Next Stop, Analysis: The Contradictory Trains of Cinema

[@Schalk-Coetzee]

Good lord... I feel - Sometimes it feels like I go into these dreary pauses in my life where I just fill it with reaction videos and work, and then I watch something like this I get chills and my brain feels alive again and I want to think and I want to perceive and interpret. I don't know how long this will last, but thanks for awakening it in me again. It's one of those strange feelings, which I seem to never remember having unless I am feeling it. This was beautifully made. Well done, and again - thank you.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! I know the feeling you're talking about and am very happy to have been able to provide it. ❤

[@NoOne-xx4oq]

I don’t get why people like you with such great content have so few subscribers and views .

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much!

[@downsjmmyjones101]

I feel lucky to have found it at all. Of course I wish KZbin would suggest me more video essays and analysis but it has managed quite well so far.

[@theoperrin9653]

I literally got a whole two minutes into this before realising I am SITTING ON A TRAIN

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

They're everywhere!

[@ewanhodson9627]

Brilliant video as always, Trains are also rhythmic, unlike a quiet drive or a night time wander where all the sound can become muted, trains are always noisy, but it's a constant noise which you sometimes forget about, the perfect background noise for a story of action, tension or emptiness.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! Great point about the sound. :)

[@AmericasComic]

On the subject of trains AS cinema, there is a subway tunnel in New York City that actually takes advantage of the subway's speed to create a persistence-of-vision illusion where, as the train flies past, there is a little abstract animation that plays in front of you. If we used a projector as a metaphor, the train is the feed and motor and the film strip is slats in the wall in front of a mural illuminated by lights.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

That's so cool!

[@LikeStoriesofOld]

This was really awesome! Loved the editing! And what a great selection of films :)

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! And there were so many I had to leave out!

[@EvilGuacamoleGaming]

So, an interesting use of trains was in Zootopia. The first use of trains has Judy coming into the city. It's beautiful, it's huge, it's her dream come true. It gives us somewhat of a false vision of the city, being that it does not let us see where the city falls short of Judy's hopes. Later, we see another short scene where a mom pulls her child away from a tiger; a small instance that does tell us about the bigger picture. The deep, cruel bigotry that only took a few news reports to rear it's head. I don't know how it fits into your thesis, but it's very interesting how trains are used in the movie.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I love that early train scene in Zootopia! I also think it's another example of 'trains as progress', which is equally shown to be false in the continued prejudice of the citizens.

[@SophiefromMars]

TRAAAAAAINS

[@karlmarx809]

I'm tired of these motherfuckin zombies on this motherfuckin train

[@QuintonMurdock]

Never before have I seen a video essay that immediately and totally got my attention as fast as this

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

:D

[@CTHD13]

You and ‘Pause and Select’ are my favorite youtubers, and you are so terribly, terribly underrated

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much!

[@francescagreetham1804]

I never realised how many awesome films and shows were so train-centric! Brilliant video!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@asocksual4910]

holy crap, now i can't stop thinking about the various half-life trains... excellent vid!

[@owlpip8992]

I am so grateful for these videos. They make me think and leave me with a sense of knowing cinema little better but also aware that I know very little. I think your channel has opened a fascination in me for film. thank you so much for everything you do

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad to hear that. :D

[@ConfusionPlus2]

Thanks for putting the film's name and year in the subtitles, I appreciate the extra work.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I'm glad you appreciate it! It was a real pain, haha. :D

[@sweetpeabee4983]

Trains!!! 🛤 My grandpa was a railroad worker and the local union rep. I never met him, just heard stories growing up. Idk, not gonna get into it too much or we'll be here all day lol, but this really gave explanation and structure to a lot of the abstract affection I've had for trains since I was a kid. I always feel like I've left your videos with a little bit more clarity than I came in with. Thank you! 🧡

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! :D

[@ledafrost]

I found your channel when I was looking into House of Leaves and I have to say that all of your videos are of such superb quality that I am consistently blown away by them. I watch a lot of video essay channels and I think yours is by far the best - and thats comparing to channels like Just Write, Nerdwriter, Storytellers, Real Dimensional Pictures, etc. Your voice is incredibly soothing, clear and concise, and your editing is always on point. I love your work and I hope 2019 is a great year for you and you get lots of subscribers and more attention, because it is rightly deserved! Another great and thought provoking video, as always.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you so much! ❤

[@scottsaunders9905]

seriously now, this is getting spooky, I have a real soft spot for any film featuring trains and suddenly this drops in my subscription feed. Great stuff.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

It's a soft spot I share, haha!

