Tonight after Social Media Club (thanks to Chris for making this happen, and sorry if I was kind of cranky–low blood sugar and centrist skepticism, I think), James, Monique, John and I went for pizza at Incendio.
One of the non-social media topics which we discussed were movies with long, drawn-out tedious endings or third acts.You know the type–you go to gather your jacket and get up, but then there’s a whole other scene. And a scene after that. And a scene after that. It’s really about too long for a denoument. Call it the Penultimate Scene Problem.
Yes, the films of Peter Jackson arose. I thought I’d compile a list of such films, and write a little something about each one. I’m too lazy to come up with them all on my own though, so why don’t you help?
Here’s what we came up with:
- Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
- AI: Artificial Intelligence
- Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Casino Royale
- Titanic
- King Kong (I’m not sure about this one)
Any suggestions?
DarrenBarefoot.com 
Star Wars Episode ??? – The one with the Ewoks
Despite how worthy the film, and how moving the final ‘memorial’ scene was – Schindler’s List
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Apocalypse Now
Marie Antoinette
Too long and then it went on and on and on etc…
You know, I was wondering about ‘Apocalypse Now’. I can’t remember the last bit of the film well enough. I remember a bull gets cut in half and Marlon gets it, but I’m not recalling much else.
Gawd, thank you for including AI. How many acts did that script have?
re. Apocalypse Now.. yeah, that’s pretty much it. I tended to fall asleep at around that time.
Oh, and Braveheart… how long does it take for you to yell Freedom (even if you are being drawn and quartered)?
Given the fact that Peter Jackson introduced a nauseatingly sappy and incredibly unbelievable (and remember here, we’re talking about a movie about a gigantic ape on the loose in Manhattan…so my suspension of disbelief is pretty forgiving) romantic ice skating scene *in the middle* of the Kong rampages through New York City denoument of the film, I’d say King Kong belongs on the list.
Darren, it was great to meet you yesterday!
If you’re talking tedious movie endings…did anyone make it all the way through Velvet Goldmine? As a huge Bowie fan I was so excited about that movie before seeing it and then about halfway through the movie wished someone had gauged out my eyes so I didn’t have to see anymore (I am only half joking here–why would you do that to me Christian Bale? Why??). That movie almost ended for an hour.
Also, I’m not sure what compelled me to see Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet at the theatre…in its uncut 240-something minute version. I’m not sure that movie belongs on the list though because while the ending was tedious, so was the entire movie, IMO anyway.
How about Casino Royale – good flick, but about an hour too long.
Good to see you last night – I did not find you cranky, your question was a good tough one that needs further exploration. It was great seeing you – be back in FEB for Northern Voice.
I’ll go out on a limb here and say “Speed”. It was a great action movie, but really could have ended nicely at the airport after Keanu and Sandra get off the bus. Instead, we have the whole next bit where the police try to trap the bomber and then the bomber kidnaps Sandra and handcuffs her to the train and then he gets killed and then they can’t get Sandra free, and so on and so forth……on and on and on!
Can we count the Matrix series as a single movie, and everything after the first one as a tedious and unnecessary ending?
I disagree about CASINO ROYALE being too long. The seemingly extended length of time spent with Vesper is crucial to show how James Bond’s character was cemented into the bitter, narcisist we all know and love. That moment is the pure begining of his character arc. This is why that film was so brilliant.
The utter disdain he emotes when he spits “the bitch is dead” is the begining of Bond the legend.