I've been somewhat chaotically "bookmarking" things to watch for some time. The info typically goes straight to an Emacs org file primarily via Journelly.
I'm fairly forgiving in my input form. I often link to Reddit discussions, IMDB/Letterboxd links, or at times simply write movie or director names. The only real requirement is to sprinkle some hashtags (#film or #series or #watch) for retrieval.
While this flexibility is important (makes it more likely for me to actually write), it's not super practical to browse through this mixed structure when looking for something to watch. Yesterday, I finally did something about that.
All entries are saved to Journelly.org, a plain text org file (Markdown is supported too), so I first extracted all relevant entries (containing #film or #series or #watch). A matching entry looks a little something like this:
Having extracted non-personal items from Journelly.org, I created a git repo with just one file: watchlist.org including entries like the one above.
With personal/private details out of the way, I decided to let the LLM robots loose. That is, hand watchlist.org over to a Claude Code agent, via Emacs agent-sell to organize my chaos.
First I asked to normalize data by extracting all film/tv info from each entry, visiting Reddit/IMDB/Letterboxd links if needed, which yielded normalized.org:
Next I asked to generate metadata for me (using the fields I wanted from IMDB), stored in org drawers, saved to db.org:
For each transformation, Claude Code generated a python script. I've yet to decide what to do with all the resulting source code. Do I clean it up? Rewrite it?
For now, I'm happy with the results of the experiment. I managed to organize some of my chaos! In some ways, this isn't too different from me writing a quick/hacky/ugly script, when it's acceptable to do so.
At the center of it all, is my beloved org syntax. Thanks to plain text formats, we can easily peek at them, query them, poke at them, tweak them, and bend til our heart's content. It's just so versatile, and now we can throw them at LLMs too.
Oh, and if you're curious about that watch list, here you go. Do you have some movie/show suggestions for me?
12 Monkeys (2015)
tv · adventure · drama · mystery
United States
2149: The Aftermath (2021)
sci-fi
Canada · Benjamin Duffield
3 Body Problem (2024)
tv · adventure · drama · fantasy
United Kingdom
964 Pinocchio (1991)
horror · sci-fi
Japan · Shozin Fukui
A Scanner Darkly (2006)
animation · comedy · crime
United States · Richard Linklater
A Separation (2011)
drama
Iran · Asghar Farhadi
A Small Light (2023)
tv · biography · drama · history
United States
A Taxing Woman (1987)
comedy · crime
Japan · Jûzô Itami
Absentia (2017)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
Israel
Across the Furious Sea (2023)
crime · drama · mystery
China · Baoping Cao
Akira (1988)
animation · action · drama
Japan · Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
action · adventure · sci-fi
United States · Robert Rodriguez
All About My Mother (1999)
comedy · drama · romance
Spain · Pedro Almodóvar
Altered Carbon (2018)
tv · action · adventure · drama
United States
Altered Hours (2016)
sci-fi · thriller
United States · Bruce Wemple
Amelie (2001)
comedy · romance
France · Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Amores Perros (2000)
drama · thriller
Mexico · Alejandro G. Iñárritu
An Elephant Sitting Still (2018)
crime · drama
China · Bo Hu
Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
crime · drama · mystery
France · Justine Triet
Arcane (2021)
tv · animation · action · adventure
United States
Archive 81 (2022)
tv · drama · horror · mystery
United States
As Tears Go By (1988)
crime · drama · romance
Hong Kong · Wong Kar-Wai
Asakusa Kid (2021)
biography · drama
Japan · Gekidan Hitori
Ash Is Purest White (2018)
crime · drama · romance
China · Jia Zhang-ke
