized there was a lot that I was okay with that I probably shouldn’t have been. I still like both to a certain extent, but that affinity has become very much measured since.
The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The only thing on this list I haven’t actually played. Still, I felt I had to include it, because watching this shitshow unfold from afar had an “Emperor has no clothes” effect on me uncannily similar to that of Rise of Skywalker. Both made me completely reassess how I judged previous Star Wars/Bethesda media.
The only thing on this list I haven’t actually played. Still, I felt I had to include it, because watching this shitshow unfold from afar had an “Emperor has no clothes” effect on me uncannily similar to that of Rise of Skywalker. Both made me completely reassess how I judged previous Star Wars/Bethesda media.
Children of Men (2006)
Two of the first works to really move me and get me to pay attention to their respective mediums.
Two of the first works to really move me and get me to pay attention to their respective mediums.
Joker (2019)
The love it or hate it things that I don’t seem to fall on either side of. I think they’re far from masterpieces, they both rely on a lot of manipulative, contrived, hammed up beats and aren’t nearly as outside the box as they want to think they are. But there are aspects of quality to them, there’s at least the attempt at some sort of vision or voice, they’re still above a lot of the other shovelware and cynical shlock that companies put out on the regular.
Also the culture war baby crying around both gives me a headache.
The love it or hate it things that I don’t seem to fall on either side of. I think they’re far from masterpieces, they both rely on a lot of manipulative, contrived, hammed up beats and aren’t nearly as outside the box as they want to think they are. But there are aspects of quality to them, there’s at least the attempt at some sort of vision or voice, they’re still above a lot of the other shovelware and cynical shlock that companies put out on the regular.
Also the culture war baby crying around both gives me a headache.
The Killer (1989)
I was recently on a bit of a character action game kick that happened to coincide with a Hong Kong action movie binge, and the two have been somewhat linked in my mind ever since. These two were the best new things I found during that period. Both feature highly stylized violence and melodrama, they’re two of the most prominent in their respective genres.
I was recently on a bit of a character action game kick that happened to coincide with a Hong Kong action movie binge, and the two have been somewhat linked in my mind ever since. These two were the best new things I found during that period. Both feature highly stylized violence and melodrama, they’re two of the most prominent in their respective genres.
Jack & Jill (2011)
Both convinced me their brands were just an embezzlement front. No way something this well funded comes out feeling like it was slapped together in a weekend.
Both convinced me their brands were just an embezzlement front. No way something this well funded comes out feeling like it was slapped together in a weekend.
American Graffiti (1973)
The PS2 era as a whole I think is to gaming what the 1970s were to film, very experimental, very creatively liberal, the visions felt more unique, pure and innocent. Ratchet & Clank and American Graffiti are by no means my favourites of their respective eras, but they’re two of the ones I think encapsulate their eras best.
The PS2 era as a whole I think is to gaming what the 1970s were to film, very experimental, very creatively liberal, the visions felt more unique, pure and innocent. Ratchet & Clank and American Graffiti are by no means my favourites of their respective eras, but they’re two of the ones I think encapsulate their eras best.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
The progenitor returns to show everyone how this genre is supposed to be done.
The progenitor returns to show everyone how this genre is supposed to be done.
The Dark Crystal (1982)
Despite never experiencing either in my childhood, I found both gave me a very nostalgic feeling experiencing them for the first time as an adult. Those ILM matte paintings, that PS2/Gamecube era Capcom ambience, they feel like home to me.
Despite never experiencing either in my childhood, I found both gave me a very nostalgic feeling experiencing them for the first time as an adult. Those ILM matte paintings, that PS2/Gamecube era Capcom ambience, they feel like home to me.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
My measure for true mediocre.
My measure for true mediocre.
Interstellar (2014)
Both are widely praised as masterpieces, game of the generation, movie of the decade. And while I like both, I respect both, I’ve never quite felt that same enthusiasm for either.
Both are widely praised as masterpieces, game of the generation, movie of the decade. And while I like both, I respect both, I’ve never quite felt that same enthusiasm for either.
The Lord of the Rings (1978)
Bad, but really fucking funny in equal measures.
Bad, but really fucking funny in equal measures.
The Aerial (2007)
Obscure little hidden treasures that I sometimes feel like nobody in the entire world knows about except for me.
Obscure little hidden treasures that I sometimes feel like nobody in the entire world knows about except for me.
Gotti (2018)
Twice I was tricked by people claiming both were secret masterpieces. The only difference being I’m pretty certain the Gotti people were just meming and I was dense to it. I’m not sure yet if that’s the case with the Two Worlds people.
Twice I was tricked by people claiming both were secret masterpieces. The only difference being I’m pretty certain the Gotti people were just meming and I was dense to it. I’m not sure yet if that’s the case with the Two Worlds people.