Hello Theorists, Jacob here from Wisecrack
you've probably heard MatPat push to us on film theory
Check out my dear friends over at the Wisecrack channel
My friends over on the Wisecrack channel
Wisecrack
Wisecrack channel Yeah we've got abit of a Bromance going on
Which is why we came up with a fullproof way
to rank the best movies of all time
it felt like a match made in youtube heaven for all you theorists
we consulted with game designers and mathematicians
running stress tests and vetting calculations for 6 months
all to discover what truly makes the greatest movie of all time
based on a proprietary set scoring categories
we'll analyze all the ways a movie can flex its muscles to rack up points
Style: the look and sound of a movie
depth: the smarts and subtext of a film
context: how it connects with history and culture
and technique: the directing, writing, performance, and more
anything and everything a movie does right in these areas,
will earn it points on its journey to become a film legend
and when a movie's really on a roll
BIBLICAL REFERENCE
the more each subsequent achievement is worth
unlocking higher multipliers and even hidden bonuses
BUT if a movie falters and it's streak is broken?
UNCLEAR MOTIVATION
then combos will be lost and multipliers will stall back
there will be many films, many contenders for the crown
but only the best of the best will have what it takes to earn top spot on the film legends leaderboard.
proving once and for all what really are the best movies ever made
so settle in, grab that bag of cheetos, and get ready to play FILM LEGENDS
welcome to film legends
where the most renowned films of our age battle to be crowned the greatest of all time
we'll be analyzing and rewarding points for every single thing a movie does right
many will compete, but in the end, only the strongest will have what it takes to become FILM LEGENDS
TODAYS CHALLENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA CIVIL WAR
At the beginning of the film
the Hydra agent enters the passcode: 17826
which reversed is 62817
per IndieWire: the original release date of Spider-Man Homecoming
EASTER EGG
those crafty Marvel executives incepting viewers with subliminal messages
BUT HEY IT WORKS!
I'm so there opening day for Spider-Man
CORPORATE SYNERGY
yet right after filming, Spider-Man's release date switched to July 7, 2017
INCEPTION RUINED
dream a little bigger darling...
Bucky's transformation into a cold-blooded assassin raises questions about accountability during wartime
is he responsible for the murders he committed? or was he just following the orders of others?
DEEP THOUGHTS
this dilemma paralles one of the most famous trials in modern history
The Nuremburg Trials:
where German soldiers, post world war 2,
claimed they could not be held guilty for their actions as they were only following orders
HISTORICAL PRECEDENT
the camera placement constantly obscures the characters, reflecting the Captain's covert operation
SWEET VIZ
in the Marvel comics, Falcon had an actual bird named Red-wing that he telepathically commanded
this has wisely now been grounded into a drone which Falcon accesses electronically
ADAPTATION WIN
NEW MULTIPLIER
and now: trailer money shot
cmon Marvel, have you seen Lost In Translation?
Scarlett Johansson can do a whole lot more than a sumersault
give her an actual part to play!
SCARJO DESERVES BETTER
combo lost!
Civil War questions the American Military's right to operate in foreign countries
after Wanda accidentally kills a number of citizens
the world turns against the Avengers, questioning if they too have the right to operate on foreign soil
TIMELY
UNCANNY VALLEY ALERT
these CGI "people" always look like creepy wax figures from Madame Tussaud's
TOO CREEPY
the Russo Brothers giving their fellow Community cast members work, even if they've already won an Oscar
Tony and Steve both feel accountable for the loss of their loved ones
For Tony, the death of his parents
For Steve
-Bucky -Bucky's transformation into an assassin
NARRATIVE PARALLELS
both Tony and Steve seek to correct these past mistakes
Tony by creating a simulated world where he tells his parents he loves them
"I love you dad."
