MovieChat Forums > Time Bandits (1981) Discussion > Ending (Spoilers)

Ending (Spoilers)

posted 17 years ago by Boricanator
31 replies | jump to latest

I'm confused about the ending. The parents just blow up. What was the purpose of that ending? I'm not gonna make any assumptions. Someone, please explain.

[–] Guest1234567 15 years ago

I don't think it's meant to be over analyzed. It's just a very funny and weird ending, which is perfect for a very funny and weird film. A little note, I remember the ending upsetting me as a kid. It's kind of a dark ending, with the kid being all alone.

[–] TopFlight 15 years ago

I saw this as a young adult in 1981. I thought the ending was great - so unconventional and daring - the parents actually got what they deserved! Too many films like this end with "it was just a dream," which is a cheat - no one should do that in films anymore.

[–] pontifikator 15 years ago

Go to
http://orangecow.org/pythonet/bandits4.html
and scroll down to the question of why Gilliam killed off the parents. I don't always trust director's statements of why they did things, by the way.

[–] TheEndIsNigh (510) 2 months ago

After reading through this thread, it seems a lot of people are because there's been a few different answers that all make sense.

I suppose you take from the ending whatever you want. I just always thought it was Terry Gilliam's way of saying "Forget Hollywood endings, life's just shit sometimes"😂

[–] RupertPupkin1 (31) a month ago

Why has nobody mentioned the shoes that are left behind? They must symbolize something - maybe that the kid is also given the gift of life but should choose to walk a different path to his parents.