Throughout the history of storytelling, the most compelling of lessons have been taught through great adventures undertaken by heroes. The different types of heroes we have seen range all the way from the powerful superman to the imaginative Bastian, who went on a journey to save the NeverEnding Story. This feeling of adventure has been showcased especially in film. In fact, some of the most important, influential films showcase smaller adventures taken by ordinary people. This is why adventure films are one of the most influential genres in cinema–the movie’s ability to put us, the audience, into an adventure. Through the characters, we can learn lessons. We can feel deep emotions. We can defeat the bad guy and achieve a happy ending that may not be what we expect, but what we need. The first great film that comes to mind when I think of adventure is Richard Donner’s 1985 film, “The Goonies.” The Goonies is a wonderful story about a group of children who are faced with the terrifying prospect of being separated from their homes (and therefore, each other) due to plans for a new country club to be built where they live. One day, as the group of young adventurers is looking in the attic of the protagonist(Mikey), they find an old treasure map from an old pirate known as “One-Eyed Willy.” The group follows the map to hopefully find treasure that can be used to pay whatever the cost is to keep their home. This story provides a wonderful vehicle for beautiful messages of friendship, truth, and bravery. Not only does the story do phenomenally at providing the perspective of a group of young teenagers, but it shows a wonderful maturity in the characters when they are faced with challenges that they know could lead to their death. Above all, this movie is a wonderful benchmark for what many would call a perfect adventure movie due to the brave, adventurous spirit shown in each of the characters. The bravery of the characters when faced with dire situations allows the audience to translate this bravery into their own lives with their own challenges and adventures. Adventure movies mainly consist of a somewhat ordinary character who is somehow called to action because of a secret skill that they hold. The protagonist is typically a “Chosen One” of sorts. The audience can then relate to this character as each of us feels like the protagonist of our own story. Each of us is waiting for our call to adventure–something that will take us away from the monotony of life and into a world of fun, diversity, and peril. Adventure movies often provide this escape, encouraging us all to find the adventure in our own lives and seize the day. Word Count: 461
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James WilkinsI enjoy writing creative stories, but I find it refreshing to express my thoughts through blogs or journals. Archives
April 2024
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