There really is a formula for a great film.

[KurtNYC]

There is a legend that a thesis was written that sought to prove that all stories, classics and modern, follow one of 32 plots. Of those 32, only 7 plots get used in movies. Of the 7, 80% use one of the 3 most common. Of those 3 this is the most common plot for a classic film:

1. The hero begins as a non-hero.
2. Something new enters the hero's life.
3. (optional but common) The hero is reluctant but gains motivation.
4. The hero gets help from other characters.
5. The hero moves into an especially intense environment.
6. Hero faces tests and obstacles.
7. We get to a moment where all hope seems lost -- aka "the Black Moment"
8. The hero rises, takes charge, triumphs
9. Hero returns to the mundane world, changed by the experiences.

I just thought I would share this odd of trivia because during and after reading that sequence I thought of 20 films that follow that model. And I keep coming up with more.

[datasuspect]

1. my synopsis for new Rambo installment

1. The hero begins as a non-hero.

rambo settles into civilian life and is working as a security consultant who has a meeting at the WTC. this is on 9-11-2001.


2. Something new enters the hero's life.

rambo's wife and daughter (unknown to him) go to the NYC to meet him. they have breakfast at the windows on the world restaurant. rambo is stuck in traffic in a cab when he sees first plane hit. gets cell phone call from wife who is frantic. rambo sheds his suit jacket and tie and runs through gridlocked traffic, jumping over cars, to get to WTC to save his family. he doesn't make it in time. rides a chunk of stairs when the building collapses.


3. (optional but common) The hero is reluctant but gains motivation.

we see rambo, torn, bloody, ripped white business shirt exposing ripped muscles emerging from the rubble, falling to his knees, wailing and gnashing his teeth. segue into battle preparation montage:

-he ties necktie around his head, stitches open wound with shards of metal, steals weaponry from abandoned police vehicle.


4. The hero gets help from other characters.

colonel steve richards, his "other" commander from vietnam is on site in the wreckage. they look at each other with tear-filled eyes and they leave with other military elements in a black helicopter.


5. The hero moves into an especially intense environment.

the conversion of john rambo from adjusted suburban "suit" to commando. stock prep montage. they leave for afghanistan in ultra-secret mission to capture and kill OBL.


6. Hero faces tests and obstacles.

skirmishes in mountainous terrain, fallen comrades, rambo stands alone against hundreds of mujahadeen.

7. We get to a moment where all hope seems lost -- aka "the Black Moment"

rambo seriously injured, trapped, battling wave after wave of terrorists. he stands alone


8. The hero rises, takes charge, triumphs

rambo dispatches them all. finds OBL cowering in a cave. guts OBL and avenges his wife and daughter.


9. Hero returns to the mundane world, changed by the experiences.

rambo given a hero's welcome upon return to the states, but he cannot shake the loss of his family.

[KurtNYC]

4. Bingo!

Let's send it to Stallone's people. ;-)

[datasuspect]

5. do you think we can attach bruce willis to this project?

[KurtNYC]

8. If we can do lunch with his people

if he passes we can go down the list. These days if anyone from SNL gets attached then the picture will get made. So I wanna say right now that a draw the line at Chris Kattan.

Lemme call Leo's people - he's totally wrong for this but that seems to be no reason not to cast him.

[ghostsofgiants]

2. Needs zombies.

[idgiehkt]

7. roflmao

:rofl:

[riverdeep]

3. Interesting

Sounds Joseph Campbell-esque.

[KurtNYC]

6. That works

I thought of:
Wizard of Oz
Star Wars
Gone with the Wind
Harry Potter
Every James Bond movie
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Risky Business
Big Lebowski
River's Edge
Borat:Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

[idgiehkt]

9. yep, and if you want to apply it to chick flicks

change the 'something new entering the hero's life' into 'a new man enters the heroine's life' and boom, there is the universal chick flick plot.