Assignment 5-1

Formula Analysis

Josh Dusenbery

Popular Culture HUMN 240

Professor Hamlin

October 30, 2011

Formula Analysis

            I have always noticed that most movies seem to follow a similar pattern, but was never aware that this was actually done on purpose and that it had a name. The path that movies follow is referred to as a formula. The movies that I chose to compare were Bad Boys and Independence Day. Even though these are two completely different movies; the pattern, or formula, that they follow are somewhat similar.

            After filling out the grid I was able to more easily compare the two movies. I chose two action-adventure movies that contained spurts of comedy. On the surface they seem to be two completely different movies. Independence Day’s main plot is about aliens taking over Earth; Bad Boys on the other hand is about two cops in Miami, Florida trying to recover stolen drugs from their evidence storage and also avenge the death of a woman. So as you can see, two totally different movies, but after digging deeper they do have a lot more in common than one would think.

            To start, both movies involve the myth good vs. evil. The good guys try to stop the bad guys from creating havoc. The next thing that they have in common is that heroes are not likely heroes in the movie sense. They don’t have special powers or huge muscles. In Independence Day the heroes are David and Steven. David is an air force pilot who rises to any challenge and Steven is a nerdy computer geek that has to be coaxed into going into a dangerous situation. In Bad Boys, the heroes are both cops but not typical cops. They are best friends but bicker constantly. They get the job done but the bend a few rules in the process. Both movies use the heroes bickering to cause comic relief which is part of a newer formula for action adventure movies.

            Both movies share a similar formula. They start the movie by setting the scene. All is calm and then the main conflict happens. This happens in Bad Boys very early in the movie when the bad guys steal the drugs and then a little bit later Max is killed which is part of the sub conflict. In Independence Day the first minor conflict arises when the alien communication is discovered and then the ships are seen. The main conflict happens a little later when the aliens declare their intent by blowing up buildings. Both movies then let you believe that everything will be alright by having the good guys win a small battle but then evil prevails and the good guys are sent back to the drawing boards. Both movies end with someone coming up with a long shot plan and it works. The heroes save the day and good triumphs over evil.        

            There are many commonalities in each column of the graph. In the beliefs column both movies must overcome obstacles to reach the common goal of defeating evil. The myth column points out that both movies follow the good vs. evil myth because the good guys must defeat the bad guys to make the world a safer place or in the case of Independence Day, a place altogether. The hero column specifies that there are two heroes to both movies. The cops in Bad Boy and the Air Force pilot in Independence Day are already heroes to many and even the genius computer nerd in that movie would be a hero already to some. The heroes in both movies are fighting for the greater good and for the most part just doing what they signed up to do. The settings are a little different. In Bad Boys they are mainly in Dade County in Miami, Florida with real life situations. In Independence Day the settings are mainly in major cities in the beginning of the movie and then Area 51 for the rest of the movie. They also do some flying around in an alien spacecraft which, to our knowledge, is fictional. Both movies focus on the ritual of revenge against a fallen comrade or loved one. They also fight to make the world a better place.

            I think that movie formulas today are based on the formulas from the past but like everything in life they must evolve by adding twists and turns. If they deviate too much from the formula you usually see the movie become a huge bust. One director that has strayed from the pack is M. Night Shyamalan. He strays as far as to have the unthinkable happen in the ends of his movies like having evil prevail over good or adds a huge twist to the end that no one saw coming like in Sixth Sense. For the most part though movies follow the normal formula that was developed when movies were first being made. In The Wizard of Oz they had a minor conflict in the beginning with the old lady trying to steal the dog and then the major, main conflict happened of Dorothy ending up in the Land of Oz and trying to get home. In the end the conflict is resolved and she makes it home to Kansas and like many Disney movies a lesson is taught; “there is no place like home” (Fleming, 1939).

Reference

Bay, M. (Director), Simpson, D., & Bruckheimer, J. (Producers). (1995). Bad Boys     [DVD]. Santa Monica, CA: Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

Emmerich, R. (Director). (1996). Independence Day [DVD]. Culver City, CA:            Centropolis Entertainment.

Artifact	Beliefs	Myth	Hero	Setting	Ritual	Stereotype	Formulas
Movie
Bad Boys	1. Mike and Marcus must find out who took the drugs. 2. Mike needs to avenge Max’s death. 3. “Ride together, we die together; bad boys for life.”	The good vs. evil myth.	Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. They are detectives for the narcotics division in Miami. Already in a hero role.	Miami, Florida	Mike doesn’t get to mourn the death of his friend because he is trying to get revenge. Marcus complains the whole time about not getting to spend time with family because Mike has to stay with them. After Mike finds friend dead; Marcus vows that they will find killer.	Not typical cops. They don’t really go by the book. Special Agents, DEA, usually are portrayed as doing what they want. Bad guys are chasing Julie and they are trying to protect her, damsel in distress. Due to movie location, Miami, Florida, the characters are racially diversified.	Action-Adventure with comedy Main plot of drugs being stolen from evidence. Sub plot of Max getting killed due to Mike asking for a favor. Mike tries to avenge death of Max with the help of Marcus and also tries to recover the drugs all while protecting Julie who saw Max get killed. Good conquers evil as they kill the bad guy and get the drugs back while keeping Julie safe. Constant bickering between partners, like brothers, creates comedy relief.
Independence Day	1. Protect Earth from Aliens. 2. People put aside differences for the greater good. 3. Originally they many believe that the aliens are here for good but find out that they are here to eliminate us.	Good vs. Evil Myth	Two heroes. David Levinson discovers alien signals. Captain Steven Hiller captures alien and drags to Area 51. Both take alien spacecraft to mother ship to upload computer virus.	Washington, D.C., New York City,  Area 51 All areas are surrounded by alien ships.	Ritual of revenge. Rites of humans to live.	Nerdy guy is computer geek who discovers alien transmissions. American Air Force pilot is hero. Aliens trying to take over world and humans prevail.	Action-Adventure with comedy Discovery of alien communication. We think they are good and they attack. Feel like we losing battle. Someone come up with plan that seems like a long shot and it works. Heroes save the day. Heroes bicker with each other creating comic relief.