Tag Archives: classic films

This Simple Scene in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Is Stunning

Posted on March 3, 2026 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Can we all just take a moment to marvel at the complexity of this little dance number in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers? The song is called “Lonesome Polecat.”

Posted in Significant Scenes, Videos | Tagged classic films, drama, film score, films, movie review, movies, music, musical, seven brides for seven brothers, videos | Leave a comment

Untangling the Beautiful Complexity of An American in Paris

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Some people like to examine the endings of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Inception, and The Usual Suspects as masterclasses in complexity. Those film endings are endlessly minable for depth, and they’re quite challenging to decipher. There’s one film I’ve never … Continue reading →

Posted in Significant Scenes | Tagged academy awards, an american in paris, ballet, classic films, dance, film endings, films, gene kelly, love, movie review, movies, oscars, relationships, romance, symbolism | 1 Comment

The Natural and the Epidemic of Sports Betting

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

The Natural is a special kind of movie that gets better every time I watch it. I was recently pondering on the dangers of sports betting, and this movie came to mind.

Posted in Movies That Improve | Tagged baseball, classic films, drama, films, gambling, major league baseball, money, movie review, movies, movies based on books, robert redford, the natural | Leave a comment

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

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

Third Man on the Mountain Explains What It Means to Be a Man

Posted on August 12, 2025 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

What does it mean to be a man? There’s probably no end to the number of definitions we could come up with. Rather than give you my answer, I’d like to look to the past for time-tested wisdom. A forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgotten Film Gems | Tagged classic films, coming of age, disney, drama, fathers, films, growing up, movie review, movies, movies based on books, relationships, rock climbing, sons, third man on the mountain | Leave a comment

Movie Matchups: Pollyanna vs. It’s a Wonderful Life

Posted on July 22, 2025 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

It’s a Wonderful Life is one of those classic movies that other films love to emulate. I’ve heard Back to the Future compared to it by Siskel and Ebert, and I likened Click to it. There’s one film that I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Movie Matchups | Tagged classic films, disney, drama, films, frank capra, its a wonderful life, movie review, movies, movies based on books, pollyanna | 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

Is Forbidden Planet’s Chiasmus a Happy Accident or Did They Plan It?

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

Forbidden Planet is a wonderful movie. It predated Star Trek, Alien, and other popular science fiction tales, and it set the stage for the direction they would take. As it turns out, it also established an important precedent in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinematic Chiasmus | Tagged action movies, chiasmus, classic films, drama, films, forbidden planet, movie review, movies, robots, science fiction | 4 Comments

Why I Love The Sound of Music Even More Than Bluey

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Bluey is a great TV show. The music is excellent to listen to, often referencing classical compositions. The visuals are compelling and rich. And the stories are frequently moving. Its primary audience is children, yet it also speaks to adults … Continue reading →

Posted in Uplifting Films | Tagged bluey, Christianity, classic films, films, jesus christ, movie review, movies, musical, relationships, religion, the sound of music, TV shows | 1 Comment