The Megahit Movies

by Richard Stefanik

  Empire Strikes Back

  Luke Skywalker’s primary objective is to become a Jedi Knight and save the rebels from the Empire.

  The Grinch

  The Grinch’s primary objective is to have revenge on the people of Whoville because they made him feel different and not acceptable to their community. He, too, wanted to feel at home in Whoville, but since he believed that was not possible, he sought to destroy the Whos.

  The Wizard of Oz

  Dorothy’s primary objective in the beginning of the movie is to find a place where there are no problems. Since she learns that such a place does not exist once she arrives in Oz, her primary objective is to return to the safety of her home.

  Shrek

  Shrek wants the privacy of his home (the swamp).

  Spider-Man

  Peter wants Mary Jane to love him.

  Finding Nemo

  Marlin wants to find Nemo and bring him back home.

  Monsters, Inc.

  Sulley wants to generate as much energy as possible for Monsters, Inc.

  Bruce Almighty

  Bruce wants to be famous and respected.

  Matrix Trilogy

  Neo wants to save the human race from destruction by the Machines. Pirates of the Caribbean

  Captain Jack Sparrow wants his ship, the Black Pearl. Will Turner wants to save Elizabeth from the pirates. Elizabeth wants to marry Will Turner.

  Harry Potter: The Sorcerer’s Stone

  Harry wants to understand the mystery of his life.

  Lord of the Rings Trilogy

  Sauron wants the Ring, and Frodo wants to destroy the Ring.

  CONCRETE OBJECTS Concrete objects are the tangible things that the characters pursue in the hope of obtaining their primary objectives. Because film is a visual medium, the audience must see those things for which the characters are fighting; they must be tangible, visible, and objects that the audience believes are valuable. Some objectives, like status and control, are more symbolic, but they do bring power to those who possess them.

  Titanic: The Heart of the Ocean

  Star Wars: The Plans to the Death Star

  The Phantom Menace: Control of the Planet Naboo

  E.T.: A Communication Device for calling home

  Jurassic Park: The Computer Code to turn on the Security Systems

  Home Alone: An AirplaneTicket Home, A Home safe from burglars

  Forrest Gump:To be normal and accepted by people in the community

  The Lion King: Control of the Pride Lands

  Return of the Jedi: Luke’s Light Saber

  Independence Day: A weapon that will destroy the aliens

  Men in Black: The Galaxy on Orion’s Belt

  Jaws: A Dead Great White Shark

  Batman: Formula for the antidote to the Joker’s Smylex poisons

  Sixth Sense: Dead People

  Empire Strikes Back: Luke’s spaceship in the swamp

  The Grinch: Being elected the Cheermeister of Whobilation

  The Wizard of Oz: The Ruby Slippers

  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: The Sorcerer’s Stone

  Finding Nemo: Diver’s Mask

  Pirates of the Caribbean: The Aztec Gold Coin

  The Matrix Reloaded: Human City of Zion

  Spider-Man: Control of the City

  Shrek: Shrek’s Swamp Home

  Monsters,Inc.: Boo, the Human Child

  Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The One Ring

  PERSONAL VALUES The primary objective usually involves a concrete object that also often represents a personal value or some code of interpersonal behavior that the characters reveal while in pursuit of the objective. This is directly connected to the character’s motivation. The character believes that possessing this object will satisfy an emotional need. These stories examine the question of whether the ends (primary objective) justify the means (interpersonal values) and the personal sacrifice the conflicts entail for the characters.

  It is important to restate that drama is not concerned with the accidental events that happen in the lives of individuals. It is about characters making decisions under conflict while in pursuit of objectives that represent fundamental human values and that satisfy core emotional needs. Personal growth often is achieved once these characters understand the real significance of what is at stake and “do the right thing,” even if it results in self-sacrifice.