Asura (2023)
tv · comedy · drama
Indonesia
Band of Brothers (2001)
tv · action · drama · history
United Kingdom
Banshee (2013)
tv · action · crime · drama
United States
Barry (2018)
tv · action · comedy · crime
United States
Battlestar Galactica (2004)
tv · action · adventure · drama
United States
Being Human (UK) (2008)
tv · comedy · drama · fantasy
United Kingdom
Big Man Japan (2007)
action · comedy · sci-fi
Japan · Hitoshi Matsumoto
Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014)
crime · drama · mystery
China · Yi'nan Diao
Black Sails (2014)
tv · action · adventure · drama
South Africa
Blackadder (1983)
tv · comedy
United Kingdom
BlackBerry (2023)
biography · comedy · drama
Canada · Matt Johnson
Blade Runner (1982)
action · drama · sci-fi
United States · Ridley Scott
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
action · drama · mystery
United States · Denis Villeneuve
Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2021)
tv · animation · action · drama
United States
Bloody Hell (2020)
comedy · horror · mystery
Australia · Alister Grierson
Boardwalk Empire (2010)
tv · crime · drama
United States
Bojack Horseman (2014)
tv · animation · comedy · drama
United States
Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021)
tv · drama · horror · mystery
United States
Brazil (1985)
drama · sci-fi · thriller
United Kingdom · Terry Gilliam
Broadchurch (2013)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
United Kingdom
Burn Notice (2007)
tv · action · crime · drama
United States
Burning (2018)
drama · mystery · thriller
South Korea · Lee Chang-dong
Carnivale (2003)
tv · drama · fantasy · mystery
United States
Castlevania (2017)
tv · animation · action · adventure
United States
Chungking Express (1994)
comedy · crime · drama
Hong Kong · Wong Kar-Wai
City Hunter (2024)
action · comedy · crime
Japan · Yûichi Satô
City of God (2002)
crime · drama
Brazil · Kátia Lund
Cloud (2024)
action · crime · drama
Japan · Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cold Fish (2010)
crime · drama · horror
Japan · Sion Sono
Colony (2016)
tv · action · adventure · drama
United States
Counterpart (2017)
tv · drama · sci-fi · thriller
United States
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
action · adventure · drama
Taiwan · Ang Lee
Cure (1997)
crime · horror · mystery
Japan · Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
tv · animation · action · adventure
Japan
DaVinci's Demons (2013)
tv · adventure · biography · drama
United States
Days of Being Wild (1990)
crime · drama · romance
Hong Kong · Wong Kar-Wai
Deadwind (2018)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
Finland
Deadwood (2004)
tv · crime · drama · history
United States
Dear Child (2023)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
Germany
Decision to Leave (2022)
crime · drama · mystery
South Korea · Park Chan-wook
Demon City (2024)
action · adventure · crime
Japan · Seiji Tanaka
Derry Girls (2018)
tv · comedy
United Kingdom
Destroyer (2018)
action · crime · drama
United States · Karyn Kusama
Devs (2020)
tv · drama · mystery · sci-fi
United Kingdom
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016)
tv · action · adventure · comedy
United States
District 9 (2009)
action · sci-fi · thriller
South Africa · Neill Blomkamp
Doom Patrol (2019)
tv · action · adventure · comedy
United States
Downton Abbey (2010)
tv · drama · romance
United Kingdom
Dredd (2012)
action · crime · sci-fi
United Kingdom · Pete Travis
Drops of God (2023)
tv · drama
France
Dune (2021)
action · adventure · drama
United States · Denis Villeneuve
Dust of Angels (1992)
action · crime · drama
Taiwan · Hsiao-Ming Hsu
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
action · adventure · sci-fi
United States · Doug Liman
Edie (2017)
adventure · drama
United Kingdom · Simon Hunter
Elysium (2013)
action · drama · sci-fi
United States · Neill Blomkamp
