Which Superhero Blockbuster Movie Are You?
I subscribe to Joseph Campbell’s theory that all heroic stories follow the same archetype pattern called the monomyth. The hero gets the call to the great adventure, overcomes threshold guardians along the way, then finally defeating the great monster that guarded the treasure, only to realize that the experience from the journey was as valuable as the treasure. From Gilgamesh to Star Wars, all the great hero stories followed the same pattern.
If the hero’s journey was played out over and over again in stories throughout history, then why do we still enjoy new stories that follow this predictable pattern? Because it resonates with us. We can’t get enough of it. In one form or another , this journey is one that we all yearn for ourselves. This includes blockbuster superhero movies.
The Four Types of Heroes
In order for a story to engage us, we have to identify with the hero of the story. Does the hero have our same values, our mannerisms, our world view? If we can identify with the hero enough, the story has got us hooked. Looking at the summer blockbuster movies, they can be categorized by four types of heroes:
The Millionaire Playboy That’s Really a Good Guy Wanting to Save the World
Yeah, right. An obscenely rich, handsome playboy that prefers transforming into a masked superhero to save regular people. Does Hollywood think this archetype is credible enough to buy into it? Apparently they were proven correct in Iron Man, and based on the new Batman movie The Dark Knight selling out three weeks early, we can’t get enough of this premise.
Why is it so popular? Because it’s the killer one-two punch. A hero that can enjoy all the worldly things that’s appealing, yet is also a sincere good-guy who uses his great powers to save the helpless. Not many of us can honestly say that we fit this archetype hero. However, many of us are probably striving for it.
Related: Iron Man
The Nerdy Loser Born with Yet-to-be-discovered Superhero Skills
The meek loser, seeming to be on a path of obscurity, is in reality a Special One with a natural born gift that makes him unique and special. This is kind of the retelling of the Ugly Duckling story, but with explosions, bad guys, and a plot to kill the hero. Without giving away too much, the movie Wanted is about a person discovering that he has a natural born skill to be a super assassin.
This premise may be even more far-fetched than the millionaire playboy. Becoming rich is not easy, but there’s nothing that can stop any of us from getting wealthy. However, to fit into the archetype of the gifted hero, there is no choice. Either you’re born with this gift or not. Why is it so compelling then? Because we all have innate strengths, but not all of us discovered it yet. It’s the hope that this undiscovered skill will lead us to the adventure of our lives.
Related: Harry Potter (1-7), Star Wars (1-6)
The Uber-cool Hero That Simply Creates Adventure
Indiana Jones. As you read that name, I bet the famous theme music to the movie was playing in your head. The famous explorer’s hat, the bull whip, and the loudest sound effect for a punch from any movie, you forget that archaeologists are actually scientists and not all scientists are this cool.
This archetype is the swashbuckler. There’s no secret identity. No passive waiting for the call to adventure to discover a hidden talent. An in-your-face, no-holds-barred approach to pursuing challenges. That’s why we can overlook stuff like hiding in a refrigerator can save you from a nuclear explosion (well, almost overlook). You’re a rock star. You’re a bad-ass. And we love you for it!
Related: The Mummy (1, 2, & 3), Hellboy (1 & 2), James Bond (too many to count)
An Unremarkable Person Rising to the Challenge
In this archetype, the hero is just a simple person who just wants a normal life. The world that he lives in has been severely disrupted and whether he likes it or not, the fate of its survival rests on him. This archetype is particularly attractive because the hero is unpretentious. if there were no call to adventure, then the hero would have went along minding his own business, and he would have been content with that. The simple life; something not too much to ask for.
The appeal here is that if an incredible challenge occurs, the hero is brave enough to step up to the challenge. No need for heroic strength or powers. Just bravery, which itself is a heroic virtue.
Related: Wall-E, The X-Files
So Which Hero Are You?
All the archetypes have their particular appeal, but some resonates with us more than others. Do you identify yourself with any of these archetypes?
I love this! I have a post in the making on viewing your life as an adventure and using Greek heroes such as Heracles as examples. These hero stories do speak to archetypes and universal themes that we can all relate to. I think that it helps to see ourselves as being on a journey where we have to overcome obstacles in order to get to the prize.
Hahaha….this is such a funny post!!
Ok…if I have to choose…I’d like to say that I’m the nerdy one with the undiscovered superhero skills! I would like to think of myself as the least likely one to save the day!!
Stumbled!
Evelyn
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map’s last blog post: Think Simple Now and Grow Rich
An Unremarkable Person Rising to the Challenge
but thank god no such challenge occurred where i have to show up my bravery and courage LOL
thats the only character i fits in
@ Marelisa: agreed, these hero stories can help us figure out our real-world adventures. That Tina Turner song, “We Don’t Need Another Hero?” I disagree!
@ Evelyn: I think I also fit most closely with the nerdy loser. Still waiting for my super powers to kick in…
@ Sunil: you’re laughing now, but you never know. Don’t rule out the possibility of being like Frodo and having “the one blog to rule them all.”
When I saw Kung Fu Panda, I thought “that’s so me!” And while I’d rather be Batman, that seems a little less attainable.
Hi Hunter - I’m in the same boat. If they put Robin in the Batman 3 movie though, I may have a shot at that.
I haven’t seen all of these movies. But I did see Kung Fu Panda, and this is the one I’d choose to identify myself with. Simply because he was very humble, yet could still perform at very high levels.
