Steven Spielberg & the Horror Inside Blockbusters (video essay)

A look at Steven Spielberg's set pieces and why horror may be the key to great blockbusters.
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[@houston-coley]

Fantastic video - I'd love an entire essay about the problem with "film student" perspectives on movies to begin with.

[@patrickhwillems]

Go back and watch a video I made in 2011 called "Film Students Getting Punched." It's kind of like that.

[@CanalTremocos]

@@zlodrim9284 and make it a documentary!

[@Wintertalent]

Another thing that makes the t.rex scene work so well is the absolute absence of music. All the tension is created by the acting, editing and direction. The music being absent works well in that movie, because for much of the rest of it, the music is bombastic and full-on.

[@patrickhwillems]

Yeah! I actually had a part about the lack of music that I ended up cutting. It's 9 minutes 44 seconds without a single note.

[@Wintertalent]

It's glorious. A "lesser" director would probably have put lots of ominous music in there.

[@G-0]

@@Wintertalent Yeah it's because of Spielberg's relationship with John Williams. They're super smart about when to use music and when not to. It's just a fantastic bond.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Don't forget about the sound. The SOOOOUUUNND. So awesome. Sound is 50% of a film, in most cases. :) It's one of the most over-looked things about film-making. Whether in analysis, or... the making of it.

[@G-0]

@@Novastar.SaberCombat Indeed! I am studying to be a sound designer some day!

[@Crosshair250]

In 2005, I told my film class that Steven Spielberg was the reason why I wanted to get into movies. They looked at me like I just told them that my hobbies included drowning kittens.

[@vgrepairs]

spielberg movies are genre-defining, generic films.

[@FreeYourMindFilms]

That’s film snobs for you. I saw the same type of reactions in film school as well, and thought they were all full of shit.

[@edoardoruini199]

I hate that line if thought so much

[@sultim7570]

​@@vgrepairsI only now realized how the words "genre" and "generic" are connected

[@vgrepairs]

@@sultim7570 they're safe films that don't challenge the audience's preconceived notions. The cinematography is played out with constant zoom ins on actor's faces to show their reactions to everything.

[@solidsnake58]

Thank you for defending Spielberg and thank you for the jabs at film students.

[@patrickhwillems]

Any time. I could do both of those all day.

[@solidsnake58]

The line at (3:14) made me LOL because it's so true. I was in film school in '94 and helped friends with their film school projects in 2000 and I couldn't get away from those complaints. I'm also glad that you devoted a video to how steeped in horror Spielberg has been throughout his career. Duel alone is a masterclass exercise in suspense and my go-to example that Spielberg always had skill. Great work. Please keep it up.

[@DirkSholar]

I'm so glad I never went to film school. I'm so glad I didn't waste my money on pretentious art snobs that forgot the FUN of making movies. You never cease to open my eyes more and more to my journey into film making. Thanks, Patrick!

[@OakViewFilms]

Patrick, what the hell kind of film school did you go to where they would dismiss Jurassic Park ( or Spielberg for that matter)? At my film school, my professor wouldn't shut up about how great Spielberg was, and most students didn't mind. Some were even intrigued.

[@patrickhwillems]

In my experience (and others I've talked to) that anti-Spielberg mindset is PERVASIVE among late-teens/early-20s film students.

[@patrickhwillems]

(I studied Cinema Studies at Oberlin and spent a semester at the Prague Film School, and it was true of both places)

[@mustymax5878]

V sauce for movies

[@trollope3370]

musty max hey Vsauce, Patrick here

[@subutayhan4069]

kaptainkristian is also good

[@i_dont_know_who_i_am69]

musty max he even looks like Michael a bit

[@tedcruzforgayrights2045]

Woah

[@seanmiller8701]

V Sauce is exactly who I thought of when I first came across this channel!...in like the first minute of his essay on Jaws if the shark worked!

[@mr.admiralaweshum3213]

I have always maintained that the T-Rex scene is probably one of the best scenes in movie history.

[@elizabethashley42]

Mr. Admiral Aweshum I saw the movie for the first time a couple of years ago (sheltered childhood) and I walked away feeling like I hadn't known what good filmmaking was until I saw that scene. We watched the recent Chris Pratt version immediately afterwards and I was astonished at how dismal it was at creating any kind of atmosphere or emotion. Spielberg is a master of the craft.

[@Maverick8t88]

Agreed. So much tension slowly built then paid off. Audiences are putty in Spielbergs hands

[@VincentStevenStudio]

Lol thats why I began to hate film school. All these snobs who think they are too good for these type of films. Most of them dont even have the talent nor will they ever be as good as Spielberg. I love movies period. Wether its terminator 2, star wars, or pulp fiction, or boogie nights, or la la land. A good movie is a good movie no matter what style or genre. Paul Thomas Anderson has a funny interview of why he dropped out of film school for this same reason. People are so full of shit.

