11. Goldsman, Akiva(Producer), & Berg, Peter(Director). (July 2, 2008). Columbia
Pictures [Hancock, 2008]. United States: Relativity Media Overbrook Entertainment.
Image in Slide 2 retrieved from: https://earthcrazy.wordpress.com/tag/superhero/
Image in Slide 3 retrieved from: http://www.comicvine.com/hancock/4005-65769/
Image in Slide 4 retrieved from: http://blog.inthetardis.net/hancock-will-smith-le-super-
zero.html
Image on left in Slide 5 retrieved from: http://eyeris.blogspot.com/2008/07/this-hancock-aint-
no- willsmithman.html
Image on right in Slide 5 retrieved from: http://pl.gde-
fon.com/download/Hancock_Will/338602/3120x2080
Image in slide 6 retrieved from: http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?9-
New-hottest-chix- thread/page5
Image in slide 7 retrieved from: https://redpencritic.wordpress.com/
Image in slide 8 retrieved from: http://www.filmweb.no/filmnytt/article709488.ece
Image in slide 10 retrieved from: http://ent.163.com/photoview/51HC0003/142259.html
Editor's Notes
The story of Hancock: A Heroic Quest for Self Improvement and Discovery.
Hancock is a comedy, drama, and action film about superhero who not only saves lives, but wreaks havoc in the process. Hancock is not your usual superhero; he’s serious, depressed, and a drunk. He also does not know who he is. Although Hancock has an inclination to help humans who are in trouble, he shows up drunk, disrespectful, and destroys any piece of property he comes in contact with. There is no tact in his delivery or heroics. When Hancock saves a Public Relation’s Professional his quest becomes self improvement. This quest is not only for the benefit of society, but also the benefit of Hancock.
Hancock’s separation step begins when he saves Public Relation’s professional, Ray Embry, from a moving train. According to MythicHero.com (2012), mythic hero separation means the culmination of a person awakening from a world of drudgery and despair to pursue a higher calling. Hancock’s hero story is different from the classic tale of a geek or loser turned superhero. Hancock is the superhero bum from the beginning. Ray Embry gets Hancock to sober up, clean up, and take responsibility for all the damage he has done while saving lives.
Hancock’s initiation involved going before the public through the press with an apology to the citizens of Los Angeles. He commits to alcohol and anger management treatment. He admits to being lonely, but promises to give better treatment to citizens. Hancock is released from prison early because of a bank robbery.
Hancock undergoes a transformation through serving time in prison and superhero etiquette training form his P.R. representative, Ray Embry. Hancock’s transformation also includes anger and alcohol treatment.
It is an exciting surprise when Hancock’s archetype is revealed. It turns out to be Ray Embry’s wife, Mary Embry. Mary explains she and Hancock are the last of their kind and built in pairs. If they remain together too long they become immortal and die. Mary does not disclose any more detail then that. Hancock like many other superhero stories tell a tale of immortal being with superhuman strength used to help mankind. Hancock differs in where he needs saving himself. The movie does not indicate the cultural origins of the story, but the story resembles many mythological stories of half angel half human beings subjected to living life on Earth enslaved to the safety and cares of human life. Mary Embry reveals herself as the female counterpart to Hancock. She says they are the last of their kind and have lived for 3000 years. She states they are formerly known as gods and angels, but now superheros. This statement from Mary resembles a piece of the biblical account of angels falling from heaven and mating with women to produce half human half angel beings. It is stated that these beings were mighty in Earth among humans.
The trio of escaped convicts are the obvious villains to Hancock. Red, Mountain, and Matrix hold a grudge against Hancock for not only putting them in prison, but humiliating them in the process. Hancock can also be considered a villain, since he is his own worse enemy as an alcoholic and a person with anger issues.
Hancock is released from prison early. He has good hero etiquette, and he saves lives without insulting anyone or damaging property. The story ends with him looking out for Ray Embry, but allowing Ray and Mary to have their lives without his interference. As mentioned earlier, his closeness to Mary interferes with their immortality.
Hancock offers a lot of attributes that are symbolic to the current culture. Hancock is symbolic to an individual who suffers with identity, loneliness, and addictions. Hancock wakes up in an emergency alone with amnesia and superhero powers. He does not understand why there isn’t anyone to claim him or help him understand who he is. He becomes lonely, and turns to alcohol. Although he has an inclination to save lives of mortals, his attempts are spoiled by drunkenness. This is symbolic to how we can be our own worse enemy, and can hinder our own greatness by dealing with emotions with destructive vices. Hancock’s story is also symbolic to how our lives can turn around once we accept responsibility for our actions, and make a conscious effort to give better to others and ourselves.
Hancock’s story is great at displaying personal conflict vs community responsibility. In the beginning of the movie Hancock is an alcoholic bum who does what he wants and says what he wants. He saves lives but it seems he only does it because it is necessary. He didn’t sign up for the job. His attitude is as if he is forced into it. This same attitude allows him to think it is permissible to damage property without consequence, and say out loud what others are thinking. He also likes to humiliate men by shoving their heads up the other’s butts. A P.R. representative teaches Hancock that this is not okay. Even though, Hancock plays reluctant to change you can see some remorse and thought to what he hears Ray teach him. The story of Hancock is very relevant now, in the past, and in the future. As children or immature adults we go through life saying what we want and doing what we want. As we mature and learn what is best we make necessary changes. This is our responsibility, not only to ourselves but to our community as well. It is everyone’s responsibility to help where you can and to show respect to each other and other’s property. Everyone has a back story, but it is our personal responsibility to move forward and not let it hinder the greatness we can become.
