MovieChat Forums > Storm of the Century (1999) Discussion > In his own way, Linoge wanted to give Mi...

In his own way, Linoge wanted to give Mike some peace

posted 12 years ago by jcreed01
13 replies | jump to latest

Most viewers thought Linoge was being a cruel bastard showing Mike the teenage Ralphie with the eyes and teeth- he "corrupted" Ralphie. I think Linoge- in the only brutal way he knew how- was giving Mike assurance that he didn't kill Ralphie or make him his slave, Ralphie is his protege' who will live a very long life with incredible power.

Linoge is a hard, thousands of years old wizard long devoid of any human sentimentality BUT I think he admired Mike Anderson for having integrity and the courage to stand up to him..."a good boy to the end." If Linoge's intent was to be cruel, he wouldn't have appeared suddenly in San Francisco and just let Mike agonize for the rest of his life about Ralphie's ultimate fate; when he turned and looked at Mike, Linoge wasn't smirking, he was showing Mike he was fulfilling his part of the bargain and it's time for Mike to move on- again, in a rather brutal way, he gave Mike closure.

The reason this makes sense to me is that in the trade paperback version of the screenplay, Mike doesn't walk back forlornly to his car alone after the alley; instead, he collapses in despair, when suddenly a pretty girl appears and asks him if he is okay, Mike replies with his Maine accent coming out, the girl makes a comment about it and asks where he is from, Mike replies from another life or something to that affect, the girl offers to help him with the groceries, Mike smiles at her and they walk back to his car. Mike finally has closure and will move on finding happiness with the girl. I wish the mini-series would have done this scene instead because it showed Mike's courage in refusing Linoge would be rewarded in the end, while his ex-wife Molly- who made the deal- will never really have peace.

[–] milo44 12 years ago

I can see your point .. I just wish the kid hadn't shown his teeth .. to me that made it worse in a way to Mike .. to see just what his son had turned into .. If he had smiled , I could agree with you more .. and about the end and what you said about the girl that he meets .. I too wish King had left that in .. that would have shown some closure for Mike .. and just like another poster posted , why didn't someone put a bullet in him to see it that would have stopped him .. what would that have hurt if King had put that in .. I guess we will never know .. but I did enjoy watching it today .. most days there's nothing but the same crap over and over on cable .. I wonder why do I even pay for it .. lol .. I guess that's why I read alot and watch alot of docmentries on Netflix .. peace to you .. topkatnc .

[–] SataiDelen 10 years ago

OK, I have not read the book, though I am now intrigued by this movie and would like to go back and do so. But what I took away from the ending of this movie, and the "showing of the teeth" by Ralphie, is that he's essentially saying to Mike, "I'm not your son anymore. I don't belong to you, and I'm happy with my new father. Let me go." When they disappeared after turning the corner across the street, Mike had no choice at that point but to let go, even though it devastated him. He saw clearly that Ralphie was not, and never would belong to him again. Ralphie's "old life" is over.

[–] milo44 10 years ago

I think you are right SataiDelen .. it did let him know that his son was gone for good , no matter how long he searched for him or no matter what he did .

......

I'd like a chance t' shoot at an educated man once in my life .

[–] ajjones-198-340523 12 years ago

Demons are not trying to give peace. Their job is to corrupt humans and force them to make a choice that will end them up in hell. He showed him his son to hurt him. Mike had become a government agent and could and would investigate instances likely related to demonic issues. He was trying to push him to weakness.

[–] DrFilmFalm 12 years ago

I disagree. I think the original poster made a good point. We also never know what Linoge actually is. Ya, his last name spells legion, but if he were legion he would never die. I like the idea of a wizard. Mike never said or insinuated he was looking for or investigating paranormal events relating to his son or Linoge, so your point makes no sense outside of what a demon's purpose is.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (6571724) 10 years ago

The optimist in me would like to believe that lol but I really did see it as some kind of an evil warning or reminder...I don't think he wished mike any further harm that moment, but I also don't think he was making any positive gesture toward him either.

[–] zee944 10 years ago

SPOILERS AHEAD

All of you should pay more attention to the monologue at the end (repeated from the beginning):

"This is a cash and carry world. Pay as you go. Sometimes you only have to pay a little, mostly it's a lot. And once in a while it's all you have. That's a lesson I thought I learned nine years ago on Little Tall during the storm of the century. But I was wrong. I only started learning during the big blow. I finished just last week."

Which means what? That the situation is worse than he originally thought. He thought he payed everything he had. He didn't realize there was one more thing he still had: the faith his Ralphie lived somewhere happily. But now, 9 years later he realizes his Ralphie doesn't even exist anymore.

In my interpretation the meeting at the end is just coincidence. But even if it is planned, Linoge did no favor to Mike Anderson with that.

[–] mdnightwnd 10 years ago

I don't think Linoge really did Mike a favor. I think seeing what his son had become was more painful than not knowing what really happened.

I think Molly got off lucky. She was able to remember Ralphie as he was and could still have hope that maybe Linoge didn't corrupt him. Mike no longer has that luxury since he knows exactly what Ralphie has become.

Just my two cents!

[–] ryoko_the_spacepirate1 9 years ago

I always wondered if Linoge wanted to be seen purposely.Or were they just in the same place at the same time.I wonder did he ever expect Mike to leave that island and go some place like that.But It wasn't a kindness.Sweet innocent Ralphie and all that he could have been is gone.He is possessed and evil now.And even when he dies he will be denied salvation.And all because the town people and his mom.

"I think I liked it better when I thought Sylar ate brains." -Warriorrenegade

[–] reaseltbim 8 years ago

i can see why they didnt add the stuff with the girl to the movie ending,

it would have been like typical cliche happy hollywood ending.
it might work for the book but for the movie i could see it being too cliche

i think you are right that Linoge gave him closure and the proof about this is how the wife will forever suffer not knowing. we see her at the end and he says he never told her
she will always wonder

[–] LovesConfusingJoy 8 years ago

Very interesting post