Opinion: What do people really want?

An appeal of <i>Guardians of the Galaxy 2</i> is its characters. Photo/File

I read a bunch of articles recently with titles like What is the No. 1 thing people want and What do you really want from life?.

"Happiness" comes up a lot, as does "knowing my life counted for something" and "being connected to people who love you".

Although happiness was at the top of many people's lists, there was a lot of diversity in respect of what "happiness" actually looks like.

In spite of the diversity of thought, I did detect some recurring themes, along with some contradictions.

For example, a lot of people who say they long for peace and contentment also want excitement and adventure.

Similarly, most people who want their life to have counted for something also say they do not want conflict.

Unfortunately, no matter how noble the cause, if you try to achieve something of significance there will always be someone who will rise up in opposition. That is just the way life is.

Donald Miller is a best selling author who has developed a programme that teaches people to learn how to use the power of story to achieve personal goals.

Miller argues that although a quiet peaceful life sounds appealing, it is usually unfulfilling.

He puts it this way, "if someone made a movie about someone living a quiet, peaceful life it would be the most boring movie ever; and no one would want to watch it".

Miller argues the essence of a great story is also the essence of a good life - "a character who knows what they want and is willing to overcome conflict to get it".

If you think about it, every block-buster movie, from the Lord of Rings to Hunger Games, to Bridget Jones Diary to Star Wars follows that formula.

Bridget Jones determines to conquer her own demons in order to become a better person, Frodo committed to destroying the ring to in order to defeat Sauron, Katniss fought to expose the corruption of the Capitol and Luke Skywalker took on the 'Evil Empire'.

Two of my favourite movies are Guardians of the Galaxy - one and two.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a little different to your standard superhero genre.

For starters, the character development offers a layer of depth you do not normally get in Marvel movies.

It also ticks the box for Donald Miller's acid test - "character(s) who know what they want and are willing to overcome conflict to get it".

Also, the humour is fantastic. If you do not laugh out loud at least five times when watching Guardians of the Galaxy 2, you need to see a doctor.

What also starts to come through very strongly in the second movie is the strong bond that develops between the key characters.

In the first movie, the main characters work together out of necessity. In the second it becomes clear the misfits have become a close family.

I suggest the broad appeal of Guardians 2 is its characters.

They personify so many things that millions of people around the world have identified as being the most important things in life.

Being connected to others (love), knowing where you belong, contributing to something significant and knowing that your life counts for something.

You can email Bruce at Bruce.Horne.nz@gmail.com.

Bruce Horne is a retired police inspector who was the Rotorua police area commander from 2003 to 2016.