[@Ava-pq6om]

Talent and taste are two separate qualities.

[@vgrepairs]

idk dude. I GREW UP well into the spielberg era. I drowned in the spielberg formula. I'm not saying I could outdo him in his field, but as an adult I just can't bore myself watching any more tame Spielberg blockbusters.

[@bikramarora1819]

@@vgrepairsa Spielberg blockbuster is better than 99% of the best movies churned out today

[@vgrepairs]

@@bikramarora1819 Spielberg movies never challenge the intended audience's ideals. They're safe, pandering.

[@bikramarora1819]

@@vgrepairs they’re sentimental. Not safe and pandering. But that’s part of the charm. It’s what makes a Spielberg movie his. Safe and pandering is what we get from Hollywood nowadays.

[@TheMemoman]

I've never been much of a horror movie guy, but I do recognize their ability to create mood and manipulate the audio, visual and kinetic elements needed to create an effective scene. That's why I had enormous expectations for Scott Derrickson's Doctor Strange, and though I really enjoyed the movie, I felt it didn't really went that far with the occult, horror palette. It could've been much more intimidating. On the other hand, look at James Gunn's Guardians Of The Galaxy, what a beautiful peach that turned out to be!

[@AlexLove631]

I know what you mean. I thought Strange was gonna be a tad more scary considering the shit he can do. Regardless, I liked the movie a lot, even if it was very formulaic. My favorite scene was the ancient one telling Stephen "It's not about you." Powerful fucking stuff. But yea, that's what's special about horror. What I love about horror is that it requires a lot of creativity since it's usually low budget. True horror isn't jump scares and scary faces, but shit that stays with you. That's why I'm excited for the new IT. The original made me feel like I wasn't alone in the dark. Shit like that is what makes horror...well..horror!

[@thomcomcastrmt173]

Civil War's third Act and some notable moments in Doctor Strange makes me believe the movies will implement some thrills to Phase 3.

[@stevensong8784]

@TheMemoman I'm with you. Usually, horror isn't my preference as fear conquers my mind. Yet, hearing about recents (Conjuring, Split, Get Out) convinced me there's more to it than just scaring the crap out of you.

[@TheZombiezeus]

I had the same 'fight' in film school re: Spielberg! Off-the-cuff dismissed because he was popular. And it was MOSTLY because he was popular; the lapses into sentimentality are a side argument.

[@TheGeorgeD13]

What I've noticed with Spielberg is that people (usually) have three phases in their relationship with his work. Phase one is when they're kids and just eating that shit up. Phase two is when they're around college age and start to see the strings that Spielberg is pulling and the lack of subtlety behind his work. Phase three is when they come around and realize just how fucking hard it is to be as good at that particular style of filmmaking and really come to appreciate it and fall in love with it all over again. As for the sentimentality of his work... yes it can sometimes be a bit much, but it is very much part of his charm and what makes him Steven Spielberg. Deep down, it's a big reason why we all love him so much. His huge heart is refreshing and beautiful at the end of the day and I greatly prefer his sentimentality over some filmmakers' leanings into nihilism and misanthropy.

[@Andymandyrocks]

Whoever says eww to Spielberg is absolutely in film line who are fucking jealous of his success 😑

[@riparianlife97701]

OOH! I have some inside info on the T-Rex scene! Spielberg looked at a very preliminary version of the scene, told his crew it looked and sounded great, and told everyone to go home. The crew played along, turned out the lights, and walked toward their cars. When he got to his car and drove off, the crew went back inside and kept working all night. As good as the scene is, it is FULL of mistakes from visible crew and equipment, to weird foley effects (The popping tire sounds awful) and the wall that was and wasn't tall alternately, as well as problems with the vehicles' glass and doors. The crew wanted to work the scene for much longer, but Spielberg rushed it. All of that being said, yeah. The scene worked. Well. And made a huge impact on me. When I visited the home of multiple academy award winner Dean Drabin, an absolute master of sound, I asked him to queue up that scene to play through his unbelievably-expensive system, and that was when he told me the story above.

[@patrickhwillems]

That's amazing! I'm not surprised he was working that fast since he made JP and Schindler's List in the same year (which is insane).

[@riparianlife97701]

Jurassic park still holds up after all these years. Few films do. Stan Winston was largely responsible for the success of the film, because his puppets worked so well. For years, we thought Winston's puppets were CGI, and that the film had been a quantum leap in computer effects. Dean Drabin worked with Spielberg, James Cameron and Ridley Scott. He said Spielberg is successful because he's loved, Cameron is successful because he's feared, and Scott is successful because he listens.