  Titanic: The Heart of the Ocean (Eternal love)

  Star Wars: The Plans to the Death Star (Freedom from destruction)

  The Phantom Menace: A new hyper drive generator (Freedom to travel in order to get to safety)

  E.T.: A Communication Device for calling home (Freedom to communicate to get to safety)

  Jurassic Park: The Computer Code to turn on the Security System (The safety of the community)

  Home Alone: An Airplane Ticket Home (To save her son, Kevin, from being alone)

  Forrest Gump: Forrest “goes with the flow” (To be accepted by the other characters)

  The Lion King: Control of the Pride Lands (The well-being of the Animal Kingdom) Return of the Jedi: Using the power of the force for good or evil (The well-being of the Universe)

  Independence Day: A weapon that will destroy the aliens (To save the world from destruction and maintain the independence of the human race)

  Men in Black: The Galaxy on Orion’s Belt (The preservation of the home planet, Earth)

  Jaws: A Dead Great White Shark (The safety of the community)

  Batman: Formula for the antidote to the Joker’s Smylex poisons (To save the community from destruction)

  Sixth Sense: To stop seeing Dead People (To save Cole) Empire Strikes Back: Luke wants to develop his powers so that he can become a Jedi Knight and help the rebellion defeat the Empire. (To save the save from the empire)

  The Grinch: Being Elected the Cheermeister of Whobilation (To be accepted by the community)

  The Wizard of Oz: The Ruby Slippers (To have confidence in one’s own abilities to solve problems)

  Shrek: The swamp (The privacy of a home)

  Spider-Man: Crime fighter (Saving the community from crime)

  Finding Nemo: Nemo (To save the last member of his family)

  Monsters Inc: Boo (To return the human child Boo to her home)

  Bruce Almighty: God (To be powerful and loved by the community. To be loved by others Bruce must love others)

  Matrix Trilogy: Zion (To save the humans in Zion from destruction)

  Pirates of the Caribbean: Aztec Coin (To be saved from being a ghost) To show that Pirates can also be good men

  Harry Potter-The Sorcerer’s Stone: Family (To find a home, Hogwarts, and a family that loves him)

  Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Ring (To save the people of Middle-Earth from destruction)

  SUBGOALS & SUBTASKS “It is a fundamental principle that it is the anticipation of an auxiliary goal which causes the forward movement, and not the briskness of the dialogue or the swift action of a scene.”

  —Eugene Vale, The Technique of Screen and Television Writing

  Subgoals (or subtasks) are minor objectives that a character must achieve in order to obtain his primary objective. The concepts of subgoals and plot twists are closely related. The audience is made aware of the relationship of subgoals to primary objectives when the characters discuss their plans and strategies. Plot twists occur when the accomplishment of a subgoal does not cause the expected result of helping a character achieve his primary objective. This technique creates surprise and unpredictability in the story, and is found in many of the popular films.

  Wizard of Oz: Dorothy’s primary objective is to find a place where she will never have any problems. In order to achieve this, she attempts to accomplish several subgoals. Dorothy runs away from home in order to save Toto from Elmira Gulch. Dorothy returns home to help her “sick” Aunt Em, but a tornado takes her to Oz. This is a plot twist. Dorothy goes to Oz to get help from the Wizard to get her back to Kansas. This is her firs
t major subgoal in the Land of Oz. The Wizard will not help her until she gets the broom of the Wicked Witch. This unexpected result produces a plot twist. Dorothy gets the broom, but still the Wizard fails to help her get home. This is another plot twist that is generated from an unexpected consequence of successfully accomplishing a subgoal. Dorothy’s next subgoal is to fly back to Kansas in the balloon with the Wizard. But this fails because the balloon takes off without her. This is another plot twist. The final subgoal is to click the heels of the ruby slippers and to wish she is back home. She does this and finds herself back in the bed on her Kansas farm.

  The Phantom Menace: The Jedi’s primary objective is to safeguard Queen Amidala and get her to Coruscant so that she can plead for her people before the Senate. In order to achieve this, they attempt to accomplish several subgoals. They all escape from Naboo, but the ship is damaged. They need a new hyper-drive. To get the hyper-drive, they must negotiate with Watto. Anakin Skywalker must win the Pod race so that the Jedi can get the hyperdrive. Anakin wins the Pod race and his freedom. When they get to Coruscant and Queen Amidala appeals for help, her appeals are rejected. This is a plot twist.

