In fact, Hollywood, which has been suffering from a shortage of scripts in recent years, has taken a liking to these fantasy-themed works. Apart from following the trend, the common themes that transcend the country, nation and culture contained in these stories are also important reasons. one. It's these themes that cross cultural differences that make it easier for Hollywood to get money out of the pockets of people all over the world.
American comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell draws the conclusion that human mythology is a unity through a comparative study of a large number of Eastern and Western myths. His important work "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" means that there is only one hero in mythology. Those heroes in myths of different eras and different nationalities, although they are different in different shapes and forms, are actually the same hero, who are influenced by different cultures. Just give it a different look.
Whether it is Harry Potter or the Chronicles of Narnia, these fantasy literatures that have become popular in recent years are actually not divorced from the theme of "The Hero with a Thousand Faces". No doubt we see the same thematic narratives in these films, where heroes depart from the world of everyday life and take risks into a realm of supernatural wonder. In that magical realm, encounter all sorts of incredible and powerful supernatural beings, and achieve decisive victories. So the hero completes his mysterious adventure and returns with powers that can benefit his kind.
The recently released "The Golden Compass", the first of the "Dark Matter Trilogy", once again provides us with such a sample. In another parallel world where human souls are accompanied in the form of animal spirits, the 12-year-old heroine begins her own adventure. The story has a mentor who teaches mysteries, a messenger who guides the adventure, the omens of fate and the protection of goodwill, the mysterious realm The malicious guardian of , and many other elements can find theoretical correspondence from the book "Heroes with a Thousand Faces".
While we don't have to be pessimistic about saying that all myths are just repetitions of the same myth, we don't hesitate to recognize the use of many iconic symbols in this film, which is clearly aimed at teens.
It is this common theme across different cultures that appeals to Chinese audiences who have no foundation in Western fantasy culture. For most domestic audiences, if they want to figure out what is "dark matter", what is "golden compass", "parallel world", "elves" and many other fantasy concepts, I am afraid that they will be completely confused before the movie ends. .
But if the influence of these fantasy elements is excluded, Chinese audiences will still see an easy-to-understand adventure story. An ordinary heroine, who accepts the call of the messenger of fate, sets off on an unpredictable adventure, and she must be accompanied by supernatural help, and the ultimate test. The final task is to defeat demons and tyrants and get from nothing. Rescue, and finally get a free life.
It is this mythological story mode that transcends cultural differences, coupled with a fantasy coat, the "Golden Compass", a fantasy version of chicken soup for the soul that is not nutritious but tastes good, is ready. Although we can vaguely taste a hint of culture in this thin chicken soup, it is obvious that it is only a seasoning in this pot of soup.
View more about The Golden Compass reviews
