Panic Room - HORRIBLE ending!!! I'm so PISSED!!!

[Mike]

I saw PANIC ROOM last night and I was loving every minute of it, it was GREAT. Then comes the ending. I was so damn PISSED, it bothered me all night. That ending ruined the movie for me. I saw it with my cousin and my brother (they're both 25) and we all hated the ending, especially my cousin and I. And as we were walking out everyone was saying "What a stupid ending," I couldn't agree more. People are going to walk out of the movie and all they'll be able to remember is how stupid the ending was and then they'll tell their friends and this creates bad word of mouth. How could the filmakers do this? They should know it will just piss people off, don't they want people to walk away satisfied? I'M SO PISSED!!!

******************SPOILERS******************

I really wanted to know what happened to Forest Whitakers character, obviously he went to jail but he shouldn't have. If it wouldn't have been for him Jodie Foster and her daughter would have been dead, and the dumb bitches didn't even help him out. They shouldn't have tried to make us care about him throughout the whole movie if he was going to get caught anyway. If he wouldn't have went back to help them he could have gotten away. I guess it doesn't pay to help people. They definitely should have done the ending differently. I at least would have been more happy if they would have showed what happened to him. The last time you see him he's on his knees on the ground with his hands in the air. Even if he went to jail I wish they would have at least showed or said what happened. I didn't like the ending of SEVEN either but I wasn't that mad. The ending in PANIC ROOM made me even more mad. It's so frustrating. It was still a really good movie, but the ending was horrible!!!


What did everyone else think of the ending?

[bluntman86]

i loved this movie personally.i think it's fincher's best so far.the ending was partially dissapointing.i really wish we would have gotten an explination of forest whitaker's situation too but it didn't really wreck the entire movie for me.it was just a little blemish on a nearly perfect film.

[brandon918]

I so agree with you guys about this. The whole movie was great. I was loving the whole movie and almost thought it was perfect but then the ending came. The fucking credits at the beginnig were better.
***spoiler***
I wanted Whitaker to get away at the end but they never showed what happened to him. I know he got arrested but they should have said if he got time off for helping foster and her kid.
Overall it was still awesome but the ending sucked ass.

[Horror whore]

Mike, what'd you give it for a grade??

BTW, I didn't mind the ending cuz in real life he would have never have gotten away anyways... I like it when movies go for the realistic endings instead of the Hollywood... And if I was Jodie Foster I would have done the same thing. He did cause all that shit to happen to her...

[inglourious basterd]

Here is what I posted in the other thread. It never got responded to, so I will paste it here:

Like the ending of Seven (with the character of Mills), I thought that the literal outcome of Whitaker's character (Burnham) was not important. What was important was what the ending implied: In choosing to save Foster and her girl, he had to let go of his dream (the money) and, in the process, had to give himself up. He was the tragic hero. Although it not by any means a new theme, it was one that I thought was explored incredibly.

[Common Sense Man]

This should have been posted in the panic room thread.

Out..........................

[Strider]

Hey yo,

Common Sense Man is right, this should've been posted in the Panic Room thread. Here's the link:

http://www.joblo.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001078.html

Strider

[Mike]

Well, I think that their should be a single topic about the ending itself. But that just might be my opinion. Anyway Horror Whore, I'd give it a 9/10, I HATED the ending, but the rest of the movie was great and I'm sure it will be one of the best thrillers of 2002. And maybe Forest Whitaker did help break in and everything, but he saved both Jodie Fosters life and her daughters. They both would have been dead if it wasn't for him. And like I said, I at least wish they would have showed or said what happened to him. Even if he went to jail I still want to know. I wouldn't have been as mad if they would have at least showed or said what happened to him. But the ending they used, in my opinion, sucked. I have a feeling it was a reshoot ending. I do agree though that it's Finchers best and the movie (and Jodie) looked great. I'll buy the DVD. And I better get an explanation for that ending.

Very good movie, very bad ending.

