Best way to end a story

[rocklobster]

What kind of ending do you like best? Here are the explanations:
Happy: Typical Disney stuff
Ambiguous: Is it happy? You figure it out.
Bittersweet: Mix of both Happy and sad
Trippy: Mess with the audience. Think 2001 or your typical Gainax anime
Sad: Make em reach for that box of Kleenex

[Lynna]

I think bittersweet is best...Because...well, it just feels more real. but then again, Happy endings are...Happy ^-^
I loath trippy endings though. They confuse the audience, and render the rest of the movie meaningless.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I like endings that feel like they are natural progressions of where the story was leading. If that means the ending is happy - great, if not, that's fine too. But there's nothing worse than a forced ending. That said, my favourite endings are the bitter-sweet variety. They have a sense of realism but also a sense of hope.

[Roy Mustang]

Mine is not in the list, which is death, mayhem and destruction!

Some of the best stories in movies and anime have been those three.

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Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[Blitzkrieg1701]

Where's the "anything that's NOT ambiguous" option? I'm looking, but I can't find it.

[Gelka]

Mine is not in the list, which is death, mayhem and destruction!

Some of the best stories in movies and anime have been those three.

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Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

Agreed! o.o

[rocklobster]

That's because sometimes ambiguous works. Just ask Alan Moore, whose entire repetoire rides ambiguity.

[Wikiwalker]

I guess I like ambiguous, but I don't mind any of the others, as long as they fit the rest of the story.

[J.R.]

Each kind of ending has their place for me. Guess it depends on my mood.

[Tsukuyomi]

I like happy endings ^^.. As long as it all follows through and makes sense ^^

Meaning, some movies just kind of end up happy.. When they're not supposed to and that's kinda "meh" to me :\

[Nate]

"The End."

[Scarecrow]

Well... any ending that's appropriate but I generally prefer bittersweet endings. Endings that are quite somber or dark but have a ray of hope for a better tomorrow for the character(s) involved. One of the reasons I love the first two Terminator films and I thought the ending of T3 was great... (rest of the movie was meh though) Ending of the second season of SSC wasn't bad either in this regard even if more seasons were intended...

But yeah... somber/hopeful endings are great provided they aren't just tacked for the sake of it. But usually if it has a tacked on ending, they either go full happy, or full sad...

[EricTheFred]

Well, since "Great honking big explosion" wasn't on the list, I chose "bittersweet". Actually, endings that have both a sad and happy element to them have always been very successful for me.

[Tsukuyomi]

"The End."

BEST ENDING EVER, IMO =D

Bech, I don't like movie endings that don't end either, Nate

[uc pseudonym]

I'm going to ignore the options and answer "heavy." When I finish a work, I want it to make me sit back and think for a while. That can often be bittersweet or ambiguous, but plenty of stories with happy endings have enough depth that it's more than "everything's alright." "Everything's not alright" creates exactly the same feeling in me as a happy-go-lucky ending.

Where's the "anything that's NOT ambiguous" option? I'm looking, but I can't find it.

You'll find that option between starlight and hope, reflected in the tears of dreamers.

[Cognitive Gear]

I prefer endings that are appropriate given the rest of the story. Every one of these ending types has it's proper place.