Steve by deprogramming the Winter Soldier back into his old pal
this focus on the past reflects Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy Ressentiment
For Niche, humans are aware that the past can never be changed
yet desire a world that is different than it is now
this causes them to be scornful towards life
much like Steve and Tony are tortured by their own past misdeeds
DEEPER THOUGHTS
Miriam: His name was Charlie Spencer
per the credits, the woman who confronts Tony Stark by the elevator is named Miriam
a reference to the comics character, Miriam Sharp, whose young child is also tragically killed
-Miriam: and I blame you -Voiceover: ADAPTATION WIN
King T'Chaka: Victory at the expense of the innocent, is no victory at all
T'Chaka here cites a Pyrrhic Victory
a victory that inflicts such a devestating toll on the winner, that it's actually a defeat
DEEP THOUGHTS
Tony would later re-echo the King's Pyrrhic thoughts,
when citing the collateral damage caused by the Avenger's supposed victory
Tony: oh that's Charles Spencer by the way. We dropped a building on him while we were kickin ass
by contrast, Captain America's moral philosophy closely mirrors Utilitarianism
Steve: We try to save as many people as we can, but sometimes that doesn't mean everybody
Wherein an action is deemed good if it benefits the majority
The spectical of previous 3rd act action climaxes are now reframed as destructive tragedy
ACTION SADNESS
yet Civil War still indulges these same destructive specticles while simultaniously admonishing them
so which way is it?
YOU CANT HAVE YOUR CAKE AN EAT IT TOO
prisoner: how did you find me?
Baron Zemo tracks down a Hydra agent in hiding through a series of leaked S.H.I.E.L.D. E-mails
wikileaks anybody?
look at the Vision rocking a Cashmere sweater!
MARVEL SWAG
Vision: I'm saying there may be a Causality
a direct reference to Aristitilian philosophy.
Aristotle stated that knowledge cannot be achieved until we have grapsed its cause
to do so, Aristotle used four different causes to come to a final conclusion
exactly as the Vision then proceeds to do.
stength, challenge, conflict, catastrophy
Civil war questions the amount of freedom we're willing to sacrifice in the name of security
Steve: if we sign this, we surrender our right to choose.
Should the Avengers give up autonomy by signing the Sokovia Accords for a potentially safer world?
we balance these same issues in many areas of modern life
such as gun control
Wire tapping
and the FBI's battle with Apple over Iphone security
TIMELY
Sharon Carter's speech at Aunt Peggy's funeral, is a direct adaptation of Captain America's lines in the Civil War comic
Sharon: Even if the whole world is tellling you to move, plant yourself like a tree
Sharon: and say no, you move
ADAPTATION WIN
yet by taking the speech away from the Captain
it becomes an on-the-nose screen, telling the Captain exactly what to do in the next scene
Steve: I can't sign it
-Too Easy! -ADAPTATION FAIL
STREAK BROKEN
Those inheirit distrusts, turn to government institutions
Black Panther and Captain America both openly question the motives and effeciency of sacred institutions
reflective of the current left and right disillusionments of the political process
-Nat: Why you don't approve of all this? -T'Challa: Not really
Steve: It's run by people with agendas
FEEL THE BERN
Steve: This doesn't have to end in a fight, Buck.
Bucky: It always ends in a fight
I wonder who's going to be right?
NARRATIVE FORESHADOWING
T'Challa: in my culture, death is not the end
T'Challa says, in his culture, Bast and Sekhmet lead you to the afterlife
a reference to the two cat-like Egyptian Gods
considering the importance of cats in the Wakandan culture,
it's no surprise that T'Challa dresses up as a panther by night
shoulda seen that coming
as a token of amends, Tony brings the pens President Franklin Roosevelt used
to sign the 1941 Atlantic Charter
In Tony's lense, the Atlantic Charter was a step toward the formation of the United Nations
countries with differing opinions still working for the sake of global community
just as the Sokovia Accords were
However, through Steve's lense, The Atlantic Charter pushed America closer to war
Steve: some would say it brought our country closer to war
the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred only four months after the document was signed
DOUBLE-TAP HISTORICAL PRECEDENT
this marks an interesting role reversal
loyal Captain America now takes sides against the government
1940's Steve: Each one you buy is a bullet in the barrell of your best guy's gun
while the rebellious Tony Stark sticks up for the man
2008 Tony: I'm trying to play ball with these ass clowns
Senator: F*ck you Mr. Stark
MULTI-FILM CHARACTER ARC
Wanda's forced detatainment at Stark Headquarters
Tony: she's been confined in a compound
parallels America's shameful internment of Japanese Americans during World War 2
Steve: Protection? is that how you see this? it's internment!
the government's need to control and monitor the Avengers
mirror our own government's desire to curb the poliferation of nuclear weapons overseas
Government guy: Do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?
gov't guy: find a place to keep a couple 30 megaton nukes, there'll be consequences
TIMELY
Bucky is held in a prison capsule labeled D-23
aka Disney's biannual version of comic-con
CORPORATE SYNERGY
ohhh yeah, another trailer money shot!
