I've always been fascinated by films (movies). I just find it so interesting that visual images, dialogue and sounds all mashed together can make me feel joy (Star Wars), sadness (Toy Story 3) and a whole bunch of other emotions (Inside Out).
But its also interesting, to me, that so many different films can convey such different messages. Different stories...
I remember back to a time when movies were magical, they captivated my imagination and my mind. One of the first movies that really had a massive impact on me, any guesses? Come on, I bet you're close...
It was STAR WARS: The Phantom Menace (yes, arguably some people's worst Star Wars movie). It was that movie that made me want to be in a galaxy far, far away. It was this movie that me, my brother and cousin spent countless hours reenacting scenes and acting like certain characters. It shaped a lot of my childhood memories and will always have a special place in my heart.
Why am I saying all of this? Well I think as humans we are fascinated by "story". I think we often go to the movies to either escape our own stories or to see someone else's story. We want to be entertained and I also believe we want to see characters overcome obstacles or succeed.
I honestly believe above all else, what makes a movie great is its attention to story. Sure visuals, sound design, editing, big explosions etc can all help. But without a good story a movie isn't worth it and those are the ones that usually get the low ratings and reviews. But what makes a story good? Obviously a good screenwriter, but what else?
I believe a good story requires good characters, what makes movies like 'A New Hope' and 'Inception' great I believe is the attention to story and strong, rememberable, but also flawed characters. Cobb from inception is haunted by the loss of his wife and his blurred vision of what is real and what is a dream (a flawed character). Luke Skywalker looses his mentor and doesn't think he has it in him to learn the force and destroy the empire, he is impatient and doubtful (a flawed character). But what do both of these characters have in common? They both by the end of their stories have overcome something and have achieved something they didn't think they could achieve.
Donald Miller in a book he wrote describers a character as "someone who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it." I maybe paraphrasing there, but how true is that? And I think that's what makes a strong character.
I mean look at Mad Max: Fury Road? Sure, I think the visuals and action in that movie were phenomenal, but that movie would not be the same without the strong female protagonist Furiosa.
I know I'm rambling on a bit, but I think we can learn quite a lot from movies with regards to our own lives, I think we all want something, but what is stopping us from getting that something? Fear, doubt, anxiety, bitterness, guilt?
Every time you watch a movie look at the main protagonist, he/she will often have to overcome some huge obstacle, physically or mentally, to get the thing they need or want.
I encourage to all those who read this to go out and get that something you are aspiring to (your dreams and goals) ecspecillay as we enter 2016, let's make ourselves strong characters in our own stories, don't let anything get in the way of living a good story. Without us being 'strong characters' we live boring stories.
Hope this all made sense, I'm so excited about movies and all the elements that go into making movies, this stuff is my passion!
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