[@thiccboss4780]

_all we had to do.........was follow the damn..._

[@Prettygirlcn5]

I clicked on this video thinking, “Trains. Okayy.🤷🏽‍♀️” But I was happily surprised and interested, great work! I admired how you focused on a broad topic and pinpointed the specific themes & meanings!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Haha, I'm glad it didn't disappoint! :D

[@disembodiedglances8695]

What an incredible essay about a subject I've never even thought about.

[@servilleta__6075]

I love your channel. It makes me look at things in a different way, for example I always thought that "staying in the rails" meant to be going in the right direction and "getting out of them" represented a wrong choice or an unsure outcome.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! 'Going off the rails' and 'getting off track' is definitely and idiom for things going wrong, but I think there's a lot of potential associations with rigidity and thoughtlessness. 'One track mind' was another one I didn't use. So many train phrases!

[@schodes]

Loved this Grace!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you Will!

[@jameswhitaker12]

As a fan of your work and a somewhat of a train nerd I loved this!

[@4amstuckonearth]

Just found your channel and am wildly impressed! You manage to convey your love for what you are doing apart from the actual task. I'm a bit inspired to take my love of cinema more seriously than I have in the past. I would love to see your thoughts on Jodorowsky's the holy mountain.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much! I'm afraid I don't have any plans to cover The Holy Mountain right now though.

[@4amstuckonearth]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat Totally understandable... have you seen Possum by any chance? A dark psychological slow burn from Matt Holness.. possibly adapted from a Garth Marenghi novel.

[@DavidDsastre]

Now i look back at every train scene i´ve ever seen and can´t help but think of an allegorical meaning to it. Westworld, polar express, strangers on a train, even dunkirk

[@FilmQualia]

This is dope. What a great idea for an essay

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@satan_overlord]

I see you from Venezuela and I wish had more english speakers friends to show them your amazing videos. What a great content you have

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much!

[@lolz9113]

i'm absolutely floored by the editing! this must've taken ages, damn.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! It did, haha!

[@TuanNguyen-ko9wz]

Ozu's Late Summer has a great plot thread (and then a visual bit) about a toy train track (versus a loaf of bread) that comments on technological advancement in post-war Japan. And as usual, fantastic work, Grace.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! I haven't seen Ozu's Late Summer, thanks for the addition. :)

[@seniordan12]

Superbly written as usual.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! :D

[@samanthaperry4543]

I thought train for busan was just a silly film, but the way you picked out the theme of economy and social uniformity made me want to go back and watch films like those I once found "useless"

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I'm glad to hear that! :D

[@netizenbane]

The EDITING!!!! Bravo!!!!!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@willmustin2231]

Oh my gosh, Grace, this has to be my favorite of all your essays so far! So insightful and thought-provoking. And damn, what a great collection of train clips. That opening montage gave me chills. I love thinking about the train as "the mechanical double of the cinematic apparatus." To think that so many train scenes were filmed on stationary sets with rear-projection screens only deepens that idea. Amazing work as always! Can't wait to see what you come out with in the new year!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much! I love projection screens in old movies. I used a few clips from The Silence in the video which uses one, and I think it really adds to the uncanny dream-like motion of the train. Great connection with the Lynne Kirby quote. :D

[@chrisoakley6357]

Really good video again. Your personality is starting to show too now, on top of the great editing, strong research and thoughtful ideas

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@bgarakani]

You did well in this video, Grace. Great clips and analysis! One small note: you missed the opportunity to reference Kieślowski's BLIND CHANCE (1987), the original film of multiple narratives via catching or missing a train that inspired both SLIDING DOORS and MR. NOBODY. :)

[@Shipwright1918]

Prop, backdrop, filming location, even a star performer alongside the other actors, trains and film have been intertwined since the beginning of the medium.

[@Ehh97]

Another lovely essay! I look forward to more of your work. ^^

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much!

[@mixiekins]

Thorough consideration of this subject is exactly what Zelda: Spirit Tracks was missing.

[@liamjay6844]

Great video as always, one of the best channels on here! Lovely to see some Ivor Cutler as well.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much!

[@liamjay6844]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat My pleasure! Really inspiring me to do my own thing.

