When we think Quentin Tarantino, we think violence. Inglourious Basterds is no exception. With some close reading, we can see Tarantino making fun of us, the audience, for liking his over-the-top ridiculous violence. And now you see it.
Water is necessary for life, but what does it represent in film? In this video, we explore The Truman Show (spoilers) and many other films to see how water can be a powerful symbol of death and rebirth for a character.
Disney Princesses are a great example of how art influences reality, but are these princesses positive role models for women?
Let's take a close look at how films use the dinner scene to show much more than people eating.
In a detailed analysis of specific films, we explore the power of a character achieving the impossible: flight. Spoilers for Forrest Gump (1994) and Birdman (2014)
Why are sequels so often letdowns? By comparing specific examples of successful and terrible sequels, we'll get some insight into how to make a good sequel.
Every war movie has an opinion on war that they're trying to get you to believe in. So how does each movie make its argument? Is it against war or for it? Let's explore a war movies' persuasion techniques and just how effective they are on you.
Opening shots are underrated. I can almost guarantee that your favorite film has an opening shot that gives huge insight into the film's themes, character conflicts, or plot points. Let's look at four in-depth examples to see just how revealing opening shots are. Movie openings shown, in order of their appearance: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Superbad (2007) Shaun of the Dead (2004) Jaws (1975) Whiplash (2014) Dan in Real Life (2007) The Big Lebowski (1998) The Matrix (1999) Silver Linings Playbook(2012) Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Silence of the Lambs (1991) Fargo (1996) Forrest Gump (1994) Raging Bull (1980)
Filmmakers intentionally use penis shaped objects for dramatic effect more often that you'd expect. In this video, let's look at how phallic symbols contribute to the visual storytelling of a film. The documentary in the film is called The 'Alien' Saga (2001)
Breaking the Fourth Wall is such a creative and unique cinematic technique, but just how much potential does it have? Let's take a look at the various emotional effects a fourth wall break can have in film.
Directors have tons of aspect ratios to choose from. Which should they pick? Let's look at the thematic effect each different aspect ratio can have on the viewer. Clips in Order of Appearance: Family Guy S08 E10 "Big Man on Hippocampus" Citizen Kane (1941) Wizard of Oz (1939) Batman: The Dark Knight (2008) 500 Days of Summer (2009) Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure (1985) The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Django Unchained (2009) Aunty Donna "This is What You Get" Napoleon Dynamite (2005) Star Wars: The Force Awakens (1977) Interstellar (2014) Apollo 13 (1995) Galaxy Quest (1999) The Dark Knight Rises (2012) The Hunger Games (2012) Chronicle (2012) The Incredibles (2004) Catch Me If You Can (2002) Life of Pi (2012) Oz The Great and Powerful (2013) Ben-Hur (1959) The Big Lebowski (1998)
Music is one of the most important aspects of movies, so how does music contribute to the emotional weight of a scene? Let's look at the power of a film score and how it plays with your brain to make you feel a certain way.
Settings are vital to any movie and can provide just as much social commentary, movement of the plot, and character development as any actor. Let's see how filmmakers use setting as if it were an individual character.
Thought I'd mix it up with a thematic analysis of one of the best TV shows of all time: The Simpsons. Just what makes the show so timeless?
Some film adaptations of novels become better than the novel. Some, no matter how good, can't capture the heart of the novel. Why? Let's look at the nature of the two art forms and what makes them different, or the same. Movies (in loose order): Dumb and Dumber (1994) Life of Pi (2012) Silence of the Lambs (1991) Fight Club (1999) The Wizard of Oz (1939) As Good As It Gets (1997) American Psycho (2000) Superbad (2007) The Hunger Games (2012) The Great Gatsby (2013) Fargo (1996) Saving Private Ryan (1998) A Clockwork Orange (1971) Jaws (1975) The Matrix (1999)
Why do actors improvise in film? What makes for good improv? Let's look at different improvised scenes and see how films utilize improvisation to provide laughs, tears, or realism. Movies (in order of appearance): The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Die Hard (1988) The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005) The Dark Knight (2008) Dumb and Dumber (1994) Midnight Cowboy (1969) Taxi Driver (1976) Pixels (2015) This is 40 (2012) This is Spinal Tap (1984) Mean Streets (1973) The Godfather (1972) Citizen Kane (1941) Good Will Hunting (1997) The Birdcage (1996)
Why do all trailers feel the same? How do great trailers stand out? Let's look at the structure of trailers over time and see how they've grown, and why some are practically identical.
