MovieChat Forums > Saving Private Ryan (1998) Discussion > IMHO, the most emotional ending ever mad...

IMHO, the most emotional ending ever made

posted 8 years ago by CalibMcBolts
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I've seen thousands of films from the 1920's untill now, and in my honest opinion, the ending to Saving Private Ryam, is the most emotional ending ever filmed.

When i watched it for the first time i cried for about 20 minutes, continiously, even when the film was finished. I've rewatched the film around 3 times and every time it had the same effect on me.

Even when thinking about the ending (and the context surrounding it) brings me to a point of almost tearing up.

What do you guys think of it? And what do you guys think are some of most emotional endings ever?

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[–] charzhino 8 years ago

I've just finished watching it for the first time. I felt sad that Tom Hanks character dies in the way he did, but didn't feel much for the old Private Ryan character at the cemetery. Mainly because I didn't think that the connection between the 2 was ever well established and deep rooted. We see 1 character bonding scene when Ryan is telling Miller the story about his brothers in the barn and for me that wasn't enough to build a strong character bond between the 2.

And as for the most emotional ending, for me its Interstellar by a long distance.

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[–] user-169-360487 8 years ago

I think they should've left it with Hanks dying on the bridge, and leave it from there...I didn't particularly like the old Ryan scenes..

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[–] CalibMcBolts 8 years ago

Well, i thought it was a plottwist that hit you right in the gut. It came unexpected, and hit like a bombshell. Ending with Tom Hanks on the bridge wouldve been good, but this was such a surprise that came so unexpected. It made me rethink the entire film in just a couple of seconds when i saw Damon transform.

Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001

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[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] CalibMcBolts 8 years ago

I couldnt've put it better myself. This is it exactly. The bonding couldnt've been better, the ending is perfect that way

Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001

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[–] shanayneigh 8 years ago

No, I'm not a fan of the ending at all. In fact, I remember quite a bit of chuckling in the theater at the bookend scenes where the first and last frames of the movie is of a backlit American flag waving in the wind to those melodramatic, pathetic horns. I'm sure that some Americans might get a hard on from that, but certainly not everyone's cup of tea.

Working in the movie business since -92

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[–] CalibMcBolts 8 years ago

Well, i'm from Holland. I'm not a patriotic redneck American, nor need to be one to love this ending....

Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001

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[–] phantom2-2 8 years ago

i'd go with city lights or united 93 for "the most", but this one is right up there.

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[–] CalibMcBolts 8 years ago

Both are brilliant picks, City Lights is very high in my favorite films list, the ending is very sad, but it never manages to make me cry somehow. United 93, is sad, harrowing and soul-sucking throughout the whole runtime, the ending is just a cherry on top of saddness.

Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001

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[–] phantom2-2 8 years ago

ah, that's part of the brilliance of city lights: you see it as very sad, but i see it as very happy...or at least bittersweet. such beautiful ambiguity, and powerful any way you interpret it.

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[–] CalibMcBolts 8 years ago

Yeah, true. It is both sad & happy at the same time. I see that

Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001

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[–] Stenian 8 years ago

So the ending is more emotional than say, The Green Mile or Shawshank Redemption?

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[–] CalibMcBolts 8 years ago

Yes, and YES.

This ending was meaningful and came out of nowhere, in a split second it made you rethink the entire film, and it turns everything around.

Yes, the ending to Green Mile is sad, but everyone sees that coming, and it doesnt make you think. You just go: ''Oh that was sad'' and that's it. (It did make me cry, dont get me wrong.)

Shawshank's ending isnt sad, you cry out of happiness not sadness. By far the most sad moment from that film is when Brooks gets released from prison. Those scene could easily rival, but not the ending

Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001

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