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The Mist: A Quickie Review - Warning: several spoilers!

#1
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3/31/08 at 5:06am
  • Joined: April 1999
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I Mist this in the Theaters So I wanted to pick this up when it came out on DVD. Although I'm sure a Blu of this will be coming in the Future. I had read Mixed Reviews of this movie that mostly dealt with the Revised Ending of the Novel. I won't Spoil it here but this is definately a unsettling Ending, I read one review that called it Horrific, well duh this is a Horror Movie, and the ending is no more bleak than say the ending of Clovefield with one Notable Exception. Still I thought this the best Horror film is ages and one of the Better King Adaptions. In fact this was a better "Monster" movie than cloverfield. And that Ending Makes you think a bit more than King's Novella Ending, King himself has said it was a better ending. But Today's Audience made the movie a Flop by spreading the Word of Mouth that the ending was Bleak. I have a feeling today's Audience would Have Serling's "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" end with the neighboorhood holding hands and singing Kumbeyah.

The Point of that piece is similar with King's in that the disraveling of Society is often at our hands and not the monsters.

This is one of the Rare Occasions where you'll definately want the 2 Disk Version of the Film. Darabont the film's director wanted to shoot the film in Black & White, to own back to the 60's classics like Night of the Living Dead. Of Course the Studio would have none of that. But on Disk two is the film properly Balanced in B&W, so it's more than just a "Color Turned Off" version. And thou I watched the theatrical, I sampled the Black & White, and boy it feels like an entirely different film, with a much more unreal, otherworldly atmosphere. So Check out the version Darabont wanted and the Studio was afraid to release because Youngin's won't watch no stinking B&W.

The Mist is a good old fashion Monster and Morality tale, give it a spin.
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#2
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3/31/08 at 9:03am
  • Joined: November 2004
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

I agree 100%. I think it will gain an audience via DVD. Holds up on repeat viewings, too.

Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it meant to roast in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you.

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#3
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3/31/08 at 9:25am
  • Joined: October 2006
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

To be honest the reason I didn't like the ending wasn't because it was bleak, it was because It felt created for shock value and wasn't believable in my opinion. As for replay value I just can't imagine watching it more than once and I love these type of movies. I will say the first couple hours were great but the created ending not so much. Mr. King isn't exactly known for his great story endings so his opinion really doesn't sway me on endings...though in this case I would have prefered the book ending...bleak but open ended, some things are better left to our imagination.


Warning Spoiler! Click to show
I just didn't believe they would go through all that just to give up because they ran out of gas...it made no sense in that they knew it was coming but made no effort to find shelter or even try to find another car with gas or anything. I'm telling you most people would not just say...oh well we ran out of gas let's give up and die now, you would do everything you could to survive. It would have made more sense if it was just the boy and the father but it wasn't. Why bother even going for the truck then...the boy could have just as easily been picked off then so I don't want to hear any excuses about the son.
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#4
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3/31/08 at 9:37am
  • Joined: January 2006
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Scarpa
I Mist this in the Theaters So I wanted to pick this up when it came out on DVD. Although I'm sure a Blu of this will be coming in the Future. I had read Mixed Reviews of this movie that mostly dealt with the Revised Ending of the Novel. I won't Spoil it here but this is definately a unsettling Ending, I read one review that called it Horrific, well duh this is a Horror Movie, and the ending is no more bleak than say the ending of Clovefield with one Notable Exception. Still I thought this the best Horror film is ages and one of the Better King Adaptions. In fact this was a better "Monster" movie than cloverfield. And that Ending Makes you think a bit more than King's Novella Ending, King himself has said it was a better ending. But Today's Audience made the movie a Flop by spreading the Word of Mouth that the ending was Bleak. I have a feeling today's Audience would Have Serling's "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" end with the neighboorhood holding hands and singing Kumbeyah.

The Point of that piece is similar with King's in that the disraveling of Society is often at our hands and not the monsters.

This is one of the Rare Occasions where you'll definately want the 2 Disk Version of the Film. Darabont the film's director wanted to shoot the film in Black & White, to own back to the 60's classics like Night of the Living Dead. Of Course the Studio would have none of that. But on Disk two is the film properly Balanced in B&W, so it's more than just a "Color Turned Off" version. And thou I watched the theatrical, I sampled the Black & White, and boy it feels like an entirely different film, with a much more unreal, otherworldly atmosphere. So Check out the version Darabont wanted and the Studio was afraid to release because Youngin's won't watch no stinking B&W.

