Ambiguous Endings

The first example that came to mind. The fact that we have to refer to the novel to even have a clue, leaves the film in the category of “what the hell just happened?” ambiguity.

We don’t know that. I remember the Star Child at the end, but it never crossed my mind that it might have been Dave himself.

Who says he returned to Earth?

The novel tells us Dave Bowman is re-born as the Star-Child and returns to Earth.

In the movie it may be unclear to some that it is Bowman, the way Kubrick filmed it. It is not at all ambiguous that he returns to Earth, as he is seen hovering over Earth in one of the final shots of the movie.

Ah, I hadn’t looked at it quite like that–it’s been a while since I’ve seen it. I guess I came away with the feeling that they wanted to try, in spite of it all. Or at least, that when Joel said, “I know,” it meant that he knew that despite the fact that they eventually drove each other crazy, that he still wanted to try. Maybe even knowing the likelihood that it wouldn’t work out.

It can play either way, which is why it is ambiguous.

I thought the building they were in didn’t have a bomb in the basement. Tyler brought the narrator to a spot where they’d be able to watch everything go. Tyler didn’t seem interested in destroying himself, he wanted to watch his new world become reality.

As for the comments made about bravery, I think they were talking about what he’d just lived through, not that he was staying in the building. After all, they show up carrying chips and beer intending to watch the show as well.

Are you saying that was good then, or bad? I can’t get a read on this. :wink:

I like ambiguous endings of the sort where things are totally completely fantasy (like horror movies or something) and it’s like, “and here’s the resolution. or is it?” Like the hero kills the monster and sends it to a watery grave and the last scene is the monster opening its eyes or something.

And I like ambiguous endings in stories that are supposed to be strictly about life. The sort where there’s really no resolution, no fanfare, just no more story.

But what I don’t like is when movies or stories that are fantasy try to pull the “life doesn’t always have closure” thing. Life doesn’t generally have princesses in disguise running around cities or people with magic powers or long-lost identical twins meeting as teenagers or talking animals either, and if I’m going to believe those things happen for the purpose of the book, I’m certainly going to believe that the story ends neatly and everybody either lives happily ever after or dies.