The Role of Movie Heroes and the influence they are….

An Archetypal Movie Hero

What role can movie heroes play for us today? 

How can or do they impact us? 

How could we use them to our advantage?

Stories and movies usually have a common pattern, often having some predictable themes. The hero or heroes run into challenges, face difficulties, resolve problems emerging from this by saving others and often being saved or transformed themselves.  There is always a difference made, righting the wrongs, saving people, countries, cities, justice, finding ourselves and being freed.

Think of movies that you have seen. I think of movies like the The Hobbit, Avatar, Fast & the Furious, Transformers, Star Trek, Song for Marion, Schindler’s List, Bridesmaids, James Bond, ‘Up’, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Help, Marley & Me. These movies engender different types of feelings. Some will be watching a small person win over the large person who has lots of power but who is corrupt or a justice issue to fight against, or emotions that touch you and help you feel connected with your emotions like tears, or pain or laughter.

Heroes can show us the way to face difficulties, ways to overcome life challenges.  We see this through the use of strength, virtue, wisdom, knowledge, capacity to live and be loved, perseverance, creativity, curiosity, open mindedness, honesty, teamwork, fairness, forgiveness, humility, self-control, gratitude, hope, humour, spirituality and diligence.  

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Having a good laugh is as good as a good cry, like Mrs Browns Boys. This comedy helps us laugh at ourselves and perhaps others’ experiences we have been part of or seen. Mrs Brown says things that we might like to say, shows us how laughing at life can make is feel good.

We know that the heroes’ decisions are never easy. So life is not easy. These films allow us to experience and live ‘in’ the moment with the character. Some of these challenges or experiences allow us to feel the same feelings and to become captivated and focused as if we are right there. Another movie called ‘Song for Marion’ takes us on a journey of grief and loss and how different people deal with this, even within a family. This can challenge us, even show us how we could find friends in ways that we don’t expect.

We watch and live in the moment. Often our brain can’t tell the difference between whether we are watching this or really experiencing this. These experiences can allow the release of internal feelings or pent up emotion. How and what do we learn from our heroes?

We learn that even though we are faced with difficulties, there is a way through.  Slow it down, talk it through with someone, there is always a way through or around it. The old saying is, a burden shared is a burden halved.  We can use movies to relax, to express things by proxy, to have a break from life, to share a coffee with a friend and have ‘time out’.  Next time you go to the movies think about what you get out of it, what you experience, what you feel like the next day.

Our heroes can lift our spirits and restore our belief about truth and justice, integrity and we can win, things can be put right or just give us some time out.  

I wonder what you think?