What's the difference between moving left to right or right to left? The difference is everything. Let's talk about movement, and why it means more than you'd think. Cited: Egizii, Matthew L., James Denny, M.A., Kimberly A. Neuendorf, Ph.D., and Paul D. Skalski, Ph.D. "Which Way Did He Go? Directionality of Film Character and Camera Movement and Subsequent Spectator Interpretation." (n.d.): n. pag. May 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. Movies in Order of Appearance: Napoleon Dynamite (2005) A Clockwork Orange (1971) Citizen Kane (1941) The Lego Movie (2014) Monsters Inc (2001) Full Metal Jacket (1987) Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2001) Platoon (1986) Saving Private Ryan (1998) Strangers on a Train (1951) The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) North by Northwest (1959)
We all know how amazing long takes are, but what are their limitations? Let's explore elements of the long take to see how they work and maybe see what makes them not work. Movies in order of appearance: The Player (1992) Touch of Evil (1958) Goodfellas (1990) Gravity (2013) Birdman (2014) Rope (1948) The Birth of a Nation (1915) 12 Angry Men (1957) The Revenant (2015) There Will Be Blood (2007) The Godfather (1972) Children of Men (2006)
SPOILER ALERTS: 12 Angry Men, The Silence of the Lambs, and Psycho. The other movie clips only show the last shot and don't spoil anything. See the full list of movies referenced below. Movies in order of appearance: Psycho (1998) Psycho (1960) The Green Berets (1968) Little Miss Sunshine (2009) 12 Angry Men (1957) The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Goodfellas (1990) Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) The Godfather (1972) The Searchers (1956) Raging Bull (1980) The Godfather: Part II (1974) Gone Girl (2014) The Social Network (2010) Forrest Gump (1994) Fargo (1996) The Simpsons S18 E01 "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer"
What's the greatest movie of all time? What makes a movie great? These are some big questions. Let's break down the elements of a "great" movie.
What makes dialogue work? Let's explore the power of dialogue in film and take a look at the offensively named "Dead Parent Test."
Let's take a film perspective on political campaign ads and see how they brainwash you.
Is there a big difference in comedic style across the Atlantic? Let's see. This video was flagged as containing copyright content (I made my case it was fair use, but BBC doesn't like that explanation), so I can't show any ads on the video. Videos in Order of Appearance: Monty Python - World's Funniest Joke Spongebob - "Frankendoodle" S03E14 Big Think - Ricky Gervais Stephen Fry Clips
Hollywood history is full of stealing, failure, and deceit. Let's take a look at the conditions filmmakers had to suffer through to get their movies made.
Horror films are fascinating. Probably my favorite genre to learn about. Let's see just how much goes into making a scene scary.
Are jump scares cheap? Should we get rid of them? Short answer: No. They suck, but they have more potential than you may think.
A supercut of touch in film.
Aired September 13, 2016 Why do characters swear? You may think it's just for laughs or to show anger, but it actually goes a lot deeper than you may think.
