Tag Archives: animated films

How to Train Your Dragon and the Job Hunt

Posted on January 20, 2026 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

I think we all feel like Hiccup sometimes. When it comes to finding a job, at least, I have a lot in common with him.

Posted in Random Stuff | Tagged animated films, dreamworks, films, getting a job, how to train your dragon, job, movie review, movies, movies based on books, personal, work | 2 Comments

Why Isn’t This Amazing Piece of Music on the How to Train Your Dragon Soundtrack?

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

I’ve listened to and thoroughly enjoyed the How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack for many years, and something dawned on me just recently. It’s missing a really amazing piece of music from the film! Have a listen to this.

Posted in Random Stuff, Videos | Tagged animated films, dreamworks, films, how to train your dragon, movie review, movies, movies based on books, music, soundtrack, videos | 2 Comments

60 Examples of Cinematic Chiasmus

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Since 2014, I have written a lot of Cinematic Chiasmus articles. These explore the symmetry of individual films, trilogies, and even TV miniseries. I would like to present about 60 films (give or take) that mirror themselves in remarkable ways. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged action movies, animated films, chiasmus, classic films, comic books, films, movie review, movies, movies based on books, science fiction, sequels | 2 Comments

Movie Matchups: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse vs. Back to the Future Part II

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is similar in many ways to Back to the Future Part II. I’m too excited to say much more than that in this introduction, so let’s just fly through their connections and see what sticks.

Posted in Movie Matchups | Tagged across the spider verse, action movies, animated films, back to the future, comedy, comic books, films, movie review, movies, movies based on books, relationships, science fiction, sequels, spiderman | Leave a comment

God Help the Outcasts

Posted on August 24, 2025 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

I hadn’t seen Disney’s 1996 adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame in many years, but I’m glad I revisited it recently. It has a song that really spoke to me on this viewing. It’s called “God Help the Outcasts.”

Posted in Significant Scenes, Videos | Tagged animated films, classic films, disney, drama, films, getting a job, God, job, movie review, movies, movies based on books, music, musical, songs, soundtrack, the hunchback of notre dame, videos | Leave a comment

Magic Mirror on the Wall, What Disney Film Is the Most Symmetrical of All? Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Walt Disney’s first foray into full-length animated filmmaking in 1937 is an example of symmetrical storytelling. I’m excited to reveal the chiasmus found in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. First, I should acknowledge the elephant in the room. Three … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged animated films, chiasmus, classic films, disney, drama, films, movie review, movies, movies based on books, music, musical, relationships, romance, snow white and the seven dwarfs | 1 Comment

The Most Surprising Thing About Kung Fu Panda 4

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

The fourth film in a series is a big make-or-break moment. It is often where a series runs out of ideas and begins recycling old ones or else it becomes a self-parody. That’s true of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom … Continue reading →

Posted in Movie Matchups | Tagged action movies, animated films, comedy, dreamworks, films, kung fu panda, movie franchise, movie review, movies, sequels | Leave a comment

The Lion King’s Circle of Life Forms a Chiasmus

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Jo is back! She asked me if I could look at The Lion King (1994) to see if it’s a chiasmus. That sounded like a reasonable request to me. After all, she sent me her fully fleshed out How to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged animated films, chiasmus, disney, films, movie review, movies, musical, relationships, the lion king | 3 Comments

Why Is Each How to Train Your Dragon Film a Chiasmus?

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Each Cinematic Chiasmus article I write explains the what and how of a film’s symmetrical structure, but they don’t tend to go into the why. Why are these films a chiasmus, and what does that say about them? I’d like … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged animated films, chiasmus, films, how to train your dragon, movie review, movies, movies based on books, relationships, romance, sequels, trilogy | 2 Comments

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Completes the Trilogy as Yet Another Chiasmus

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

I feel like Astrid soaring through the clouds with Hiccup for the first time on a dragon in How to Train Your Dragon. After the initial fear and exhilaration have worn off, she is left with a sense of calm … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged animated films, chiasmus, films, how to train your dragon, movie review, movies, movies based on books, sequels | 5 Comments