Share your One
Tweet
Movie Review
by John Holliday
by George Taylor
by Christian Fannin
COMING SOON!
[Keep up with the "Special Feature" column and Christian Fannin will sit you on his lap and talk to you about whatever movie-related topic he feels like.]
There have been so many movies to rely on their twist that it's become cliche to have any kind of unexpected ending. It's always good when a movie is able to overcome this and put a new twist on the plot twist. Some titles are ignored on this list because I'm ranking the overall quality of the movie as well as it's ending and overall impact. MAJOR SPOILERS within the text only so feel free to browse the pictures. Put number 5 on the board and let's begin.
"He told me you killed him."
Remember when you were a kid and saw Empire for the first time? Remember how sore your jaw was when it hit the floor as Vader said, "No. I am your father."? Even people that haven't seen the Star Wars movies have quoted this line. This isn't the only movie on the list whose twist consists of an equally famous quote. Due to the popularity of this one though, it's not much of a surprise to the few who still haven't seen it. That's why I have to place The Empire Strikes Back at number five.
"I see dead people."
You knew an M. Night Shyamalan movie would be on this list somewhere. Personally, I like 'Signs' a whole lot more than any of his other movies but it's ending isn't really a textbook twist. The Sixth Sense came out of nowhere earning Shyamalan the title of "The next Spielberg". Sadly, that never came to pass as M. Night is one who has relied too heavily on his twist endings to carry the film. You don't leave yourself room to "tweest" anymore when your first sucessful movie stars a guy that turns out to have been dead the whole time. This is a movie I haven't seen in a while and I need to sit down and give it another shot. If only I can stand to look at that annoying Haley Joel Osment.
"Rosebud."
The original classic movie with a twist was Citizen Kane. Orson Welles takes you on a two hour trip through the life of the eccentric Charles Foster Kane to unravel the meaning behind his final word, "Rosebud.". The fantastic story behind the making of this movie by a 25 year old Welles is just as grueling as the life of it's subject. By the end you're emotionally invested in the character, having felt both his love and loss, and you seem to know everything about him. But it isn't until that last shot of the sled named Rosebud that the story is complete.
"I'm Norma Bates."
Alfred Hitchcock is another director that appreciates a good twist ending. Unlike Shyamalan however, Hitchcock pretty much always got it right. Very right. Psycho is one of the more disturbing installments on this list with Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates who "becomes" his dead mother whom he keeps in the basement. This movie's more famous "shower scene" is definitely scary but when Norman, dressed as his mother, charges the camera with a knife, that's horrifying. Pretty creepy stuff here, especially for 1960. This is a little off topic but is it weird that I really like Martin Balsam's character Dr. Arbogast? Cool actor, cool character name.
"Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!"
I still remember when I first heard that the master of storytelling, Rod Serling, was the one who put the twist on this classic. He was on Earth the whole time! But what was cool about it was the reveal of the Statue of Liberty peaking out of the sand. Completely unforgettable. To top it off Planet of the Apes is an all around sweet movie. I absolutely love it. I have rated it a perfect 10 and could watch it anytime. The universe created in this series has so much to offer and I like just about anything set in a post-apocolyptic world. The sequels aren't near as great but they're very enjoyable as cheesy sci-fi movies. The short-lived TV series and cartoon are also worth checking out.
Don't hesitate to tell Christian what you think of his column and suggest a topic by e-mailing him at: christian@cineweekly.com