Shapes have meaning. That may sound crazy, but hear me out. Let's explore how cinematographers and directors create shapes inside the frame to add visual storytelling to their films. Movies (in Order of Appearance): Ghostbusters (1984) Up (2009) Spirited Away (2001) Wreck It Ralph (2012) Sleeping Beauty (1959) The Jungle Book (1967) The Dictator (2012) The Emperor's New Groove (200) Futurama "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings" (2003) Ratatouille (2007) Star Wars (1977) Spaceballs (1987) Maleficent (2014) Up (2009) Inside Out (2015) Fargo (1996) Psycho (1960) The Incredibles (2004) The Departed (2005) The Truman Show (1998) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Catch Me If You Can (2002) American Beauty (1999) Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Goodfellas (1990) The Graduate (1967) Metropolis (1927) Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) The Shining (1980)
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Thomas Jack Remix) The Wizard of Oz (1939) The Truman Show (1998) Office Space (1999) The Incredibles (2004) Hercules (1997) Spirited Away (2001) Room (2015) Elf (2003) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) The Matrix (1999) The Hunger Games (2012) Spider-man (2002) Mulan (1998) Django Unchained (2012) The Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985) The Sandlot (1993) The Lion King (1994) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Interstellar (2014) Wall-E (2008) How to Train Your Dragon (2010) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Alice in Wonderland (1951) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Good Will Hunting (1997) The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Mary Poppins (1964) The Karate Kid (1984) Whiplash (2014) Evan Almighty (2007) X-Men (2000) The Godfather (1972) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) Inglourious Basterds (2009) No Country for Old Men (2007) The Princess Bride (1973) Die Hard (1988) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) Jaws (1975) Alien 3 (1992) The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Cast Away (2000) Toy Story 3 (2010) Saving Private Ryan (1998) The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Rocky (1976) The Breakfast Club (1985) Forrest Gump (1994) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Fargo (1996)
Horror movies are a window into the fears of the society that they were made in. Let's see how.
Let's explore the American Gangster genre and see how the gangster appeals to universal human desires. Contains footage from: Little Caesar (1931) The Musketeers of Pig Alley (1912) The Public Enemy (1931) Pulp Fiction (1994) The Godfather (1972) Goodfellas (1990) White Heat (1949) Scarface (1983) Scarface (1932) Martin Scorsese: A Personal Journey Through American Movies (1995) The Godfather: Part III (1990)
"We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars." — Carl Sagan. Cosmos, 1980. One Giant Leap
What people consume in a movie says a lot about their character, but what does it mean when they drink milk? Let's take a look.
Black and white has a gorgeous look in film. Let's take a look at Film Noir to see what it can do better than color and study how the techniques of black and white filmmaking continue to influence modern filmmaking (especially Breaking Bad). Movies (in order of appearance): Double Indemnity (1944) Touch of Evil (1958) The Maltese Falcon (1941) Citizen Kane (1941) The Hollow Men (TV show) Casablanca (1942) Point Blank (1967) Se7en (1995) Bound (1996) The Big Combo (1955)
Aired March 6, 2017 Sometimes movies are sad. Sometimes they're funny. But what about the ones that do both? Let's take a look at Little Miss Sunshine and my favorite movie memory.
Chess is everywhere in movies, and it can mean a lot more than you may think. Let's take a look at chess and see what this ancient game holds for us in cinema. Movies/Shows In Order of Appearance: Geri's Game (1997) X-Men (2000) The Fighter (2010) Independence Day (1996) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011) The People V. OJ: Made in America (2016) The Wire: Season 1, Episode 3 (2002) Better Call Saul The Simpsons: Homer Goes to College The History of the World, Part 1 (1981)
Film is amazing because of its ability to transport us to different worlds and experiences, but can it help us see what it’s like to be discriminated against? Let’s look at Menace II Society and The Silence of the Lambs, two movies that try to do just that.
The Dolly Zoom is a bizarre cinematic effect, and it can do a lot more than just make you dizzy. Let's take a look at some famous instances of the dolly zoom, see what they accomplish, and explore how it teaches a lot of principles of filmmaking.
Costuming is a vital but oftentimes overlooked aspect of amazing filmmaking. Let's take a look at some movies and see how the costuming added so much to their stories.
Some of the most exciting movies are the ones with crazy plot twists. But what separates a good twist from a bad one? Let's take a look at a few movies and see what separates the epic from the boring.