[@patrickhwillems]

Hahaha that makes a ton of sense.

[@fitz33]

I wish I had something more insightful to say than "great video," but this is really great work. I actually think the biggest single problem with Jurassic World is that Trevorrow and co. forgot that Jurassic Park was a horror film.

[@TheGeorgeD13]

Interesting as Trevorrow says he's going to go in a horror direction for Jurassic World 3.

[@vgrepairs]

​@@TheGeorgeD13 lol

[@jeffreygrimm7532]

I wonder what sort of scenes your fellow students brought as examples of good directing. Well worn SAFE choices like Hitchcock, Wilder or some obscure European? That's why I hate the college environment, an introduction to "How to be a Snob" without regard for reality. Spielberg is a great director for all the reasons you stated. Thanks.

[@objectivelyawesome]

I wondered this as well. Having taught college as a film history professor, I'm betting that most of the students bring in something they think will impress the teacher, not a true example that they think represents good directing.

[@PauLtus_B]

This is one of these things you just don't think about and then when you hear it it makes perfect sense. A lot of action movies have all been thrown on the same pile of "dumb action". But doing good spectacle is _really_ hard. With this video I think you've pointed out a relatively reliable way to make it work when aiming on the fear rather than the coolness.

[@philippebeauchamp2827]

What the fuck. So now an action movie has to have scary parts to be good? Where the fuck are you coming from.

[@PauLtus_B]

No. I think relying on tension is more reliable than relying on spectacle to make a good action scene.

[@philippebeauchamp2827]

Depends on your criterias then. I haven't watched all The Raid 2, but I highly doubt there's tension in the sequences I've watched. (Jail fight, metro fight (hammers) and corridor fight (2 vs 1)). Nor is there tension in John Wick. I'm not a big fan of action films, even though I enjoy them, but I guess I understand where you're coming from. The jurassic park scenes are extremely well made and exciting because you really feel there's danger. But I think one could argue they're not "action scenes" in the way there are action scenes in more classical action movies. Jurassic Park isn't an action movie. It's a good thrilling story. On IMDB, i guess the labels are accurate : adventure, sci-fi, thriller. On the other hand, Jurassic World fits much more in the category of an action movie. There aren't much scares, the main characters have the tools to fight back and the climax of the movie the characters are not fighting and it's a showtime with the T-Rex and the other dinosaur. Oh, there it is. Labels on IMDB for Jurassic World : Action, adventure, sci-fi in that order. Guess I make a point. Jurassic Park 1 is not an action movie. Nobody says : oh, what's jurassic park? A good action movie..! No. People go like : it's fantastic! There's an island with dinosaurs, and of course a T-Rex, and it's just... great! Spielberg made it. The special fx are arguably still really good (the long neck dinosaur is not a pass... but god damn the T-Rex is) and it's a classic. But what's John Wick? -Oh, y'know, a really good action movie. The stunts choregraphy are really cool and you can actually see what's happening. Plus, the movie's lighting is really cool. So yeah. You can't categorize JP as an action movie. It's more of an adventure... well, one can say, I must admit, action/adventure mixed with thriller elements. But the T-Rex scene in this youtube video is definitely not an action scene, conventionally speaking. There's a lot of actions, but for me it falls more in the thriller category. It's scary and exciting. It's thrilling. Not trying to impress audiences, making them feel something. Well I starting to run around in circle, you get the idea. The Matrix movies are action movies. The Mummy (1) is an action-adventure movie (characters can defend themselves and fight back and overcome the enemy) Jurassic Park 1 is an adventure thriller action movie, characters try to fight back, but they're mostly just trying to survive the chaos.

[@philippebeauchamp2827]

oh. The Mummy on IMDB is labeled : action, adventure, fantasy. See. JP 1 isn't an action movie. hehehe

[@PauLtus_B]

You're just missing my point. Both the Raid and John Wick are absolute rarities in that they _can_ rely on basically pure spectacle. But very few movies can. And adventure movie will still have spectacular action-y setpieces and trying to rely on the "coolness factor" of it is a lot harder than trying to give a sense of danger.

[@ClarenceDass]

Anyone who thinks that Spielberg is dumb or over-rated doesn't appreciate a good movie. I think Spielberg also has a set of "pulp" sensibility to his films. Be it Jaws or Jurassic Park and especially Indiana Jones. It's not wonder even Lucas consulted him time to time on Star Wars stuff. Spielberg's films visual narratives play out as though they could be lifted straight out of the pages of some pulp magazine. Every line translated to a shot that doesn't waste space and throws the narrative and action forward.