The Mist is a good old fashion Monster and Morality tale, give it a spin.

I'm puzzled why you capitalize some words, other than proper nouns, and not others.

And my father dwelt in a tent.

DVD:
http://www.dvdspot.com/member=haruuj

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#5
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3/31/08 at 10:25am
  • Joined: April 1999
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Van594
To be honest the reason I didn't like the ending wasn't because it was bleak, it was because It felt created for shock value and wasn't believable in my opinion. As for replay value I just can't imagine watching it more than once and I love these type of movies. I will say the first couple hours were great but the created ending not so much. Mr. King isn't exactly known for his great story endings so his opinion really doesn't sway me on endings...though in this case I would have prefered the book ending...bleak but open ended, some things are better left to our imagination.


Warning Spoiler! Click to show
I just didn't believe they would go through all that just to give up because they ran out of gas...it made no sense in that they knew it was coming but made no effort to find shelter or even try to find another car with gas or anything. I'm telling you most people would not just say...oh well we ran out of gas let's give up and die now, you would do everything you could to survive. It would have made more sense if it was just the boy and the father but it wasn't. Why bother even going for the truck then...the boy could have just as easily been picked off then so I don't want to hear any excuses about the son.

It was shown in the movie that these things outside (Not all of which they even say) killed them pretty quick, the exception being when they walked into the pharmacy, but then they were walking into danger. One Bite from those insects look how quickly it killed, and then there was the acid shooters, would've you stopped when you can't see what's in front of you?
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#6
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3/31/08 at 10:29am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by MatthewHA
I'm puzzled why you capitalize some words, other than proper nouns, and not others.

Because I Can.
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#7
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3/31/08 at 11:10am
  • Joined: November 2004
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Van594
To be honest the reason I didn't like the ending wasn't because it was bleak, it was because It felt created for shock value and wasn't believable in my opinion. As for replay value I just can't imagine watching it more than once and I love these type of movies. I will say the first couple hours were great but the created ending not so much. Mr. King isn't exactly known for his great story endings so his opinion really doesn't sway me on endings...though in this case I would have prefered the book ending...bleak but open ended, some things are better left to our imagination.


Warning Spoiler! Click to show
I just didn't believe they would go through all that just to give up because they ran out of gas...it made no sense in that they knew it was coming but made no effort to find shelter or even try to find another car with gas or anything. I'm telling you most people would not just say...oh well we ran out of gas let's give up and die now, you would do everything you could to survive. It would have made more sense if it was just the boy and the father but it wasn't. Why bother even going for the truck then...the boy could have just as easily been picked off then so I don't want to hear any excuses about the son.

There are two things that help mitigate the ending in my eyes:

1. Billy Drayton made his dad promise that he would not let the monsters eat him.

2. When the car stopped, the monsters could be heard nearby. They would not have made it very far.

I think the film and it's maker have balls little seen in this day and age. For me, it is just like the Coen's NCFOM.

Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it meant to roast in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you.

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#8
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3/31/08 at 1:31pm
  • Joined: October 2006
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brett_M
There are two things that help mitigate the ending in my eyes:

1. Billy Drayton made his dad promise that he would not let the monsters eat him.

2. When the car stopped, the monsters could be heard nearby. They would not have made it very far.

I think the film and it's maker have balls little seen in this day and age. Fort me, it is just like the Coen's NCFOM.


Spoilers***********************************
1. He didn't seem to mind risking his son when they ran for the truck outside the store...could have just as easily gotten him then(besides the worst monsters were in the store). Like I said before, I maybe could have bought the ending that way if it was the two of them and one bullet. That would have been a little more believable...but shoot all of them? they all give up? I bet you wouldn't like that unless you have a death wish. It seems they did all they could do to survive but at the end they just go ..oops out of gas. Just not buying it or the bad planning and poor effort once they had the truck, they wouldn't just drive until out of gas. Besides..how many parents make that promise to a scared kid. All of them...how many mean it...not many if any.