  She forces new elections but decides to return to help her people. The Queen’s primary objective fails. Her new subgoal is to lead a battle against the Trade Federation on Naboo. This finally succeeds.

  Antagonists also have subgoals. This can clearly be seen in Star Wars. The villains want to make the Death Star operational, secure the Death Star by retrieving the plans stolen by the rebels, and destroy the rebellion military base.

  Empire Strikes Back: Luke Skywalker has the subgoal of finding Yoda so that he can study under him and achieve his primary objective: become a Jedi Knight.

  Return of the Jedi: Han and Princess Leia must destroy the power station on the Ewok planet that provides a shield for the Death Star. Independence Day: The series of subgoals revolve around finding weapons that will destroy the alien space ships. They first try to use fighter planes and standard missiles, but this fails. They next try to use nuclear weapons, but this fails. They then must find a way to disable the protective energy force surrounding the alien spaceships. David Levinson demonstrates the effectiveness of a computer virus on the alien spaceship in Area 51. They then must find a way to fly this spaceship up to the mother ship, and infect that ship with the virus. Then David and Steve must find a way to escape from the mother ship and get back to Earth.

  Men In Black: J and K have the primary objective to save the planet Earth from destruction. To do this they have the subgoal of finding the “galaxy on Orion’s belt”. They must retrieve this Galaxy from Edgar-Bug and stop the Edgar-Bug from leaving the planet with the Galaxy.

  Shrek: Shrek wants to be home alone in his swamp. To do this he must get rid of the fairy tale creatures. He goes to Lord Farquaard to persuade him to give them their land back. Before he will do this, Farquaard tells Shrek he must rescue Princess Fiona for him. (Plot Twist)

  Spider-Man: Peter wants MJ. To win her, he wants to have a fancy car. This means he must get money. He decides to enter the wrestling contest to win $3,000. He has to design a costume. He wins the wrestling contest. He is only paid $100. (Plot Twist)

  STRATEGIES & PLANS A plan or strategy is a series of actions that a character intends to take in order to achieve his objective. He anticipates certain and possible obstacles then devises tactics to overcome these obstacles. These plans are usually communicated to an audience in an exposition scene. The strategy and tactics are discussed by the characters with his supporters. This exposition of a plan creates expectations about future events for the audience.

  Both protagonists and antagonists make plans. In Batman, an example of an antagonist making plans can be found in the scene when Boss Grissom plans to break into Axis Chemicals to get documents that could incriminate his gang. But what he is really planning is the setup of Jack Napier (The Joker) to be killed by the police detective.

  A story becomes unpredictable when things do not occur as planned. This happens when new, unexpected obstacles occur, or the planned tactics fail to overcome an expected obstacle. Excitement is created if the characters become endangered by these unexpected developments. It is only through the exposition of plans and strategies that expectations about the future can be generated in the mind of the audience.

  Titanic

  The Treasure Hunters plan to recover the jewel, the “Heart of the Ocean,” from the Titanic.

  Star Wars

  The Rebel strategists plan to attack and destroy the Death Star. The Phantom Menace

  The Jedi, Queen Amidala, and Boss Nass design their battle plan against the Trade Federation.

  E.T.

  Elliot and Michael devise a plan to help E.T. send a message home.

  The Lion King

  Scar plans with the Jackals to destroy Mufasa to control the Pride Lands. Forrest Gump

  Forrest does not plan or design strategies. He does what he is told to do. This goes against the audience expectations of what is normal.

  Return of the Jedi

  The Rebel Commanders plan the attack on the Death Star, with General Solo tasked to destroy the power station on the Ewok’s planet, and General Calrissian to lead the fighters to attack the Death Star.

  Batman

  Grissom and Jack plan to destroy evidence at the Axis Chemical factory. Jurassic Park

  Dennis, the fat computer technician, plans to steal dinosaur embryos for a competing firm.

  Home Alone

  The two burglars plan to rob Kevin’s home. Independence Day

  The President and his military advisors plan to destroy the alien’s ship using nuclear weapons. They then plan to coordinate a worldwide attack once the mother ship has been infected, and the protective energy shields around the alien spaceships have been disabled.

