Question about movies

[RayPye]

Why does evil never prevail in them? Do happy endings give people satisfaction even when they're highly improbable? Shouldn't there be a balance as to how films usually end? It feels like 90% of the stuff I watch nowadays has to have an extremely "positive" climax and it's monotonous for me.

Thoughts?

[Asator]

Welcome to Hollywood. :3

[SideKick1]

life sucks
people dont want to be reminded of this when watching movies

[Coral_sex]

It does sometimes.

Anyone ever watch/read Goosebumps?

[Tyrando]

It's a Wonderful Life?

though ive found that only Horror's seem to let the badguys win, or atleast let them survive for another day/movie.

goosebumps was classic lol used to watch that all the time as a kid.

[SideKick1]

It does sometimes.

Anyone ever watch/read Goosebumps?
yeah
when i was like 10

[magnakaser]

Huh?

While I don't know if you'd count it as "Evil" winning, plenty of movies have not happy endings... whether it's the girl and guy not getting together or people dying or what have you.

I'd say watch more movies.

[Coral_sex]

yeah
when i was like 10
Just saying :cool:

[RogerDodger]

No good movie (story) has a discernable good vs evil, its just too cliche'.

So that could be your answer.

[Benny`]

The term you're looking for is the "hollywood ending", but when I looked it up on wikipedia all I got was the movie of the same name :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Ending

[RayPye]

Huh?

While I don't know if you'd count it as "Evil" winning, plenty of movies have not happy endings... whether it's the girl and guy not getting together or people dying or what have you.

I'd say watch more movies.


The term you're looking for is the "hollywood ending", but when I looked it up on wikipedia all I got was the movie of the same name :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Ending

Foreign films seem to break this "happy ending cycle" but even their cinema is prevalent with cliche storylines followed by even more cliche endings. For this very reason, some of my favourites at the moment are Gaspar Noe's films. His work seems to break this monotony in a unique way.


No good movie (story) has a discernable good vs evil, its just too cliche'.

So that could be your answer.

This is subjective. I've watched plenty of films that weren't cliche at all but did follow a noticeable pattern of isolating the "good" events from the "bad" ones.

[InsaneChef]

i liked in the descent where noone survived.

but then the Americans changed it so she did :(

[Narfle]

I dunno man, like 40% of the movies in my DVD collection have "unhappy" endings in one way or another.

But if youre truly into the whole "good vs evil" taken to a whole new level, then go watch Ichi the Killer.

[SideKick1]

I dunno man, like 40% of the movies in my DVD collection have "unhappy" endings in one way or another.

But if youre truly into the whole "good vs evil" taken to a whole new level, then go watch Ichi the Killer.
wanna play narfle

[whistle]

Hey you guys, watch this

http://thehetre.vn/ichinews/090221205656-529-720.jpg

[Narfle]

yes ill play narfle

[SideKick1]

yes ill play narfle
i meant hon :[

[RayPye]

i meant hon :[

lol =\

[Marylinn]

Incoming psychology nerdgasm.



Because "happy" endings are psychologically satisfying to the vast majority of people, whether or not they even realize it. Movies are predominately produced with the intent to make money. Thus being the case, they want what will appeal to the largest number of potential viewers. There are also some movies/playwrights that have no clear "good or bad" premise, like Pulp Fiction or Fight Club just to give a few examples, and that is what makes them such good stories. But to your average directly-to-flim movies, it's all about the dollah dollah bill.

[Narfle]

That is some high end stuff.

People like happy stuff?

You just blew my mind.

And you seriously need to contact the media with your expose on how capitalists like money, the population need to know such information.

High end stuff. For someone with a 17% smaller brain, naturally.

[Marylinn]

Honestly seemed pointless to bore people with the scientific semantics behind it.

[Narfle]

I agree, it was much better to write "people like happy stuff and money".

[RayPye]

Incoming psychology nerdgasm.