2. If seems they made it quite a while without even a peep from the monsters while riding in the truck..heck the huge one just walked past them and didn't do a thing. I would take all that as a sign to at least try. They made that choice way to quick for my taste. At least wait a while and see if you don't even want to try and go for it.

3. Maybe some balls but it still has to make more sense in the story or it's just shock value stuff. I'll take the open ended bleak ending any day. I was so pissed after loving the rest to see that ending. Glad you liked it but for me..ugh!
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#9
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3/31/08 at 5:18pm
  • Joined: October 1999
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Oh sweet Jesus, moderators please spoilerize this mess of a thread!
Ernest Hemingway once wrote, \"The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.\" I agree with the second part...
--Det. William Somerset, SE7EN

http://www.dvdanthology.com/Filmmaker-movielist.html), http://LDDb.com/collection.php?actio...user=Filmmaker
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#10
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3/31/08 at 8:00pm
  • Joined: December 2002
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

I had a question regarding the movement of the camera...such as the sudden Zoom In's and Pan Out's in the super-market when David and Brent first arrive and alittle later as well...

Are these movements supposed to be there? Was it like this in the theater version?...It just seemed odd seeing it happen, and at times it looked like the image in film wasn't center...like something was off...

IF this has been addressed elsewhere I am sorry.. I looked PLEASE direct me to the correct URL for the information is it was...

IF this is te correct way the film was intended to look then like Gilda Radner said "Nevermind "

thanx Chris 3.31.08

\"You never know how much you really believe anything until its Truth or Falsehood becomes a matter of Life or Death to You\". C.S. Lewis

My Collection

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#11
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3/31/08 at 8:45pm
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Van594
they all give up? I bet you wouldn't like that unless you have a death wish. It seems they did all they could do to survive but at the end they just go ..oops out of gas.


Warning Spoiler! Click to show

I think they thought it was the end of the world, literally. After seeing that Cthulhu-like elephant monster they just figured the world no longer existed at all.
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#12
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4/1/08 at 4:10am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulP

Warning Spoiler! Click to show

I think they thought it was the end of the world, literally. After seeing that Cthulhu-like elephant monster they just figured the world no longer existed at all.

I think that would tend to make be a bit pessimistic, too.

Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it meant to roast in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you.

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#13
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4/2/08 at 8:51am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

I also didn't like the ending, and not because it was "bleak". NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD has a "bleak" ending, and it works perfectly.
Warning Spoiler! Click to show
I just didn't buy that a father would kill his own son unless he was absolutely, positively sure that it was truly "the end". Had the car been overrun with those awful spider monsters and the dad killed the others to "put them out of their misery", okay I could buy that, but not him killing them all when he wasn't 100% sure. Also, I agree with Van re: it being created simply for "shock value". The shot of the little boy waking up just before his dad kills him was completely gratuitous IMO.
Like I said, I'm not against bleak endings, I like plenty of movies that have bleak endings, but in those films the endings are dramatically sound. I didn't feel that way about THE MIST. I thought it was bleak for the sake of being bleak, and
Warning Spoiler! Click to show
the actions of the father were
dramatically unbelievable.

Being that, I found much of the dialogue to be overwrought. I don't know how close Darabount kept to the dialogue in the novella, but my impression watching the movie was that a lot of what the characters said might have read well in the pages of the novella, but spoken out loud by actors it rang untrue.

Vincent
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#14
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4/3/08 at 5:33am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

A long, annoying and boring movie, IMO.

Much preferred P2 and its unbelievability.

The special feature on the artist who makes movie posters was more interesting than the movie.
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#15
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4/3/08 at 7:28am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

P2?
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#16
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4/3/08 at 7:45am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by cafink
P2?

Thats one about a woman being chased through a parking garage. It lasted a week in the theater. The reviews are horrid for it, and the director a first time hack. Guess we know how Yumbo feels about Frank Darabont.
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#17
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4/3/08 at 7:50am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Oh, I actually remember seeing a trailer for that movie now that you mention it. I assumed P2 stood for something, and I couldn't figure out what.
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#18
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4/3/08 at 12:54pm
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

The parking garage psycho-thriller with Wes Bentley and the upcoming Rachel Nichols (cross between Sarah Polley and Jodie Foster), produced by Aja who is talented.