[The Other]

The ending was fine by me. You say that he shouldn't go to jail, but he did break into her house planning to steal something from her house. So, I'd say he deserves to go to jail but I'm sure Jodie's character is happy that he did help her out. But if he hadn't broken into her house to begin with she wouldn't have to be saved.

[Mike]

Yeah but he didn't know her and her daughter were there. And when he did find out he didn't want to do it. And it's not like he was breaking in to steal her stuff, it was something she didn't even know about. I just don't think he should have gone to jail, or he at least shouldn't get as long of sentence. But the point is that I WANT TO KNOW and they didn't even tell us. They totally leave it open. The ending is what keeps it from being a perfect movie, because I didn't have any other problems with it. But something I did find funny is that Jodie Foster sure made enough noise. Like when she first realized they were in her house and she ran to her daughters bedroom she was so damn noisy. It sounded like an elephant was running across the floor. And then she did it another time, when she was out of the panic room. It's really easy to run without making much noise. But oh well, that's just a little nitpick, not really a problem.

[The Other]

But still, it's still breaking and entering and he was still planning to steal the stuff from inside the safe even if she wasn't there. Even if she were to say something he would have still been taken away.

[SteveSzyk]

***SPOILERS***

Even though I loved Forest Whitakers character, I still think he should have gone to jail. Sure he didn't want to do it, but he did steal the money, he did do the best to get them out of that room, and he did break in. So what if he didn't want to do it, he was still responsible for alot of that trouble. I didn't love the ending, nor did I hate it. I thought he knew that he would have been caught no matter what, so why not help these people he had unwillingly caused so much damage to before going to jail. I thought it was obvious, and pretty straight forward as to what happened to him at the end. He went to jail end of story. There is rally nothing more they could have done besides show him in jail, which would have been boring.

[inglourious basterd]

Whats the point of having an ending with a voiceover saying "...and he went to jail for a very very long time." There is no point. Sometimes these things are better when they are left to the mind's eye. This is definitely part of Fincher's style..

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Yeah but he didn't know her and her daughter were there. And when he did find out he didn't want to do it. And it's not like he was breaking in to steal her stuff, it was something she didn't even know about. I just don't think he should have gone to jail, or he at least shouldn't get as long of sentence.</font>

1. If they explained everything that happened to him, it would negate any of the symbolism that Fincher obviously intended in that final scene (with the money flying). It was not relevant to Fincher's vision.

2. Breaking and Entering is still breaking and entering -- regardless of whether a woman lives in a house or not.

3. For saving their lives, one could only assume that he got a lesser sentence (rather than 20-30 years, maybe he got 8-10)? But what is the point of dragging on the message. As I said before, its better if its left to the mind's eye.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I do agree though that it's Finchers best and the movie (and Jodie) looked great. I'll buy the DVD. And I better get an explanation for that ending.</font>

Anwyay, no one really commented on my interpretation on the ending. I have a pretty good feeling that my interpretation is what Fincher tried to imply. I stick with the thought that the ending, as is, was an adequate one. Any thoughts?



[This message has been edited by psudoazn (edited 04-07-2002).]

[Mike]

I don't need a voiceover saying "and he went to jail for a very, very, very long time." I wouldn't have minded seeing him cuffed or something or knowing how long of a sentence he got. I know it's obvious what happened, but I still think it had a poor ending. I actually would have rather had him die so then I'd at least know what happened to him. I just need to know FOR SURE. The ending just left me unsatisfied. I just didn't like the complete halt, they showed his face, they showed Jodie's face, and then the screen went dark. I remember thinking "NO WAY, it can't be over, what a horrible ending." And my cousin says "It won't be over yet, they'll show more." And she was right, I remember being relieved when a picture came back on the screen and we see Jodie Foster and her daughter on a bench. But then all they showed was them searching for a new place in the paper. And then it was over. It was like "ok, what was the point of that?" They may as well just have ended it where I thought it was going to end because seeing them sitting on a bench wasn't much better. I really didn't care that they were going to get a new place. It was obvious they were going to anyway without seeing them looking for one, and if they didn't who cares, I didn't. It really didn't matter to me if they were or weren't going to get a new place. I think it would have been fine if they would have ended it with Forest Whitaker being cuffed and put into the cop car. And then showing Jodie and her daughter. That would have been better. And screw Finchers style, I like his movies but he needs to work on his endings, I don't like them. Out of all his movies PANIC ROOM definitely has the most disastisfying ending.
The rest of the film is great though. I think it would have gotten a better grade than the "B" grade from Cinemascore if it would have had a better ending. Because it's usually pretty easy to get good grades from there, a lot of shitty movies get A's. I know the ending had an effect on it.

