MovieChat Forums > The Cider House Rules (2000) Discussion > Questionable Ending?

Questionable Ending?

posted 15 years ago by moviecritic007
2 replies | jump to latest

I watched this movie with an open mind. I thought the first 45 minutes were phenominal, but after that it felt as if the movie fizzled out. There was virtually no character building between TM and the black family, and went from distance to semingly accepting. After leaving there was no acceptence or understanding between TM and MC, as both still pushed eachother to aspire after their own ambitions. The end was extremley unrewarding, as he loses his love, and returns back to the place that he had run away from, only returning because he has no where else to go? I understand this is a coming of age tale, but why would the end start at the beginning? He doesnt want to be a doctor, he doesnt want to be there, he wants a new life and was happiest picking apples. He should have moved onto the next phase of life rather than regressing back. I just had a serious problem with the last 30 minutes

"May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face"

[–] ta_naemhni 15 years ago

I can see why you feel that way, but I don't agree, at least not entirely.

I don't see his return to the orphanage as a regression, instead, I see it as a PROgression. He's moved from being one of the orphans to the one who runs the place -- this is the coming of age aspect that you mention. He returns out of a sense of obligation to the other kids.

Also, while there's certainly a lot of chemistry between Theron and Maguire, they also exhibited it in *just* such a way as to show that they weren't really meant for each other. Another thing, too, regarding "his love", is that it's suggested, albeit only very subtly, that he's going to end up marrying that one girl at the orphanage (the one who sticks her tongue out at him in the beginning of the film). I'm told that this film consists of only about the first two-thirds of the book; I'd be interested in hearing whether anyone who's read it can confirm or deny this.

I do agree about the lack of character development between Maguire and the migrant workers, that was a disappointment. Ditto for Maguire and Caine, they didn't really click, either. Fortunately, those relationships were only secondary to the one between Maguire and Theron, and I thought they did an excellent job with that one, so the "damage" was somewhat mitigated.

[–] adubb221 15 years ago

I wouldn't even call it the first 2/3rds! It felt to me like a third of the book was involved! There was no back story on Dr. Larch. Melony wasn't involved at all. I would say more but I'm not sure if it would be considered a spoiler, and I don't know how to put those fancy overlays in!

Suffice it to say that in the book he was away from the orphanage for a couple years and he and Candy returned. Then he left back to the orchard and stayed there for several years. (including when Wally returned from the war) I felt the book was much more fulfilling than the movie.