Encanto (2021)
animation · comedy · family
United States · Jared Bush
Endeavour (2012)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
United Kingdom
Equilibrium (2002)
action · drama · sci-fi
United States · Kurt Wimmer
Euphoria (2019)
tv · drama
United States
Extreme Job (2019)
action · comedy · crime
South Korea · Lee Byeong-heon
Fair Play (2023)
drama · thriller
United States · Chloe Domont
Fallen Leaves (2023)
comedy · drama · romance
Finland · Aki Kaurismäki
Fallout (2024)
tv · action · adventure · drama
United States
Fargo (2014)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
United States
Firefly (2002)
tv · adventure · drama · sci-fi
United States
Foundation (2021)
tv · drama · sci-fi
Ireland
Foyle's War (2002)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
United Kingdom
Fringe (2008)
tv · drama · mystery · sci-fi
United States
From (2022)
tv · drama · horror · mystery
United States
Funky Forest (2005)
comedy · fantasy
Japan · Katsuhito Ishii
Future Man (2017)
tv · action · adventure · comedy
United States
Gen V (2023)
tv · action · adventure · comedy
United States
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
animation · action · crime
Japan · Mamoru Oshii
Ghostbusters Afterlife (2021)
adventure · comedy · fantasy
United States · Jason Reitman
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
action · adventure · drama
Japan · Takashi Yamazaki
Going By The Book (2007)
action · comedy
South Korea · Hee-chan Ra
Gomorrah (2014)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
Italy
Guns & Talks (2001)
action · drama · comedy
South Korea · Jang Jin
Halt and Catch Fire (2014)
tv · drama
United States
Handmaid's Tale (2017)
tv · drama · sci-fi · thriller
United States
Hanna (2019)
tv · action · crime · drama
United States
Hannibal (2013)
tv · crime · drama · horror
United States
Hausen (2020)
tv · drama · horror · mystery
Germany
Heavy Water War (Kampen om tungtvannet) (2015)
tv · drama · history · war
Norway
Heroes (2006)
tv · crime · drama · fantasy
United States
Hotel Del Luna (2019)
tv · action · comedy · drama
South Korea
Infernal Affairs (2002)
crime · drama · mystery
Hong Kong · Wai Keung Lau
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (2023)
drama
Vietnam · Thien An Pham
Inspector Morse (1987)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
United Kingdom
Ip Man (2008)
action · biography · drama
Hong Kong · Wilson Yip
Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
action · drama · sci-fi
Canada · Robert Longo
JSA: Joint Security Area (2000)
action · drama · thriller
South Korea · Park Chan-wook
Jury Duty (2023)
tv · comedy
United States
Justified (2010)
tv · action · crime · drama
United States
Kaili Blues (2015)
drama · mystery
China · Bi Gan
Kalifat (2020)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
Sweden
Katla (2021)
tv · drama · fantasy · mystery
Iceland
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
crime · drama · history
United States · Martin Scorsese
Killzone (SPL) (2005)
action · crime · thriller
Hong Kong · Wilson Yip
Kingdom (2019)
tv · action · drama · horror
South Korea
Kung Fu Dunk (2008)
action · comedy · sport
China · Yen-Ping Chu
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
action · comedy · fantasy
Hong Kong · Stephen Chow
La Haine (1995)
crime · drama
France · Mathieu Kassovitz
Le Bureau des Legendes (2015)
tv · drama · thriller
France
Left Handed Girl (2024)
drama
Taiwan · Shih-Ching Tsou
Legion (2017)
tv · action · sci-fi · thriller
United States
Les Revenants (2012)
tv · drama · fantasy · horror
France
Little Fires Everywhere (2020)
tv · drama · mystery · thriller
United States
Locked In (2023)
mystery · thriller
United States · David C. Snyder
Lodge 49 (2018)
tv · comedy · drama · mystery
United States
Logan Lucky (2017)
action · comedy · crime
United States · Steven Soderbergh
Loki (2021)