[idealdiscountdude]

I thought that the ending was completely satisfying.

When you think of it, the film was actually, for the most part shown from the female characters perspective, and we never saw any background footage of the bad guys prior to them breaking into the house.

The film was shot from the protagonists point of view and there was no need to see what happened to Whitakers character......the two women survived and that's all that mattered.

Yes Whitaker saved them, but still, he was there and committed a crime, he should have to pay for his mistake, and its obvious that he does, why would we really need some stupid and long explanation on what happened to him.

[Dumb-Fokker-**]

Personally, I would have loved to have seen the camera swoop its way from the bench Foster and her child were sitting on, into the sewers, and up the drain-pipe of Whitakers toilet in his cell. Would have given some nice closure. Seriously, I didnt have a problem with the film, I liked it, but the camera did get a little tiring. Moderation would have been the key.

[inglourious basterd]

Mike...you said you wanted an explanation of the ending, right? Hopefully this will help:

Forrest Whitaker takes the money. He has an opportunity to run, but he takes one last risk to save the girls -- he does what he thinks is right (although his actions beforehand were not clean).

After he saves the girls, he bolts, and he gets pinned for the crimes. Fincher uses symbolism in that Whitaker literally loses the money upon getting caught. Although this detail could have been easily overlooked, I am convinced that this symbolized that in order to do what was right, he was forced to let go of his dream and, in the process, sacrifice himself. Like I said before, he was the "tragic hero" Although it is a rather simplistic message, I think that is what Fincher wanted the audience to take with them.

The final scene of the movie has Foster and her kid looking for a newspaper. I didnt really think that it was really an important scene, but I think that Fincher included it to show that they were able to move on. (Idealdiscountdude did have a good point when he mentioned Fincher's use of point of view in the movie)

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I think it would have been fine if they would have ended it with Forest Whitaker being cuffed and put into the cop car. And then showing Jodie and her daughter. That would have been better. And screw Finchers style, I like his movies but he needs to work on his endings, I don't like them. </font>

Here is where we disagree. If they had ended it this way, you would have most likely complained that it sucks that we didnt know how long Whitaker was in prison for. Furthermore, with this ending, the symbolism that Fincher intended to feature would have been negated. We know he got arrested...what difference does it make if we saw him get into the car or not? Its an unnecessary detail.


[This message has been edited by psudoazn (edited 04-07-2002).]

[Mike]

Well, thanks for trying to make me feel better about the ending, I still think the ending could have been better, but I don't hate it as much as I did. And I don't know, I guess I just don't like the way it was done. It could have been better.


<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dumb-Fokker-**:
Personally, I would have loved to have seen the camera swoop its way from the bench Foster and her child were sitting on, into the sewers, and up the drain-pipe of Whitakers toilet in his cell. Would have given some nice closure. Seriously, I didnt have a problem with the film, I liked it, but the camera did get a little tiring. Moderation would have been the key.</font>

I actually love that idea. That would have been really neat. And I must say I never got tired of the cool camera tricks and shots, I loved them. I think it gave the movie style and made it more fun and interesting to watch. It never once got on my nerves.

[darkface]

the camera tricks were great. *Fincher* It makes it unique.
But i think they left the ending open for your own opinion. If you felt like Forest should have went to jail, then that's your ending. And the other way would have been if Jodie were to drop the charges. Which was my opinion which made the movie cooler i think. Instead of giving you the ending you have to end it yourself.

