Every movie has a message. In every film that hits the big screen the writers are making commentary, on either how life is or how life should be, and they do this through the words and actions of characters. In order to best understand what commentary is being communicated by a movie, we must first zoom in for a close-up on its different parts and then pull back for a wide-angle look to see its message.
Most movies follow the same basic pattern. First, we are introduced to the protagonist who has a strong desire about something. We are also introduced to an antagonist who is the external opponent to the protagonist’s goal. Next, we see that our main character has an internal character flaw that is also keeping him from achieving his goal. Our hero’s goal will continually be just out of reach and he will continue on this path until the moment that all is lost. It will appear that our protagonist has either given up or will ultimately be defeated. Then, our hero experiences a moment of self-revelation. It often involves another character, typically a lover or a mentor, who helps the hero understand his character flaw. He finally realizes what his internal flaw is and what he must do to deal with it. It is only in overcoming his internal opponent that our hero can overcome his external opponent. The movie climaxes with our protagonist meeting face-to-face with his adversary and it is at this point that we see whether our hero has truly overcome his character flaw. Finally, the movie will conclude with a picture of how overcoming this internal flaw has changed our main character and what the future might look like for him.
It is typically in the moment that our hero realizes the true nature of his internal flaw that we see the message of the movie best communicated. The message of the movie is what the movie is really about. The movie is never really about overcoming an adversary. The messages of films are really about overcoming internal character flaws. The decisions made by our hero in dealing with his character flaw are what the writers are using to communicate either how life is or how life should be.
As an example, in Top Gun, our hero, Maverick, has the goal to be the best Navy pilot, but so does an equally skilled pilot named Iceman. Thus, Iceman serves as an external opponent to his goal. Both pilots are very confident, if not arrogant, about their piloting skills and they believe that to be the best is an admirable character trait. After his co-pilot, Goose, is killed in a tragic accident, Maverick loses confidence in his abilities as a combat pilot. This loss of confidence is Maverick’s internal opponent. As a result, it appears that all is lost as we see him ready to quit the elite training program. Maverick goes to tell Viper, his Top Gun instructor, 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.” Here is the moment of self-revelation for our hero. Maverick then returns to Top Gun for graduation and we think he has overcome his confidence problem. But the movie can’t end here. Maverick needs to prove to us that he has regained his confidence.
We then move toward the climax of the movie when we learn that Russian Migs have invaded American air space. Guess who is picked to repel the Russians? Iceman and Maverick. 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. At one point in the final battle Maverick disengages from the fight and we are led to believe that he hasn’t really regained his confidence. But Maverick does find his confidence, reengages in the battle and scares off the remaining Migs. The resolution of the movie is Maverick returning to the ship to a cheering crowd who acknowledge him as the best Navy pilot. Even Iceman acknowledges that Maverick is the best when he says that he would be Maverick’s wingman anytime. Therefore, as evident from the self-revelation section, the message of the movie Top Gun is: in order to be the best, you must learn from your experiences and move on.
Movies follow the same basic pattern because this pattern reflects human life experiences. Good stories mirror life’s realities. That is why they are so powerful. As a general rule, life isn’t easy. We have all sorts of goals and desires and yet we also encounter many obstacles to those goals. I am a follower of Jesus Christ which means I have a goal to become like Christ in my thoughts, words, and deeds. However, I have an Adversary (Satan) who places circumstances and people in my life who work to block that goal. Yet, the external opponent is rarely the biggest obstacle. More importantly, I have internal character flaws that prohibit me from becoming like Christ.
Too often I run from conflict. Typically, at the first sign of conflict I quickly head in the other direction. But the Scriptures tell me to endure (literally, “remain under”) during times of suffering. It is only in enduring the conflict to the point of apparent defeat that I learn the true nature of my character flaws and what I must do to overcome them. Overcoming character issues is not for the weak. The phrase “no pain, no gain” is just as much a spiritual reality as a physical reality. However, these are valuable life lessons that God wants to teach me and you. These are the lessons that forge my character and yours into becoming like Christ which is a life of love, peace, and joy.
So as you are watching movies, pay attention to the structure of the film. Identify the hero’s goal and what is blocking him, both externally and internally, from achieving that goal. Pay close attention to how the main character deals with his internal flaw. For it is in how our hero deals with his internal issue that we find the message of the movies we watch. Likewise, as you experience conflict in life, remain under. Instead of solely focusing on the external opponent, identify your internal opponent. What is it inside of you that God wants to change to become more like Christ? This is God’s message for your life story. It's the life of your story that becomes the story of your life.