tv · action · adventure · fantasy
United States
Long Day's Journey Into Night (2018)
drama · mystery · romance
China · Bi Gan
Looper (2012)
action · drama · sci-fi
United States · Rian Johnson
Lupin (2021)
tv · action · crime · drama
France
Lust, Caution (2007)
drama · history · romance
Taiwan · Ang Lee
Man in the High Castle (2015)
tv · drama · sci-fi · thriller
United States
Man Standing Next (2020)
thriller
South Korea · Min-ho Woo
Manhunt (2019)
tv · biography · crime · drama
United Kingdom
Manifest (2018)
tv · drama · mystery · sci-fi
United States
Marco Polo (2014)
tv · action · adventure · drama
United States
Marvelous Mrs Maisel (2017)
tv · comedy · drama
United States
Max Headroom (1987)
tv · comedy · sci-fi
United States
May December (2023)
comedy · drama
United States · Todd Haynes
Metropolis (1927)
drama · sci-fi
Germany · Fritz Lang
Midnight Mass (2021)
tv · drama · fantasy · horror
United States
Midsommar (2019)
drama · horror · mystery
United States · Ari Aster
Minority Report (2002)
action · crime · mystery
United States · Steven Spielberg
Misfits (2009)
tv · comedy · drama · fantasy
United Kingdom
Miss King (2024)
tv · drama · thriller
Japan
Mobland (2024)
tv · crime · drama
United Kingdom
Mogura (2024)
tv
Monk (2002)
tv · comedy · crime · drama
United States
Moving (2023)
tv · action · adventure · drama
South Korea
Mr Inbetween (2018)
tv · comedy · crime · drama
Australia
Mr. Robot (2015)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
United States
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
crime · drama · thriller
South Korea · Park Chan-wook
Mrs. Davis (2023)
tv · comedy · drama · sci-fi
United States
My Name (2021)
tv · action · crime · drama
South Korea
Narcos (2015)
tv · biography · crime · drama
United States
Nine Days (2020)
drama · fantasy
United States · Edson Oda
No Other Choice (2025)
comedy · crime · drama
South Korea · Park Chan-wook
Nobel (2016)
tv · drama · thriller · war
Norway
Northern Exposure (1990)
tv · adventure · comedy · drama
United States
Occupied (Okkupert) (2015)
tv · drama · thriller
Norway
Oldboy (2003)
action · drama · mystery
South Korea · Park Chan-wook
Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
action
Hong Kong · Hark Tsui
One False Move (1992)
crime · drama · thriller
United States · Carl Franklin
Ong Bak (2003)
action · crime · thriller
Thailand · Prachya Pinkaew
Oppenheimer (2023)
biography · drama · history
United States · Christopher Nolan
Orphan Black (2013)
tv · drama · sci-fi · thriller
Canada
Ozark (2017)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
United States
Pacifiction (2022)
drama · thriller
France · Albert Serra
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
drama · fantasy · war
Mexico · Guillermo del Toro
Panchayat (2020)
tv · comedy · drama
India
Pantheon (2022)
tv · animation · action · adventure
United States
Past Lives (2023)
drama · romance
United States · Celine Song
Peacemaker (2022)
tv · action · adventure · comedy
United States
Peaky Blinders (2013)
tv · crime · drama
United Kingdom
PEN15 (2019)
tv · comedy · drama
United States
Penny Dreadful (2014)
tv · drama · fantasy · horror
United Kingdom
Perfect Days (2023)
drama
Japan · Wim Wenders
Persepolis (2007)
animation · biography · drama
France · Vincent Paronnaud
Police Story (1985)
action · comedy · crime
Hong Kong · Jackie Chan
Poor Things (2023)
comedy · drama · romance
Ireland · Yorgos Lanthimos
Preacher (2016)
tv · adventure · comedy · fantasy
United States
Primo (2023)
tv · comedy
United States
Priscilla (2023)
biography · drama · music
Italy · Sofia Coppola
Professor T (2015)
tv · comedy · crime · drama
Belgium
Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
drama · romance
China · Yimou Zhang
Reservation Dogs (2021)
tv · comedy · crime
United States
Riki Oh (1991)
action · comedy · crime
Hong Kong · Ngai Choi Lam
