Perhaps its just me, but I have never forgotten the haunting atmosphere of the finale'.
I've never seen an ending that so powerfully, yet quietly, summed up the regret and sadness that comes with time and age.
Despite the films many flaws, that ending is a piece of poetry in itself.
20 years later, it still lingers.
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I still like the original ending more. I don't think it was overlapped incredibly well. I would go as far as saying it is one of the best and most fulfilling endings ever. You know you've outdone yourself when you make a film that ends up being more depressing than The Deer Hunter. It's a shame no one has analyzed the scene, because no one cared.
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Alright, it's good to see someone on here recently. This board hardly sees any action. Anyway, I didn't notice she was the same girl from the beginning until the third time I watched it. I wasn't paying close attention, I guess. Actually, I liked it better thinking that Averill and her had no past history. It made the scene all the more depressing for Averill.
I like how you brought up the audio being hard to hear. Roger Ebert, I think, said that Kris Kristofferson was almost impossible to hear. Obviously, he didn't see the movie. I made out every word of his dialogue. I even made out every word of Huppert's dialogue. The only person I had trouble hearing was John Hurt's character, Billy. Even still, it's just one line I can't make out. It's when Jim asks him while playing pool, "What are you going to do, Billy?" I don't really know what his reply is. Apparently, this "problem" occurred in both versions.
Still, both version function very differently. It's amazing how Cimino changed the entire point of the movie just by editing it. Now, that's ingenious. Cimino's still third only to Kubrick and Scorsese when it comes to storytelling and the direction of people. I'd still like to see the original 5 hour and 25 minute long cut, though. Maybe that combines the messages. You get the best of both worlds.
Critics really ruined this movie, though. This is a little off topic, but on the second watchthru, my entire idea of criticism changed. I found out how corrupt and subjective all critics are. I trust only Spill.com now, if I must. They're not pretentious in any way. I have Heaven's Gate to thank for showing me this. Now, I'm able to be a more objective, unopinionated critic, which is what any movie deserves. Thank, you Heaven's Gate. (And thank you, betaman8, for listening to my ramblings.) =]
I forgot to say that I prefer the movie as the incredibly underrated masterpiece that it is. I swear, I've never spent more time researching a movie in my life. I've never cared about a movie this much. I wish that Cimino was still able to make the films that he wants to, but if I had to choose whether the movie would turn out to be a bomb, or a success, I'd rather it be the bomb that it is.
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Billy says something like: "I am a victim of our class, James."
shareIm sorry I guess I don't really understand your post. I have seen the 4 hour version of this movie twice. Maybe Im a novice at all of this but- to me the ending was cut and dry: he is with his wife. His time spent out West was accurately portrayed during that time in Amercian history when men would be gone for years....without spoiling this film...lets face it we are the few that have seen it....life went on as such....I don't get why you thought the ending was so wild. Im curious. And yes I am a fan of this film. I did not find the ending depressing, just the charachters. Averill's life went on and clearly his bank account still full.
"Ya makin' fun of me Riz?"- Sandy