Good movies with bad endings

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hoyaguru

Senior member
Jun 9, 2003
893
3
81
I doubt anyone has ever seen this movie, but "Big Man Japan" had one of the strangest endings to any movie I've ever seen. I guess it's a difference in culture, but I'd really love someone to explain it to me.
 
R

Redfraggle

Platinum Member
Jan 19, 2009
2,413
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0
PowerEngineer said:
QFT

People who were disappointed by the "lame" ending for Contact obviously hadn't read the book. The whole point that Sagan was trying to make about the limits and linkages between science and faith was not (and probably could not) be translated into a movie with an ending that movie-goers would appreciate. IMHO the most thought provoking idea in the book was the suggestion (by the alien) that an intelligence behind creation of the universe could have left a message deep in the digits of pi, and the book ends with Ellie finding such a message. That's all missing from the movie.
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This is very interesting. I think I'll read the book now.

My problem is that, in the movie, it seemed like there wasn't any real point. Essentially, the movie spent the whole time spinning its wheels. Everyone tells her that she never went anywhere, and she just ends up looking delusional.

The alien/dad explains his appearance, I think (it's been a while), by saying that it assumed a form she would feel comforted by and talk with. So that, I can accept.

The movie is not filmed as though it's from her point of view, but a wider one. So to suddenly make the audience need to narrow in and be happy/content with her experience fails, and everyone ends up mad.
 
V

Veliko

Diamond Member
Feb 16, 2011
3,597
127
106
3:10 to Yuma

Russell Crowe's character changes completely which made it a bit ridiculous.
 
CZroe

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Redfraggle said:
This is very interesting. I think I'll read the book now.

My problem is that, in the movie, it seemed like there wasn't any real point. Essentially, the movie spent the whole time spinning its wheels. Everyone tells her that she never went anywhere, and she just ends up looking delusional.

The alien/dad explains his appearance, I think (it's been a while), by saying that it assumed a form she would feel comforted by and talk with. So that, I can accept.

The movie is not filmed as though it's from her point of view, but a wider one. So to suddenly make the audience need to narrow in and be happy/content with her experience fails, and everyone ends up mad.
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I think there was a Robot Chicken clip where someone criticized that as being about the LEAST comfortable form they could have taken. Her DEAD father?! What were they thinking?!
 
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T

theprodigalrebel

Lifer
Oct 4, 2004
10,515
6
81
her209 said:
Because you watch the 3 hour movie and the alien changes its form into her father.

LAME!
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Spoilers for those who haven't seen Contact:
It's been a while since I've seen the movie but I remember something about the aliens 'reading her mind' and creating an environment that would comfort the visitor. Hence the very Earth-like beautiful beach and the image of the person she loved most (I haven't read Sagan's book but I believe there are five travelers in the book, and they all see the person that they love/loved most).

It would have been lame for Ellie to return and tell everyone, "Haha, you religitards, science won! There's like aliens, sharks with lasers and cool shit out there."

The twist was a stroke of genius: Ellie discovered a certain truth about the Universe but unfortunately wasn't able to furnish evidence. She found herself in the old uncomfortable 'You have to faith in me and my experiences, which I regrettably can never prove.' position that she always mocked. It is a significant part of what makes it such a great movie (to me). In the end, both atheists and believers can identify with the unique position Ellie finds herself in. That is a master-stroke IMO.
 
Imp

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
Veliko said:
3:10 to Yuma

Russell Crowe's character changes completely which made it a bit ridiculous.
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Not really. His character developed or 'came out' more as the movie went on. The guy just did shit that he liked, had no loyalties, was capable of being ruthless and compassionate - just damaged. He wasn't doing the "right" thing, just trying to help the rancher.

So glad to see that the prick kid die though.
 
Malak

Malak

Lifer
Dec 4, 2004
14,696
2
0
PowerEngineer said:
QFT

People who were disappointed by the "lame" ending for Contact obviously hadn't read the book. The whole point that Sagan was trying to make about the limits and linkages between science and faith was not (and probably could not) be translated into a movie with an ending that movie-goers would appreciate. IMHO the most thought provoking idea in the book was the suggestion (by the alien) that an intelligence behind creation of the universe could have left a message deep in the digits of pi, and the book ends with Ellie finding such a message. That's all missing from the movie.