And they most likely re-shot it b/c they had bad screenings. Maybe some people thought forester should have gone to jail, or vice-versa. Which could be another reason to why they let you choose.

but then again its always an opinion

[This message has been edited by darkface (edited 04-08-2002).]

[entitee]

Chalk me up as one of the people that are satisfied with the ending.

SPOILER*********


I'm not seeing what people want from the ending of the movie. Burnham tries to escape and he gets caught. Thats the end of the story which is about everything these characters went through all in one night. Does it matter if he gets 5 or 20 years in prison? This information is all outside of the story's scope.

Also, I read that Fincher was asked to re-shoot the ending but he was able to get out of doing it by telling the studios it would cost $35 million to rebuild the set.



[This message has been edited by entitee (edited 04-08-2002).]

[Dumb-Fokker-**]

Personally, I think he was full of shit. 35 million to re-build the set?? I dont think so. I could build a house twice that big, and add three Panic Rooms, and it wouldnt cost 35 million. I just think that he didnt want to re-do the ending. ....35 million,........ what a rip-off.

[darkface]

well its obveious he didn't want to re-do the ending if he told them that much. But it would cost a lot for the crew to set it up, get equipment etc. but not 35 mil.

[AppleHuntr]

I find it hard to take the original posts opinions seriously since he refers to the strong, intelligent women in PANIC ROOM as "dumb bitches". Come on now.

"Welcome to the planet Maturia, we have much to teach you."-Lisa Kudrow, "The Opposite of Sex"

[Mike]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by AppleHuntr:
I find it hard to take the original posts opinions seriously since he refers to the strong, intelligent women in PANIC ROOM as "dumb bitches". Come on now.

"Welcome to the planet Maturia, we have much to teach you."-Lisa Kudrow, "The Opposite of Sex"</font>

I don't actually think they were dumb bitches, I was just really PISSED about the ending when I wrote that. If I actually thought they were I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the movie since it centers around them. I thought Jodie Foster was GREAT and her performance is one of my personal favorites of hers. I actually loved her character. I thought she was very smart and strong and I loved watching her kick ass. She played a really cool character and I doubt anyone could have done a better job than her. She thought of things that I never would have. If it would have been me I probably would have just been sitting there waiting to die because in a situation like that it would be hard to think. She really came through for her daughter and if I really thought she was a dumb bitch I wouldn't have loved the movie so much. And as for her daughter, she also did well for her part, better than I expected. She didn't have as much to do as Jodie but she did well with what she had to work with. I'm actually not quite as mad about the ending, still not thrilled about it, but I've come to accept it. Other than that flaw though PANIC ROOM kicked major ass and I think I might check it out again. I will for sure buy the DVD.

[Scrunch]

I'll stand up for the ending.

spoilers...
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Why do we need to know what happened to Forrest Whittaker's character? We know he got caught. There's a VERY good likelyhood that the daughter especially will stand up for him to an extent in court and the mother probably would too. I think the way he treated the young girl would be a factor at least in his sentencing. But that isnt' what this movie was about.

What this movie was about was an extraordinary situation that ordinary people were put into. Ordinary people who could be you, could be me, could be a neighbor... but sometimes ordinary people have to rise to the occasion when extraordinary situations occur. But after that you know what happens? Life goes on.

You never know what kinds of experiences will happen in your life. If you live the life of such and such won't ever happen to me or... things like that don't happen to people I know... Life isn't like that.

I learned something VERY upsetting and disturbing today in fact that chills me to the bone. Something that put one of my neighbor's in the hospital. I pray he makes it and that those around him will be able to deal with the aftermath. Sometimes things happen that you don't think could ever happen, things you couldn't imagine...

And then they happen.

Life goes on.

*shrug*

[LordKaruku]

I was really happy it ended when it did. During that last shot I was dreading Jodi Foster was about to say "No, wait! Don't shoot him! He's GOOD!" Then there could be a final scene that shows her and Forrest Whitaker getting married, and the three of them moving into a nice house and having a happy life.

