Remember back

You know, when you were young and just growing up and you went to that movie that everyone was talking about. There was that scene, and it made you cheer? See, that is the power of storytelling. That is why we continue to go to movies, is it not? Let’s explore our motivation for a movie.

Entertainment

“I want to be entertained!” you might say to me. And yes, that is true, but what defines that for you? Has it changed over the years? I know for me it has.

My parents took me to see Return of the Jedi. There was this expectation inside of me, that good would triumph over evil. That’s the way it works, right? I wanted Darth Vader defeated. It was 1983, I was 15 years old and had been waiting to see what was going to happen to Han Solo! Would Luke be able to function without his hand? And now the time had come, and it was exciting.

It plays so vividly in my head to this day, that scene where the Emperor is killing Luke and he is crying out to his father for help. Even through his lifeless mask you can sense the conflict in him. Instinct takes over, the cries of his own flesh and blood are too much for this man, who has seemingly turned to the dark side. He picks up the evil Emperor and throws him into those energy coil things, to his doom.

(Definitely falling to his doom.)

I couldn’t believe it.

But that wasn’t the best part!

“Luke, help me take this mask off.”

“But you’ll die.”

“Nothing can stop that now. Just for once, let me look on you with my own eyes.”

“Now…go, my son. Leave me.”

“No, you’re coming with me. I won’t leave you here. I’ve got to save you.”

“You already have, Luke. You were right. You were right about me… Tell your sister… you were right…”

I mean, even now, it evokes emotion for me. Redemption for Vader as he is dying.

To me, it was an amazing bit of storytelling.

It’s that release isn’t it?

That catharsis. There is this build up, an expectation and oh man when they get it right, we are thrilled are we not? One of my first was Return of the Jedi, what was it for you?

Have you seen plenty of movies that were just so-so? I know I have. This goes for any medium of storytelling. It wasn’t great. And how many of those movies are there?

TONS

But yet, when there are previews of a new movie, we want to go see it, if it has all the right tones and pieces we like in our entertainment. We’ll take a chance on a new movie just to see if it gives us that catharsis.

And on and on it goes

The cycle continues, we stand in line, get some popcorn and a large drink and sit down in a crowded theater for two and a half hours and see if those elements we crave in storytelling are there.

As I got into my later teens and early twenties, movies had better have action! Lots of action! Terminator, Rocky 5,6,7,8,9 and 20. Commando, Bloodsport, Anything with Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris in it.

But now, as I am in my 50’s, I am rather disappointed if it isn’t more like Return of the Jedi. It has action, but the ending was amazing to me. It had substance.

And you know, I can’t hardly go one post without talking about Tolkien, but Lord of the Rings has substance. The Hobbit has substance. At the end, it meant something and that is what I have come to expect from my “entertainment” now. I didn’t realize that’s what it was when I saw Return of the Jedi at 15. But now I have identified it.

I hope that hasn’t ruined movies and books for me

That’s another reason why I like The Last Kingdom, more than Game of Thrones. There is something about Uhtred that makes me care about him. I have favorite characters in Game of Thrones but none that I am invested in as much as Uhtred of Bebbanburg. I guess that is what happens when you kill off all the characters?

What is that substance for you?

Have you ever explored that?

Let me know!

Cheers!

Michael Wigington

A young girl seeks answers to her mother’s veiled past.
A warlock bent on immortality.
Both paths lead to the Bloodstone.

Rumors of dark magic and demons abound in Wychering Wood. Ameline Harsent and a small group are sent to investigate the dark forest. Nothing goes as planned. Can Ameline save the man she loves in time? Or will Wychering Wood claim more victims?