Your Favorite (Or Least Favorite) Movie Ending

I liked The Illusionist a lot. But when first watching it, I always suspected that ending.
 
I was reading a discussion on What was the last movie you saw? thread, and I thought of this one. I love surprise endings (the actually surprising ones, that is), but I also love a great ending, twist or not. In case anyone is interested, I'm opening the thread to discuss any type of endings. Please, spoiler warnings for movies still in theater or on DVD for less than 3 months.

However, feel free to spoiler tag and older movie if you think it's worth it. :) In any case clearly marking and highlighting the movie's title is enough for anyone reading to skip the discussion if they so wish.

Off the top of my head I can say I love the ending to Before Sunset. The first time I saw it I cringed because I so did not want that to be the end of the film, but even in my shock I appreciated how unconventional and perfect it was. It was a perfect moment for the characters and the fans to say goodbye to the story for now or forever (not sure if they'll be another one, but either way, it works). It really was a tribute to the chemistry and charm and the odd relationship between Celine and Jesse.

Another classic is Clue with its multiple endings, all hilarious and ludicrous. :lol:

Least favorite?

A new one, the movie Legion. The ending was so unsatisfying and rushed, it felt more like a sloppy midsection than an actual ending.
 
It's not really cheating, though. I think cheating would be for movies that end in a way that the viewers could not possibly have figured out. Both movies give little hints along the way - Identity in particular, which actually gave a lot, if you really think about it.

:spoiler: for "IDENTITY"






END OF:spoiler:

You're giving away too much. The plot itself was all about the characters. It's the invalidation that you're referring to which the plot revolves around, but the charaters are not .. minimalized as a result. Each one and their distinct personality is essential to the story.

it's hard to explain without giving it away ;)



THAT movie I thought was totally hokey :lol: ;)
 
The Prestige, without a doubt :nod:

Other good endings are: Abandon, The Sixth Sense, The Illusionist and The Machinist.
 
I completely agree with Usual Suspects, Fight Club, Memento and Identity. Those I didn't see coming. I also agree on The Others but I'm embarassed about that because it should have been one I saw coming ;)

I also have to say for those who have not seen or read the musical Hair that the movie has a big surprise ending.
 
Great surprise endings are hard to come by, but there have been some great ones over the years.

Abandon, The Sixth Sense, The Prestige, The Illusionist, Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12, Pan's Labyrinth
 
:spoiler: ALERT for the movie "Identity"






Identity borders on cheating the audience vs. actually being a "didn't see that coming" kind of ending that movies likie "Sixth Sense" and others have.

The problem I have with Identity.. as a screenwriter... Is that it actually violates the "it was all a dream" ending in how it explains what is going on... Because it takes the emphasis off of the actual "characters" that the audience invested in and does something that (for all of you who have seen the film) basically invalidates their existence.

This is why I say it is kind of a "cheat" and comes off kind of shallow if you really think about it.

One surprise ending I did not see coming was "K-Pax" -- At least, the version they released in theaters as the director's cut grounds it more in reality and there is more backstory to Kevin Spacey's "Prot" character and you understand WHY he is who he "is" so-to-speak.






END OF :spoiler:
 
Most of the ones mentioned weren't that surprising for me, with the exception of Memento (which was freakin' brilliant) and The Others. Otherwise, the endings were pretty obvious (especially The Usual Suspects, when you consider who's in it).

But there was one that seriously took me by surprise and which I just love for it - Lone Star. If you haven't seen it, you should.
 
Runaway Jury: I didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. That movie was great.
 
Some that come to mind...

Fight Club
Open your eyes, the original Spanish film that Vanilla sky was based on. its absolutely fantastic!
The Others
Identity
Momento

And I remember LOVING American Beauty but I can't for the life of me remember the ending.
 
Any movies that has a psychological twist to it usually has a suprise ending. I like that though.
Movies that really suprised me with their endings.

Fight Club
The Machinist
Vanilla Sky
Donnie Darko
Saw
 
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