Tag Archives: movies

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

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

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What About Bob? Is an Incredibly Positive Movie

I participated in an interesting thought experiment a while ago. I was asked to watch What About Bob? and count all of the times when someone acts or speaks negatively in it. I’m a pretty attentive guy, so this piqued … Continue reading

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

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

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Did Back to the Future Part II Predict Endless Jurassic Park Sequels?

An interesting thing happened in 2015. The fourth movie in the seemingly dead Jurassic Park franchise debuted in theaters that year: Jurassic World. It revitalized its film series, serving as a bridge between the three original films from 1993-2000 and … Continue reading

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

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

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The Intricate Chiasmus of Ever After Will Leave You Stunned

Few movies have such a special power over me as Ever After. The Cinderella story has been told numerous times, but this version stands out because of its beautiful music, messages, and performances. And I’d like to add yet another … Continue reading

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

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

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Why Didn’t Steve Guttenberg Become as Big as Tom Hanks?

Some movie stars get big because they appear in big movies. Others make movies big by their very presence in them. For example, there are two actors who started out around the same time in the early 1980s: Tom Hanks … Continue reading

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I Was Dead Wrong About the Final Destination Series

At the end of 2022, I wrote an article called “Final Destination Is Unique Among Movie Series.” I felt safe in making this pronouncement because it had been 11 years since the debut of the last film in the series, … Continue reading

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Why I Love The Sound of Music Even More Than Bluey

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

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