Video Essay: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty pt.1 

“life is more than just sitting at a desk for a nine to five job, it’s more than just going to class for half a day then sleeping half the rest of the day. it’s more than just staying in the exact same place for the rest of your life. there’s a whole world out there to see and once in a life time adventures to pursue, and sometimes life is just too short to just not do any of those things.” that quote was so awesome. i love it.

God I love this movie so much and I feel like not enough people have seen it or even know about it it will always have a special place in my heart

THANK YOU GUYS A LOT. I never thought anyone would even watch this lol. Its been over a year but I think finally I'll start making these videos regularly. I've been watching so many great movies and shows lately I have so much to talk about! SOOOOOOON.

Some interesting things I wanna add about the cinematography and use of symbolism: The movie pays homage to The Matrix when Neo is choosing between Blue and Red pill just as Walter does as the airport at Greenland between Blue and Red car. He chooses red jut like Neo and takes chances and as he's chasing Sean O'Connell thing around him are red as well: Red logo of LIFE, Red Airplane, Red light shining on him in his airplane seat, his airport ticket both has red background, red car as mentioned before, his red sweater on the ship, his red jacket when he's trekking thru the Himalayas and I just now realized that in the Official Vide of David Bowie's Space Oddity, there's red light shining on Bowie which I think adds more to this symbolism.

My favorite part of the film was when Walter decided to jump onto that helicopter as Space Oddity was being played. He took a chance and went completely out of his comfort zone, and the look on his face as he realized what he had done made him look alive (and I think about that scene a lot). It made me wonder- If I just go with my gut feeling or intuition, no matter how scared I am, and hesitant I may be, then maybe ( just maybe) I'll truly feel alive and start to live.

I've been hunting that scene at 8:45 because it is so important to understand that for however drab and boring Walter was, however seemingly invisible and unmotivated, Sean who lived an amazing life of adventure pursuing images of fantastic moments in time and wonderful aspects of our world saw something extraordinary about Walter and the work he did.

This movie got me out of my funk and my feeling of standing still. It gave me my drive back and I’m happy to know others enjoyed this too. After watching it for the first time I got online and purchased my first airline ticket to Europe. Spent a month in Ireland and had an incredible journey. Now, it continues. Started a company and even though I hit snags, I am still moving forward. Even adopted the quote as my mantra and company motto with full credit to the author and this movie for saving my unsteady mind.

A stunning essay for such an inspiring movie. Great job man

This movie gives me chills every time

Im literally walter mitty. Im looking for life. But everybody thinks im crazy because i want to carve my own path into gaining experiences. Also i daydream alarmingly

I saw this movie once when I was 12, loved it as a kid. I suddenly decided to watch it again, and I still love it. Possibly one of my favorite movies.

Best movie in the entire universe. At some scenes I'm literally feeling tears coming because of the meaning of the moment or phrase. Every time I'm watching the movie I'm stunned and it makes me want to travel more, sad thing is I have no enough money right now xD

this is never become my favorite movie, i always find new best movie, but this movie somehow never fade away from my mind and slowly i started to think whis is the best movie i've ever seen

I really really really hope you continue to make more videos because this was phenomenal and probably one of the best video essay's for this movie I've ever heard!!! I'll definitely be waiting for more. BTW I'm subscriber 51 (saying this in case you ever become big as a channel)

one of the most underrated movie out there

Great movie. I think its important to mention that the song playing when Mitty begins his travels and embarks on the plane is arcade fires song "wake up", a song about realizing where you are going in life and finding purpose. Always loved the scene where Walters running past the "life" posters on the wall.

I worked in theatres for over 30 years- I ran this movie in 2013, and not many people came to see it. I was very disappointed, because I rooted for this film and wanted to see people enjoy it. I took friends to see it. I recommended it to several people also. It became a film favorite of many of them. Give it a chance if you haven't yet seen it. -It has a little something for most everyone.

That scene where the mother says that she kept the wallet and tht she saves his knick knacks, perfectly encapsulate a dotting mother..atleast my mom...always saving the day love you mom♥️

Holy shit my dude, this thing hit me right at the heartstrings. I love this film, it's so personal to me because I can relate so much to Walter, it has some amazing symbolism (as you mentioned haha), and it's just so beautiful in everything about it. I'm so glad that someone has finally acknowledged that it's not just a B-Rate passion project that studios let Ben Stiller do for fun, it's actually so so much more. I study cinema, and so many of my classmates and friends give Walter Mitty so much freaking flak for not being as jam-packed full of theory as Big Lebowski or Graduate or Arrival, but now I have someting to show them in my defense. ;) Anyways, I just felt like sharing lol. Keep up the video essays, this one was fantastic. You deserve a hell of a lot more than 15 subscribers, and I'm gonna go ahead and change that right now. :) (Also low key want to know what your favourite movie is, out of curiosity). Cheers bud! "To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life." -Alex

Funny thing is you talk about how amazing the movie is with out mentioning how fantastic the sound track is. It perfectly captures the feeling of the movie.

