Blog 6: Hero

Difficult circumstances can occur in the least expected moment of our daily lives. Sometimes even when we have a problem already in our encounter such as being late, another issue pops up as in a mocking intent like a train delay for instance; it’s majorly inexplicable. But even more dreadful situations such as a plane crash, may occur in the unforeseen and end up taking away the lives of a vast quantity of victims in no time. That’s why a person that acts bravely in any of these surprising situations in order to assist others is considered an absolute hero. A hero is someone that is admired by their might, strength, achievements and noble qualities. It’s no doubt that people involved in welfare professions such as policemen or firemen are certainly considered heroic because of their courageous actions and qualities in the most atrocious occurrences. For kids, parents might be considered their heroes because of all the sacrifices they dealt with in order to provide wellbeing for them. People that rely on Jesus Christ might totally consider him as a hero due to all his might and the sacrifice of his life in order to save humanity and forgive them from their sins. All these heroic figures appeal to the movie Hero emphasizing its basic conceit throughout the story.

                                                                                                                                                    

Basically, the movie Hero is based on the character Bernie Laplante which was a not-that- successful guy in court found guilty of selling stolen property plus stealing money from his lawyer’s purse. He risks his life into the flaming wreckage of a plane crash in order to save the passengers including the reporter Gale Gayley becoming the hero of flight 104. But such heroism was “stolen” by John Bubber, a homeless guy which was his friend, as Laplante didn’t identify himself by the time the police and firemen arrived. The reason for him taking credit for Laplante’s heroism was due to a component considered to be strong in society: money. The channel 4 news medium offered the unidentified hero a sum of $1 million dollars in order to identify himself and know who the “angel of flight 104” was. Of course, who wouldn’t want that amount of money anyways?

John Bubber contains the qualities we consider heroic; he’s polite and charming with the public, handsome, clever and smart. On the other hand Laplante, even though he was the true hero, was a quirky petty criminal. His heroic actions were actually not of his real wishes, but they were brave enough to make him a true hero. People probably won’t consider Laplante as containing the qualities of a genuine hero because of his criminal record including his stealing ambition which is seen in various cases throughout the movie, even when saving Gale he ended up stealing her purse, but saving her life. Due to Laplante’s persona, humanity would be probably blinded by refusing to accept his true heroism not giving him a second chance and perhaps scolding him as an impostor which is an unpleasant demeanor. I believe people are constantly centered on the negative aspects of a person mostly when it has to do with constant illicit intent such as stealing money/credit cards, and when it comes to accept his heroic deeds, a person like Bubber would probably be a more accurate match which is somehow unfair. I consider the individual that committed the brave act is the most accurate person to be the hero, regarding his past unwise behavior, at the end he was the authentic savior that overcame throughout. However, the public has its dissimilar point of view which relates to the movie’s theme that is evident mostly throughout the characters Laplante and Bubber. Even though Laplante knew he was the true hero, he later realized that he didn’t contain the characteristics that would transform him into an estimable individual. That’s why he convinces Bubbler to carry on with the lie but being paid a part of his allowance.    

In other words, it’s clear that true heroism occurs by a person’s real might and brave acts during a complex situation. Society should respect that hero because of saving the lives of a vast amount of people leaving his/her past unlawful acts aside as though in the end, that person was a “valiant warrior”. In reality, the ideal consideration of a hero was with the qualities of John Bubbler, but it’s of no evidence that he was the real rescuer due to his way of acting towards the public. It’s as if the media created this hero making the community believe it as factual, even though it was the opposite. The movie’s basic conceit is admirable as it puts the public to the test because they were worshiping the imposturous hero and strongly believing in him due to his splendid traits that they regard as heroic, when the real hero was practically an unworthy snob as viewed by the community. But it’s unfair to think of a person in that manner just because of his/her unsatisfactory activities; because in the end, a brave act can kill the impotence of any human being and can be of an enduring ostentatious admirance.