Now You See It

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)