MovieChat Forums > John Dies at the End (2012) Discussion > Big nagging question killing me (spoiler...

Big nagging question killing me (spoilers)

posted 12 years ago by scofthe7seas
10 replies | jump to latest

I really liked this movie. I understand why many don't, and apparently the book is better so I'll have to check that out next.
However, I don't know why I'm not seeing this question on any of the forums. If the giant robot/alien thing knew everything ever, including what was in the two protagonists heads, how did it not know how that scene was going to turn out?? I was hoping something would explain it. It's the one thing that's preventing me from completely loving it.

Bugging the hell out of me!!

Edited:

Should I just read/listen to the book? Is it better explained?

[–] scofthe7seas 12 years ago

Ok, book spoilers now:

So I read the book and I'm still not clear on the Korrok part. In the book he was also omnipotent, but it doesn't explain how he didn't catch wise to their scheme. I mean, in a metaphysical, theory of predeterminism sense, he would have difficulty computing the outcome based on sources from another dimension, but he could also read minds, so...
Also, in the book there's a definite intention of letting the Amy-shell carry the nanite bugs into our dimension, but was that really Korrok's only goal?
Also, if John and Dave were unique in being able to cross worlds, what was up with that set of teens (on the basketball court) that go into that other plagued world to save it?

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] scofthe7seas 11 years ago

I have read the sequel. Absolutely love it; better than the first book (in my opinion.) It reminds me of older Dean Koontz (not the new stuff.) I don’t know if I got those conclusions from reading the second book, but I wasn’t really putting much thought into it. You could be right about Korrak’s believing their ridiculous plan to be possible but I thought Molly ate the bone on accident though? I can’t completely remember.
I think you’re mostly right about John and Dave’s roles in the second book having changed, but there was the part at the end of Spiders where Dave at least tries to do “the right thing” before the duties get stolen by a certain third party. (Which was super sad. Stupid emotional book, making me feel.)

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] QTKeet 11 years ago

Dave's plan was so asinine, so unbelievable, that even if Korrok "saw" it he wouldn't give it a second thought.

Interesting that you'd say that. One weakness of chess-playing computer programs is that they often fail to resolve what we see as obvious.

-"But you know what's on my mind right now? It AIN'T the coffee in my kitchen..."

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] QTKeet 11 years ago

Did you happen to also read the books?

I wasn't even aware that this was based off of any written work until I started browsing the forum.

Now I'll have to dig myself up a copy. There's still some room on my bookcase (since I watch more movies than read), but I certainly welcome any movie that introduces me to a book.

If the book is even half as interesting as this movie is (usually it's the other way around) then it would still be very much worth reading.

I'm assuming it goes by the same title as its movie. How about the sequel?

-"But you know what's on my mind right now? It AIN'T the coffee in my kitchen..."

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] gosseyn 9 years ago

The book is the same name. The sequel book is "This Book Is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It", and is just as good. The plot of "Spiders" is more linear than "John", and I think would lend itself to film easier. I hope that Coscarelli decides to make it.

"Oh Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free of the ravages of intelligence."

[–] DarrenDirt 11 years ago

In the BOOK you will understand what that giant robot/alien thing is -- let's just say that not everything it said (to the people on that alternate world) was necessarily the truth... In fact even in the film, but especially in the book, what it says out loud is quite different from what it says telepathically to David in his head. About its nature and its motives.

HINT: I think Korrok ain't "omnipotent" so much as he's just a really convincing actor with quite a bit of power and wisdom on display early in his ... physical life.

Think that Star Trek The Next Generation episode with the "Ventaxian" people ( http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Ventaxian ) -- my take on Korrok is that he's kinda the same thing, only less techno-trickery and more spritual/supernatural power (but still with limits, obviously); maybe also a bit like "The Beast" in that Doctor Who 2-parter that starts with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Impossible_Planet.

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Chipping away at a mountain of pop culture trivia,
Darren Dirt.