Most movies follow the same basic pattern. First, we are introduced to the protagonist who has a strong desire about something. We are also introduced to an antagonist who is the external opponent to the protagonist’s goal. Next, we see that our main character has an internal character flaw that is also keeping him from achieving his goal. Our hero’s goal will continually be just out of reach and he will continue on this path until the moment that all is lost. It will appear that our protagonist has either given up or will ultimately be defeated. Then, our hero experiences a moment of self-revelation. It often involves another character, typically a lover or a mentor, who helps the hero understand his character flaw. He finally realizes what his internal flaw is and what he must do to deal with it. It is only in overcoming his internal opponent that our hero can overcome his external opponent. The movie climaxes with our protagonist meeting face-to-face with his adversary and it is at this point that we see whether our hero has truly overcome his character flaw. Finally, the movie will conclude with a picture of how overcoming this internal flaw has changed our main character and what the future might look like for him.
It is typically in the moment that our hero realizes the true nature of his internal flaw that we see the message of the movie best communicated. The message of the movie is what the movie is really about. The movie is never really about overcoming an adversary. The messages of films are really about overcoming internal character flaws. The decisions made by our hero in dealing with his character flaw are what the writers are using to communicate either how life is or how life should be.
As an example, in Top Gun, our hero, Maverick, has the goal to be the best Navy pilot, but so does an equally skilled pilot named Iceman. Thus, Iceman serves as an external opponent to his goal. Both pilots are very confident, if not arrogant, about their piloting skills and they believe that to be the best is an admirable character trait. After his co-pilot, Goose, is killed in a tragic accident, Maverick loses confidence in his abilities as a combat pilot. This loss of confidence is Maverick’s internal opponent. As a result, it appears that all is lost as we see him ready to quit the elite training program. Maverick goes to tell Viper, his Top Gun instructor, 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.” Here is the moment of self-revelation for our hero. Maverick then returns to Top Gun for graduation and we think he has overcome his confidence problem. But the movie can’t end here. Maverick needs to prove to us that he has regained his confidence.
We then move toward the climax of the movie when we learn that Russian Migs have invaded American air space. Guess who is picked to repel the Russians? Iceman and Maverick. 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. At one point in the final battle Maverick disengages from the fight and we are led to believe that he hasn’t really regained his confidence. But Maverick does find his confidence, reengages in the battle and scares off the remaining Migs. The resolution of the movie is Maverick returning to the ship to a cheering crowd who acknowledge him as the best Navy pilot. Even Iceman acknowledges that Maverick is the best when he says that he would be Maverick’s wingman anytime. Therefore, as evident from the self-revelation section, the message of the movie Top Gun is: in order to be the best, you must learn from your experiences and move on.
Movies follow the same basic pattern because this pattern reflects human life experiences. Good stories mirror life’s realities. That is why they are so powerful. As a general rule, life isn’t easy. We have all sorts of goals and desires and yet we also encounter many obstacles to those goals. I am a follower of Jesus Christ which means I have a goal to become like Christ in my thoughts, words, and deeds. However, I have an Adversary (Satan) who places circumstances and people in my life who work to block that goal. Yet, the external opponent is rarely the biggest obstacle. More importantly, I have internal character flaws that prohibit me from becoming like Christ.
Too often I run from conflict. Typically, at the first sign of conflict I quickly head in the other direction. But the Scriptures tell me to endure (literally, “remain under”) during times of suffering. It is only in enduring the conflict to the point of apparent defeat that I learn the true nature of my character flaws and what I must do to overcome them. Overcoming character issues is not for the weak. The phrase “no pain, no gain” is just as much a spiritual reality as a physical reality. However, these are valuable life lessons that God wants to teach me and you. These are the lessons that forge my character and yours into becoming like Christ which is a life of love, peace, and joy.
So as you are watching movies, pay attention to the structure of the film. Identify the hero’s goal and what is blocking him, both externally and internally, from achieving that goal. Pay close attention to how the main character deals with his internal flaw. For it is in how our hero deals with his internal issue that we find the message of the movies we watch. Likewise, as you experience conflict in life, remain under. Instead of solely focusing on the external opponent, identify your internal opponent. What is it inside of you that God wants to change to become more like Christ? This is God’s message for your life story. It's the life of your story that becomes the story of your life.
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