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

Hearing his point about gold blockbuster directors doing good horror movies previously...they've opened my eyes SOOOO MUCH

[@blokey8]

And even the good directors who haven't know how to frame it in terms of danger rather than indulgent coolness. Christopher Nolan and Rian Johnson strike me as two directors who come from the horror-adjacent territory of thrillers, and both employ those principles in their action scenes. Then again, with Dunkirk Nolan actually plunged fully into survival horror and clad it in army fatigues.

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

@@blokey8 yup Hell even Rian's dp shot a few horror films And that laundromat scene is pure horror

[@blokey8]

@@mrflipperinvader7922 I'm gonna have to go looking, Yedlin has quietly become one of my favourite cinematographers

[@blokey8]

@@mrflipperinvader7922 I was totally lost until I remembered the scene you meant. Good call. Heck, Cyd's gift in Looper is framed to be scary as hell too.

[@VforValmont]

You had me at the comparison between Terminator and Titanic. Subscribed. ​

[@ruthielalastor2209]

Thank you, Patrick. I've been thinking of making movies but i wasn't sure how to frame them. I think you gave me the answer here.

[@lamecasuelas2]

the final fight from the raid redemption, damn it just thinking about it makes me feel tired also, the moral here is watch horror, is good

[@patrickhwillems]

Same. What a scene.

[@lamecasuelas2]

and great film

[@blokey8]

I'd say The Raid is also a great example of horror influence in a non-horror film. The hiding-place sequence made a friend of mine freak the hell out.

[@lamecasuelas2]

@@blokey8 yeah, i'd go as far to say that It Is a survival horror film as much as Martial arts/action. It's like a crossover thing

[@blokey8]

@@lamecasuelas2 Yeah, and the sequel blends with crime epics - with a level of finesse that still amazes me.

[@JohnTalksPolitics]

Great vid. Great correlation. Can't believe film students would dismiss that scene. Definitely one of my most memorable theater experiences ever. It's so good.

[@666lupine666]

gj. grats on your revenge. I've been thinking that, um, Legion, is basically Wes Anderson's older, poorer, more edgy more worldly brother, like, directed Xmen and Legion is that. in particular the first escape where we see the team, and, of course inside the ice cube. one comment and one uplike for your thoughts.

[@patrickhwillems]

That seems pretty accurate.

[@TheJenSolo]

WartimeConsigliere +1 Username

[@666lupine666]

JenSolo, likewise, i'm sure.

[@TotallyRadicalShow]

Amazing video man, I'm studying film at a liberal arts college and one of the guys in my class is a huge Spielberg fan and luckily everyone more or less feels the same way about his films. He even brought a breakdown of a scene from jaws that used a lot of the horror elements you talked about.

[@tjt6071]

Loved this! I never looked at Spielberg films this way. Great job!

[@Nathanro7]

This is why I'm so excited to see James Wan's Aquaman...

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

6:13 NOW I know why I see a lot of directors who make big Blockbusters did a few horror films when they started their careers

[@zicyzacbonanza]

Your comment about people complaining that Spielberg tells the audience how to feel too often is interesting. I've always seen it more that he conveys strongly how the characters feel. So the focus rarely feels like it's on trying to scare or excite me the viewer but on showing just how scared or excited these characters we're following are.

[@montywolfe8900]

Film school Spielberg hate is nothing more than jealousy. There is a reason why his name is literally synonymous with movie-making... cuz he is a master of the craft.

[@cometogetherfilm]

This is a great video. Thanks for taking the time to do it!

[@babymariobrother3793]

This was such a good video! Thank you for making it. I've wondered why it seemed like so many directors leading blockbuster movies started in horror. Like Scott Derrickson and Sam Raimi and David F. Sandberg. So your thoughts were really interesting to hear.

[@JamesASharp]

You're right. Spielberg films has horror or a touch of horror in them. When I saw the Auschwitz shower scene in Schindler's List, it turned into a horror film for me. I still can't watch that whole scene from start to finish to this day.

[@urartcray]

Wow man! I just binge watched your video essays and I'm gonna rewatch them and take notes. This is really helping me improve my directing skills. Thank you please keep it up. I would love a gaurdians of the galaxy video

[@trampassmith6482]

Jurassic Park is also a GREAT screenplay. It's so freaking brisk and efficient, and manages more thematic depth than any blockbuster movie I can think of. It's really got it all.

[@timmaloney9976]

Spielberg's most underrated film in the past 12 years is War Of The Worlds. I don't understand the hate it gets; it's bleak as Hell and terrifying, unrestrained and best of all, surprisingly believable.

