Special Feature
Secret Meanings In Movies
When most of us are watching a film, we are overly concerned with its plot lines because, let's face it, that's what typically makes or breaks it in the eyes of many moviegoers, as we should be entertained or captivated by the basic story a director is telling. If the general narrative doesn't work, then there's a good chance the movie won't be successful. But sometimes, even the simplest tale can have layers of intriguing subtext that add layers to the film. While some of these subtexts are pretty obvious, most aren't and can be found in the most unlikely of films. This list deals with some of those movies and their meanings.
TOY STORY 3
Pixar's emotional finale to their flagship trilogy is largely a story about growing up and moving on from the warm memories of your childhood as you transition to becoming an adult. However, director Lee Unrich took things down a pretty dark path to get to that point. It has been pointed out that similarities lie between Toy Story 3 and perhaps shockingly the Holocaust. In the analogy, the group of toys represents the Jewish people who were left behind at the start of World War II. Eventually, they end up in the “concentration camp” of Sunnyside Daycare (where toys are separated in the Caterpillar Room and the Butterfly Room). Due to abuse at the hands of the daycare's overlords, the toys find their way to an incinerator (meant to be the ovens at Auschwitz), but are saved before their demise and taken to a place where many of their kind live harmoniously (Israel/Bonnie's house). It's a bit twisted for family programming, but the parallels are there.
X-MEN
The parallels between the X-Men films and civil rights issues are pretty easy to spot. Professor X is essentially Martin Luther King, Jr. to Magneto's Malcolm X. But there's one angle to this viewers may have not considered. As mutant kind fights for acceptance in society, their actions actually relate pretty strongly to the LGBT rights movement that gained a lot of traction throughout the 21st century.
THE LEGO MOVIE
Mocked upon its initial announcement, The LEGO Movie ended up becoming one of the most beloved films of 2014 once people actually saw what directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller had in store, namely the exploration of individualism vs. commercialism through Emmet's wild journey to becoming The Special. When we meet our hero, he's a faceless, generic construction worker who is a stickler for following the instructions of his daily routine and tries to fit in with whatever is popular at the time. But in order to save the world, he has to think for himself and form his own ideas that go against expectations and regulations. It's a wonderful and touching message for the kids watching, and gives grown-ups plenty of food for thought as well.
E.T. – THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL
Steven Spielberg's beloved classic is an endearing tale of love and friendship, influenced heavily by the director's own childhood. While many viewers responded to the emotional relationship that developed between Elliott and E.T., others discovered a very interesting angle that the filmmaker was exploring with his Best Picture nominee. There's enough evidence in E.T. to suggest that the story is actually a Christian parable, with the titular alien representing Jesus. Spielberg has stated it was never his intention for the film to be viewed this way, but hints are there. Key aspects that many point to include E.T. being “crucified” by the scientists who do not understand him via the tests and experiments they run. Shortly after his death, E.T. is resurrected and inspires people to come together. The parallels were so frequent, that Universal even commissioned a poster for the film that was modelled after the famous Creation of Adam painting to appeal to Christian audiences.
ALIENS
When Fox was promoting James Cameron's 1986 sequel to the sci-fi classic, the tag line they chose was “This time, its war.” And after watching the film, it's clear that the director was going for something a little deeper than humans against xenomorphs. Many viewers, including Cameron himself, noticed interesting parallels between the space marines' unfortunate journey to LV-426 and the Vietnam War, one of the most controversial conflicts in American history.
Aliens features a technologically advanced military force that underestimates the capabilities of the ingenuousness inhabitants of the world they're going to on a mission with questionable motives. And things don't go smoothly for the group, as their overconfidence in their ability to win proves to be their downfall, as they're caught blindsided by the xenomorphs and most are killed.
SPIDER-MAN
Spider-Man has always been one of the most popular superheroes, mostly because everybody can relate to him. When Stan Lee created the web slinger, he made a point to emphasize the struggles of Peter Parker, so readers could see someone who was like them fighting crime while trying to make time for a personal life. That's an aspect that director Sam Raimi incorporated with his Spider-Man film trilogy, and he used the first film as an analogy for going through puberty. After receiving his fateful spider bite, the socially awkward Peter is forced to go through some rough physical changes as he becomes the iconic hero. He learns how to adapt to his new body and make the most of his abilities to better himself and make a positive impact in society. By the film's end, he has fully matured as a man, and accepts his destiny as the hero we all know and love. His personal journey is much like any teenager who comes into his own during those strange years, and Peter emerges from it all with newfound confidence and a purpose in life.