I’m a big, big, VERY big fan of both Star Wars and Lord of the Rings (and C.S. Lewis and Stephen Lawhead too!). So when my husband sent me this link, I had a good laugh.
Which inspired me to find this cool clip:
Thinking about these movies, makes me wonder why I love these plots so much. Here’s what I came up with:
1. An unexpected hero who saves the day- but he doesn’t do it on his own
2. Unusual settings
3. Fantastic world building
4. Distinctive characters
5. Unexpected twists
6. A satisfying end
7. Good verses evil
8. Heroism
How about you? Any movies you love for their plots or characters?
That Ultradome was too funny! I read Lord of the Rings long before Star Wars was even thought of and when I read it I thought about what a great movies it would make. I knew it would be a long time before it could be done properly. When it finally came out I wasn’t disappointed. Even the actors and their make-up were so like what I’d seen in my mind…I was blown away.
Other movies I like for plot and characters? Oh Brother, Where Art Thou.
I love both series too. You’re absolutely right that their worldbuilding is incredible. Especially in LOTR, you feel like you really know the world. And I love the touches of humor in Star Wars – I think that’s what makes the characters so sympathetic.
Love “Man On Fire” the broken characters! I even fall in love with the bad guy/good guy image of Denzel.
There are so many others I could name- another is “Troy.”
I love, love, love stories in which the heroism is a group effort. It’s one of the strengths of the Harry Potter books. And I can’t stop singing the praises of the indie film “Lars and the Real Girl” in which a community comes together to help heal a delusional young man. Powerful stuff.
Thanks for sharing that video. I hadn’t realized how thematically similar those two stories are. I think you’ve hit all the elements that make Star Wars and LOTR great. I love them too, and part of it for me is that I’d like to think I’d have that level of courage faced with such tremendous odds. Interesting post!
I LOVE both of those as well (though the books more than the movies for LOTR). I think you hit the nail on the head when you said the unexpected hero that doesn’t do it alone. Everyone loves the underdog! Echoing what Laurel said – that’s what makes Harry Potter so great.
I’m a movie fanatic,I can even find good things in movies that I don’t really like.
However, my favorites include humor, clever twists, well-timed tension and flawless world building.
Oh, I love LOTR. I definitely like the heroism there. There’s nothing like a heroic character to cheer for.
Wow Christina, I just stumbled across your blog. Lots of cool stuff! Must be very interesting living in Korea.
I love both of those books and movies, too. We can’t leave out Harry Potter and Star Trek.
i love these movies too!