HERO (Hoffman 1992 movie) and DARK KNIGHT: simillar plot part & a ? to you all

[huedell]

Hi---- just finished watching the 1992 movie HERO starring Dustin Hoffman,
Geena Davis and Andy Garcia. I assume its a movie that some may
know...but it'll go down in history as a minor blip in the "movie"
category.

I haven't seen it in over 15 years and I really liked it then and now,
but I remembered very little about it over the years, so seeing it now,
it brought toi mind a simillar plot point from DARK KNIGHT which was
a person sacrificing their reputation in order to keep a "hero"
a "hero" in the public's eyes...even tho' the publically acclaimed
"hero person" did some bad things (in TDK only after Dent became Two Face).

So, anyways I wanted to recommend the HERO movie to people that haven't seen it...and also....

1) I was curious if you've ever seen any OTHER movies with a simillar plot point...

...and...

2) How do you define what a "Hero" is?

...and...

3) Have you or anyone you know done anything particularly "heroic"?
(You can bring up news stories too...but "personal" experiences seem
cooler due to the "specialness" of a personal "direct" account of you
or your friend/family's heroism. The more exciting/dramatic the better!

[DocDrako]

I haven't seen any movies that I recall that had similar plot points of HERO & DARK KNIGHT, but The Lord of the Rings and Willow have similar plot points.

A thing of value (ring or baby) is found in a river (by Smeagol or Willow's kids) and is taken by a race of little people (Hobbits or Nelwynns). It is decided by a wizard character (Gandalf or The High Aldwyn) that the thing of value must be taken far away to protect the little people from the evil people who will come for it (Black Riders or General Kale & Sorsha).

Our little hero takes the thing of value (ring or baby) on a journey far away (to Mt Doom or Tir Asleen) to (destroy it or save it from the evil sorcerer).

There's a guy who is more than what he seems (Strider or Madmartigan), and a magical race that helps the heroes (elves or fairies & Brownies).

Our little hero comes to possess a special weapon to help him (Sting or A Magic Wand), they face monsters (Orcs or Trolls), and they rush to a place of perceived safety only to face greater danger (Khazad-Dum or Tir Asleen).

Our little hero eventually ends up in the very heart of the enemy's territory (Mt Doom or Bavmorda's castle), and we learn along the journey that even the smallest person can change the world.

Our little hero returns home, having earned the respect and honor of their people.



To me a hero sacrifices themselves for the greater good, even at the cost of their own life.

I hate to admit it, but I don't personally know any heroes.

[huedell]

Interesting Doc....those plots are indeed more simillar than I would've
guessed....then again I've never seen LORD OF THE RINGS and only
have learned the smallest amt. of stuff about its plot over the years.
(WILLOW, I used to watch all the time!)

[Brazoo]

1) "Cool Hand Luke" comes to mind off-hand.

2) DocDraco's definition sounds good to me.

3) First living person I can think of: my girlfriend's Mom. Escaped an abusive situation in a 3rd world country, came to Canada with nothing and worked 7 days a week to provide for her 3 kids. She's a great woman.

[Goblin19]

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is the best example of this. John Wayne lives in obscurity while James Stewart goes on to fame and fortune.

[huedell]

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is the best example of this. John Wayne lives in obscurity while James Stewart goes on to fame and fortune.

After seeing HERO yesterday I was sure someone would come up with an example like this. I never saw that Liberty Vallance movie...but I've heard
of it.

[Brazoo]

"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" - great example!

I guess in "Cool Hand Luke" George Kennedy's character doesn't really sacrifice his own reputation to perpetuate the myth of Luke - but he does come to realize and struggles with the fact that the myth he believed in was a lie. Despite that he chooses to perpetuate the lie and give others hope.

I wonder if the first example of a fictional story using that theme (the theme that a lie can be better than the truth) might be traced to "Don Quixote"?

[huedell]

I wonder if the first example of a fictional story using that theme (the theme that a lie can be better than the truth) might be traced to "Don Quixote"?

In THAT regard, you could say that Ben/Luke in the SW movies had a theme
going like that regarding the fate of Luke's father.

And I just realized its closer to the DARK KNIGHT/HERO movies than
I originally thought...
as in Anakin being sold as a "heroic" Jedi to Luke akin to Garcia's character
in HERO or the Harvey Dent character in TDK.