Jump Cuts: Random Essays — Blog

Christmas: Watching Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) as a Christmas Movie

Anton makes the case for watching the first Harry Potter movie during Christmas time.

The Nostalgia of Horror

Films like Halloween, The Shining, The House of the Devil, and It Follows rely on nostalgia to fuel their horror.

Essays, Jump Cuts: Random EssaysAren BergstromOctober 7, 2016Halloween, The House of the Devil, It Follows, The Shining, Stranger ThingsComment

Defend What You Like (or Why I Don't Believe In Guilty Pleasures)

The term “guilty pleasure” is antithetical to film criticism and a healthy film culture.

Essays, Jump Cuts: Random EssaysAren BergstromMay 6, 2016Road House, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Michael BayComment

Monks, Strippers, and Monkey Spirits: Depictions of Buddhism on Film

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Running on Karma, and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin explore essential Buddhist concepts.

Essays, Jump Cuts: Random EssaysAren BergstromMarch 25, 2016Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Running on Karma, Groundhog Day, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past LivesComment

Spaghetti for the First Time: Food as Cultural Introduction in Film

Many filmmakers use meals as dramatic shorthand to explore the cultural differences of their characters.

Essays, Jump Cuts: Random EssaysAren BergstromJanuary 15, 2016food in film, cultural introduction, Brooklyn, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Black Rain, Crocodile Dundee, Cairo Time, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Comment

Is it Possible for a Fanboy to Be a Good Critic?

Aren lays out why self-professed superfans are incapable of providing good criticism.

Essays, Jump Cuts: Random EssaysAren BergstromSeptember 11, 2015Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars, fanboyComment

Action Elevated: Kathryn Bigelow's Point Break

Anton examines Kathryn Bigelow's serious take on stupid action movies.

On Seeing Navajo Star Wars

My favourite film defamiliarized.

Medieval as Modern: The Historical Accuracy of Kingdom of Heaven

Examining the historical sources behind Ridley Scott's medieval epic.

Essays, Jump Cuts: Random EssaysAren BergstromFebruary 20, 2012accuracy, Balian of Ibelin, Crusades, epic, historical, Kingdom of Heaven, Liam Neeson, medieval, Orlando Bloom, Saladin Comments

What's in a remake?

Thoughts on how to make a good remake and why remakes are not inherently bad

Essays, Jump Cuts: Random EssaysAren BergstromNovember 20, 2011A Fistful of Dollars, Infernal Affairs, John Carpenter, remakes, Seven Samurai, The Departed, The Magnificent Seven, The Thing, The Thing (2011), Yojimbo Comment