How do you go about identifying a film’s theme (message)?

Question

How do you go about identifying a film’s theme (message)? Think about your favorite film. What do you think is the theme of that film? To what extent does the theme contribute to making this your favorite movie? Can you enjoy a movie without agreeing with the filmmaker’s message? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The theme of a message is the underlying idea. Some people compare it to moral--it's not exactly the same, but that might help you to understand it. So, what message can you take away from a film? What ideas are you still thinking about days or weeks afterward? There are many themes that you see repeated over and over: Hard work pays off, persistence wins the day, good triumphs over evil, cheaters never win, pay attention to details, don't forget your roots, and so forth.

Here are some movies with easy themes. Spiderman has a pretty obvious theme, as stated by Uncle Ben. Disney movies are always pretty sure bets as well--listen for the songs. And the Matrix series show pretty clear themes as well.

Do you think that you can enjoy a movie without agreeing with the message? What if there was a movie with the theme, "Life is pretty much hopeless," as expressed by a character who tries and tries but never succeeds. Would you enjoy this movie? It's interesting to think about, and everyone has different ideas. I think it comes down to a question of whether you value more the little moments in a movie, like the fight scenes or the car chases, more than the big ideas. And that's a matter of personal taste.