Rocketman
Superhero
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What are some of the greatest examples of character development in movies? A sense of change in someone from the beginning to the end - a sense of accomplishment, or a sense of downfall, triumph, or corruption. Or just a total 180 in personality?
I've always felt that good movies are determined by good characters, but great movies are determined by amazing character arcs. Some of my favorite movies of all-time feature just that.
The Shawshank Redemption - Morgan Freeman as "Red" - You'd think that Tim Robbins has the best development in this movie, but it's Morgan Freeman's character who changes drastically by the time the movie ends. In the beginning, he's a prisoner who has come to terms with being trapped in Shawshank forever, and during his parole hearings, he simply tells the panel what they want to hear without genuinely meaning it. But once Tim Robbins escapes, Freeman feels that he's escaped too. He's "free" emotionally and no longer cares. It's only when he tells the panel exactly how he feels with brutal honesty that he's finally set free literally. It's a beautiful revelation to watch.
Star Wars (Original Trilogy) - Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker - Mark Hamill starts out as a somewhat-cocky and arrogant teenager with no knowledge of the force, or of his father, and by the time Return of the Jedi comes along, he's lost a hand, he found out that his greatest enemy is also his father, and he's learned to fight with a lightsaber pretty damn well. By the time the third movie comes, Luke's character makes a complete 180; he is now wise, reserved, and masterful with his Jedi skills.
Batman Returns - Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle/Catwoman - Michelle Pfeiffer is just absolutely brilliant in this role. I hate to say it, but Anne Hathaway has some serious shoes to fill. I don't care if Burton strayed from the comics or not. Pfeiffer's performance is incredible. The psychology of Catwoman in this film is so complex and extraordinary, I'd actually say that it's among the best character arcs in movie history. Pfeiffer is essentially playing three people in one movie:
I. Pre-Death Selina Kyle - a shy "corndog" who won't stick up for herself. Not intimidating, hardly sexy. A loner who lets everyone walk on her.
II. Post-Death Selina Kyle - a total 180 from who she was. It's literally like watching two actresses playing two different roles. That's how good she is. Sexy, threatening, and totally confident.
III. Catwoman - Selina as a cat, and much more comfortable in her own skin, because her skin is the black leather. This is who she is. Much, much different than Pre-Death and Post-Death Selina. Again, it's like a whole other actress.
But there are signs of warmth there, and potential for a wholesome, non-violent person. She's emotional, but she wants to be with Bruce Wayne. She wants to get revenge against Max Schreck because he "killed" her, but I'd hardly call her a villain. Catwoman is a villain, but Post-Death Selina has potential to be good. She only seems threatening and deadly because of how damn sexy she's become.
I could go on and on. The cat mythology of "nine lines" and the ambiguity it entails, the fact that she's still alive in the end... It's just a rare, once-in-a-lifetime performance, and it's extraordinary to watch. In fact, Pfeiffer's performance is just as good as Heath Ledger's Joker. Yeah, I said it.
The Dark Knight - Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face - Often overshadowed by Heath Ledger and the hype surrounding his performance/death, Aaron Eckhart is simply incredible as Wholesome, Heroic District Attorney turned Corrupt, Scarred Villain. His transition is quite incredible, from the death of his girlfriend to the burning of his face, you actually see the process of him becoming insane. It's quite an underrated arc. You see him with Gordon and Batman on the GCPD rooftop in the beginning, and the three are unlikely allies, but they trust each other. In the end, the three are together again under completely different circumstances: Harvey is threatening to kill Gordon's son.
What are your favorites?
I've always felt that good movies are determined by good characters, but great movies are determined by amazing character arcs. Some of my favorite movies of all-time feature just that.
The Shawshank Redemption - Morgan Freeman as "Red" - You'd think that Tim Robbins has the best development in this movie, but it's Morgan Freeman's character who changes drastically by the time the movie ends. In the beginning, he's a prisoner who has come to terms with being trapped in Shawshank forever, and during his parole hearings, he simply tells the panel what they want to hear without genuinely meaning it. But once Tim Robbins escapes, Freeman feels that he's escaped too. He's "free" emotionally and no longer cares. It's only when he tells the panel exactly how he feels with brutal honesty that he's finally set free literally. It's a beautiful revelation to watch.
Star Wars (Original Trilogy) - Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker - Mark Hamill starts out as a somewhat-cocky and arrogant teenager with no knowledge of the force, or of his father, and by the time Return of the Jedi comes along, he's lost a hand, he found out that his greatest enemy is also his father, and he's learned to fight with a lightsaber pretty damn well. By the time the third movie comes, Luke's character makes a complete 180; he is now wise, reserved, and masterful with his Jedi skills.
Batman Returns - Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle/Catwoman - Michelle Pfeiffer is just absolutely brilliant in this role. I hate to say it, but Anne Hathaway has some serious shoes to fill. I don't care if Burton strayed from the comics or not. Pfeiffer's performance is incredible. The psychology of Catwoman in this film is so complex and extraordinary, I'd actually say that it's among the best character arcs in movie history. Pfeiffer is essentially playing three people in one movie:
I. Pre-Death Selina Kyle - a shy "corndog" who won't stick up for herself. Not intimidating, hardly sexy. A loner who lets everyone walk on her.
II. Post-Death Selina Kyle - a total 180 from who she was. It's literally like watching two actresses playing two different roles. That's how good she is. Sexy, threatening, and totally confident.
III. Catwoman - Selina as a cat, and much more comfortable in her own skin, because her skin is the black leather. This is who she is. Much, much different than Pre-Death and Post-Death Selina. Again, it's like a whole other actress.
But there are signs of warmth there, and potential for a wholesome, non-violent person. She's emotional, but she wants to be with Bruce Wayne. She wants to get revenge against Max Schreck because he "killed" her, but I'd hardly call her a villain. Catwoman is a villain, but Post-Death Selina has potential to be good. She only seems threatening and deadly because of how damn sexy she's become.
I could go on and on. The cat mythology of "nine lines" and the ambiguity it entails, the fact that she's still alive in the end... It's just a rare, once-in-a-lifetime performance, and it's extraordinary to watch. In fact, Pfeiffer's performance is just as good as Heath Ledger's Joker. Yeah, I said it.
The Dark Knight - Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face - Often overshadowed by Heath Ledger and the hype surrounding his performance/death, Aaron Eckhart is simply incredible as Wholesome, Heroic District Attorney turned Corrupt, Scarred Villain. His transition is quite incredible, from the death of his girlfriend to the burning of his face, you actually see the process of him becoming insane. It's quite an underrated arc. You see him with Gordon and Batman on the GCPD rooftop in the beginning, and the three are unlikely allies, but they trust each other. In the end, the three are together again under completely different circumstances: Harvey is threatening to kill Gordon's son.
What are your favorites?
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