Hey there, I’m Matt Fantinel

Welcome to my little corner of the web!

I am a web developer from Brazil, currently living in Italy. My favorite things are videogames, football (⚽), chimarrão (🧉), coding and listening to sad music. I built my first website when I was 9, and been in love with computers ever since.

This is the special place where I collect thoughts, photos, links and whatever else I feel like putting here. I guess you can say it‘s my digital garden. Outside of here, you can find me doing my best work at Useful Group.

The Blog

What started in 2019 as a place to document things I was learning as a web developer has since grown into a journal of sorts. It is, after all, a personal blog.

Younger me working on my laptop
Me in 2019

Cool Links

I regularly gather the coolest links I come across on the web and post them here. If you like cool things, you’ll like Cool Links.

Illustration of Cool Links in a laptop screen, with a hand pointing at them in a cool way.

Quick Reviews

Since June 2024, I started writing quick reviews of movies, TV shows and games I’ve watched or played.

A stack of quick reviews I‘ve written in the past. They‘re colorful cards with the movie or show‘s poster and some words.

Photography

I'm no professional, but sometimes I like to capture the world around me. Sometimes, the photos turn out pretty nice.

Digital Garden

Things I've posted or written but that are not necessarily finished (or never will be).

Pixel art of a cozy indoor garden (actually a Stardew Valley screenshot)

The Latest ✨

Just want to see everything I've posted? There's an archive page just for that. Otherwise you can catch up below.

25 Sep 2026

Matt Fantinel
Matt shared a Cool Link

24 Sep 2026

Matt Fantinel
Matt shared a Cool Link
Matt Fantinel
Matt shared a Cool Link
Matt Fantinel
Matt shared a Cool Link
Matt Fantinel
Matt posted a Quick Review
Cover of Splatoon Raiders

Splatoon Raiders

Reviewed on Sep 24, 2026

Didn't like it
Decent
I like it
Loved it!

This is an absolute masterpiece. From the very beginning of the game it bombards you with style and personality, and the moment you take control of your character is the moment you fall in love with it. It is satisfying, rewarding, challenging and absolutely chaotic, but it does such an incredible job at introducing its mechanics incrementally that you never feel overwhelmed at all, even if all the things happening on the screen are quite absurd.

It’s a rare game that makes me wish there were more of it, not less. It doesn’t overstay its welcome but provides enough joy to make me want to keep playing it for much longer.

Game

19 Sep 2026

Matt Fantinel
Matt shared a Cool Link

18 Sep 2026

Matt Fantinel
Matt posted a Quick Review
Cover of Pokopia

Pokopia

Reviewed on Sep 18, 2026

Didn't like it
Decent
I like it
Loved it!

Incredibly cute, well made and with plenty of stuff to do! The story is also surprisingly nice. It can get pretty overwhelming at times with how much there is to do, but it’s the ultimate cute environment sandbox and made better by the sheer amount of Pokémon in there, with their own personalities and preferences.

Game

16 Sep 2026

Matt Fantinel
Matt posted a Quick Review
Cover of The Drama

The Drama

Reviewed on Sep 16, 2026

Didn't like it
Decent
I like it
Loved it!

This starts like a generic romcom but soon evolves into something really fun! It’s so well put together, weaving real issues with comedy and great acting by Pattinson especially. I had a great time!

Movie
Matt Fantinel
Matt posted a Quick Review
Cover of Capernaum

Capernaum

Reviewed on Sep 16, 2026

Didn't like it
Decent
I like it
Loved it!

Pretty good and emotional movie, with amazing performances too. I really need to say that the baby is an incredible actor, seriously. I have no idea how they made the baby act, but they did.

Movie

13 Sep 2026

Matt Fantinel
Matt posted a Photo

Ghost of Vezio Castle

Taken on 2026-09-13

One of many sculptures that adorn the Vezio Castle in Varenna. Legend says they represent the soul of Theodelinda, the Queen of Lombards in the 7th century, who initially ordered the castle to be built and whose soul is said to wander its halls on moonless nights.

A ghostly hooded figure sculpture standing on a terrace overlooking Lake Como near Vezio, with cypress trees and misty mountains framing the view.

Ghost of Vezio Castle

Taken on 2026-09-13

One of many sculptures that adorn the Vezio Castle in Varenna. Legend says they represent the soul of Theodelinda, the Queen of Lombards in the 7th century, who initially ordered the castle to be built and whose soul is said to wander its halls on moonless nights.

11 Sep 2026

Matt Fantinel
Matt shared a Cool Link

10 Sep 2026

Matt Fantinel
Matt posted a Quick Review
Cover of The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

Reviewed on Sep 10, 2026

Didn't like it
Decent
I like it
Loved it!

This is definitely not my type of book, but I’ve watched the Broadway musical in 2024 and wanted to see what the original material was like. The musical was incredible, the book… not so much. I think the only enjoyment I got out of it was remembering the scenes of the musical as I read it.

Book
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