The Theme of Heroes vs. Villains in Films, good against evil

Abstract

Film is an art and form of mass communication with the power to motivate and emotionally move the viewer. Films focus on humankind as a reflection of the social reality in a given era (Meynendonckx 11). What makes the film more memorable such that hours, days or even many years later it still resonates in an individual's mind is the character portrayal. The protagonist and the antagonist are the characters that can either create or shatter a film. William Faulkner asserted that literature is a mirror that reflects the society, and films are no exception (Meynendonckx 13). Heroes vs. Villain films depict cases of good against evil with the heroes representing the former and the villains the latter. Heroes exhibit distinguishing characteristics while villains are the outcasts. The depiction of early heroes was that they had incredible battle skills and extraordinary physical ability. Modern heroes rely more on their intellectual and rebellious nature. Still, it is vital to understand that the heroes vs. villain themes used in films do not always reflect real-world scenarios.

In the age of innocence, children mostly believe in the perception created by heroes and villains. Children mostly identify with the good people. However, with time as they approach adulthood the children become intrigued by the role that the villains play in the film (Meynendonckx 15). It is in this phase that individuals realize that good and evil are not very distinct after all, and they can interrelate. The viewers discover that there may be elements of good in the villain and elements of evil in the hero since the world is not always fair. Thus, this wavering perception of heroes and villains comes from the knowledge that there are other things unclear to the naked eyes that influence rationality and behavior (Meynendonckx 15-16). All the same, it is fundamental to recognize that the heroes and villains in films always have conflicting interests.