How To Analyze Movies – Film Studies 101

Holy crap, making a video like this is like you read my mind. I've been wanting to get better at film analysis lately.

Thank you Patrick. I was an english major so I'm kind of used to asking "Why?" about every piece of art I consume, but there are plenty of young kids growing up right now who are learning to love movies. They need videos like this one to start them on their journey, not stupid reddit comment sections rehashing the same arguments over and over again about which movies are overrated.

I studied Film for five years and this is the most concise conveyance of the core principles of Film Studies that I think I've ever seen. Another great essay!

The difference in how Patrick looked between the two camera lengths at 00:20:00 was UPSETTING

I literally spent 4 years and too much money getting a degree in this, but you bet your ass I'm not missing a Patrick upload

Man, I wish I had film profs when I attended film school who could explain cinema as simply and succinctly as Patrick does here. Excellent!!

It almost brought a tear to my eye to think about some of this. Like the use of lenses on the old man or the use of warm colors on the mom while everything around her is cold, when I think about how I felt about this film as a kid and then look at these moments with this in mind the emotional impact hits me harder and it's just so sentimental and endearing.

This is fantastic, Patrick! As filmmakers ourselves and former film teachers, we can really appreciate what went into making this. You're one of the best film essayists out there. Keep up the great work!

Can’t wait to watch this Patrick. I teach a high school Intro to Film class. I look forward to hearing your insights.

Chris Columbus fascinates me as a director, because he’s both a fairly bland filmmaker and the director of three of the most beloved modern live-action family films (the first Harry Potter, Home Alone and Mrs Doubtfire). I think his relative blandness becomes a strength - he allows Robin Williams all the space he needs to shine - same in Home Alone, he stands back and let’s Macauley Caulkin be the star - and is faithful to HP’s source material rather than doing a weird spin on it.

This video would've be worth making just for the color analysis of Home Alone, honestly. You broke that all down in a way that makes it staggeringly clear in hindsight, but I've seen that movie a thousand times and never picked up on that. Then later in the video, you cut back to the cops taking the Wet Bandits away at the end, and all I can see is that their sirens and brake lights are all red, pure warm tones as Home reasserts. Awesome stuff.

In an era where everyone gets an opinion (and they're usually bad), this is an excellent walkthrough of critique vs. opinion. Nice work! One of the things I found really interesting (as a writer) is that you spoke mostly in terms of storytelling and techniques, but didn't mention writing as much. And here's why I love that: The common YouTube take "it's bad writing" rarely applies. Because so much is done post-script that knowing how it was written is incredibly difficult. Great video! Now, I'd love to see a video on "why every amateur Twitter critic thinks writing is the problem." LOL

14:25 Exactly. SPEED RACER was based on an old anime show. The FLASH had CGI choices that confused the audience and made them feel like the special fx weren't finished.

I really like how this gently makes a really good case for learning to be media literate. I feel like it's often sort of... mis-sold to us in school as a thing you're meant to look for, rather than something that gives you full access to a story. Also, things you can use yourself. Turning the old "the curtains are just blue!" on its head, if you know your stuff, then curtains can be a weapon in your arsenal

You just turned my 73-year-old mom into a cinephile, Patrick. She enjoyed it from first chapter to last and then we watched and analyzed Saturday Night Fever. Thank you! (And I'm working now on showing each of my friends...)

Toy Story is an allegory for Western Imperialism. Woody, the cowboy sheriff, is a product of Manifest Destiny. He believes that his moral right to the Wild West despite any who may have resided there before. He has the right to invade. Then Woody has to deal with an invader of his own. His title of Favorite Toy is threatened by the new technologically advanced explorer. Buzz's goal, however valiant he may think, is "A Secret Mission in Uncharted Space" implying he works above the law and explores the unknown. He imposes his worldview where he appears. Buzz and Woody are colonizers and they conflict over land, but eventually unify over the common goal of conquest. "To Infinity and Beyond..." the hunger is never quenched-- even infinity isn't enough to satisfy their hunger for more.

My friends and I just watched every M. Night Shyamalan movie, and it was a delight applying auteur theory to his work. Common themes and occurrences we noticed: the color red, reflection shots, marital strife, depressed children, familial death, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania as a whole, water, and the importance of storytelling. Oh, and plot twists.

Ok so, I know it was just an example of a potential reading but, I think if I’m understanding criticism right, taking things as intentional regardless of intent, reading the movie as class struggle might make sense because even if the authors didn’t explicitly decide to make a movie about that, there could be biases, internal fears, etc. That inform the decisions. Like making the villains blue collar was a choice. Someone at some point might have been subconsciously worried about blue collar people invading the upper middle class traditional home.

SUCH A GREAT VIDEO!!! As a person in a creative field, who has always loved movies, this was such a refreshing and honest look at the art and how to observe it. Literally an entire semester of intro to film class in an hour and a half.

Home Alone is about materialism and consumerism versus relationships and love. Everyone who pursues happiness through consumerism or greed, including Kevin, doesn't find lasting happiness. That only comes through love and relationships. Thanks for the great video. Now I can be annoying at parties too!