The video for Ariana Grande‘s single “Break Free” is one big tribute to sci-fi flicks from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, packed with references.
If some of “Break Free” looked familiar, there’s a good reason. Here’s a rundown of the nods it makes to classic science fiction.
All right, we start off with an easy one.
It almost, kinda looks like the “Star Wars” opening scroll.
Then we see Ariana walking down a white, light-filled hallway.
That’s from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” but you knew that already.
A lot of this video riffs on Jane Fonda’s look from “Barbarella.”
See?
And this shot…
… is directly lifted from “Barbarella.”
While “Planet of the Apes” isn’t the only sci-fi film to put humans in cages, I think that’s what they’re going for here.
I think this is an “Austin Power” reference, for some reason.
Then there’s this guy.
This guy owes his style to the tradition of the stereotypical Asian villain, an example of which can be seen in “Flash Gordon.” We don’t see it that much anymore.
Ariana gets ready for her big night with lightsaber lipstick, which probably hurts a buttload.
But then she beams up to the deck “Star Trek”-style, which feels very wrong.
Before I can complain too much, Zedd punches it into “Star Wars”-style hyperspace. Is nothing sacred?
Kevin P. Sullivan
Writer/editor for MTV. If it involves cowboys, spies, or hitmen, I’m there. All three would be ideal.
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