Movies are simply visual stories, and as such, follow the same pattern as all good narratives: introduction, conflict, rising action, climax, and conclusion. In his book Hollywood Worldviews, Brian Godawa presents a slightly more detailed paradigm of the typical narrative structure. This is very helpful in assisting the viewer to determine the meaning intended by the writers of a movie. His analysis is as follows:
Hero: who is the story about?
Goal: what is the hero’s strong desire that drives the story?
Adversary: who/what is the external opponent to the hero and his goal?
Character Flaw: what is the internal opponent that holds the hero back?
Apparent Defeat: what is the point where all attempts to achieve the goal are frustrated to the point of total futility?
Self-Revelation: what does the hero learn about the true nature of his character flaw and what he must do to overcome it?
Final Confrontation: what is the point where the hero and adversary meet face to face or their worldviews come into direct contact?
Resolution: how has the hero been changed and how will the future be different?
As an example, in Top Gun, Maverick (hero) wants to be the best Navy pilot (goal), but so does an equally skilled pilot named Iceman (adversary). Both pilots are very confident, if not arrogant, about their piloting skills. After a tragic accident, Maverick loses his confidence in his abilities as a combat pilot (character flaw), and as a result, is ready to quit the elite training program (apparent defeat). Maverick goes to tell Viper he is leaving when Viper says to him, “You feel responsible for Goose and you have a confidence problem – a good pilot is compelled to evaluate what’s happened so he can apply what he’s learned.” (self-revelation) Maverick then returns to combat flying and is called upon to repel several Russian Migs. The Migs get a lock on Iceman and he is now out of the fight. Maverick now has the opportunity to show he is the best Navy pilot if only he has truly regained his confidence. The battle with the Migs is Maverick’s time of testing to see whether he has truly overcome his character flaw. Maverick does find his confidence and finally scares off the remaining Migs (climax). Maverick returns to the ship to a cheering crowd who acknowledge him as the best Navy pilot (resolution).
Once we understand the different parts of a story, we can then begin to understand the message that the writers are attempting to communicate. Most often, the message of a movie can be found in observing the hero wrestle with and overcome his/her character flaw. In most cases, the hero is unable to defeat his adversary until he first overcomes his character flaw. It is in how the hero deals with his/her own internal issue that we find the message the movie is intending to convey. Thus, in Top Gun, in order for Maverick to be the best Navy pilot, he must first regain his confidence. In order to do that, he must “evaluate what’s happened so he can apply what he’s learned.” Therefore, the message of the movie Top Gun is that in order to be the best, you must learn from your experiences and move on.
Hero: who is the story about?
Goal: what is the hero’s strong desire that drives the story?
Adversary: who/what is the external opponent to the hero and his goal?
Character Flaw: what is the internal opponent that holds the hero back?
Apparent Defeat: what is the point where all attempts to achieve the goal are frustrated to the point of total futility?
Self-Revelation: what does the hero learn about the true nature of his character flaw and what he must do to overcome it?
Final Confrontation: what is the point where the hero and adversary meet face to face or their worldviews come into direct contact?
Resolution: how has the hero been changed and how will the future be different?
As an example, in Top Gun, Maverick (hero) wants to be the best Navy pilot (goal), but so does an equally skilled pilot named Iceman (adversary). Both pilots are very confident, if not arrogant, about their piloting skills. After a tragic accident, Maverick loses his confidence in his abilities as a combat pilot (character flaw), and as a result, is ready to quit the elite training program (apparent defeat). Maverick goes to tell Viper he is leaving when Viper says to him, “You feel responsible for Goose and you have a confidence problem – a good pilot is compelled to evaluate what’s happened so he can apply what he’s learned.” (self-revelation) Maverick then returns to combat flying and is called upon to repel several Russian Migs. The Migs get a lock on Iceman and he is now out of the fight. Maverick now has the opportunity to show he is the best Navy pilot if only he has truly regained his confidence. The battle with the Migs is Maverick’s time of testing to see whether he has truly overcome his character flaw. Maverick does find his confidence and finally scares off the remaining Migs (climax). Maverick returns to the ship to a cheering crowd who acknowledge him as the best Navy pilot (resolution).
Once we understand the different parts of a story, we can then begin to understand the message that the writers are attempting to communicate. Most often, the message of a movie can be found in observing the hero wrestle with and overcome his/her character flaw. In most cases, the hero is unable to defeat his adversary until he first overcomes his character flaw. It is in how the hero deals with his/her own internal issue that we find the message the movie is intending to convey. Thus, in Top Gun, in order for Maverick to be the best Navy pilot, he must first regain his confidence. In order to do that, he must “evaluate what’s happened so he can apply what he’s learned.” Therefore, the message of the movie Top Gun is that in order to be the best, you must learn from your experiences and move on.
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