In order to better track my various cultural experiences (e.g., movies, TV shows, books, restaurants), I’ve created the Cultural Diet. Think of it as my own personal Goodreads, Letterboxd, and Yelp, all rolled into one (more info here). Every month, I recap everything that I watched, read, etc., in the previous month.
- Aviation-themed anime from the early ’00s. Cool aerial sequences but a muddled plot about artificial intelligence, alien invasions, and PTSD (among other things). (Read my review)
- 3 out of 5 stars
The Tindalos Asset by Caitlín R. Kiernan
I liked this better than Black Helicopters, but I still think Agents of Dreamland is the best of the trilogy. - 3.5 out of 5 stars
Metal Lords
It’s heart is in the right place, and I chuckled when I saw myself in the protagonists’ zeal for their favorite music, but a bit underwhelming overall. That said, I can see this becoming a cult classic in 10 – 15 years. 
3.5 out of 5 starsAbbott Elementary, Season One
Does a good job of filling that Parks and Recreation-shaped hole in my life. While not every joke hits (the “power clashing” line kills me, though), I enjoy the characters and premise, and am looking forward to another season.- We loved this delightfully bizarre series on Apple TV+. Filled with surreal humor, mysteries, and pointed jabs at American pop culture, and blessed with immaculate production design. Can’t wait for season two.
- 2.5 out of 5 stars
The Batman
This movie didn’t need to be three hours long. Normally I’m all for slow pacing and atmosphere, but this should’ve been a lean, mean action film. That being said, I really liked Robert Pattinson’s super-emo Batman. 
Completely bonkers Bollywood action film that makes the Mission: Impossible movies look like made-for-TV movies. Come for the crazy stunts and increasingly improbable twists, stay because you find it impossible to resist Hrithik Roshan’s smoldering looks.- 4.5 out of 5 stars
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Funny, trippy, wildly creative, and over-the-top in every way possible, but also surprisingly emotional at times. (Read my review) - 2.5 out of 5 stars
All the Old Knives
I enjoy this kind of spy thriller, which emphasizes mood and atmosphere over action. But it wasn’t very thrilling, not even when the final twists began revealing themselves. - 3.5 out of 5 stars
Den-noh Coil
I saw this once described as “The Matrix, if made by Studio Ghibli,” which isn’t too far-fetched. Filled with interesting ideas and concepts but gets pretty convoluted near the end. Wouldn’t mind watching it again to try and make better sense of it. - 2.5 out of 5 stars
Black Helicopters by Caitlín R Kiernan
I didn’t enjoy this nearly as much as Agents of Dreamland. Lots of interesting ideas and striking prose, but the disjointed and meandering narrative made it a slog. - 4 out of 5 stars
Agents of Dreamland by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Excellent Lovecraft-inspired fiction. Reads like the trippiest X-Files episode never made. - 3.5 out of 5 stars
Inside UFO 54-40 by Edward Packard (Choose Your Own Adventure, #12)
Packard has more fun toying with the CYOA format, though this isn’t as trippy as Hyperspace. - 4 out of 5 stars
Star Trek: First Contact
- 3 out of 5 stars
Rurouni Kenshin: Origins
For more, check out the full cultural diet.
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