When a character gets hurt, what does that symbolize? Let's take a look at some of the most famous movies in cinema and see how injuries greatly enhanced character flaws, relate-ability, and inner struggles.
Why do we love movies that are so bad, they're good? Let's explore what these movies have in common and see that many critically acclaimed movies actually contain the phenomenon that makes "So Bad, It's Good" movies so appealing.
Voice shows a characters control of a scene. Depending on how they talk and when they talk, you can see the power dynamics between characters. Who's in control, and who's being dominated. With this thinking in mind, Daniel Plainview becomes a fascinating character to study. And do first understand Daniel Plainview's voice, you have to first understand John Wayne's voice.
In the last few years, there has been an explosion of 80s pop culture. But why? Let's take a look at the movies of the 80s and see why they left such a mark on the blockbusters of today.
What makes Dave Chappelle one of the most unique comedians of all-time? Let's take a look at his personality based, celebrity-infused comedy to see how he can do what no one else can: dodge the laser beams.
The Dutch Angle has a very revealing history, showing us the birth of subjective and experimental cinema. Let's take a look at some of the most important Dutch Angle's of all time and see how they frame the great Dutch Angles of today.
The Vampire is perhaps the most popular creature in all of media. So why do people like them so much? Let’s take a look at movies specifically to see how Vampires are used to give powerful and progressive messages.
Quentin Tarantino embraced the classics and elevated them to a new level in his genre movies, creating something entirely unique. His directorial control and incredible knowledge of cinema from all over the world allows him to twist universal movie tropes into new, innovative stories. “The story of a genre. The three stories in Pulp Fiction are more or less the oldest stories you’ve ever seen: The guy going out with the boss’ wife and he’s not supposed to touch her -- that’s in The Cotton Club, Revenge. The middle story, the boxer who’s supposed to throw the fight and doesn’t -- that’s about the oldest chestnut there is. The third story is more or less the opening three minutes of Action Jackson, Commando, every other Joel Silver movie -- two hit men show up and blow somebody away. Then, they cut to “Warner Bros. Presents” and you have the credit sequence, and then they cut to the hero three hundred miles away. Here, the two killers come in, BLAM-BLAM-BLAM-- but we don’t cut away, we stay with them the whole rest of the morning and see what happens to them . The idea is to have these old chestnuts and go to the moon with them.” Quentin Tarantino Interviews, pg. 78 Tarantino Analysis
I’ve seen countless videos and articles about why Dave Chappelle left Hollywood and went to South Africa. I think none of them truly hit the mark. This video has no speculation, only what Dave has said himself. Once you take apart his interviews and the analogies in his stand-up, I think you can really understand why he did what he did.
After reading Michel Pastoureau's "The Devil's Cloth: A History of Stripes," I saw an opportunity to expound upon his ideas and apply them to the movies. Once you're on the lookout for stripes, you can see just how nicely their historical significance aligns with the significance of striped characters in the movies.
When is analysis too much? Let's have a look at artistic intent and see when analyzing movies goes too far, and when it doesn't.
When a character gets on a horse, they carry with them symbols of power, domination, and mastery. Let's take a look at American cinema (and elsewhere) to see how filmmakers use the horse to tell us about the character riding them.
Alternate Title: Red: Fire and Blood, Life and Death Red is without a doubt the most symbolic color. So how do filmmakers use it to elevate the visual impact of their movies? Through the lens of the symbolic masterpiece Schindler’s List, let’s explore all the history and power packed in such a vibrant color.
Whether Bo Burnham performs stand up, directs other comedians, or makes a movie, you always see new innovation in his lighting.
There isn’t one right way to Write Women, so let’s see how different outstanding filmmakers approach the female experience in different ways.
Eighty years after the advent of commercial television, many have declared our current moment in time a “Golden Age” of Television. Entertainment on the Internet, however, seems to have a long way to go—but that doesn’t mean some creators aren’t making progress. Let’s take a look at the content creators who push the boundaries of what internet content can be and use that medium to most effectively tell a story.