SWEET VIZ
As motivation for his violent actions, Zemo listens to a recording his family left him
words prompting violence
we've actually seen this play out throughout the film
Steve, Tony, and the Winter Soldier are all triggered to violence, not by actions, but through words
Steve: what did you say?
TRIGGER WARNING
Tony: about time we met
YES! A Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr reunion
I've been waiting decades for this. I mean who doesn't love Only You?
Tony: It's so hard for me to believe that she's someone's aunt
Peter Parker wears a Virtruvian pizza shirt
a reference to Da Vinci's Virtruvian man
Proof that Parker's a really cool nerd
Peter: When you can do the things that I can but you don't, and then the bad things happen
Peter: They happen because of you
Peter Parker's heroic reasoning reflects Irish Political Theorist, Edmund Burke
who once said: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing
DEEP THOUGHTS
Hell Yeah!!
WOO
so many trailer money shots, so many!!
impossible to count!
TOKEN UNLOCKED
SWEET VIZ
-Hawkeye: there's our ride! -Nice Arrested Development reference
does this mean Tobias can join the team?
DOUBLY SWEET VIZ
Peter: Hey guys! you ever see that really old movie Empire Strikes Back?
Peter, everyone's seen Star Wars, you're not referencing My Dinner With Andre
SPIDEY FAIL!
When did Guantanimo Bay move underwater?
TIMELY
Clint: The Futurist is here!
Hawkeye refers to Tony as the Futurist
A deep cut reference to the Robert Downey Jr solo album also named the Futurist
MUSICAL ALLUSION!
Tony: (Scoff) Manchuriann Candidate? You're killing me.
A reference to novel and the film, Manchurian candidate
where a benevolent citizen is brainwashed into an assassin
LITERARY ILLUSION
Zemo: did you really think I wanted more of you?
Holy subverting genre tropes!
Zemo's master plan isn't to take over the world with super soldiers,
but to get revenge against the Avengers for his family's death
Zemo: they brought you here?
SHYAMALAN TWIST!
Zemo: An Empire toppled by it's enemies can rise again
Zemo: but one that crumbles from within
Zemo: that's that. forever
Zemo's paraphrasing noted Philosopher Will Durant
who, in his book The Fall of the Roman Empire stated:
"A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within."
DEEP THOUGHTS
A panel to shot recreation from the Civil War comics
yet another panel to shot recreation
SUPER ADAPTATION WIN
Steve: I could do this all day
-a nice callback to the Captain's signature phrase from the first film -1940s Steve: I can do this all day
-who doesn't love a Stan Lee cameo? -Stan: Are you Tony-- Stank?
UMM RHETORICAL QUESTION
And for one final point: MARVEL
Forcing movie goers to watch the end credits since 2008
SUPER MARVEL SWAG
Alright Captain America let's see how you did
over 3 million points in style! lookin good Captain lookin good
and depth, context, and technique? who says Marvel movies can't be smart?
and don't forget those highlight reel ready videos earned you a special bonus!
the golden trailer token!
now lets head over to the leaderboard, we're climbing, climbing and--!
NUMBER ONE! OUT OF-----
one....
think we need some more competition in the mix!
let us know in the comments what movies you think have what it takes to earn the top spot
and come back real soon as the Captain defends his title against a whole lotta slow mo
IS THE NEXT CHALLENGER READY?
HEY YOURE STILL HERE!
I hope you liked that first episode of film legends
but believe me, things will get a whole lot more interesting when more and more movies are competing for the throne
so make sure you click here to visit the Film Theorists channel page to subscribe and get notified when knew episodes drop
and also be sure to click here to check out Wisecrack
we're the guys who created Film Legends!
we've got tons of videos on our channel exploring the smarter side
of Rick and Morty, the Walking Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy, Sausage Party, South Park, and more
so go watch some of our videos and be sure to subscribe
I'll catch you over there! Later!!