Ripley (2024)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
United States
Robocop (1987)
action · crime · sci-fi
United States · Paul Verhoeven
Rome (2005)
tv · action · drama · romance
United Kingdom
Rurouni Kenshin (2012)
action · adventure · drama
Japan · Keishi Otomo
Russian Doll (2019)
tv · comedy · drama · mystery
United States
Scavengers Reign (2023)
tv · animation · adventure · drama
United States
Scrapper (2023)
comedy · drama
United Kingdom · Charlotte Regan
Secret Level (2024)
tv · animation · action · adventure
United States
See (2019)
tv · action · drama · sci-fi
United States
Sex is Zero (2002)
comedy · drama · romance
South Korea · JK Youn
Shall We Dance (1996)
comedy · drama · music
Japan · Masayuki Suô
Shameless (2011)
tv · comedy · drama
United States
Shantaram (2022)
tv · action · adventure · crime
United States
Shaolin Soccer (2001)
action · comedy · fantasy
Hong Kong · Stephen Chow
Sharp Objects (2018)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
United States
Shin Ultraman (2022)
action · adventure · drama
Japan · Shinji Higuchi
Shinobi No Mono (1962)
action · drama
Japan · Satsuo Yamamoto
Shogun (2024)
tv · action · adventure · drama
United States
Shutter Island (2010)
drama · mystery · thriller
Canada · Martin Scorsese
Signal (2016)
tv · crime · drama · fantasy
South Korea
Silo (2023)
tv · drama · mystery · sci-fi
United States
Six Feet Under (2001)
tv · comedy · drama
United States
Slow Horses (2022)
tv · drama · thriller
United Kingdom
Snowfall (2017)
tv · crime · drama
United States
Snowpiercer (2013)
action · sci-fi · thriller
South Korea · Bong Joon Ho
Somebody Somewhere (2022)
tv · comedy · drama
United States
Sonatine (1993)
action · comedy · crime
Japan · Takeshi Kitano
Spartacus (2010)
tv · action · adventure · biography
United States
Spiral (Engrenage) (2005)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
France
Strange Darling (2023)
horror · thriller
United States · JT Mollner
Strange Days (1995)
crime · drama · sci-fi
United States · Kathryn Bigelow
Strike Back (2010)
tv · action · drama · thriller
United Kingdom
Succession (2018)
tv · comedy · drama
United States
Survive Style 5+ (2004)
comedy · fantasy · horror
Japan · Gen Sekiguchi
Suzhou River (2000)
drama · romance
Germany · Ye Lou
Taegukgi (2004)
action · drama · war
South Korea · Kang Je-kyu
Talk to Her (2002)
drama · mystery · romance
Spain · Pedro Almodóvar
Taxi Driver (2017)
action · drama · history
South Korea · Hun Jang
Ted Lasso (2020)
tv · comedy · drama · sport
United States
Terminal List (2022)
tv · action · drama · thriller
United States
Terminator (1984)
action · adventure · sci-fi
United Kingdom · James Cameron
Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
horror · sci-fi
Japan · Shin'ya Tsukamoto
The 8 Show (2024)
tv · comedy · drama · horror
South Korea
The Americans (2013)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
United States
The Beekeeper (2024)
action · crime · thriller
United Kingdom · David Ayer
The Boys (2019)
tv · action · comedy · crime
United States
The Bridge (Broen/Bron) (2011)
tv · crime · mystery · thriller
Sweden
The Brothers Sun (2024)
tv · action · comedy · drama
United States
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
horror · mystery · thriller
Canada · Drew Goddard
The Detour (2016)
tv · adventure · comedy
United States
The Electric State (2025)
action · adventure · comedy
United States · Anthony Russo
The Empty Man (2020)
drama · horror · mystery
United States · David Prior
The End of the F***ing World (2017)
tv · adventure · comedy · crime
United Kingdom
The Expanse (2015)
tv · drama · mystery · sci-fi
United States
The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
tv · drama · horror · mystery
United States
The Glory (2022)
tv · drama · mystery · thriller
South Korea
The Good The Bad The Weird (2008)
action · adventure · comedy
South Korea · Kim Jee-woon