Man! So sad to see you only uploaded this video essay. Yet so happy you did! I stumbled upon it and it's been some time since I stopped to appreciate the beauty of this movie. So thanks a lot for making such a insightful video essay. You inspired to make one myself one day! I hope you life has been good for these years since you uploaded this video and eventho I don't know you, I wish you all the best and all the strength to follow your dreams ;)

I love this movie, I relate to Walter because he seems like this awkward boring person until you get to know him and then he's kind of cool. Also you have a good voice for narrating.

I daydream a lot during work about mountains and travel. I'm a photographer (who funnily enough shoots a ton of Kodak 400TX film as pictured in the movie) and love hiking, and adventure, so it's probably not a stretch to see why I love this movie so much. One of my favourite poetic moments is where he has to hang up on the guy because he's too busy racing to a volcano, aka living and experiencing. For some of us, there is a lot to relate to in this film.

This movie should be taught in film school of how to tell story through visuals. Fantastic movie! Gets better every time!

damn bro, you hit it on the head w this one. some of this shit hit me close. this movie was amazing, it’s soundtrack, the story, the cinematography, everything. it’s such a shame that it wasn’t received that well, it’s such an underrated film. the story of an ordinary guy finally doing something extraordinary still keeps me engaged after seeing it like 50 times. thanks for this awesome video dude!

All the major news papers except for Los Angels Times and Boston Globe gave it negative reviews. I guess the critics can't understand a movie without guns, bombs, blood, guts and lots of sexuality. I loved this movie on many levels, thanks for Video Essay.

This is a great essay. I always felt that the wallet was a "Hey, don't miss life, fill this with the chaos and glory of the world and what your life can be"

I can watch this movie an endless amount of times and never get bored. It just really gets me on a different level. I was drawn to this movie before it even came out. It's really a work of art.

So, in watching your vid yet again, it occurs to me that I have to update my Favorite Movies list..... It used to be Casablanca, Pulp Fiction, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, and..... somewhere in the top 10, Ben Stiller's Walter Mitty. Welllllllll, that has held for a goodly long time. But some recent reflections, and revisiting your essay this morning (courtesy of the RU-vid algo -- scary.), the new order is, and for sure, Casablanca, *Walter Mitty* , LOTR, blah blah blah, and Pulp Fiction in there somewhere. "Huh!" Thanks for that!

I don't understand why i first see this now, this has become one of my favorite videos on RU-vid. Really really well done. thank you

Just found this video and it’s honestly breath taking. I watched secret life of Walter Mitty and this is just as good as the movie. I hope you start making more soon

How Wonderful. Bravo. I grew up on Thurber's version; but, this Story far surpasses the written text. A true tribute to Stiller's eye and performance. Incroyable. Thank you for your insights.

This movie has to be in my top 5, I couldn’t B.B. sure but this book has a lot in common with The Alchemist the book in terms of ‘personal legend’. This is what inspires me :) good video buddy keep on the good work and find your legend

I really loved this movie as a kid. And now coming back to it was worth it

I watched the entire film several times already but this is the only time I realized how the starting shots were made so great. I never noticed how good the cinematography until I saw your video essay.

I went into this movie with low expectations, and left blown away! It’s well worth watching and in many ways trying to emulate.

My favorite scene is "space odity" jumping to heli. Just love the scene.

I love this movie... and the older you are the more this movie hits you!

this is beautiful, I’m so glad u made this and u did a great job! definitely one of my favorite movies!

DANG!! No Part 2! Description states Prt 2 coming soon, hope it is almost done. GREAT WORK!!

We need part 2. Your voice is so soothing and they way you describe the movie is true passion.

Just finished watching this film. It was profound. And I enjoyed it. :) Your Essay helps sell the love that went into making this movie.

Absolutely love this movie. I describe it to my friends as "the awakening of the human spirit"

incredible video essay! one of my all time favourite films and you smashed this analysis!

SungYu, you are really good at this. I love this movie. The visuals, the music and the messaging resonated with me. I love the scene in the plane where all the seats are empty and the only other passenger is sitting next to him. That is how life is... sometimes just enough comedy to make you smile. Just subbed. Looking forward to hearing more from you!

Thank you for this video essay! It's also one of my favourite movies! I luckily watched it in the right time, my life wasn't going that well and I felt really lost. This movie really made me love my life and it will always be my go-to Movie for when I'm feeling down. Your Video Essay is really great, the only thing that I missed was that you didn't really mention the Soundtrack (or maybe I didn't pay enough attention), in my opinion the Soundtrack rounds the movie up to a wonderful masterpiece. And again, you did a great job at this video essay, I'm looking forward to watch more of your videos.

