Jacob's Ladder - huh?

[Kaku]

Jacob's Ladder - top film. BUT! (aha) what the hell happens at the end? I've rewatched the last 5 minutes millions of times but I still don't get it!

[Tuukka]

I understood that it all happened in Jacob's head. He was refusing to die and he eventually learned that sometimes you just have to let go... A really bad ending for an otherwise good film, I think. I hate that kind of "He woke up and realized it was all just a dream" endings. It used to be pretty ordinary in horror films 20-30 years ago, but luckily they don't do it much anymore.

[Kaku]

Ahhhhhh! Thanx Tuukka! Yeah what a poor ending then! Man I loved that film, don't know if i do now /ubb/frown.gif

[Necroscope]

for insight on the ending of Jacob's ladder, please refer to two things:

The first is a short story titled "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Pierce. You can read the short story (I think the text is posted in its entirety)
here:
http://www.bnlhost.com/shorts/stories/owlcrk.html

The second is the section of the Tibetan "Book of the Dead" about bardoswhich can be learned about here:
http://www.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/dead/otherworld.html

I would encourage anyoe to explore the entire TBOTD gallery. It's very interesting.

The thing about Jacob's Ladder is that it's not supposed to be accessible. It's supposed to be profoundly mysterious and confusing, for that is what the Tibetans believe happens to the unenlightened soul at death. JL was profound in that it expressed quite realistically and unnervingly the concepts of the Tibetan theology that are presented disguised in flowery prose in the book of the dead. Jacob's Ladder was an excellent film.

I would encourage anyone to give it a look. Just don't expect to be spoon-fed everything; you've got to do some thinking.

EDIT: I revised the link to the book of the dead presentation. I aimed it directly at the section relevant to Jacob's Ladder

[This message has been edited by Necroscope (edited 09-11-2000).]

[Brock Landers]

"An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge" is also one of the most famous episodes of the original "The Twilight Zone". I found it in the rare episodes box-set of 'The Twilight Zone"...very good stuff...

The concepts behind the story in "Jacob's Ladder" are pretty complex, and overall Adrian Lyne did a pretty good job translating some of it to film but it would have taken musch more time, film and money to get it all straight so that everyone would understand...it still is a great film...

[Necroscope]

Indeed Brock, Indeed.
I agree whole-heartedly.

[chootwo]

Oh my God! I am so glad that someone else has heard of "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge". It is my favorite short story of all time. I read it when I was in 10th grade, and even though I have a degree in English, I still think it is the best short story ever written. I posted a message about "The Devil's Advocate" and compared the ending to the short story. I realize that the "it was all a dream" ending is overdone, but if it is done well, with subtle forshadowing, it is a very effective device for the ending of a story. I am definately going to have to check out "Jacob's Ladder" and try to find the Twilight Zone episode.