But first, what is a hero? It is someone who saves or helps others. This could even be a doctor or a firefighter. An epic hero, however, is a bit different and is usually the main character of an epic poem like Beowulf. However, the meaning can expand to include any hero of superhuman strength who strikes awe into those who witness their amazing feats. Superheroes could even be considered epic heroes. Sure, sometimes they get help, but they do well on their own overcoming super villains.
What are the
characteristics of an epic hero? An epic hero is a champion of freedom who has
lots of courage and super strength. He usually has a high sense of justice
while being devoted and loyal. And in many cases, he fights for the glory of
putting his name down in history. Of course, he might have weaknesses. No one
is perfect, but, in general, the epic hero is willing to sacrifice himself in
the protection of others and always tries to honor his promises.
This does sound like a tall order, right? But this is what makes the epic hero so amazing! Some examples of an epic hero in Hollywood movies would be:
- Maximus in The Gladiator (Russell
Crowe)
- William Wallace in Braveheart (Mel
Gibson)
- Nathan Algren in The Last Samurai
(Tom Cruise)
- Leonidas in 300 (Gerard Butler)
We can even put Captain America and Superman into this epic hero category. These are strong, honorable, and ethical heroes. They almost seem perfect! And there are so many other inspiring, heart-pumping movies of the epic hero.
One equivalent film that
stands out is Baahubali (Parts 1 and 2) featuring actor Prabhas as the
epic hero, Baahubali. This movie has an
excellent storyline, vast settings, amazing cinematography, skilled acting,
brilliant directing and powerful music. I highly recommend this movie, as it
will inspire you!
Still, there are other
types of heroes who may have vices or bad habits. They start out looking the
opposite of a hero, but as we watch their story unfold and see them struggle
with their conscience or overcome obstacles, we cheer them on as they become
heroes-- anti-heroes.
We can put Ironman and
Batman into this category due to their complexities. Even Jack Sparrow from Pirates
of the Caribbean is an unlikely hero. Others who fit into this category
would be Mad Max, Rambo, and Harry Callahan from Dirty Harry. They are
not perfect, make mistakes and on occasion do some questionable things, but at
their core they have a heart or a conscience that sticks to some kind of code
of life, and they become the hero that is needed at the moment. An anti-hero is
relatable to us because we like to see the human side of a hero and to see they
have their struggles and demons to overcome. It makes the story more
interesting. Also, it’s better than putting someone onto a pedestal where they
will eventually fall off. It also gives us hope that the average person might
be able to become a hero, too.
Recently, I viewed an
intriguing character in a Bollywood movie (I’m using this term broadly as the
film is actually from Kannada region in India). An unusual idea came to my mind
while watching the film KGF: Chapter 1 (Kolar Gold Fields). The main
character, “Rocky” portrayed by Yash, is an “epic anti-hero.” The reason I add
“epic” to his description is the way his character behaves and the way the
other characters view him. “Rocky” (the nick-name he chose reflecting a movie
poster of Rocky Balboa) starts out as an orphan who has to struggle in the
streets; he was left only with his mother’s advice that no matter what “die as
a very wealthy man.”
Rocky becomes strong both
physically and mentally. We see in one scene that the mention of his name
causes characters to panic and to shake with fear. And we see those who doubt
his strength pay in a big way. Yes, he is a criminal, but we see indications of
a soft spot or a kindness in various scenes whenever he remembers his mother
and whenever he stops to help those less fortunate. Rocky is tough and practically
invincible; he’s like a one-man army. And we watch his transformation as he is
placed into situations that lead him to become the hero-- the epic anti-hero that
is needed.
I’m anxiously waiting for
Part 2 of this movie. It was supposed to be released this October, but due to
Covid-19 and other issues, it has been delayed, and so far the release date is
for January 2021. I recommend KGF: Chapter 1, as you will enjoy the
unique character and storyline.
By the way, I’m hoping
that Part 2 will lead Rocky to be the anti-hero that he can be; my fear from
some of the rumors is that he might not do what we are expecting. Hopefully,
his conscience will lead him to do the right thing so he will become the epic
anti-hero we are waiting for. We will just have to wait and see.
We all need heroes, even epic anti-heroes, who give us hope that we can overcome evil and injustice in this world. Let us be inspired by the heroes of Hollywood, Bollywood and any other place that is producing such magical movies.
