General Discussion : Let-down endings

[Stewball]

mindfuck = something that is so different from what you were expecting that it takes a while to wrap your brain around, but is totally enthralling and fantastic in spite of the initial confusion it causes... it's a good thing. I'm a huge fan of 2001 and it's ending.

EDIT: lol, I just looked at my review of 2001, which describes the film thusly: "Kubrick's interstellar mindfuck"

I was confused because you said you loved the ending even though it was a total mindfuck, the "even though" sort of implying something in another direction from "loved the ending". So, and very well.

David: "I see stars."

[Stewball]

For more of Kubrick talking about 2001, see about halfway through this fascinating interview, especially what he says about emotion and art.

Bravo.

[by Devol]

whatthefuckever = utterly confounding. I'll bet nobody would have figured out that ending, on their own. And it is for that reason it's a let-down. Sure, you can have open-ended endings that leave different interpretations for some people, but, at the cost, for this viewer, of throwing some fetus at us with "Thus Spake..." blaring away? And then end? I simply can't imagine anyone watching it - for the first time, that is - and not cocking their eyebrow.
Sure - bemusement isn't the most horrible thing to experience, and can sometimes shake one out of their complacency/stagnant mindeset, but for 2001, that ending was way too jarring to be credible.

If anyone understands it on the first viewing, we've failed in our intention.

Well, you certainly succeeded.

[ShogunRua]

I can't really call the ending to 2001 a "let-down" because the entire film was a lousy, boring mess. If anything, it was a "bring-up" because it meant the misery of sitting through the picture was finally, blessedly over.

For me, I instantly thought of

The Town- A film that was borderline great until its absolutely atrocious ending, one that (among other sins) is utterly incompatible with the nature of the story and the events we had been witness to before.

[Stewball]

whatthefuckever = utterly confounding. I'll bet nobody would have figured out that ending, on their own. And it is for that reason it's a let-down. Sure, you can have open-ended endings that leave different interpretations for some people, but, at the cost, for this viewer, of throwing some fetus at us with "Thus Spake..." blaring away? And then end? I simply can't imagine anyone watching it - for the first time, that is - and not cocking their eyebrow.
Sure - bemusement isn't the most horrible thing to experience, and can sometimes shake one out of their complacency/stagnant mindeset, but for 2001, that ending was way too jarring to be credible.

If anyone understands it on the first viewing, we've failed in our intention.

Well, you certainly succeeded.

Clarke's comment shows that it wasn't easy to understand on the first viewing, but also that neither was it open ended.

There is a definite interpretation. I don't mind, in fact I enjoy it if there 's such a challenge. That's the way Inception was too. In those cases you knew you weren't being played with different possible interpretations. In fact, Nolan said exactly that, that there was a definite meaning--that you cheating the audience otherwise. If you've been jilted 50 times, do you stop looking? Some people yeah, and are sure they're being burned at the first sign of a mystery or complexity.

[by Devol]

Clarke's comment shows that it wasn't easy to understand on the first viewing...

agreed, which I acknowleged with this:

I simply can't imagine anyone watching it - for the first time, that is - and not cocking their eyebrow.

...but also that neither was it open ended.

sure, I'm aware Clarke/Kubrick had a definite interpretation, but that in no way negates that a film like this - especially upon first viewing - presents enough images that can be interpreted in a myriad of ways.....ways, of course, that don't interest me enough to delve further into, but certainly different ways nonetheless, as explored in commentary over the years.

I, too, enjoy the challenge of a mystery or complexity (certainly never feeling burned, anyway) but the initial viewing of 2001's ending just basically struck me as incongruous.

others:

L'eolo
How Awful About Alan
Deer Hunter
Prophecy
North by Northwest
Hi Mom!

[sixx]

All Good Things is easily the worst and most laughable ending I have yet to come across.

[luke9]

Cool Hand Luke (otherwise a good movie but it was filmed in the late 60's so that was the only option)

That same description could apply to Easy Rider, which you gave a higher score...interesting. I think CHL is much better than ER because it has a more intricate and better-paced plot. And Paul Newman is in it.

[Stewball]

Cool Hand Luke (otherwise a good movie but it was filmed in the late 60's so that was the only option)

That same description could apply to Easy Rider, which you gave a higher score...interesting. I think CHL is much better than ER because it has a more intricate and better-paced plot. And Paul Newman is in it.

I agree, but I'm huge on music in movies, which combined so well with the images in ER. Born to Be Wild is pretty close to being THE anthem for R&R, a baton picked up and continued by Burn it to the Ground, along with Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting.


Yes, yes, I'm not saying they're THE epitome of rock, they just play to the R&R theme the best. I'm open to other suggestions, **today is NOT a good day to die**.

[ShogunRua]

Cool Hand Luke not only had an excellent ending, but the only possible ending it could have had given the events of the film.