I was going to say that this is my first musical Cinematic Chiasmus article, but then I remembered that I actually wrote about Beauty and the Beast (1991) several years ago. Oh well. In any case, Mary Poppins is the first practically perfect chiasmus I’ve written about. Its first half mirrors its second half exactly, forging a remarkably symmetrical structure.
I love this movie, and I’m superca-, supercali-, well, just super excited to share it with you! Continue reading
It’s a Pride and Prejudice reunion! Not just because actors Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, and David Bamber appeared in the 1995 BBC miniseries and the 2010 Oscar-winning film The King’s Speech, but because both of these films are chiasma.
This is a special Cinematic Chiasmus to me. The King’s Speech speaks to my heart because there are very few films that explore the practical challenges that come from stuttering. And I happen to have an uncomfortable stutter when I’m nervous.
It brings tears to my eyes near the start of the film when a little boy haltingly greets Bertie and his wife at Lionel Logue’s office because I recognize the terrible price he must have paid to reach that point of being able to speak so clearly.
There’s something very special about this movie. And I’d like to share just how extraordinary it is by showing that its portrayal of a speech impediment leads to the most eloquent kind of storytelling: chiasmus. Continue reading
Speed is a perfect action movie. And it also just so happens to be perfectly symmetrical. The first and second halves mirror each other, and the middle point is a particularly dramatic moment. Prepare to have your mind blown similar to what it looks like when a bus crashes into an airplane.
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I haven’t done many romantic comedies in the Cinematic Chiasmus series. I suppose The Parent Trap and Pride and Prejudice fall into this category. But Jordan is about to rectify the overrepresentation of action and sci-fi movies I’ve analyzed by recommending a good old-fashioned romcom called Four Weddings and a Funeral.
That’s right, the same amazing reader who has suggested Tron, Escape from New York, Dreamscape, Akira, Conan the Barbarian, and Scream is back to defend his perfect record. So let’s see how Four Weddings and a Funeral manages to marry both romance and symmetry. Continue reading
Jordan is back and, once again, he’s right on the money. He asked me to take a look at Scream, the 1996 film that turned the entire horror genre on its head. Sure enough, this film proved to follow a chiastic structure, the first half being repeated over its second half in reverse order. This Cinematic Chiasmus is so intricate, it’s downright scary. So let’s cut to the chase and take a stab at this film analysis. Continue reading
Dennis Quaid is about to make this third appearance in a Cinematic Chiasmus article. He’s previously appeared in my Dreamscape and The Parent Trap (1998) articles. And today he gets to add another feather to his cap as we explore the 1987 comedy classic Innerspace. Continue reading
Ten years ago, I wrote my first Cinematic Chiasmus article, which was about RoboCop. That one exploded in popularity, which took me by surprise.
Since then, I’ve published about three dozen of these types of articles. They’re some of my favorite things I’ve ever written, and yet they’re also some of the most difficult and time consuming to put together. That is why there are not 100 or more of them so far. I have a huge list of ideas for films to analyze, but I lack the time. Continue reading
The Ten Commandments (1956) is one of my favorite movies. I’ve both praised and poked a little fun at it over the years in my reviews. It’s an exceptional film, no matter what. I know this because (nearly 70 years after its debut) it continues to pleasantly surprise me in wonderful ways. I would like to share a small but brilliant detail in this movie that makes so much sense based on something I recently learned about Moses. Continue reading
Merry Christmas, one and all! Today is the most wonderful day of the year because on it we honor the Creator and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.
I love living in a country that enshrines Christmas Day as the holiest day of the year, to the point that it inspires songs, stories, movies, goodwill, charity, and warmth in the midst of a bitterly cold season.
I’ve learned that the Christmas lesson of being good to receive presents is but a steppingstone on the path to true goodness. More than being on Santa Claus’s nice list, I want to be in Christ’s book of life. I want to be good (not for goodness’ sake) for His sake because He suffered for my sins, and He has the right to judge and call me to repentance.
I invite all to heed that call and acknowledge that Christ is Lord over all the Earth this blessed day. That is what I mean when I say Merry Christmas, my friends.
This is the Deja Reviewer wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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As I mentioned two weeks ago, I saw The Oath. And I liked it. It’s a heartfelt movie that gave me a lot to think about. What I like most about it is that it takes the concept of the lone survivor and explores many of its implications. It also raises many big questions, and I’d like to talk about some of them below. Continue reading
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