Living the Epic Life

I never knew Ancient Greek girls were so hot!

I took my advice in yesterday’s blog post, and decided to only focus on my best friends.  Who needs popularity?  So, through a long day of studying, I give one of my best friends a text, we then decide to check out a late movie, and when we reach the theatre the one that’s in ‘3D’ catches our intention.  And suddenly I am immersed in the life of Perseus, fighting against the omnipotent Gods for mankind.

I came in with no expectations, but Clash of the Titans was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.  No, not best as in great screenwriting like the Hurt Locker, touching story like Up, or novel filmmaking like Avatar, but the best in terms of making life feel that much more epic.

I’m a huge fan of these movies where everything is on the line, as you risk your life for ultimate heroics to save the face of humanity.  It’s the very reason why I rank the Island, War of the Worlds, Armageddon, I Robot, and all of these pseudo-action-sci-fi-fantasy movies up so high in my all-time favourites.  The basic story of the triumphant hero prevailing in the face of adversity is fundamentally the story I yearn to see whenever I watch a movie.

Often with every hero comes an equally formidable heroine, like one of my favourites, Scarlett Johannson

But what makes it so appealing?  I am certain it is because there is something within all of us, or at least within myself, that wishes to embark upon the same epic journey.  One filled with adventure, one filled with purpose, one filled with success, and maybe even one filled with romantic escapades (such as Perseus and Io, played by the incredibly beautiful Gemma Arteton).  Between these four characteristics spells a life desired by all, perhaps an impossible life.

But what does it take to achieve these four?  Is it really as simple as establishing high goals, taking risks, trying new things, and working until you achieve them?  Perhaps.  But even that seems too simple, too attainable, too commonplace.  What Perseus realizes in the movie is that he is bestowed the mark of a ‘demi-god,’ as he is half-mortal, and half-divine.  He draws upon inspiration from this gift to fight his battles.  It seems that part of the “epic” journey requires something special, something innately unique.

“You were put on this planet to save humanity.” A few words, but maybe these are the divine words that cause a journey to be uniquely purposeful, or epic.  It was these few words that changed the perception in Perseus’s life.  It is the realization that the entire world rests on one’s shoulders that demands one to be their best self.  So why is it that we can’t adopt this stance today?

For me, it is likely the fear of delusion.  People will think I am insane if I start acting intense, uptight, and like everything was for a purpose.  Or perhaps it is because I really, truly, do not believe that one person can make a difference.  Sure, I idolize Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, but even they did not change the world themselves, but instead they inspired others to support their unified cause.  But are there even any causes worth fighting for?  To name a few, there are world hunger, an evolving global energy crisis, and diseases such as AIDS and cancer.  Could these be the causes we can fight for?

Why not?  And Jane McGonigal, in an extremely inspirational must-watch TED video believes the same, and all of us hardcore gamers can help fight these causes as well: 

So, maybe the epic journey does not just come to us like it does with Perseus.  But as I watch the movie, with every sword he wields, with every monster he decapitates, with every princess he seduces, I just picture myself doing the same.  Perhaps my epic journey will not be so flashy, whereby I battle with a pen, I tackle corrupt governments, and I inspire others that can help me in my cause.  But regardless, I know, and I feel, that there is a little bit of Perseus in me.  And I will use it for the betterment of this planet.

Peace and love! 😀