What kind of an ending was that? - Time Bandits (1981) Discussion

[–] raythorne2005 12 years ago

I know. I was like WTF? I guess the movie was trying to say not to be concerned about material things, but still, they died not because of that, but because they touched something they thought was meat. So....

Would have been better IF they had to die, is if they ran into the fire and never came back.

It could be God, the Devil, Buddha, an Alien...or it could be a kid playing a video game. - onn1320

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[–] foxychickflick 11 years ago

Though I love this movie, his parents blowing up and him standing there sad and confused is F'd up!!

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[–] dangermouse-3 11 years ago

Director Terry Gilliam stated that parents should listen to their children and in this case they don't and so they die! And that is only right in a children's film.

Early test screenings showed that many young boys loved the bit with the parents getting blown up. But Gilliam said that little boys seemed to like that, whereas little girls just asked "well who is going to look after him?". But the little boys knew they didn't need looking after and that they would be fine.

Plus Sean Connery's character just leaves in the fire truck, but Gilliam suggests that it's almost like his character is out there somewhere, almost like a kind of guardian so when the kid needs him, he'll be there.

Gilliam stated that having gone through that adventure, Kevin is now more grown up and is better equipped to go forward in life, even though he is on his own.

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[–] billumberg 11 years ago

For real. His parents were more childish than he was, anyway.

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[–] masetodd 11 years ago

I didn't care about his parents blowing up, I just wish Connery-Fireman would have waved to the kid to jump on the firetruck and leave with him - that would have been more satisfying.

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[–] FlyingSaucersAreReal 11 years ago

Wouldn't have made much sense though. He didn't realize the kids parents had touched the evil and been blown up.

In my mind, I always imagined that he'd end up getting adopted by Sean the fireman somehow.

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[–] Foxbarking 11 years ago

As this movie is mostly allegorical, you shouldn't really take it so literally. In an allegory, everything is symbolic. To me, at least, this story is about the influences a child feels as he is growing up and what mostly shapes him or her into becoming an adult. Kevin became a stronger person due to his own interactions in life rather than his parents' method of upbringing. In the end, he is wiser than they are. He has outgrown them, and there is no need for them anymore.

I know plot wise that can seem harsh, but again, I don't watch this movie and assume that Kevin is an actual person, but he is a symbol of childhood.

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[–] Blueghost 10 years ago

by ghostdog2041 » Mon Nov 5 2012 21:26:26 Flag ▼ | Reply |
IMDb member since March 2006
Post Edited: Tue Nov 6 2012 14:39:30
The boy's parents blew up! Yay! He's an orphan! Hoorah! Haha! Good ole Terry.
Coming Soon... The December Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qj7fRpcXRI

It was an ending specifically designed for little boys, which ties in with the main theme of the film.

As an older mainstream viewer, I actually didn't like it.

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[–] NotASpeckOfCereal 10 years ago

The boy's parents blew up! Yay! He's an orphan! Hoorah! Haha! Good ole Terry.

He didn't really wake up to find his parents holding an appliance that contained a piece of Evil©.

As others have said, the film is mostly allegorical, if not all. And I think that the nod from the fireman / Connery is the story telling has that actually, he's still asleep. Also, the smoke going backwards when the end credits roll. The entire film is allegorical.

Be sure to proof your posts to see if you any words out

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[–] SpaceMountainMike 9 years ago

Connery is the story telling has that actually, he's still asleep.

I still wonder about that, just like in the original Total Recall, was it real or a dream?

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[–] misscastaway 10 years ago

I think it's wonderful that there was no classic 'happy ending'.

Kevin knew not to touch Evil but his parents went ahead and did it anyway. It shows that grown ups aren't always the smart ones. You do get the feeling that Kevin will be all right, since he's been through the adventure of a lifetime and been exposed to both Good, Evil, and everything in between. Sean Connery winks at him - kid, there's a big world out there and your parents are just holding you back.

Then the film ends and you get George Harrison's happy, upbeat little number.

I don't think any other type of ending would have been better. Terry Gilliam is a fantasist, but also a realist.

"He's making it up as he goes along!"

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[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] louiseculmer 9 years ago

What's s disturbing is that the poor child is left alone at the end - even the fireman just drives off and leaves him. What is going to become of him?

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[–] ExplorerDS6789 9 years ago

Needed a closing Rod Serling narration before the credits rolled.

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[–] maximmm (3408) 5 years ago

The kicker is the happy music that followed as the credits began to roll in - lol