Open ambiguous endings vs. closure

[terry78]

Somewhat deviated from the Cloverfield thread concerning ambiguity, but it seems that many audiences have issue with flicks that end with a question mark, or on a cliffhanger that never gets resolved, either by hatred or confusion of said movie. I hate to say people need to be spoon-fed, but it appears that way for a lot of opinions. On the other hand, I don't like when filmmakers attempt to be all avant garde and make a purposely dumb ending that's supposed to be clever and ambiguous just for the sake of it, either.

 

[tzarinna]

It doesn't bother me much with open endings.
I think there a plenty of movies with closure to make up for the lack of a few that don't have them.
It may also be a marketing tool for those of us completely obsessed that need to see it again in case we missed something that could aide in a proper ending.

 

[SuperT]

I like open ambiguous endings compared to happy closed endings. I like when my mind wanders about what happened after the movie ended.

The reason the general populus hates open ended movie endings is because we're so used to getting a nice little bow tied on to everything we've had. So when we're presented with something that we have to make our own assumptions about, most are left disappointed.

I agree, most people need to be spoonfed which sucks.

 

[The Professor]

Closure is usually so boring and less thought provoking, although can be if done right. Ambiguous endings can be brilliant if pulled of correctly, but can be horribly stupid otherwise. I suppose it just depends on how the director/creator goes about doing things.

 

[SuperT]

Yea, I don't think there's really any inbetween when it comes to ambiguous endings.

When they are good they are really good, and when they are bad they are horribly bad. No in between.

 

[co2]

Yea, I don't think there's really any inbetween when it comes to ambiguous endings.

When they are good they are really good, and when they are bad they are horribly bad. No in between.

Agreed.

I think it really depends on the kind of film for me. Horror or drama..I can deal with ambiguity..in fact it can lend itself to the story. Action on the other hand, has to come full cirlce.

 

[phillyboy]

The question is usually more intriguing than the answer.

 

[Gilpesh]

If only Seven was gutsier. It was supposed to just cut to black, no Morgan Freeman extra scene.

 

[scifiwolf]

I like endings like The Departed's. Not exactly happy, not totally sad, but there is certainly closure.

 

[Max J Power]

Whatever is best suited to the movie.

 

[Max J Power]

Double post. Great avatar sciwolf.

 

[ChickenScratch]

Closure is overrated. In most cases an open ending does have some foreshadowing that pretty much gives you a good idea of what happens next. We are usually given enough foreshadowing and know the characters enough to pretty much figure it out or mull it over.

 

[Superhobo]

It all depends on the story. If the story calls for closure, give it closure. If the story wants to remain open, let it remain open. As long as its done well.

 

[The Geek Vault]

Closure is overrated. In most cases an open ending does have some foreshadowing that pretty much gives you a good idea of what happens next. We are usually given enough foreshadowing and know the characters enough to pretty much figure it out or mull it over.

I agree, for instance in cloverfield we did get some closure, when the movie skipped back to the ferris wheel scene I believe that was our closure that the two died in love?

 

[Lighthouse]

Funny, I thought this thread would be about the I Am Legend movie.

 

[Prison Mike]

I Am Legend had closure, IMO. I would have liked it for it to be true to the book, though.

 

[Gilpesh]

I Am Legend had closure, IMO. I would have liked it for it to be true to the book, though.

There was a question it didn't?

Cause that ending screams Hollywood needed fluffy ending to make everyone feel good leaving the movie.

 

[Prison Mike]

There was a question it didn't?

Cause that ending screams Hollywood needed fluffy ending to make everyone feel good leaving the movie.

wait, what question?

 

[Lighthouse]

I Am Legend had closure, IMO. I would have liked it for it to be true to the book, though.

That was the problem. Funny thing is I think the book ending had closure to it too, but audiences would have whined about it.

 

[Warhammer]

Usually, I go with the flow. 9 times out of 10, the film ends just fine, because the director usually knows what he is doing. However, you have that extra 10% of films that either ends with spoon-feeding, or ends open-ended without any more reason than continuing the fad/attempting cleverness.

Basically, I never have a problem with a film's ending, but there is always that one movie that comes out that I see that has a crappy ending.

 

[thejon93]

Somewhat deviated from the Cloverfield thread concerning ambiguity, but it seems that many audiences have issue with flicks that end with a question mark, or on a cliffhanger that never gets resolved, either by hatred or confusion of said movie. I hate to say people need to be spoon-fed, but it appears that way for a lot of opinions. On the other hand, I don't like when filmmakers attempt to be all avant garde and make a purposely dumb ending that's supposed to be clever and ambiguous just for the sake of it, either.

I recently saw a movie like that called Joy Ride, good movie; very funny and thrilling at the same time but a really stupid ending

 

[The Last Meatbag]

Batman Begins did a great job with joining the two into a great ending.

 

[PLAS]

it mostly depends on the viewer and their imagination activity

 

[nocomics]

I hate endings period. Good endings. Bad endings. Open endings. Ambiguous endings. Twist endings. I just hate them. Endings mean the movie has ended and I have to return to reality,and reality has the worse ending of them ALL. DEATH....

 

[The Shape]

The Godfather is an example of a film with the perfect ending, when you see how Michael Corleone has changed and is taking over the mantle of the Godfather. The story is completed by that time, and things are certainly resolved, but at the same time, his descent has just begun.