[@evantsb]

Fantastic video! So here for this content

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@nubocida]

Te amo, me encantan tus vídeos, tus reflexiones y tu voz 🌸💕 Siempre reflexionas sobre cosas que me ayudan a avanzar en mi vida. Cuestionas cosas que tienen una mirada fresca sobre tópicos que en mi cabeza existían, pero estaban sueltos, desarticulados. Haré un viaje pronto, uno de autoexilio, y tener claridad en un viaje asi, de sanación, me da energía para seguir y no tener miedo. Gracias.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Gracias! ❤ I hope your future is bright!

[@Horror-Man]

Just realized that my favorite film of all time, Unbreakable, is part of a trilogy named after a train.

[@flajeflyo6149]

This is really excellent, and I'm waiting for the moment when you'll have enough subscribers so that I can believe in Justice again. Please keep on doing such amazing work.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much! I was excited to see that your profile image was a painting by the artist Nicola Samori, but I now see that it's also an album cover for the band Night Gaunt, so maybe you're just a fan of the band? Either way, nice picture! I love Nicola Samori's paintings. :)

[@flajeflyo6149]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat Haha it is indeed for the painting, I did not know about the album. I will take a look at it then, thanks for the discovery!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Yay, Samori fans unite! :D

[@MattDraper]

Amazing work!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@marcusw.4286]

Over the garden wall also uses a train to represent death. Anyway, great video as always, keep it up ^u^

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I literally got the idea for this video when I was working on my Over The Garden Wall Video, over a year ago, haha! I particularly love their 'Old Black Train' song.

[@marcusw.4286]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat Indeed, the OST is sooo good

[@marcusw.4286]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat I found your channel because of the OTGW video haha

[@joshcp19]

Nice inclusion of the 'Hunnybee' music video

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thanks, I love that music video! :D

[@MinaF99]

As always you’re mind blowingly brilliant, I won’t rest till you have more subscribers than the nerdwriter (but slightly disappointed you didn’t include Paddington 2, as it is the best film ever made)

[@MinaF99]

And no Hogwarts express, surprisingly

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! Sorry, haha. There were so many films I had to leave out! But I actually did manage to get one clip of the Hogwarts Express. It's at 11:08, really a blink and you miss it kind of thing.

[@MinaF99]

What's So Great About That? Oh yeaah!

[@donjuanfrogprince8421]

I wonder what it means that Superman is "More powerful than a locomotive"

[@_desibees1876]

YT recs has done it again

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Yay, I'm glad to hear that! :D

[@Harry_Potter5972]

I really love stand by me. I seen this when I was 11 since 2017.

[@Whisky31CZE]

Some trains that could have been amazing in this video: - My Winnipeg by Maddin as the ultimate limbo - Godard's trains in The Book of Images - James Banning and trains Cool video nonetheless

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thanks! And yeah, the list is endless...

[@KieranEnright]

Amazing as always

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@mrdog4288]

Great work.

[@DubiousConsumption]

I love the use of The Triplets of Belleville. I always wanted to do a music video of it to Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums by A Perfect Circle.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Haha, it's not the first song I'd think of pairing with that film.

[@DubiousConsumption]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat I just love the idea of highlighting the band and have the vacuum cleaner as the wheezing in the song. I've had it playing in my head for years. Maybe that could be a side project to get me back into releasing content. 🤔🤔🤔

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Well, you may have noticed the first 10 seconds of this video was essentially a fan video. A return to my humble beginnings...

[@DubiousConsumption]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat Yeah, I love seeing your use of music and cutting to the beat. Your ending is also perfect, but I'm sure you already know how strong it is when mixed with the music and our expectations. As always, in awe.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much! I always try and make the ending impactful but also always worry I'm being too extra lol So I'm glad you liked it! :D

[@russalex6058]

Could've mentioned Blind Chance (1987) from which Sliding Doors took it's concept.

[@171QA]

I'll need to share this with my brother. He likes trains.

[@WilliamOviatt]

such a great video! way cool to see clips from triplets of bellville

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@Dolce_Mori]

Gosh I love your videos so so so so so much!!!!! You should do a video on Evangelion!! I feel as though you would really like its story and plot devices!

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you very much! I'm afraid I've tried to watch Evangelion three times and could never get into it! D:

[@Dolce_Mori]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat Ahh thats totally fair! It took me three months to finish it because of how the world is built (even though I only binge watch my shows) It's also not for everyone! Its intense and a hard watch for some reason... But if you ever feel like giving it another try I would 100% suggest putting it on for background (dub or sub is very good) I find it helps! It took me 10 episodes to get fully immersed in the world and do research to understand more about it!