I like movies and aviation... 74 gear is great. Was on RU-vid, love the movie. Have watched several times, or short clips. SungYu, great job and thanks for breaking the movie down a little more. Cheers from Vancouver Island

I think this movie really touches those of us who are introverts. I know it did for me.

Excellent essay my friend! The secret life of Walter Mitty happens to be my third favorite movie of all time so I definitely share some of your passion for Ben Stiller‘s message.

This was great. I loved this film and you just gave it some extra symbolism that I hadn't thought about

Absolutely love this movie. Nice job with the video essay. If you haven't seen Joe vs. the Volcano, check that movie out. Similar type theme and feel. Those two movies and Groundhog Day are inspiring movies that I can watch over and over again.

Please give us the part2. Asking way up here from Brazil.

YOU sir, are amazing. Continue this, you have a talent

This movie was so close to being untouchably fantastic. Product placement bogs it down and the characters can be written better

God fucking damn, this is GOOD! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤️❤️❤️. If this is your first attempt at this, this is good! For a first attempt, your thoughts is almost as smooth as the other YT channel, EveryFrameAPainting... I wish he keep going. Looking forward to more!

Bro wtf, like this is super amazing!!!! If I can do an analysis to this depth I will thank God for the rest of my life lmao.

This was really great, Thank you! I have watched this movie so many times, my all time favorite, my second to this is beautiful creatures.

Great job man, its one of my favorite movies too. I hope you make more video essays.

Great Work mate I really enjoyed this video essay and this film is one of my all time favorite. I'm really glad you did your essay on this film. Thank you Very much.

Watching and listening for a second time. Really like your take. Clean lines. Thanks

Such a great video! Watched it before my class discussion on this movie. Thank you!

A truly great film.

Great video essay. Do more

One of my favorite movies of all time! 👏🙌 SOOO glad I found this little video essay of yours which is Very Well Done! 👏🙏 Really appreciate the insights on visualization techniques and symbolisms you pointed out, which even now really enriched the film even more for me! ❤️🎞 🎥 📷

What a review man!!! Hats off to you for doing such a wonderful review

This movie reminds me so much of the book, The Alchemist, especially bc of the ending! An excerpt from the book says, "The world conspires to realise your destiny" just how the world conspired for Walter to realise his.

Thus is good work man. Thanks

What is your no.1 most favourite movie? I'm in love with this one, first time I watched was on a plane from Jakarta to Lombok island in 2017- I'm from Egypt- and it was really amazing and it's kind of stuck with me ever since..I love Hector and the search for Happiness too.. nice video essay 🌹💪

This was amazing. Ideas neatly conveyed.

Love it! I have seen this movie before but now I feel like I have missed some things going to check it out this weekend

loved the video essay ^^ I stared the search with longboards and somehow ended up here. This was also one of my favorite movies. Maybe I'll try making a video essay of my own or go longboarding in iceland....? =) I guess we'll see where I end up. 잘봤어요, 고맙습니다~ ^^

You did a great job! This movie is exceptional, and I go away from it inspired to live my best life.

This is sick man great job!

Still waiting for that part 2

why am I just now seeing this. amazing video!!!!

What a masterpiece it is. ❤️

Fantastic work man, couldn't agree more with everything you said in that video. Love the movie and its messages.

Dude we share something in common! This is also my second favorite movie of all time right behind Stand By Me and just ahead of Boyhood

This is my favorite movie ever...

Well put brother. I've talked with alot of people about this movie and... Seems tragically unappreciated.

Every time I watch anything even remotely related to this movie I feel happy sad c,:

Love the movie, love your essay. Thanks man.

Absolutely beautiful essay.

Thank you for making this it really was amazing. I love this movie and movies in general and I can tell you share my enthusiasm so thank you for this

My man i am Out Here waiting for you to Bless us again.

I love this movie either it's in my top 5 same with Good Will Hunting and the Last Samurai. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. What's your opinion about the message in the Last Samurai?

great movie, also one of my favorites. i always feel like i over analyze movies, but i picked up on those exact same things when i first saw this.

Thank you for doing this, I love this movie.

I've been waiting for part 2 to this for almost 5 years now. When is it happening?

Good job man! You nailed it.

Love your narration. good essay.

Dude what a coincidence, it's my second favourite movie aswell!

Tremendous illustration.

Good job, this was a good video essay 👏

SungYu you are a natural at this. This movie is also one of my favorites it has depth and loaded with simple, yet powerfull life lessons . So what is your 1st favourite?

Thanks man . I love this movie also. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. ☝️

Really enjoyed that, and the movie. Thanks

I hate serious drama movies, but since I have always Ben Stiller had to watch it, definitely one of his best movies :)

AWESOME. Please do more!!!

hey!! Loved your video and I've wahtced this movie so many times. This has to be my favorite movie of all time and as this is your 2nd favorite movie, I wanted to know what your favorite movie is?