That being said, I really like Indiana Jones sense of confidence. And his seeking of adventure, is second to none.
Interesting analysis, Al.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post: Be Embarrassed about Nothing
Al ~
I haven’t seen any of these movies either but from the general knowledge and also from your superb article, I like this - “The Uber-cool Hero That Simply Creates Adventure”
Indiana Jones rules!
Shilpan
Shilpan | successsoul.com’s last blog post: 7 Habits to Master the Art of Winning against the Odds
Hi Al,
I’ve been meaning to go see Kung Fu Panda for a week now since it opened in the UK.
For some bizarre reason, I’ve always found pandas quite cute and fascinating
I’d like to identify myself closest to Kung Fu Panda as my aim in life is to rise to the challenge of being an ordinary person seeking to live a memorable life.
The idea of being an unremarkable person leading a remarkable life would be something great to aspire to, don’t you think?
@ Bamboo - humble, yet powerful. Not flashy, yet still heroic. That’s a pretty solid way to be.
@ Shilpan - yeah, Indy is pretty awesome, but unless you’re a diehard Indy fan, you didn’t miss much if you haven’t seen the Crystal Skull movie. I’d still pay matinee price though to see Raiders of the Lost Ark though!
@ Scott - greetings, my friend! I absolutely agree… I honestly do believe that heroic adventures will eventually call upon each and every one of us at some point or another, we just gotta pay attention to when that call to adventure comes!
Well Batman and Robin, of course - he he.
But really, if I had to choose, I’d be the nerdy one, I guess.
Robin’s last blog post: Is The World Getting Better Or Worse?
Haahhaa
I am certainly not the Indiana Jones type, though I love to watch the movie and love the game.
Hey if you want me to choose, then Kungfu Pandan is
more like it hee hee..
Gamy
Hi Al,
I haven’t seen any of these movies but if I had to pick one, I would say the little Panda guy’s description is the most fitting.
Are there no girl super heroes?
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post: This NBOTW Will Make Your Laugh
Hi Al
Great post, I LOVE the heroes tale and me and my boyfriend often talk about which superhero we would be. He’s Batman and I’m more of a Harry Potter type (without the nerdy loser thank you!).
There’s so much you can do with it so thanks for showing me more to the heroes tale.
In love, light and abundance x x x
Lola Fayemi / Nourishment for your spiritual awakening’s last blog post: 10 Signs You Are a Natural Healer
@ Robin - [humor drum riff] badump-bump-bump. That’s a good one!
@ Gamy - very nice
. Kung Fu Panda seems to be a popular choice.
@ Barbara - Yeah, the lack of a female hero on this list is glaring. My first draft actually had a female character - it was the lead character in Sex and the City, and I was going to spin it by saying that the search for romance actually fits into the monomyth of the hero’s journey as well. After I read the first draft, it seemed like Sex and the City stood out like a sore thumb, so I decided to not include it.
@ Lola - ha ha! There’s no way I can see the label of “nerdy loser” ever fitting you, even if someone did call you that!
I like Kungfu Panda.
Hi Edwin - it seems like Kung Fu Panda is the popular choice. Not a bad character to be!
I think I have to work this out through a matter of elimination:
1. Rich/Nice Guy - will, I’m not independently wealthy, so no point analyzing this one any further
2. Nerdy loser with hidden talent - gosh, clutzy yes, but nerdy no…don’t think so. NO I am NOT a nerd. Whew!
3. Uber cool - hmmm…I like this one. Might come back to it.
4. Unremarkable - oh dear. Same thing as nerdy. And I keep thinking of Charlie Brown for some reason. *shiver*
Okay, I’m going with Uber Cool…mainly because of the no secret identity bit. I am who I am! And I even don’t mind snakes. Ha! Take that Indiana!
Urban Panther’s last blog post: The Lion’s turn to roar
Hi Urban Panther,
I laughed out loud when I read through your breakdown
.
I think you are indeed the Indy type of hero. Uber-cool, yet you don’t realize it, nor do you quite care. Thanks for the comment!
I don’t know about being “uber-cool”, but I’m probably the Indiana Jones type. I’m bold and people tend to see me as adventurous and ballsy. I like to take risks and push boundaries.
I also like to use the hero archetypes in my writing. My stories usually have a protagonist who is restrained, tortured, who has lost sight of their gifts - nerdy maybe. But the thing is I always enjoy writing the antagonist who is dark and “uber-cool”.
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWER’s last blog post: Help, I’m Having a Hair Breakdown!
Hi Kelly - that’s awesome… you’re not only the Indiana Jones type, but you’re also modest! Yeah, you’re uber-cool, and not too many of those people are modest as you
.
That’s pretty awesome how you use the hero archetype. I’m even more impressed that you also enjoy writing about the villian too. All the great stories have both an interesting protagonist and antagonist, yet writers typically forget to make the villain interesting.
Hmm where is Chuck Norris?
Kunfu Panda is the greatest, he’s a superstar with children and adults alike
lol@ Where is Chuck Norris, what a guy
I agree with the Kung Fu Panda comments, seems he has a fan club
Id love to say Batman, Rich good looking etc etc. lol But probably more like the dude from Wanted. Hey hooking up with Angelina Jolie will work.
like Kungfu Panda.
Thank you for this information! I like your blog and recommend to my friends..