A Light in the Distance: Difference between revisions
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[[File:ALightInTheDistance 6991.jpg|link=Fullmetal Alchemist (anime)|frame|"Mom would always put a light in the upstairs window, so no matter how dark it was, we could find our way home."]] |
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{{quote|''"What's that? A transport! I'm saved!"''|'''C-3PO''', ''[[Star Wars]]: [[A New Hope]]''}} |
{{quote|''"What's that? A transport! I'm saved!"''|'''C-3PO''', ''[[Star Wars]]: [[A New Hope]]''}} |
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...But, what's this? There's a light in the distance. Our heroes may have found shelter from that dreadful storm or, at least, a place to rest before resuming the journey. Yes, it seems that one of the ways to show the audience that characters have [[Hope Spot|a glimmer of hope in an otherwise gloomy situation]] is to have something light the way, literally. |
...But, what's this? There's a light in the distance. Our heroes may have found shelter from that dreadful storm or, at least, a place to rest before resuming the journey. Yes, it seems that one of the ways to show the audience that characters have [[Hope Spot|a glimmer of hope in an otherwise gloomy situation]] is to have something light the way, literally. |
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This is caused at least partly by the fact that, celestial bodies aside, light-producing objects are rare in |
This is caused at least partly by the fact that, celestial bodies aside, light-producing objects are rare in nature—particularly those producing steady light, visible over a distance. So any light visible at night, or in a storm, is a sign of humans (or, in [[Speculative Fiction]], any intelligent beings) and civilization. |
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Of course, the source of this light [[Light Is Not Good|frequently turns out to be bad]], and possibly worse than whatever our heroes were seeking shelter from. This particular wrinkle dates back at least to [[Ghost Lights]] and will-o'-the-wisps from folklore. |
Of course, the source of this light [[Light Is Not Good|frequently turns out to be bad]], and possibly worse than whatever our heroes were seeking shelter from. This particular wrinkle dates back at least to [[Ghost Lights]] and will-o'-the-wisps from folklore. |
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== [[Film]] == |
== [[Film]] == |
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* ''[[Rocky Horror Picture Show]]:'' [[Ear Worm|"There's a light, over at the Frankenstein Place."]] |
* ''[[Rocky Horror Picture Show]]:'' [[Ear Worm|"There's a light, over at the Frankenstein Place."]] |
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* ''[[Monty Python and the Holy Grail]]''. As Sir Galahad is struggling through a forest at night, he sees a castle in the distance with a |
* ''[[Monty Python and the Holy Grail]]''. As Sir Galahad is struggling through a forest at night, he sees a castle in the distance with a light—which looks like the Holy Grail—overhead. On YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvRH-8eF6l0 at about 3:35]. |
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* In ''[[Barbie]] and the Diamond Castle,'' the heroines are lost in a forest and out of food and water. Just then, Liana notices smoke coming from just beyond the trees, leading them to an [[The Final Temptation|isolated mansion]]. |
* In ''[[Barbie]] and the Diamond Castle,'' the heroines are lost in a forest and out of food and water. Just then, Liana notices smoke coming from just beyond the trees, leading them to an [[The Final Temptation|isolated mansion]]. |
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* The very beginning of ''[[The Iron Giant]]'': A fisherman and his boat are caught in a horrible storm, and he's searching for the lighthouse to find his way out. He thinks he's found it upon seeing a light in the distance, but that assumption quickly fades away when the light turns and reveals itself to be two |
* The very beginning of ''[[The Iron Giant]]'': A fisherman and his boat are caught in a horrible storm, and he's searching for the lighthouse to find his way out. He thinks he's found it upon seeing a light in the distance, but that assumption quickly fades away when the light turns and reveals itself to be two lights—like eyes. Then the boat crashes into the title character. |
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* Threepio seeing the Jawa sandcrawler in the distance in the original ''[[Star Wars]]'' movie. |
* Threepio seeing the Jawa sandcrawler in the distance in the original ''[[Star Wars]]'' movie. |
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* [[Finding Nemo|"It's so...pretty!"]] |
* [[Finding Nemo|"It's so...pretty!"]] |
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** To |
** To clarify—these are fish, much deeper in the ocean than they really ought to be, and the light in the darkness is an angler fish. Sometimes light ''really'' isn't good. |
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* "And we lights the city ... not just for him, but for all of 'em that're still out there. 'Cause we knows ... there'll come a night, when they sees the distant light ... and they'll be comin' home." (''[[Mad Max]] Beyond Thunderdome'', final words.) |
* "And we lights the city ... not just for him, but for all of 'em that're still out there. 'Cause we knows ... there'll come a night, when they sees the distant light ... and they'll be comin' home." (''[[Mad Max]] Beyond Thunderdome'', final words.) |
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