The Handmaiden (2016)
drama · romance · thriller
South Korea · Park Chan-wook
The Head (2020)
tv · drama · horror · mystery
Spain
The Holdovers (2023)
comedy · drama
United States · Alexander Payne
The Host (2006)
drama · horror · sci-fi
South Korea · Bong Joon Ho
The Killer (1989)
action · crime · drama
Hong Kong · John Woo
The Killing (2007)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
Denmark
The Last Kingdom (2015)
tv · action · drama · history
United Kingdom
The Last of Us (2023)
tv · action · adventure · drama
Canada
The Lazarus Project (2022)
tv · action · drama · fantasy
United Kingdom
The Leftovers (2014)
tv · drama · fantasy · mystery
United States
The Legend of Vox Machina (2022)
tv · animation · action · adventure
United States
The Letdown (2017)
tv · comedy
Australia
The Man from Nowhere (2010)
action · crime · drama
South Korea · Lee Jeong-beom
The Matrix (1999)
action · sci-fi
United States · Lana Wachowski
The Night Comes for Us (2018)
action · crime · thriller
Indonesia · Timo Tjahjanto
The Other Two (2019)
tv · comedy
United States
The Outsider (2020)
tv · crime · drama · horror
United States
The Pitt (2025)
tv · drama
United States
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
tv · drama
United States
The Raid (2011)
action · crime · thriller
Indonesia · Gareth Evans
The Raid 2 (2014)
action · crime · thriller
Indonesia · Gareth Evans
The Running Man (1987)
action · sci-fi · thriller
United States · Paul Michael Glaser
The Shield (2002)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
United States
The Sopranos (1999)
tv · crime · drama
United States
The Taste of Things (2023)
drama · history · romance
France · Anh Hung Tran
The Tower (2021)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
United Kingdom
The Town (2010)
crime · drama · thriller
United States · Ben Affleck
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
tv · action · adventure · comedy
United States
The Wire (2002)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
United States
The Zone of Interest (2023)
drama · history · war
United Kingdom · Jonathan Glazer
Three Colors: Blue (1993)
drama · music · mystery
France · Krzysztof Kieslowski
Three Colors: Red (1994)
drama · mystery · romance
France · Krzysztof Kieslowski
Three Colors: White (1994)
comedy · drama · romance
France · Krzysztof Kieslowski
Tokyo Vice (2022)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
Japan
Tom Yum Goong (The Protector) (2005)
action · crime · drama
Thailand · Prachya Pinkaew
Total Recall (1990)
action · adventure · sci-fi
United States · Paul Verhoeven
Trapped (2015)
tv · crime · drama · mystery
Iceland
Tron (1982)
action · adventure · sci-fi
United States · Steven Lisberger
Tumbbad (2018)
drama · fantasy · horror
India · Rahi Anil Barve
Upgrade (2018)
action · sci-fi · thriller
United States · Leigh Whannell
Us and Them (2018)
drama · romance
China · Rene Liu
Utopia (2013)
tv · drama · mystery · sci-fi
United Kingdom
Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020)
animation · drama · fantasy
Japan · Taichi Ishidate
Volver (2006)
comedy · drama
Spain · Pedro Almodóvar
Warped Forest (2011)
comedy · fantasy
Japan · Shunichirô Miki
Warrior (2019)
tv · action · crime · drama
United States
Wayward Pines (2015)
tv · drama · horror · mystery
United States
Weeds (2005)
tv · comedy · crime · drama
United States
Westworld (2016)
tv · drama · mystery · sci-fi
United States
Wild Goose Lake (2019)
crime · drama
China · Yi'nan Diao
Wind River (2017)
crime · drama · mystery
United Kingdom · Taylor Sheridan
Winter's Bone (2010)
crime · drama · mystery
United States · Debra Granik
Yellowjackets (2021)
tv · drama · mystery · thriller
United States
You (2018)
tv · crime · drama · romance
United States
Yu Yu Hakusho (2023)
tv · action · adventure · comedy
Japan
Zero Zero Zero (2020)
tv · crime · drama · thriller
Italy