[@MarkyMatey]

Tim Maloney Justin chatwin and the ending

[@JamesASharp]

Yep. I watched War of the Worlds not too long ago and I realized why it's the best alien invasion film since Independence Day: it's freaking terrifying. And I love it.

[@tiffanypersaud3518]

Class: "Ew, why did you bring in a Spielberg film?" Me: "Because I have good taste."

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

It's a shame he was under contractual obligation that he couldn't direct poltergiest

[@TheGeorgeD13]

Interesting. I just had pretty much the same assignment that you had recently and I used Spielberg's shower in Schindler's List and pretty much everyone agreed with me that was a great scene and that Spielberg is one of the greats.

[@apollocobain8363]

Spielberg mastered the craft of film making early on. Great at getting the most out of a single shot, long or short. For example the push in zoom out in "Jaws." Great at giving you the big picture by breaking it up into details,. The T-Rex being too big for the frame suggests more size and tension than showing the whole creature (ala "King King").

[@robertcorr6971]

Thank you, Spielberg doesn't get enough love from film students. I totally agree it's better to have a back ground in horror when moving up in the film world, it shows you know how to grab and guide an audience

[@nathanhall9345]

Another great example of Horror elements elevating a blockbuster setpiece is Banner's transformation into the Hulk aboard the Helicarrier in Avengers. Shot from Black Widow's point of view, it shows us that the Hulk can be TERRIFYING.

[@incand3nza]

when you run down the directors I'm sitting here like "uh James Cameron James Cameron James Cameron," as if you weren't gonna come through. great, great video, Patrick. Some day I'll get to say I was here before 100,000 subs. And ya, Spielberg is kinda the best.

[@timsamuel9541]

This makes so much sense that I'm kicking myself I didn't see it before. Even Edgar Wright does it!

[@EddyBic]

When I was a kid, Jurassic Park was an horror movie for me. The first I saw it I couln't sleep for days lol!

[@htpark]

I'm digging this channel - listening to it on earphones while working. Keep it up, man! James Cameron's first 2 movies as director would be the "Piranha" sequel & "The Terminator". It's a pedantic point cuz it further bolsters your argument.

[@agraciotti]

Awesome video! I have always told people who say they "don't like horror movies" that they actually do, they just don't know that, and I always mention Jurassic Park or Black Swan as exemples of blockbusters that have strong horror elements. It's a misunderstood and underestimated genre. Never made that connection between action x horrors directors. Makes perfect sense. No wonder some of the best films in the past years are from new horror directors.

[@StevanChase]

Steven also knows how to pick the right sound editors, actors, and composers. Movies should be more than just great cinematography.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

Brilliant video man. You made me realise why most action films these days are big yet hollow

[@MTWC]

The majority of film students who don't like Spielberg think it's somehow advantageous to think so. If I was in that class I would have followed up with the Kitchen scene!

[@FuzzySoulTiger]

Wow, what a thoroughly detailed and enjoyable essay. Subliminally, I knew this about Spielberg but sorta denied it until watching your video. He truly is a master of directing horror masked as a blockbuster film director. I love his work.

[@midnight_lens]

I think that the horror genre and techniques allows filmmakers to expand their skills more than other genre. Not only can they learn to create vulnerability for a character in stressful situations and expand that over to drama, but just as you said, they can manipulate space itself, and create tension from it which is an essential skill in creating thrillers, action or even drama. What do you guys think?

[@botanicus2921]

Cristobal Olguin definitely agree, although I believe comedy works the same way. Both genres can be the hardest to make a great film, and great comedians have this wealth of knowledge when it comes to timing and pace. Good examples are Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade and Jordan Peele’s Get Out

[@VidJuracic]

I really enjoyed this, great essay! Even his most heartbreaking film, in my opinion, A.I. is pretty horrific all the way through.

[@patrickhwillems]

Totally. I love that movie. Wish I'd included a clip of it in this.

[@tomstonemale]

Although I do call some Spielberg movies sappy, (maybe someone can tell me a better way to describe War Horse or Always for example) it's always because I found the script lacking or, in the case of AI, Spielberg tackling the work of another person with entirely different sensibilities. His craft of filmmaking is unmatched, however.

[@miguelpereira9859]

Spielberg is bad because he tells the audience how to feel? Isn't that what 90% of movies do?

[@MarkyMatey]

Miguel Pereira Just look at eraserhead

[@DarthScrewtape27]

It’s funny. I often find myself trying to defend Spielberg. Then it occurs to me, between the multiple Oscars, and billions of dollars and universal praise I think he’s doing okay for himself

[@maybelikealittlebit]

How about the mummy(s)? I always liked them because the reminded me of Spielberg's directing.