Thank God Fincher doesn't go for the expected.

[kobe]

everyone obviously knows what has happens to Burhnam so what does it matter if they don't use an extra ten seconds of screentime to show him in a jail cell or whatever. what would that have added to the ending. it is obvious what happens so live with it.

[ColinM]

LMAO at LordKaruku's "predictable version" of Panic Room's ending. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by kobe:
everyone obviously knows what has happens to Burhnam so what does it matter if they don't use an extra ten seconds of screentime to show him in a jail cell or whatever. what would that have added to the ending. it is obvious what happens so live with it.</font>

When people say that they didn't like the ending because they don't know what happened to Burnham, I always take it as "I know what's happened to him, but I just don't like it".

[Raena]

What was the original ending?

I read in a magazine that the studio made Fincher re-shoot the ending.

[inglourious basterd]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Raena:
What was the original ending?

I read in a magazine that the studio made Fincher re-shoot the ending.</font>

I read that this is the "original" ending. The studio wanted him to reshoot it, but it would have costed too much to rebuild the set. It is for that reason that the "alternate" ending was not filmed.

[Azazel23]

Just one thing - more than the fact of no closure of Burnham situation, i think the worse aspect of the ending was the tacked on bit with the 2 girls looking at ads. I understand what Fincher was saying with the scene but it didnt work. (For those who didnt pick up on it, early in the movie, the daughter says u didnt ask me what i thought etc, then at the end Foster is asking her opinion - u work it out....). I personally think he needed at add something, like the house they discuss and say its perfect - they should then read that it has a panic room - then they decide against it or something like that, i dunno.... And that ending really does feel dumped on the end with the extralong blackscreen...

[Mike]

I agree with you completely Azazel23, especially about how the very ending felt tacked on with the extra long black screen, and it was long, I thought the movie was over. And then I don't feel that ending really added anything to the movie. It was just missing something.

[pineapple]

Spoiler
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You know what would of been cool for the ending? It would of been cool when Jodie Foster hit Dwight and when he came up the stares she goes get the gun and tries to shoot him but Dwight ducks and jodie Foster accidentally shoots her daughter. Would that be cool or what?

[Raena]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by pineapple:
Spoiler
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You know what would of been cool for the ending? It would of been cool when Jodie Foster hit Dwight and when he came up the stares she goes get the gun and tries to shoot him but Dwight ducks and jodie Foster accidentally shoots her daughter. Would that be cool or what?</font>


Maybe we should all take a second here to define "cool."

[Azazel23]

The Webster English Dictionary defines cool as:

Moderately Cold;being of a temperature between hot and cold; not ardent or zealous; not excited by passion of any kind; not angry; not fond; indifferent; apathetic; chilling; frigid; deliberate; calm; quietly impudent and selfish: of persons and acts..

Thank You. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/wink.gif

[movieDUDE68686]

I did not think it was that bad!

*******HUGE SPOILERS*********
*******HUGE SPOILERS*********
*******HUGE SPOILERS*********
*******HUGE SPOILERS*********
*******HUGE SPOILERS*********

In the end when Burnam got caught by the cops I was suprised. I read the novel, "Panic Room", by James Ellison. And in the book Jodie Fosters Character Meg, got the chance to either turn him in or let him go, since she head the gun to his head... and she let him go. I thought that would have been a better ending for the movie, but it still worked well.

Panic Room Grade: http://www.joblo.com/ubb/biggrin.gif 9/10

[Mike]

I really like that ending and I have no idea why they didn't use it. It would have been much better than the one they used.

The movie was still great though and I want to see it again. I'm sure it will be the best thriller of the year.

[Common Sense Man]

I don't see what was wrong with the ending it was realistic.

Sure I was pissed that he was caught as he was basically a good guy.

But he was involved in a crime that ended up in murder and all the other felonies that he was a part of.

So in the end I was sorry for him but he got what he deserved.

Out....................