[@karlmarx809]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat If you're taking requests you should do something on Hereditary. Maybe something about mental illness in film?

[@oof-wi7hp]

WSGAT and zombies, name a better duo, I'll wait

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

😍

[@arthurkassabian2528]

An interesting contradiction regarding trains in film. The characters are in an enclosed, claustrophobic space with the ability to travel two ways- front and back- while the train itself is restricted to the track, and yet the train gives freedom of long distance travel taking that character far away from where they were. Look at Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited; the brothers are in a cramped caboose leading to conflict and tension, yet the train is taking them away from the bustling city to the quieter more relaxing rural areas. On a tangential note, why hasn’t the metaphor of the phallic train been developed in modern cinema? When was the last time you saw a train go through a tunnel in a move denoting you know what? We need more of that ;).

[@katyv5657]

Well done!

[@alessandroderosa8073]

Enlightening as ever.

[@WhodHaveThunkIt]

As great as this video is, sad there was no room for an asdf movie 'I like trains' reference :p

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I didn't even think of that, haha!

[@HaseulFromLoona]

superb content!

[@briansinger5258]

I wrote an essay at the end of an 12 year prison sentence. My warden was a gentle matriarch that coaxed out a burgeoning need for logos and creativity. At the time I was fascinated by the romance of trains. And the thought of watching a lover take one away from my toxic need for them, it consumed me. Later, I would realize that the ones that love you so deeply and fully in the moment, usually have a husband fighting the Nazis. And that husband is a banker. In summation: _There is nothing more satisfying to me than having a drink on a train._

[@bookworm101100]

another addition to the zombies + trains list: kabaneri of the iron fortress. the plot isn’t that strong imo but rich characters and complex themes.

[@marshrabbit7565]

8:11 - What film is this from? I have a picture of that train crash and always wondered where it came from. Love your vids btw.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you! :) It's from Hugo (2011), and is a recreation of the Montparnasse derailment from 1895.

[@marshrabbit7565]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat Thanks.: )

[@stan8541]

and there was me thinking KZbin was just alt-right cat videos.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Glad I can provide an alternative. :)

[@j.b.aw.6968]

"alt-right Cat Videos" i am interested

[@stellalunakitsune]

really shoulda included the train scene(s) in evangelion

[@sadscarecrow]

You forgot "The Polar Express"! :)

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Nothing could make me look at those uncanny ghoul faces. Nothing!

[@sadscarecrow]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat ahah yeah, they are hard to watch

[@PavarottiAardvark]

Would love to see a Trains in Westerns video! :D

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

There'd be plenty to choose from, haha!

[@PavarottiAardvark]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat Westerns seem to mainly go for the "Train as portal to another place" theme (3:10 to Yuma, Once Upon a Time in the West, Westworld, Back to the Future 3), although it's not unique to them (Spirited Away, as you pointed out, Harry Potter)

[@kyletowers9662]

They can be a symbol of power as the richest character (and possibly main villain) in a western is likely to be the railway baron.

[@tiagosobchenko8069]

Any chance for a "Hotline Miami" dilogy analysis?

[@whoayuice6634]

X-C-Learnt

[@OfficialFidget]

M A G N I F I C E N T

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

Thank you!

[@redmdlee]

I wish I have What's so great about that every day :v

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

It comes but once a month... well, most months.

[@peeweeherman9411]

Was the intro Dunkey?

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I don't know what Dunkey is, so no?

[@IAmGingerGenius]

What's the name of the cartoon with the barking dog please?

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

It's Belleville Rendezvous! There's also a 'film title' caption option if you're curious about any other clips. :D

[@IAmGingerGenius]

Nevermind, got it. I know it is more work, but wouldn't it be nice to see the source for each reference?

[@IAmGingerGenius]

@@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat sorry, I didn't realize the captions are already there. Great work, you inspire me so much!

[@user-hh4xs7ml7s]

I fucking love how this relates to One piece

[@Razmi2003]

I like trains.

[@gretafream883]

What is the movie at 4:35?

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

It's 'Kontroll'. There's a subtitle option that lists all the film titles as you watch. :D

[@coffeequoh5487]

all trains matter

[@RezValla]

needs more ozu. otherwise perfect.