[@rzc0624]

I wish Marvel Studios would take this advice. While I love the MCU, I feel like the light-hearted/funny tone is starting to get tiring. Thor: Ragnarok would of been interesting with a more horror influenced director, rather than Waititi.

[@beccahawkins1905]

There's a reason Spielberg is a household name. Film snobs may scoff at him, but he knew how to command tension on the screen, which is why he was able to create so many iconic movie moments. Not everything has to be above the intellect of the common moviegoer. I can't stand pretentious academics who dismiss the mainstream as not sophisticated enough for their taste. Like, I love Ingmar Bergman, but film snobs, you're not better than the average person just because you won't admit you also like blockbuster Spielberg films.

[@ajpisharodi]

The snobbish attitude by film students about Speilberg has always eluded me. This is a man who has transformed the film industry, defined and redefined entire genres, created the summer blockbuster, pushed forward the need for visual effects, moved audiences with dark war movies and drawn audiences across the world into theaters better than any director before or since and has been greatly rewarded for that financially.......and yet "he's not good enough"🙄

[@resentfulandvengeful2193]

I really love watching your videos, it's just like going to film class for free. Please create a video about why Jaws is a good suspense movie.

[@thewatcher8573]

Ew Steven Spielberg? What kind of film school did you go to.

[@IAmAPhan]

This was a great video. Thanks for the clarification of why Senor Spielbergo is a great director.

[@shivzzi]

Can you do an essay on what makes a short film great? No one really talks about making short films.

[@GnRGaming]

I know this is an old comment and you probably saw it already, but his video on the Matrix opening sequence would be a good start. It makes some good points that could be applied to a short film too.

[@shitfoo]

What makes a short great is getting a job to do a feature, that's about it lol

[@JoinHolmes]

Agreed. Jurassic World sucked.

[@peterjoyfilms]

That's so true. The dinosaurs in Jurassic World weren't frightening for a second.

[@marcosrecio4062]

This is something that i always noticed in a lot of (good movies) another great example of this, would be The Raid,wich plays pretty much like a horror-Survival movie.

[@patrickhwillems]

Agreed. That's a great example.

[@anirudhmenon4234]

You know, it's curious to me that you added that small snippet of Iron Man smashing the Hulk through those buildings from Age of Ultron when talking about 'Smash and Bash action'. Because the way that scene starts off actually embodies a lot of what you talked about in this video. When the Hulk first starts terrorizing Johannesburg, Iron Man tries to contain him and that scene worked, albeit in a lesser way, very similarly to that T-rex sequence from Jurassic Park, the horror being of course that The Hulk would find some way to escape and it was just a matter of time before he does so. Hell, there's even a moment of silence while he's contained where people are just waiting for what they deep down know is inevitable. I know Avengers: Age of Ultron get crapped on a lot by people, but I genuinely believe that there's some interesting filmmaking in that film that shouldn't be entirely dismissed.

[@patrickhwillems]

I actually think that's a pretty great set piece. I used it as an example of of one that's almost entirely animated and features "building smashing action" but it probably came off more critical than intended.

[@lilith42069]

So that's why you don't talk about 2008... Very exceptional video essay you got here and I can't wait to see more. (This might sounds completely random but I would love to see a video about Howard the Duck if you're familiar with the character. The origins of the character from the great comics writer and now dead Steve Gerber are fascinating and I dislike how far he's gone from his bizarre brilliant satiric roots into a more mainstream connection to the Marvel Universe.)

[@patrickhwillems]

Of course I'm familiar with Howard the Duck! Although I have to admit I still haven't read the original Gerber run. Been meaning to for years.

[@lilith42069]

The Steve Gerber's complete run on Howard available as an out of date but available thick paperback called the Howard the Duck Omnibus.If you get to reading it, I'd love to see your take on it. He's a sadly underrated character nowadays and I want him done a little more cred, especially after reading about the complicated fiasco associated with the character and his creator in the book Marvel: The Untold Story. For example, Disney tried to sue due to Howard's resemblance to Donald Duck and the character was slightly altered from then on by being given pants. Steve Gerber left Marvel after a while bitter when he found out he didn't get any royalties or rights to Howard and this bitterness was shown with independent works done before his death like Stewart the Rat and Destroyer Duck Destroyer's art was done by Jack Kirby who was mutually angry at Marvel and the comic makes several references leaning towards Marvel as an uncaring lifeless organization.)

[@PedroHCouto]

You can make a movie called "Spielberg's Not Dead"

[@kimberlyterasaki4843]

I'm surprised he didn't mention the Darth Vader scene from Rogue One; it fits perfectly with this.

