I wish the villain prevailed - Red Eye (2005) Discussion

[–] scyza 13 years ago

I also found myself thinking that I wished he had succeeded - especially because I thought the film got a LOT worse after Lisa stabbed Jackson and escaped. It was as if it was a whole different film all of the sudden, just because they totally HAD to have a happy end, no matter how implausible and stupid it might be to turn the events around all of the sudden.

I thought this was really really bad writing, I can't imagine what lunatic thought this was a good way to end an otherwise decent movie.

Really liked the first half, Cillian Murphy was great imo.

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[–] Kawada_Kira 13 years ago

I found myself rooting for him too, I have to say lol. Not really sure why. I guess because I just don't like how the movie got all cliche once they landed. It would have been nice to have an ending we haven't seen a million times.

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[–] Monoxstride 13 years ago

@chaney18888

"because then we would have been spared all those boring moral implications"

What moral implications? If the villain prevailed, that wouldn't mean the movie was promoting assassination as a good thing. It would mean the movie was being somewhat realistic, and possibly not generic, boring, and completely improbable. Also, who cares about moral implications? It's entertainment, you wouldn't for a change like to see the villain win?

"ninety-nine percent of the plot"

Again, what plot? There were so many holes that it was barely even a recognizable plot by the end. Once I was 3/4 through I almost fast-forwarded to the end just so I wouldn't have to waste any more time watching it. I knew exactly what was gonna happen, so why bother watching for an inevitable end of everything going perfect for the protagonist?

"isn't it irritating when female characters in movies actually show strength, initiative, and integrity"

First of all, this definitely isn't a feminist movie. Just because ONE line was included debunking the villain's "logical male thinking" statement, doesn't mean it has a feminist message. Secondly, she didn't show any of those things, she behaved like that of a mentally retarded person for the majority of the film. Her character only showed an ability to somehow be everywhere at once, escape danger at all times, fight off a much stronger person (who also happens to be a professional assassin), and save the day right on time. It kind of reminds me of....a superhero movie. Now, when a supposedly "realistic" thriller reminds you of Spiderman, you know they weren't trying too hard.

"Captain Incompetent didn't die"

Yeah, I know, and why not? Why is this movie afraid to kill anyone? I mean seriously, no one died, no matter how moronic they were. Even her father, who reminded me of Mr. Magoo lived. An entire family + their bodyguards lived through a rocket attack without a scratch on them. What a piece of trash. This movie represents everything that's wrong with American action films.

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[–] Paul612 12 years ago

Actually there was a death in the movie. Her Grandmother :)

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[–] camerica1978 12 years ago

So you'd like to see a show where the villian wins, where the ending is tragic, where ordinary people don't have it in them to be heroic and they just knuckle under to overwhelmingly strong villians, where many innocent and/or responsible people get murdered? There's a TV show like that every day. It's called the Nightly News.

Don't most people watch movies to escape reality? Not to be reminded of how the world really does work?

"No *beep* sh*t lady, do I sound like I'm ordering a pizza?" - John McClane

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[–] Somewhere_Out_There 13 years ago

I totally agree! I was rooting for Jackson for the entire film. It was a totally implausible ending, she should have died or something. Jackson should have at least killed her dad, I was expecting it. Happy endings are really beginning to piss me off, would it kill directors/writers to make us uncertain of the characters fate instead of us just knowing that the good guys will win. Predictable and annoying.

---
When I told Dad I was scared of the thing in my closet, he gave me a .45.

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[–] frozenlantern 13 years ago

Me too!
At least I expected a surprise at the end.

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[–] LocoHero 13 years ago

SPOILERS BELOW...

Me too. I was rooting for Jackson and even tho she was well fit I couldn't dig why she was not protecting the life of her father. That guy who was the assassination target looked well creepy and probably deserved being whacked.

And in the dad's house Jackson with his makeshift cravat turned into a Mr Bean/Basil Fawlty character while she did a Home Alone number on him.

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[–] Modern-Prometheus 12 years ago

I don't get how implausibility or cliche make people root for the villain. Even if he did prevail that doesn't mean it would have totally avoided that. I think the real reason is lonely girls like to root for villains when they're physically attractive.

I can't think of a witty signature right now. I like turtles.

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[–] MyLittleHeartShapedBox 12 years ago

I agree that some parts of the movie were cliche. But I think the movie had a lot more plot based on the relationship of the two characters. I like that aspect, even if it means that it fell a little flat in an action-type plot. I think it would be interesting to see a movie where the good people do get killed, but I don't think this paticular movie would be the right one to do that in. I think maybe the movie Funny Games was good for that.

I think the reason she was able to beat Jackson somewhat easily is because, for one, it wasn't supposed to take place on the plane orginally, and he didn't expect her to fight back, he was taken off guard. He thought he had things in the bag, and then she stabbed him with the pen. She gained the upper hand then. It was then his bad decision to go after her again, but he couldn't seem to stand letting her get away with doing that to him. She still had the upperhand as it was her house they were fighting in. Her being able to get the gun at the end was a stroke of luck for her.

The only thing I found hard to believe was her gambling with her father's life. Although, once she stabs him and takes his phone, he can't do much to harm him.

And I do think the movie has a feminist message to it. The whole reason she gets the courage (and anger) to fight him is because she didn't want to be another man's helpless victim. She fought him and BEAT him in his own game. Lisa is woman, hear her roar!

"I'm trying to see things from your point of view but I can't stick my head that far up my ass."

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[–] jporter-6 12 years ago

Some people have a set of moral absolutes, and they will fight for them.
She did all she could with her limited skills and resources and personal
commitment and bravery, to fight to save others.

Some root for the villain, and the rest of us don't have to guess what they are all about.

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