Most myths have a common pattern among them. Today, this motif is often seen in some of our most beloved films. Joseph Campbell, a respected 20th-century American mythologist, lecturer, and writer, observed this and created a theory based on the similarities he saw. He showed the world that almost every story with a hero follows the three stages of his theory which he called "Monomyth" (Campbell). The monomyth, often called "The Hero's Journey" or "The Hero with a Thousand Faces", includes the stages of departure, initiation and return (Campbell). In these stages, the hero abandons his normal life, finds fulfillment in an activity and returns as a hero (Campbell). These steps can be applied to a hit movie released in 2009, a science fiction film called Star Trek. James T. Kirk in Star Trek closely follows Campbell's theory as he leaves his childhood home in Iowa, battles a rogue Romulan enemy, and returns to Earth as a Starfleet captain. The film begins with a spectacular space battle that highlights the story of James' father. courage as he sacrifices himself to save the crew of his doomed ship. In doing so, he saved 800 lives, including those of his wife and newborn son. After the opening scene, the film cuts twenty-five years into the future, depicting James as a young troublemaker. “Challenged by Captain Christopher Pike to realize his potential in Starfleet, he enlists to annoy instructors like the young Commander Spock” ​​(Chrisholm). When a distress signal is received from Vulcan (an allied planet), the new USS Enterprise is filled with young cadets who will soon discover that Vulcan is under surprise attack. Together, James and his fellow cadets must pursue and stop an enemy... middle of paper... a belligerent, fatherless young man. After receiving a call to adventure from Pike and preparing to attack, he finds himself surrounded by new allies as well as enemies. His ordeal is depicted as he fights for his life on several occasions. After being in the belly of the whale (the ice planet's cave), Kirk crosses the threshold back and takes command of the Enterprise. He and his crew neutralize Captain Nero, escape a black hole, and return to Earth to receive great honor. Especially Kirk, who finds a new role in life as the captain of a spaceship. Works Cited Campbell, Joseph. The hero with a thousand faces. 2nd ed. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1968-1949. Printed. Chrisholm, Kenneth. “Plot summary.” IMDb. IMDb.com, and Web. November 18, 2013. Star Trek. Real. Jeffrey Abrams. Perf. Chris Pine. Harkins Theater, 2009. Film.