Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Best Movie Endings

Movie endings should be just right, shouldn't they? I mean, an average ending can cause a really fine movie to fall a bit flat, just like an incredible ending can lift a otherwise ho-hum flick to greatness.

Filmcritic.com has this list of the Top 50 Movie Endings Of All Time.

It's an intriguing list, although I don't agree with it completely. While I loved Batman Begins, for example, I don't think that ending should be included. And, I think the original Planet Of The Apes ending should be listed a little higher. All in all, though, it's an interesting list that could create interesting dialogue.

What's your favorite movie ending? Did it make the list, or should it have?

6 comments:

Ian C. said...

I love that Before Sunset was on this list. I saw that movie by myself and when it ended, I wanted to approach everyone who walked out with me and talk about that ending. Sadly, we all kept to ourselves.

The Usual Suspects was also a good ending, but including it on this list makes me wonder why The Sixth Sense was excluded.

My choice for a movie that wasn't on the list (that comes to mind right now): Lost in Translation. What did Bill Murray say to Scarlett Johansson when they hugged for the last time?

Jim said...

I was surprised that the end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid wasn't on the list (aside from the reference in Bonnie & Clyde). That one changed cinema forever.

Also, what about those movies that should have had different endings...

For example, the end of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Total Recall, should have ended with Arnold back in the simulator with the adventure of his "trip to Mars" having all been a simulation. Now that would have been a classic twist.

The Film Geek said...

Ian, The usual Suspects was so brilliant...one of the few movies I have seen more than once. And just for that ending.

Jim, that Total Recall re-write would have been a classic twist!

Anonymous said...

"The Others" and "Identity" were great endings for me.

The Film Geek said...

You know, I had forgotten about The Others. That ending was really unusual, and very suprising. I liked Identidy too...I couldn't figure out the ending, but my wife did within the first 20 minutes or so. Man, I hate it when she does that.

jedijawa said...

That's a pretty good list. You know how lists go though. They always piss someone off.