I like Shawshank Redemption! A lot.
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#19
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4/3/08 at 7:33pm
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Just to quickly, eh, return to The Mist...must say I thought it was one of the best horror pictures I've seen in ages. Seeing it on dvd in b&w is terrific, and the extras were quite interesting.

I hope all this debate about the ending (rather prevalent for films from 2007, right?) doesn't discourage anyone from checking this out. A strong adaptation of a chilling story, well shot, with really good performances from a solid cast. (Andre Braugher, Toby Jones, Marcia Gay Harden, and especially Tom "I just want my children back!" Jane)

Watch THE SNUGGIE KILLER on YouTube!
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#20
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4/4/08 at 5:52pm
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Agreed Tim!

Every man is my superior, in that I may learn from him.

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#21
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4/5/08 at 10:45pm
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent_P
I thought it was bleak for the sake of being bleak, and
Warning Spoiler! Click to show
the actions of the father were
dramatically unbelievable.

I agree completely. I have no problem at all with bleak endings... when they are earned. Plus,


Warning Spoiler! Click to show
Y'know, there's this little thing in every car that tells you how low on gas you are... Tom Jane was ok with running next door to a pharmacy, he was ok with running to a car, but he's NOT ok with trying to pull over at a gas station? Or, worst case scenario, find another building to hide out in?

What made it worse was how the military came rolling in within SECONDS after everyone had to die. It actually would have worked a little better for me had it just ended with Tom Jane strolling alone in the mist and leaving us with a post-apocalyptic image.

And, to me, the whole military thing was setup early in the movie. The characters KNEW the military knew about the situation. They were all heading out of town. I have to assume that when presented with the option of killing 3 friends and your SON, one would try to think up any possible scenario of avoiding that situation. Was it too far out there to consider just waiting until it was absolutely necessary and wait somewhere for the cavalry to arrive?



I just didn't see anything in the story that warranted that ending.
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#22
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4/5/08 at 11:50pm
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Don't most of these posts more correctly belong in the Official Discussion Thread in the MOVIES sub-forum?

Perhaps a mod can move/merge as appropriate.
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#23
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4/6/08 at 4:29am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Hmmm the end of the world does not warrant the ending? Like to know what more justification one would need.

Every man is my superior, in that I may learn from him.

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#24
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4/6/08 at 8:35am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lou Sytsma
Hmmm the end of the world does not warrant the ending? Like to know what more justification one would need.


Warning Spoiler! Click to show

No, if that actually happened, it would be one step closer to justification. But, since it didn't... and the characters didn't have any idea that it was the "end of the world", either. In fact, had they believed that, why did they even start driving? They ran out of gas. So they decided to just die. It's silly. All they proved was the mist had covered the area that a tank of gas (if it was even a full tank) could get them to. Hardly, "the world". Everything was unknown to the characters. I'm sorry, but I just can't get behind killing your son and 3 other people over a guess. And, obviously, they were completely wrong since 10 seconds later the mist cleared and "the world" was saved.
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#25
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5/28/08 at 3:40pm
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review - Warning: several spoilers!

Hi all! If I understand correctly, the B+W version is on disc 2, yes? I want to netflix it but they only have the featurettes listed on the "bonus materials" disc at netflix and no mention of the B+W version. Netflix doesn't have a seperate featurettes only disc for this (the way they had single sided discs of the TV series that Universal used to put out on DVD-18's), do they?

thanks!
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#26
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5/28/08 at 8:50pm
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review - Warning: several spoilers!

I can't say whether Netlix has a unique version of the DVD, but the retail release is as you describe: Color version on disc 1, black & white version on disc 2, and a few supplements on each disc.
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#27
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5/29/08 at 9:09am
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review - Warning: several spoilers!

Here's why I didn't like the ending. Its a different reason than just "bleak".


Warning Spoiler! Click to show
It proves the religious lady was right. Expiation. He sacrificed his son and the others and the mist was suddenly lifted and everything was okay.
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#28
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5/29/08 at 6:21pm
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Re: The Mist: A Quickie Review - Warning: several spoilers!

thanks, carl!
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Home Theater Forum  ›  Forums  ›  Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Downloads  ›  DVD (and Other Std-Def Software): Film and Documentary  ›  The Mist: A Quickie Review - Warning: several spoilers!