[@StealthsGameplay]

Would you say that film school is worth it? Cinema is my passion and I want to follow my passion. I just don't want to suffer if I don't need to. (Great video btw)

[@IvanFloresArt]

Hopefully he will make a video on it, i'm in the same position

[@mikeylikesit100]

"Cinema is my passion and I want to follow my passion. I just don't want to suffer if I don't need to." If you're truly passionate about something, you should be willing to suffer for it, otherwise, you're probably not as passionate as you'd like to think.

[@TheJenSolo]

mikeylikesit100 Yes, and, I like to think of it as being willing to put in the work, not necessarily about suffering. When you are doing something because of a drive inside you, it's more about the daily practice, i.e. A writer writes, a designer designs, a filmmaker makes films because that's how they express who they are. The work is about improving the mastery of the expression. Not everyone has to suffer to learn how to communicate effectively with their chosen tool. However, there is a bit of a trend toward tortured artists, historically. YMMV. But some people don't mind working hard, or long hours, because they'd be doing it anyway, cuz it's who they are.

[@TheJenSolo]

Haha I said tool

[@MusicalPlayground717]

I think it's less a fear of working hard, and more a fear of being around snobby, uninspired people and grinding away in an inefficient learning environment that just kills your love for the art, when you could be teaching yourself more effectively, and in a way that caters individually to your needs. I think the real question being asked isn't whether film school is too hard, but whether it's actually a good education.

[@THENBASTORYTELLER]

I love this, Settle the score, take that! I complete endorse sticking it to the folks who doubt you, years later!

[@kiyasannanthakumaran893]

I love your channel, keep up the good work!!!

[@RocKoNoX]

I love people who know to give Spielberg the credit he deserves. I grew up with him and that man knows how to deliver feelings...

[@berner]

Would have loved to hear a conversation between Spielberg and Hitchcock on how to build suspense

[@ryanmudd3840]

The first 2 thirds of jurrasic park 2 had some great set peices

[@akhan41]

I feel that Spielberg and Cameron, and John Carpenter and so on get a lot of flack because what they do is perceived as just audience manipulation - "a gimmick," of sorts, in spite of how difficult it actually is to do (see how often Michael Bay fails at it). That said, Hitchcock was the master, and I feel the originator (though you could make a case for Chapman and Keaton doing this too) of this style, but he's often praised to the skies. I never fully understood that. Sure, he did it with less tools at his disposal, but that's not Spielberg and so on's fault. #shrug#

[@robsonwaterkemper]

Duel is also a very early example of how good Spielberg was on the Horror genre.

[@PimpDragon108]

Great video! JAWS is my favorite film of all time and, as a child of the 80s, Spielberg is my fave director. And it's for all the reasons you describe here. I'll never forget seeing Jurassic Park in the theaters on opening day and feeling the sheer terror from that T-rex scene! The audience was on the edge of their seats! Proof that Spielberg knows how to craft a scene. For me, though, his master class scene is the discovery of Ben Gardner's boat in JAWS. I know it's coming, but the timing of Ben's head dropping through that hole is perfection. I still to this day can't exactly call when it's going to appear. It's also a fantastic scene to watch in a theater with newbies! Great video, sir! Subscribed!

[@Liam_Mellon]

Don't forget James Gunn, who made Slither before making Guardians of the Galaxy

[@bencebotye3904]

Have the same taught. Did an excellent work with that. I like Force Awakens, but never, even in the Rathar scene feel the tension. Had a good cinematography, but unlike his master, Abrams too busy focusing the action totally oversee the life-death situations.

[@jvgreendarmok]

@@bencebotye3904 The Rathtar scene feels like it comes at exactly the wrong time for an action setpiece.

[@bencebotye3904]

​@@jvgreendarmokafter re-watching "Force Awakens" for many times the whole experiance had a sideshow syndrome.

[@jeebs621]

I'll never forget The Airport battle and the ending of La La Land, beautifully done.

[@joshuakusuma5953]

I'd like to think that horror film directors are the people who understand the importance of visual storytelling. In horror, what the audience sees is the most important thing. Scenes can be played in complete silence and a good horror director will always know to make that silence be tense and eerie using just visuals.

[@gabe5525]

Well done.

[@bomcabedal]

And here's me expecting a video about desolate 1990s video stores...

[@TOKYOTOYBANZAI]

God damn the Jurassic Park T-Rex scene is good. The only segment that ever bothered me was the T-Rex's POV shot of it looking down at the car with the kids in it... it was just a bit too shakey - I know it was due to the robot getting shaky after being soaked in rain, but just wish it was less so. Perfect scene otherwise.

