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The story of an American Hero in Ancient Greece

HERCULES

MOVIE OF THE SEMESTER

2019

SYNOPSIS

Hercules, born to the Greek God Zeus, is the one force strong enough to defeat Hades's plan to become ruler of Mount Olympus. To prevent this, Hades has his Minions, Pain and Panic, go after Hercules in an effort to make him mortal so as to kill him. Hercules, however, is not fully drained of his god-like abilities; retaining his strength, Hercules is able to stop Pain and Panic from killing him. As he grows, Hercules is deemed an awkward outcast, ostracized by his mortal peers due to his "freakish" strength. Hercules causes much damage to the mortal world in his efforts to help others, causing him to go to his mortal father, Amphitryon, for guidance. Amphitryon gives him a medallion that was bestowed upon him by Zeus, causing him to travel to Zeus's temple. Zeus talks to Hercules through his statue, telling Hercules he is his son, and how he can become immortal if he is to become a true Hero. These words prompt Hercules to search for the hero trainer, Philoctetes, who helps him become strong enough to be considered a "hero". We meet the female love interest, Megara, as Hercule's first attempt at saving the heroin. Meg, however, is secretly working for Hades. Hercules and Meg fall for one another, giving Hades leverage when it comes time to release the Titans to take over Olympus. Hercules agrees to give up his strength so long as Meg isn't hurt, causing Hercules to have to fight monsters with normal human strength. Meg sacrifices herself - getting hurt and breaking Hades's word - causing Hercules to regain his strength and defeat him. Hercules, however, does not become an immortal hero until he is willing to give up his own life to save Meg's. When he saves Meg, his immortality is restored along with Meg's life, and Hades falls to his doom in the river of Styx. In the end, Hercules chooses to stay with Meg as a mortal, and Zeus puts his shape in the sky as a constellation to honor him.  

Synopsis

THESIS

I argue that Hercules is the best movie of the ancient world genre because of its depiction of the hero, the villain, and the"ideal" woman. 
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