As a nearly inviolate rule, movie are never as good as the books they originate from. The only possible exception to the rule is 2001 Space Odyssey. Both the movie and the book were actually expanded out of a short story by Clarke, so in fact the movie did not originate from the book.
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My problem with the movie has nothing to do with the alien, that isn't the end. It is the trial at the end.
 
ProfJohn

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,161
7
0
The problem with Contact and 2001 and Solaris is that you really cant explain the ending in a movie unless you have a narrator come on and explain things.
 
rockyct

rockyct

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2001
6,656
32
91
I think many people here are confusing endings that are open to reflection and interpretation as bad endings.

Castaway, No Country For Old Men, Contact, True Grit Children of Men (although not mentioned yet) are all movies that don't end in a nice, wrapped up package. Instead I would say these movies are much better for the more unsatisfying ending.
 
CZroe

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
rockyct said:
I think many people here are confusing endings that are open to reflection and interpretation as bad endings.

Castaway, No Country For Old Men, Contact, True Grit Children of Men (although not mentioned yet) are all movies that don't end in a nice, wrapped up package. Instead I would say these movies are much better for the more unsatisfying ending.
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Total Recall, Shutter Island... some may consider it a gimmick. ;)
 
grrl

grrl

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2001
6,204
1
0
GagHalfrunt said:
Jurassic Park. The dinos didn't eat those uber-annoying kids.
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I would have happily given up two limbs to see the daughter die a slow death.

I remember the contact scene in Contact, but nothing after that.
 
T

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
18,933
566
126
Zedtom said:
Castaway. Tom Hank's character goes through all of those challenges and emerges as a man who has conquered nature and survived. Then what happens? He comes home and his wife kicks him to the curb because it would be unfair to her new husband to try to recapture their past.
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Its even worse. Clinging to the hope of being reunited with his love was mostly what kept him going instead of taking a triple gainer off a cliff and dashing his brains on the rocks below.

So keeping her alive in his mind is what kept him alive...but it was for naught (except that it got him home alive).

Worst...suckiest...ending in recent memory were "Nights in Rodanthe" and "Message in a Bottle".
 
PottedMeat

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
rockyct said:
I think many people here are confusing endings that are open to reflection and interpretation as bad endings.

Castaway, No Country For Old Men, Contact, True Grit Children of Men (although not mentioned yet) are all movies that don't end in a nice, wrapped up package. Instead I would say these movies are much better for the more unsatisfying ending.
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i agree ( haven't seen true grit though ), except for children of men -

wasn't the point to save the girl with the baby, don't you see her floating toward the ship baby in hand or am i remembering things differently?
 
crashtestdummy

crashtestdummy

Platinum Member
Feb 18, 2010
2,893
0
0
I think it's interesting that so many people hated the ending of Contact. I don't think it could have ended any other way.
If she had gone out, met the aliens, and come back with grand technologies and lots of proof, the rest of the film would have made no sense. Sure, the hearing was a little over the top, but she needed to be forced to concede that she had witnessed the scientific equivalent of a miracle and only had her personal experience to back her up. The only part I didn't like was the "5 hours of static" bit. I would have preferred they left everything completely ambiguous, rather than wink at the audience and tell them Ellie was right all along.
 
SamQuint

SamQuint

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2010
1,155
45
91
How about Independance Day, They use an mac to deliver a computer virus to the mothership. LAME, otherwise it was half way decent movie.
 
DominionSeraph

DominionSeraph

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2009
8,386
32
91
bunnyfubbles said:
The Final Countdown
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Nope. It's a much better movie the way it ended. To focus on a single visceral line to the exclusion of the larger picture in which one sees that that line would be paradoxical is very... Republican.

Gratuitous explosions do not fill plot holes. An ending which allowed for the timeline to change would open up so many questions that the movie would fall on its ass.

Anyway, my vote is for District B13. The movie starts off great, but the climax with the bomb just fails to produce any tension.
 
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