[@samuelmineiro9416]

Love it. Seeing your (brief) reference to The Lord of the Rings' effectiveness, could you make a video for them? I'm finding that my generation (high schoolers currently) aren't seeing films like The Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, and EVEN STAR WARS. I am an enormous Tolkien fan, and would like to see some analysis of Peter Jackson's brilliant adaptions to the screen, so that I can convince some friends of mine that these are artistically praiseworthy films that deserve a few hours of your time. P.S. Thank you so much for this channel. I love studying the art of storytelling in prose and on screen, and your video essays are fascinating. Thanks, Sam.

[@patrickhwillems]

Possibly! I'm long overdue for a rewatch of the whole trilogy. When I do that I'll see if it gives me any video ideas.

[@allisondoak9425]

Makes you wonder how Hitchcock would handle a blockbuster if he were alive today. Which he'd have to make like it or not...

[@patrickhwillems]

He'd almost definitely make amazing ones.

[@TheSalameander]

I had an assignment where we had to bring in an example if a perfectly directed scene and I chose the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The moment I said it the entire class laughed and I had to stand there for 20 minutes explaining why I felt that way.

[@eveconstance6189]

Raiders of the Lost Ark is an astounding filmmmaking masterpiece - and I will DIE on that hill!!!!!

[@DevonRichardsCreates]

Couldn't agree with you more. My own screenplay "Nightmarica" was written solely based on the notion that I wanted to try for 90 solid minutes as intense as the abduction of Barry sequence from CE3K. Spielberg never gets enough credit for utterly fucking terrifying his films have been.

[@Highbrowser]

I'd tell you this: don't make everything tense. People stop registering tension if it's allowed to go on for too long. You got to pull them back and forth. It's like music.

[@DevonRichardsCreates]

Already written, optioned in LA some 3 years ago. Thanks!

[@MZ99698]

Cleothaluum yeah sure it was.

[@DoYouWantC00kies]

I'm a film student, and I love Spielberg. We're not all snobs...

[@patrickhwillems]

Not everyone is. There are just a lot of them.

[@DoYouWantC00kies]

That's something I cannot deny.

[@OakViewFilms]

I'm a film student, and Spielberg is my idol. I know I'll get laughed at for that claim, but it's true.

[@DoYouWantC00kies]

I honestly don't know why film students would laugh at other film students because they like Spielberg... I mean, in my opinion he isn't the greatest director ever, but he certainly isn't bad. Not even close to bad.

[@cinemarchaeologist]

Methinks it's unfortunate that those with good judgment are being dissed as "snobs" merely because they dislike the often-dismal work of a pop director.

[@irlfc9]

I always felt Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan had this horror vibe to it as well. Like both films were just giant hour long nightmares.

[@adam0887]

Great video. Loved the little jab at Trevorrow.

[@cervgiovanni]

that is a really good look at things!

[@Dock76]

Some film students are absolute snobs.

[@johnhealy6490]

raiders of the lost ark is my favorite set piece

[@josephbernados1649]

So how jazzed are you that J.A. Bayona, a proper horror director, will be doing the Jurassic World sequel? Also, there is an interesting juxtaposition between blockbuster directors that started out with horror (Spielberg, Jackson, Del Toro) versus those that started out as music video directors (Michael Bay, McG, Baz Luhrman...). One thing you definitely gather from good horror directors is they keep the point of view very subjective, with clear intent in their storytelling decisions, versus the music video folk who tend to favor visual flair and spectacle that tends to come off empty.

[@patrickhwillems]

SUCH an improvement. The Orphanage is great.

[@josephbernados1649]

Have you seen his subsequent movies? "The Impossible" and "A Monster Calls" are pretty awesome.

[@StudioErsatz]

Arguably the greatest visual storyteller of the 20th century.............................................. wait wut?

[@andresrodriguez-ef7bb]

This is more than a year late. But i was watching Jurassic World last night. I looked at it as a monster movie/creature feature than frankenstein with dinosaurs. I kept trying to pin point why i liked it and why i didnt like it as much as id like to. And the nostalgia was off putting too. Put then i realized. There was no horror. I think emotions are experiential. Which is why action and horror you talked about works. I think they seek to make you experience emotionally rather than make you "feel".

[@Filmjunkiene]

Well argumented Patrick, really well done. As for film students hating on Spielberg. In the academic film studies circles that I know (and I'm a part of) here in Norway, "Jurassic Park" is highly regarded as great filmmaking.

[@sumedhshinde7733]

i didn't get it,,, why did they eewd by saying it's a Spielberg movie ?

[@karlkarlos3545]

because he was at some time the most commercially successful film director. Which means in their mind he can only appeal to the dumb masses and isn't worthy of a serious dissection. same happened to Alfred Hitchcock back in his days.

[@sumedhshinde7733]

Ohh i get it now,,, Thanks.