We live in a world full of content to consume: an overwhelming amount. Due to this, everyone has gaps in the content they have seen, read, played, etc, etc. I have always found it kind of silly when people get too riled up about whether someone has consumed this or that media, no matter how “important” it may be. Still, I will readily admit that there are a number of things for which I’m bothered that I have yet to actually experience, regardless of the reason, so I have spent my time lately coming up with a list of some gaps in my own experience that especially bother me. Over time I have refined this list, and now it is down to ten works that span multiple media. All represent a gap that in my experiences that I am not thrilled about, so I will use this column to rectify that.
Unlike my usual columns, this feature has no set schedule, and may not maintain a single format from one work to the next. It all depends on when I’m able to catch up with these (by me) unseen things, and how my thoughts on finally seeing them my lead in their own way to a unique discussion and review.
So what made the final cut? Here is the list I decided on in our new feature, How Haven’t You Seen That!?
Anime
- There are a lot of animes that at some point I needed to catch up on, so I could have chosen a lot of different things, but ultimately I went with the show that is certain to bring about all of the feels… all… of… them!
Preparing myself for the feels express.
Film
I mean, no pressure or anything; you are just supposed to be the greatest film of all-time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- In general, my Hitchcock viewing experiences are woefully behind, so I might as well start with the film that is now considered the best film of all time by Sight and Sound–in 2012, Vertigo actually dethroned Citizen Kane in that famous poll of film critics and others, after decades of Orson Welles’ opus at the top. So, yeah, this seemed like something I should watch.
- This is totally on my list because it’s number three on the aforementioned Sight and Sound poll, and not because I have had the Criterion Collection Blu-ray sitting around my apartment waiting to be watched for years and I am using this column as a prod to make me watch it.
But seriously, it is also a cinematic masterpiece… This inclusion just happens to assuage my guilt from never watching the Criterion collection sets I get as gifts. Nothing to see here…
- I have long had a mixed relationship with the works of Wes Anderson. I am rather ambivalent toward his earlier work, but have been quite the fan of everything he made recently, starting with Fantastic Mr. Fox. This is the only recent film of his I have not seen, so I shall now rectify that.
I will do my best not to constantly compare this to The Grand Budapest Hotel.
- Umm, yeah… This one is actually quite embarrassing, but this is the only Pixar film I haven’t seen that actually matters (sorry not sorry The Good Dinosaur). So yeah, let’s fix that.
Mistakes have been made. Just let me enjoy this! I just want to remember a time when Pixar wasn’t a sequel factory.
Novels
This was the toughest selection to make, but ultimately I went with this bestselling Neil Gaiman fantasy for two reasons. One, I also want to watch the TV show (I’ve only seen the pilot), and two, because I should have read this years ago, so time to get on this shit.
Are there better books to read for this? Probably, but it’s my list, so, you know: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Let’s get this one done!
Manga
- This has always been there taunting me, and now I shall finally read it! My weird relationship with the horror medium continues, as I finally indulge in my desire to read the best of Junji Ito’s work.
I look forward to being terrified of spirals for life after this.
Television
- I know, I know, but man, it is hard to get yourself to watch more after the pilot. Yeah, yeah, suck it up. It’s on the list. I look forward to the despair as I catch up on one of the most acclaimed shows in this era of peak TV.
I know I am weak, but man, even the pictures look depressing.
Video Games
- I really liked the Uncharted series for the most part, especially Uncharted 2, but after Uncharted 3 I needed a break, and that break has extended itself well after Uncharted 4‘s release. Now I am ready again to finish this classic series off with a bang.
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I have finally returned to finish Drake’s story. Just try not to railroad me too much, Naughty Dog.
- Sometimes these things are simple. This is good. I have not played it. On the list it goes.
Give me that sweet, sweet wonderful storytelling.
This list covers a wide range of things I am behind on, and works which should prove fun to examine for the first time. I do not know the order I will be doing all of these, except for the first one, which will be the anime Your Lie in April. I will be the first to admit that there is a lot more I could do if I wanted to, and honestly, there are about three to five bonus titles I may add to this as I go along (let’s get these mostly done first). Stay tuned and be on the lookout for my thoughts and reactions as I cross some great works off my list.