[Danreiter]

I agree with COMMON SNESE MAN,

SPOILERS

What was so bad about the ending really? I mean, yeah maybe you wanted Forrest Whitaker's character to get away but thats a problem u have with the story and not the filmmakers so quit bitchin about how they made the film wrong. He should've went to jail. Yeah he was nice and everything by saving the girl but lets not forget that he wouldnt've even had to have saved the little girl if he didnt put himself in that situation of robbing the house - He did it to himself and I dont see how anyone could say he didnt deserve to get caught just because he saved a child, even though he caused the child to be in that predicament anyway.

[Mike]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Yeah he was nice and everything by saving the girl but lets not forget that he wouldnt've even had to have saved the little girl if he didnt put himself in that situation of robbing the house - He did it to himself and I dont see how anyone could say he didnt deserve to get caught just because he saved a child, even though he caused the child to be in that predicament anyway.</font>

He was actually saving them by putting himself in that situation. Look at it this way - if he wouldn't have been there then it probably would have been all ruthless guys that broke in and would stop at NOTHING to get what they wanted. Then Jodie Foster and her daughter probably would have ended up getting killed because they didn't have a nice criminal to save them. I don't know how you can say he caused them to be in that predicament in the first place because it would have happened with or without him, he wasn't even the leader. I highly doubt if he would have backed out the other guys would have left too, hell no, they wouldn't leave until they got what they wanted. He did NOT cause it.

And the reason I'm pissed about it isn't completely because he went to jail, but because of the crappy way it was done. I just did not like how it all ended so sudden, it felt kind of choppy, like they just threw something together and was like "This will be our ending." I just don't think the ending does this brilliant movie justice. And I can handle unhappy endings, I just don't feel it was put together right.

[Tuukka]

I just saw the film today (8/10). I also had a problem with the ending, but a different one. The final shot with Jodie and the daughter in the park was totally unnecessary. It should have ended with the zoom to Jodie's face in the scene before the final one. The scene in the park just felt like a forced "happy ending" to me.

[Mike]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Tuukka:
I just saw the film today (8/10). I also had a problem with the ending, but a different one. The final shot with Jodie and the daughter in the park was totally unnecessary. It should have ended with the zoom to Jodie's face in the scene before the final one. The scene in the park just felt like a forced "happy ending" to me.</font>

I completely agree, I really didn't like the very ending with them at the park. It was very unnecessary and it felt tacked on. The whole thing felt like it was a reshoot ending and it totally took me out of the film. I think it should have ended with the close up of her face, because if it would have ended there you would have been thinking "Wow, what a rush." But then it had to have them at the park and I really disliked this scene, it didn't feel real at all. It should have been left out. I really don't know what they were thinking putting this scene in the movie.

[The Other]

*shrug* the park scene at the end didn't bother me.

[Scrunch]

The end in the park actually gave me chills. It was just going back and showing how normal and everyday this mother and daughter seem. Anyone walking by them in Central Park would have thought nothing of them. Yet they had just been through something incredibly horrific. It just goes to show that you never know...

I also thought it was an interesting way to show how affected they were by things. They seem strong and their relationship seems better. But they're apartment hunting again. I thought it was a fitting way to wind things up saying that they no longer wanted the panic room house.

ALSO (I have a lot of alsos today) The movie began with them looking for a house so it came full circle and made it neat and tidy. Yet referring to my first paragraph, things are not always as neat and tidy as they might seem on the outside.

[idealdiscountdude]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Scrunch:
The end in the park actually gave me chills. It was just going back and showing how normal and everyday this mother and daughter seem. Anyone walking by them in Central Park would have thought nothing of them. Yet they had just been through something incredibly horrific. It just goes to show that you never know...

I also thought it was an interesting way to show how affected they were by things. They seem strong and their relationship seems better. But they're apartment hunting again. I thought it was a fitting way to wind things up saying that they no longer wanted the panic room house.

ALSO (I have a lot of alsos today) The movie began with them looking for a house so it came full circle and made it neat and tidy. Yet referring to my first paragraph, things are not always as neat and tidy as they might seem on the outside.</font>


Well said Scrunch!!!