  Jaws

  Quint devises a plan to hunt and kill the great white shark.

  Men in Black

  K plans to get the “Galaxy on Orion’s Belt” from the Edgar-Bug.

  Sixth Sense

  Dr. Malcolm Crowe plans to save Cole from seeing dead people. Empire Strikes Back

  Han Solo plans to land on the floating space station in order to fix the hyper-drive of the Millennium Falcon.

  The Grinch

  The Grinch plans to destroy Christmas in Whoville. He talks about this plan with his dog.

  The Wizard of Oz

  Dorothy plans to go to Oz to ask the Wizard to return her to Kansas. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion plan to get into the Witch’s castle in order to save Dorothy.

  Shrek

  Once in the castle, Shrek plans to save the Princess while Donkey finds the dragon.

  Spider-Man

  Peter plans to get money by entering the wrestling contest. Norman Osborn plans his revenge on the Board members.

  Finding Nemo

  Gill plans the escape from the fish tank.

  Monsters, Inc.

  Sulley and Mike plan to take Boo back home.

  Bruce Almighty

  Bruce plans to use his God powers to get the TV Anchorman job. Matrix Trilogy

  Neo plans to save the human race by working with the Machines to destroy the Agent Smiths.

  Pirates of the Caribbean

  Jack plans with Will to get a British ship.

  Jack plans with Norrington to capture the pirates.

  Jack plans with Barbossa to defeat the British and get two ships.

  Harry Potter-The Sorcerer’s Stone

  Harry, Ron, and Hermione plan to discover what is hidden under the trap door guarded by Fluffy.

  Lord of the Rings Trilogy

  The Fellowship plans to take the Ring to Mount Doom to be destroyed.

  CONFLICTS CREATING EXCITEMENT

  Obstacles

  Jeopardy

  Self-Conflicts

  Enemies

  Relatives

  Friends

  Lovers

  Physical Objects


  Natural World

  Supernatural World OBSTACLES Raymond Hull, in How To Write a Play, identifies five kinds of conflict that can generate obstacles for a character: man against nature, man against man, man against society, man against himself, and man against fate. “Fatalism is not the dominant doctrine of our society and time. Many religious, philosophical, and artistic theorists prefer the idea that each person is largely responsible for his or her own life. They believe that we can learn from our past, make choices by the exercise of free will, and thus shape our own futures.”

  The essence of story construction consists of creating obstacles that prevent the hero from obtaining his objectives. These can be both “internal” and “external” obstacles. Unexpected obstacles defeat the best devised plans and create surprise and excitement in the audience.

  Internal obstacles fall under the category of self-conflicts. They can consist of ignorance, loss of memory, fear, lack of courage, lack of skills, or false belief. They are the result of a character’s personality. These obstacles test whether the character really holds a certain code of beliefs while pursuing his objectives.

  External obstacles can consist of the actions of the antagonist and his allies, objects in the environment, and natural or supernatural events. From the perspective of story construction, to create obstacles, the writer should think of all the things that could possibly go wrong in a situation: how can the protagonist be blocked from achieving his goals? Then invent ways for him to imaginatively overcome these obstacles. The more dangerous obstacles in a story, the more exciting the story becomes. The antagonist and his supporters also have obstacles that they must overcome to obtain their objectives.

  Granted there are many choices for any given situation, the writer should choose only those which will create the most obstacles for the characters to overcome. Try to construct conflicts that will involve the protagonist’s primal relationships and that force him to choose between his moral code and his desired objective. Complicate his life, for “complications,” in the traditional dramatic sense, are the result of conflicts and competition between characters. All chase scenes can be considered to involve obstacles that attempt to prevent the characters from obtaining their objectives, and such scenes keep the audience in suspense. When constructing a series of obstacles, each one must be of greater intensity and danger to the protagonist than the previous one. Whenever he overcomes an obstacle, he is confronted by another one more perilous. If the audience becomes bored, this usually indicates a lack of tension, danger, and conflict in the story. To remedy this, create new obstacles for the protagonist that will further test his ingenuity and values.