For the last 20 years, people have been debating the meaning of The Matrix. There are countless perspectives you can take - philosophy, existentialism, technology, or even Buddhism. Let's take a look at a perspective that's extremely relevant today, and has been popping up in a lot of Internet discussion. But this time, we'll go right to the source.
Game of Thrones was always a show that seemed impossible to end. It’s large cast of characters, separate plot threads, and violent world make for a show that defies traditional storytelling structure. But it’s ending nonetheless. So as part of the Best of Thrones collaboration, I wanted to look at a defining moment for the show. The season 6 finale The Winds of Winter was the shows first step towards finding an end. Let’s see what this episode tells us about Game of Thrones as a show and what to expect from the series finale.
The vast majority of sounds on screen are created after filming, and sound designers use this opportunity to amplify their noises. So let's take a look at how these noises end up lying to you.
The 90's were a fun, carefree time compared to the decades surrounding it. In 1999, movies critique this stable era, questioning the boring "American" life of the stable desk-job. Let's explore this concept and see how movies from 1999 are so 90's.
Boston movies reinforce stereotypes about the city. But where did those stereotypes come from, and how are they prevalent in almost every Boston movie? Let’s take a look at movies that take place in Boston and see what they have in common. Sounds wicked.
Every person has hands, so, by default, every movie with people has hands. But how can hands be used to express important ideas? Let’s take a look at movies throughout film history to see how filmmakers use them as a symbol and as a tool.
Let's hear the legend himself explain his upbringing, his controversies, and why he loves what he does.
2019 was a great year for Movies and TV. Let's take a look at what I personally find so gripping about my favorites.
We all appreciate the radical experimentation of 1970s Hollywood, but where did it all start? Let's take a look at one of the most influential movies of all time to see how it crafted an innovative, daring story that changed movies forever.
We live in an unprecedented time. In moments of change like this one, it helps to look to our favorite stories for ways to cope. Let’s see how film helps us understand what it means to be alone, how to hold leaders accountable, and what we can do to protect one another.
Original Title: The Case Against Black and White Movies
We all know that Dave Chappelle is a legend, and perhaps the greatest comedian of all time. But is that just because of the jokes he tells, or something more? Let's take a look past the jokes and see what makes Dave Chappelle so iconic.
In this installment, I analyze not a movie, not a TV show, but a viral dance video: Casey Frey's "Get tf out my way type way." This seemingly simple viral video deserves close inspection because of its masterful editing, camerawork, and storytelling. I'm surprised nobody else has analyzed it in detail before.
In Aliens, James Cameron drastically changed Ripley's character, and what he did reveals quite a bit about his film-making style, his thoughts on gender, and even the contrasting style of Ridley Scott, the director of the first Alien.
Nathan Fielder's character on Nathan For You seems too strange to be real, and yet, he keeps up that performance in interviews and on social media. So, where does the acting end and reality begin? The search for the answer reveals a lot about Nathan Fielder and modern entertainment, and it also reveals something about you.
Original Title: Indiana Jones and the Lost Transcript In 1978, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Larry Kasdan met to discuss a movie idea. That conversation was recorded and transcribed. Here’s what they said.
How do you make sitting alone inside of a room cinematic? It sounds impossible, but in Bo Burnham's latest special "Inside," he did exactly that. Let's look at his experimentation with lighting, lyricism, and the digital world to see how he pulled it off.
There are countless movies about countless topics, but there is one thing that they all have in common. Let's take a look at some classics to explore the obvious yet overlooked similarity between them all.
Internet videos are criminally under-appreciated. There's just as much passion in some five-minute viral hits as there is in some big-budget movies. Let's give weird Internet videos credit where credit is due and explore the cinematic artistry beneath their surface.
The art, the cuisine, the romance. It seems like Americans can't get enough of France. But America's obsession is much more complicated than the simple appreciation of the finer things. Let's take a look at American movies and TV and see how America's obsession with France leads to hopeless copycats and, sometimes, animosity.