I totally agree with you. I loved the ending to the film and have the same sentiments as you.

[ColinM]

I never thought of it that way, but that's an excellent point, Scrunch.

[inglourious basterd]

Scrunch...I see what you mean. The only problem I had with it was that it didnt really fit properly. The transition between the final scene with Whitaker and the the scene in the park was literally non-existent. I understand that that is probably what Fincher intended...I just didnt think that the followthrough was entirely great.

[Danreiter]

Actually, MIKE, he did put the little girl in that predicament because he did have to be there. The other robbers wouldn't have went without him because they didn't know the layout of the panic room. He did. Without him, none of it would have happened.

[Mike]

They would have went no matter what, even if he did know the layout of the panic room. If he had backed out they would have found another way because with that kind of money being in there, they wouldn't just give up that easy. One way or another, with or without him, they would have done it anyway.

[Irene Manor]

1 - I wish he had gotten away because I liked the character.

2 - Mike mentioned that if Whitaker hadn't been there, people would have been ruthless. No, if Whitaker hadn't been there, they never would have got into the house.

3 - Mike, you made another commetn about "it just goes to show that nice guys finish last." or something. That is a bleak way to look at it, because another way is: "Crime doesn't pay."

4 - I thought the transition between the last two scenes was okay. The final scene was an epilogue. You were meant to exhale before seeing the ending. That was the thought behind the black space, I believe.

5 - Although I initially disagreed with the ending, I do see benefit in it. In Hollywood today, we've created too much emphsis on the anti-heros. They have almost made it seem that the only way you can live happily is to lie, cheat, and steal. More-and-more in the movies we are seeing people not pay for crimes, and not having consequences for actions. Sometimes it is cool, but in an overabundance it is sick and absurd. In many ways, I feel the Panic Room ending is revolutionary for our time.

[ColinM]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Irene Manor:
1 - I wish he had gotten away because I liked the character.</font>

But he kind of becomes a "tragic hero" because he got caught, which is very poetic. Maybe you can find some comfort in that. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Irene Manor:
2 - Mike mentioned that if Whitaker hadn't been there, people would have been ruthless. No, if Whitaker hadn't been there, they never would have got into the house.</font>

I think they would've gotten in, but they never would've gotten that far.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Irene Manor:
3 - Mike, you made another commetn about "it just goes to show that nice guys finish last." or something. That is a bleak way to look at it, because another way is: "Crime doesn't pay."</font>

I seriously hate the "nice guys finish last" philosophy. I do not believe it's true.

[Irene Manor]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ColinM:
I seriously hate the "nice guys finish last" philosophy. I do not believe it's true.</font>

Yeah -- And in PANIC ROOM, the nice guy didn't finish last -- The bad guy ended up dead. Whitaker had to pay for his crime, but he is lucky to be alive.

[george]

A bit too late to post now but here's my take on the movie that i got back from seeing just half an hour ago:

Fincher is not only good with the camera in this movie ... he's good with characters. To explain:
Whitaker was the good bad guy and Fincher showed both sides to that. We dont really know what happened to his character at the end except that he got cought (i mean: did Foster drops the charges or not?) and he knew that by going back and saving the lady's from madman Raul (which he never liked from the begining and i believe wanted him dead no matter what) he would risk him being cought. He gets cought and looses all hope, lets go of the 22 milion and i believe if you look closely he was crying which is an excellent way to end the story of that character.
Now the thing is we dont know how Meg Altman would act after a robber that put her and her daughter through all that shit saves her life. Would she release him or is she the kind of woman that would just think of the bad stuff that happened to her coz of him and let him pay for what he's done? THAT IS UP TO YOU (the audience, the viewer). No matter what you think she would do the last shot of her and Sarah in Central Park would fit with your belief.
After reading all these posts did i come to this conclusion.

P.S. I think it was 3.5 mill for the alternate ending and not 35!!!

george