MOVIES

Movies

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There were many popular movies from time period of 1980 to present, each with its own unique plot and heroes. Five of the most popular include:

1. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

2. The Princess Bride (1987)

3. Toy Story (1995)

4. Shrek (2001)

5. The Avengers (2012)

   All of these movies follow the same adventure conventional formula. A hero (or heroes) sets out on a quest, go through a series of trials, and then ultimately succeed. This also follows the pattern of a monomyth. They are each separated from family (or sweetheart), friends, or home. They go through the initiation phase as they try to reach their goal, and then after reaching their goal, they return to their family (or sweetheart), friends, or home.  

   Even though these movies follow the same adventure conventional formula, they also have their own invention formulas. The heroes range from a young Jedi, a peasant boy, a toy cowboy, an ogre, and a group of super heroes. Each hero’s' quests is quite unique from rescuing friends, a sweetheart, an obnoxious toy, a beautiful princess, and the world.          

   

   The hero in The Empire Strikes Back is Luke Skywalker. He leaves his training with Yoda to rescue his friends from the Empire. Luke puts his friends' welfare above his own as he embarks on a journey to learn more about himself and brave the Empire without the skills of a fully trained Jedi (Plot Summary for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back).     

   In The Princess Bride, the Prince has selected Wesley's sweetheart, Buttercup, to be his bride and Wesley (the hero) must go through a series of tests and trials to get her back. He is brave, albeit a little careless, and inspires his comrades to help him (Plot Summary for The Princess Bride). 

   Woody the toy cowboy is the hero in Toy Story. Even though he is jealous of Buzz Lightyear and does not like him very much, he puts aside his feelings when Buzz is in trouble and goes off to rescue him. His fellow toys blame Woody for Buzz's disappearance by Woody proves to them he is not the bad person they think he is (Plot Summary for Toy Story).

   Shrek plays the hero when his forest is invaded by fairy tale creatures that have been exiled by Lord Farquarrd. When he goes to Lord Farquarrd with the problem, he is sent on a quest to find a beautiful princess that is to be Lord Farquarrd's bride. Shrek reluctantly agrees and displays courage throughout the quest even when he finds out the princess is not exactly what they thought (Plot Summary for Shrek).

    Finally, in the Avengers, there are a group of superheroes who have to come together, despite their differences and prejudices, to save the world from being taken over by aliens from another world. They put away their differences and learn to work together (The Avengers). 

Posted by Janeen Stanley

Princess Bride Image: retrieved from http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/princess_bride/