Analysis

Analysis Essay

     Superhero movies tend to be some of the most popular movies these days, the most famous of which are movies similar to: Superman, Batman, Captain America, and Iron Man. Although, my all-time favorite is an animated, family-friendly movie called Megamind. Sure, it might be a kid’s movie but it shows true heroism at its best. The main character, Megamind, demonstrates his heroism through the ability to change his destiny, his dedication to selfless service and his determination.

     In the beginning, the Character Megamind, who is an alien that is raised in a prison. Due to the nurture of being raised by convicts, he himself learns that causing trouble and being evil is a good thing. Once he is grown up and becomes the super villain of a town called Metro City, he is constantly battling his arch enemy and hero of Metro City, Metro Man. After finally defeating Metro Man and taking control over the city, Megamind becomes bored and lonesome and is then inspired to create a new super hero to battle by using his extreme intelligence. This new super hero Titan turns out to be an arrogant, egotistical villain instead. Once Titan begins wreaking havoc on Metro City, it is up to Megamind to stop what he created.

     One of the many underlying traits that show his true heroism is his ability to change his destiny. In the beginning of the film, Megamind tells himself he is destined to be a super villain. He comes to this conclusion after constantly being left out and made fun of even when he tries being nice or trying to make friends he is rejected and seen as an outcast. After constantly causing accidents or messes while in elementary school and being put in time-out, he comes to the conclusion that being bad is the one thing he’s good at. Later on once he is grown up and takes control of the city, he falls in love with a news reporter named Roxanne Richie. This new feeling in Megamind sparks a change of heart. Megamind then decides to save Metro City from being terrorized by Titan; after his whole life of being the villain, he comes to terms with his wrong doings which in turn gives him the desire to be the good guy for once and help Metro City. After believing he is destined to be a super villain and being taught that evil is good from when he was in prison, this new desire causes him to be the good guy; therefore altering his destiny and creating hero. And towards the end Megamind even states “Funny, I guess destiny is not the path given to us, but the path we choose for ourselves,” (Megamind 2010).

     Another characteristic of Megamind’s heroism is his dedication to selfless service. After Titan begins terrorizing Metro City and threatens Roxanne, Megamind acts without concern for his own safety. He knows Titan is more powerful, but refuses to hesitate when the city or Roxanne need help which almost leads to his death. This instinct makes him a hero because the only thought in his mind is “what can I do to help the City?” (Megamind 2010). No normal person would act without thinking about the repercussions of their actions, any normal person would hesitate but Megamind does not. Doing something dangerous without hesitation or concern for a person’s own life his absolutely a trait of heroism and Megamind has this trait.

     Lastly, one of Megamind’s greater characteristics that show his heroism is his determination. Throughout the years of battling Metro Man he always lost and in the beginning of the film Megamind narrates “He would win some, I would almost win others” thus showing the viewer he continuously battles Metro Man despite his losses. Once Titan threatens the city this trait becomes a great benefit. After being rejected by Roxanne and his initial loss to Titan, Megamind is at his lowest point. When Titan threatens to kill Roxanne he is still determined to do what needs done and to save her. This is definitely a heroic trait because any normal person would either give up or they would look out for themselves, yet Megamind doesn’t do either of these.

     By using his heroic traits of being able to change his destiny, his dedication to selfless service and his determination, Megamind defeats Titan and helps rebuild Metro City. At the end, Megamind stands there with Roxy who falls back in love with him, Megamind admits that “being good has its perks” (Megamind 2010).

 Megamind. Dir. Tom McGrath. Perf. Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt. Dreamworld, 2010. Film.