From Casino Royale to Oppenheimer: What are the Most Classic Movie Scenes?
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For decades, movies have pictured real-world scenarios that resonate with audiences, bringing in relatable atmospheres such as casinos, accurately portraying common emotions of grief, or symbolizing power and human suffering with a nuclear backdrop. Although the human mind knows no limits, sometimes we see repetitive scenes in various movies, maybe because the ideas are close to our human nature.
In this article, we try to analyze the most classic scenes that directors often prefer to include in their movies, for making strong impressions and emotional influence.
Casino Scenes are Always Classic
Casino Royale, Ocean’s Eleven, and so on. Casinos and movies often go hand-in-hand. Casinos offer a vibrant and visually exciting backdrop, captivating viewers with a unique atmosphere, energetic activity, and wealthy interiors.
Directors have been developing stories that take place in casinos for years. These include films like The Gambler, centered on a gambling addict determined to win big and pay his debts. Casino Royale is another example. It’s a James Bond classic whose mission is to stop a mob banker from winning a poker game.
Moreover, from Charlie Babbitt’s (Tom Cruise) and Raymond Babbitt’s (Dustin Hoffman) classic casino blackjack game in Rain Man to the world’s first-ever on-screen introductions to James Bond playing at a blackjack table in Dr. No, there have been numerous iconic casino scenes.
What exactly makes a casino backdrop so appealing to directors and audiences? Aside from the vibrant colors and lively atmosphere, casino gaming is a commonly relatable activity. Casino scenes allow audiences to transport themselves into the world of casinos from the comfort of their sofas.
However, with the growth of digitalized casino games like online poker, will traditional casino scenes soon become obsolete? Although popular, online casinos are yet to offer the same excitement, anticipation, and lively atmosphere as traditional casinos. Moreover, traditional casino scenes also offer glamourous and wealthy backdrops that often emphasize specific characteristics and plotlines.
Nuclear Mushroom: The Symbol of Danger and Love
The atomic bomb has been a pivotal symbol of destruction, war, and, in some instances, something that is powerless before love. In the early 50s, the mushroom cloud symbolized the erasure of civilization, exploring the deadly possibilities of the Atomic Age. Since then, the mushroom cloud has evolved into a symbol of human suffering, action, or, in the case of Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, a satirical critique of vanities tied to nuclear power.
However, in recent years, the mushroom cloud has become a symbol of love in contrast to nuclear disasters. James Cameron’s True Lies depicts the mushroom cloud as a symbol of victory, as a reunited Harry (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) kiss with an atomic explosion backdrop. The irony of Cameron’s depiction of nuclear disaster is the safety of the movie’s leading characters: it represents peace and love against a devastating backdrop.
Oppenheimer’s most recent onscreen depiction of nuclear destruction follows a similar presence: a mushroom cloud in contrast with human emotion. Based on the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the creator of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer presents a depiction that sparks fear amongst man-made disasters. The scene creatively represents human emotion with Oppenheimer’s significant line "Now I become death, the destroyer of worlds", symbolizing the beginning of man-made destruction.
My Wife Died: What’s Next?
Cinema is no stranger to grief. The drama, and in some cases comedy, in contrast with tragedy and heartache, makes for gripping storytelling. Often, grief is used as a driving force for a progressive storyline, as is the case with Highwaymen, an action-packed thriller centering on a man’s mission to avenge his murdered wife’s death.
In other cases, grief is the central plot, depicting denial, anger, depression, and acceptance: as is the case withDisney Pixar’s UP, the animated classic centering on heartache and the importance of human connection.
Ricky Gervais’ Life After Death, a comedy-drama about Tony, a grieving husband after losing his wife to cancer, shines a light on depression and suicide, with an ultimate message of hope, human connection, and eventually acceptance. One of the show’s most pivotal scenes concerns Tony interviewing two sisters, one of whom has cancer.
When he asks their names, the already heartbreaking scene turns gut-wrenching when one replies "Lisa", the name of his recently deceased wife. The scene harrowingly depicts the impacts of grief, with Tony’s calming behavior symbolizing the character’s hope and strength in the contrast between heartbreak and tragedy.
Final Thoughts
From classic traditional casino scenes including a blackjack game in Rain Man to depictions of grief and acceptance in Life After Death and UP, for decades movies have portrayed real-world experiences and tragedies in the contrast of adventure, drama, and comedy. They build a connection with audiences, bringing stories to life and elevating perception and understanding of worldly topics.