Because "happy" endings are psychologically satisfying to the vast majority of people, whether or not they even realize it. Movies are predominately produced with the intent to make money. Thus being the case, they want what will appeal to the largest number of potential viewers. There are also some movies/playwrights that have no clear "good or bad" premise, like Pulp Fiction or Fight Club just to give a few examples, and that is what makes them such good stories. But to your average directly-to-flim movies, it's all about the dollah dollah bill.

I understand what you mean. However, after one purchases a DVD or goes in a cinema the film has already been sold. Films don't have "I was disappointed with the ending" insurance. So, what's the point of pleasing the viewer with a cheesy ending? How do you as a film maker make more money with a beautiful cheesy ending than you would with a tragic one?

And yes, I do agree that some of the best films so far have blurry lines between good and bad.

[LolMaliken]

the point is a film that doesnt appeal to the first wave of critics doesnt appeal to the masses and gets bad rep and consequently doesnt get more people because of word of mouth

[RayPye]

the point is a film that doesnt appeal to the first wave of critics doesnt appeal to the masses and gets bad rep and consequently doesnt get more people because of word of mouth

Good point. People are gullible after all.

[a_cloth]

http://bibliotecadefilme.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/a-clockwork-orange-poster.jpg


Is this considered a happy ending or technically an evil one? lol

[RayPye]

Is this considered a happy ending or technically an evil one? lol

Awesome film, man. ACO would have to be in my top 5 of all time.

SPOILER for A Clockwork Orange

I'd say that at the end of the movie, the protagonists contemplation to lead a better life gives the viewer somewhat of a good sensation, or maybe an understanding that Alex has learned something after all the chaos.

[NrFive]

I know plenty movies without your standard ending, a few which come to mind:

- The Darkness
- Pulp Fiction
- Titanic (c'mon Leo dies!)
- Terminator 2 (ok who did not cry when Arny had to drop in the molten metal stuff?)
- The 6th Sense
- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (it has a "good" ending, but not on all plots)
- Michael Jackson's This is It (yeah that one is lame)
- The Number 23
- The Break-Up (yeah... titles says it all)

But you have them... but it is all a matter of what you want to see. Sometimes you just want to watch a corny predictable feel good movie. And sometimes you just are in the mood for something more. No bad thing with that right?

[RayPye]

But you have them... but it is all a matter of what you want to see. Sometimes you just want to watch a corny predictable feel good movie. And sometimes you just are in the mood for something more. No bad thing with that right?

I agree with you, variety is good. That's why I'm against one type of predominant scenario in most movie endings, such as the "good, cheesy ending" we often witness. I wouldn't want "evil" to prevail in every movie either, for that would just inflict another type of monotony.

[Marylinn]

Good point. People are gullible after all.
And it isn't just that, either. Critics hated a lot of really classic movies (The Big Lebowski got terrible reviews, but people adore that movie.) but it comes down to plot. If your plot is written as such that the ending turns out happy, that's just the way it is. I don't think it's necessarily a predetermined outcome just based on "people like happy endings."

I write a lot of fiction, and was a very active playwright in high school, but unless you write your ending first (which some people do. Stephen King is a very good example of this.) sometimes the flow of the story just leads itself. If you're in a good mood, you will more than likely end on a good note. If life has you down, perhaps your outcome is darker.

I can't imagine a lot of Hollywood writers have shitty lives or circumstances though, so maybe this attributes to it quite a bit.

[SolidStroke]

It's a Wonderful Life?

though ive found that only Horror's seem to let the badguys win, or atleast let them survive for another day/movie.

goosebumps was classic lol used to watch that all the time as a kid.


I can't believe you just mentioned It's a Wonderful Life. No other human being my age other than myself should be aware of this magnificent movie.


Also: Ten movies where the bad guys win:
http://unrealitymag.com/index.php/2009/01/16/ten-movies-where-the-bad-guys-win/