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The original Planet of the Apes comes to mind.
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Posted: |
Jul 19, 2013 - 6:21 PM
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By: |
MusicMaker
(Member)
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Aside from the aforementioned TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3, here are some my other picks for great movie endings (no particular order):
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
A masterpiece of an ending to a masterpiece of a film with a masterpiece of a score. Also, in my opinion, the best book-to-film adaptation ever made.
THE STING
A great ending on its own, but all the better within the context of how Redford's and Newman's previous film together had ended (BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID). I love this whole movie, but the ending is excellent.
FINDING NEVERLAND
This movie (and its conclusion) produced an absolute "pindrop" moment at the movie theater when I first saw it. Every single person (yes, even the teens on their cell phones) just sat in complete silence through the entire ending credits sequence. No one even breathed. I hadn't ever seen this public reaction before, and I've never seen a similar one since.
THE SIXTH SENSE
No explanation necessary.
UNBREAKABLE
Not everyone's cup of tea, but I loved this ending. Made the whole movie feel a bit more electric.
THE PRESTIGE
Though I realize not everyone shares my opinion, I find the end of this one to be incredible. I never saw the revelations coming, and I found them brilliant. And it explained so much about all of the characters involved.
GLORY
I am a sucker for valor, selflessness, self-sacrifice, loyalty, brotherhood, and dedication to a cause. Especially if it's done with class, perspective, and nuance, rather than with unbridled pomp, self-aggrandizement and ham-fistedness (like, say, MR HOLLAND'S OPUS, DEAD POETS SOCIETY, A TIME TO KILL, or even [somewhat], dare I say it... LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING). This one gets me every time.
THE NATURAL
From the "big moment" itself through the transition into the nostalgia and tenderness of playing catch on a farm. This one is absolutely fantastic.
FIELD OF DREAMS
No explanation necessary- I already know this one is really popular on these boards.
THE LEGEND OF 1900
This is a beautiful ending to a beautiful movie.
STAR WARS and ROCKY
The 1970s weren't exactly full of movies in which the protagonist(s) overcame the odds and achieved victory (be it real or moral). Both of these movies get the nod from me just for their pure joy of ecstasy and celebration. Especially in an era of "downer," pessimistic, and futile endings.
FAIL-SAFE
I used to hate this ending. The first time I saw it I thought "so that's it? Just like that?" But as time has moved on, I now think this ending is excellent (and certainly different from the vast majority of movie conclusions out there).
Honorable Mention:
SOME LIKE IT HOT
This would actually be my dad's pick (he's a film studies professor). In his opinion, this movie has the greatest final line of all time. I do not share his opinion so enthusiastically, but I need to mention it nonetheless.
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Lots of good endings mentioned above.
Two personal favorites--
THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN - The decent prison warden played by Henry Fonda, manipulated and
humiliated by the Kirk Douglas character throughout the film, gets a satisfying resolution with a final
title reading, ". . . And he lived happily ever after."
RESURRECTION - A very melodramatic film salvaged by a fine performance by Ellen Burstin that ends in a scene at a desert gas station between the Burstin character and a little boy obviously dying of cancer that just about saves all that has gone before. (Anyone who can watch this scene unmoved is made of stone.)
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