"WOW!" Moments, 2004 edition

Chuck Mayer · 01-07-2005, 01:22 PM

One of my favorite threads in HTF history is this one by Jordan_E. He started it a while back, and instead of revisiting it, I figured I'd start a thread for folks to choose from the 2004 films. The WOW! can mean many things, usually an amazing spectacle or something that generates a strong emotional response. I found 2004 a pretty great year for films, and I know I said WOW more than once. Sometimes, it's a simple line. My list of WOW moments from 2004:

Hero - Visually, the fight in the seasons and trees between Flying Snow and Moon. Emotionally, the scene between the Emperor and Broken Sword.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - the exact moment (I take moment seriously) where he decides he wants to keep THIS particular memory (he and Clem playing in bed) and it's subsequent removal.

The Incredibles - While this entire film essentially defines the WOW moment, the scene of Elastigirl in the jet RIGHT when the missiles hit. Just unbelievably awesome and touching. There are many more spots in here, but I'll use that one.

The Passion - "See mother, I make all things new."

Special note for The Punisher - the moment when my parent's DVD player rather acrimoniously self-ejected the Netflix Punisher DVD, sent it flying across the room into my jugular causing a bloody mess, and ending the misery and pain that particular film was inflicting upon my psyche. Well...not really. But in it's defense, it did have an arrow through the neck, which gets a huge thumbs up.

Hope others will share. It's how my own list grows

Take care,
Chuck

Jordan_E · 01-07-2005, 01:43 PM

The Phantom of the Opera - when the chandelier was lifted and everything transformed to the opera house years before and the music swelled. Nice moment.

Haggai · 01-07-2005, 01:57 PM

Eternal Sunshine - Different wow moment for me with this one, which I've mentioned in other threads specifically about the movie. During the scene where Elijah Wood comes over to Kate Winslet's apartment, and she decides she wants to go to the frozen lake again, he gives her the necklace she wanted, and she says something like, "thanks, guys never get me jewelry I like." When she's putting it away, just as they're about to leave, she gives him a look, which lasts a second or two at most, leaving no doubt whatsoever that she knows what's going on with him knowing about her past, just for that one moment--and then it goes away. It's so brief that I'll bet a lot of (maybe most) people who've seen the movie haven't noticed it, but it blew me away in the theater.

Spiderman 2 - While I enjoyed this movie, it didn't knock me out like it did for a lot of other people. But the best part of it for me was (maybe not that necessary, but I'll spoilerize it anyway):

Spoiler:

Now THAT was a "wow" moment.

Quentin · 01-07-2005, 03:04 PM

Just want to mention that, by its very nature...this thread may be full of spoilers. Should we tag all moments? I'm not going to post until we're sure...

Haggai · 01-07-2005, 03:21 PM

I guess it'd be best to spoilerize, when in doubt. Eternal Sunshine's tough enough just to describe, much less spoil, so I don't think Chuck or I have ruined anything.

Another suggestion: if everyone follows the format that Chuck used, maybe that'll be good enough for people to skip titles without being spoiled, without making tags necessary. I.e.:

Title - Moment

**HTF Ads**

Jordan_E · 01-07-2005, 03:33 PM

The crowd has spoken. My post has been adjusted accordingly!

Brent Hutto · 01-07-2005, 03:39 PM

The Bourne Supremacy: The goodbye kiss

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Pretty, pretty, pretty

Quentin · 01-07-2005, 03:44 PM

Fair enough!...

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind -

The looped final moment of Carrey and Winslet running on the snowy beach. As if the director were saying that they will continue this loop of erasing/breaking up and renewing their relationship. Always falling in love...never advancing.

Sideways -

When Miles' ex tells him she is pregnant. The heartbreak on his face is shattering.

Of course, the "pinot conversation" between he and Madsen. What a great close up on her.

Aviator -

The discussion, through a door, between a gone Howard Hughes and a compassionate Kate Hepburn. Two of the year's finest performances in a killer moment.

Incredibles -

The first glimpse of the evil HQ with the pseudo-Barry music blaring.

The kid running across the water...wheeeeee!

Kill Bill Vol 2 -

Elle vs. Bea. AWESOME!!!!

Man on Fire

"What're you gonna do?" "Kill 'em all" cue badass music!

The goodbye at the bridge. "You love me, don't you Creasy?"

Finding Neverland -

Opening night...the kids first reactions in the audience.

Bringing the play to the ailing Kate at home..."This is Neverland."

Million Dollar Baby -

Spoiler:

The Passion -

I'm not a fan of this film. But, Chuck nailed the moment of the film. "See mother, I make all things new." From the moment he falls, to the flashback, to her running to him, to this moment. WOW. Had half of the film come halfway close to meeting the power of this moment, I would have liked it as much as all the raves. More.

Dawn of the Dead -

Opening sequence quickly descending into chaos, punctuated by Johnny Cash singin' "The Man Comes Around". I was IN.

The Woodsman -

The bench 'discussion'. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talkin' about...

Scotty_McW · 01-07-2005, 04:02 PM

Spider-man 2

I better spoilerize to be safe:

Spoiler:

Hero
I'll second the visuals in Hero. A stunning film.

I'm sure I'll think of more later.