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Post by OblivionGoon on May 4, 2008 1:48:13 GMT -5
I was not sure if I should have posted this here or in the P5 section, it applies to both.
So here is the question, if for some reason P5 is not made are you pleased with P4 as the last film?
I am. I believe that Oblivion answers so many questions, but leaves enough open to make it a pleasing film. What happens in the end is anyone's guess, and anyone's personal belief. I think that everything goes back to the way it was and it really was a Phantasm of Mike's imagination. Just a dream. But who knows. One phrase that haunts me: "It's never over"
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Post by postmortem on May 4, 2008 3:10:43 GMT -5
Wow, Obliviongoon, that was beautiful! Very nicely put. I absolutely loved how P4 closes the circle and poses the thought that perhaps everything originated and ended solely within the mind of Mike Pearson. I remember having arguments with other P4 crewmembers about the conclusion. We ALL had different views: 1. Many of the crew felt that Mike had died at the end and it was all very dark--with the Tall Man having won, Mike now "evil," Reggie gone off to die in a blaze of glory in an attempt to rescue (too late) his (dead) friend. 2. Others, that Mike had died and the "memory" of Reg and Mike as a boy was a final (happy) dying thought. 3. Others felt it was all in his head, and he was actually just a young boy again on that street imagining the wind (voices). 4. I was the only one who felt P4 was a "Jacob's Ladder" affair. And that, at the end, Mike finally stops struggling against his own mortality and "accepts" his death ("I'm dying, Reg"). The Tall Man--no longer menacing but just business as usual (though with a very respectful, almost sad, glance back)--walks off with the sphere (which to me is Mike's soul). He is the Grim Reaper and this is all he's come for, Mike's soul. Upon accepting his death, Mike does die. But it isn't a dying vision or a heaven that he goes to with the ice cream truck scene. For me, Mike is "rewarded" with actually going back in time--quite alive--to the beginning, to his youth, just prior to the Tall Man's arrival. Kind of like being reincarnated, only with a full knowledge of everything that has happened. But this time, there will be no Tall Man to haunt him and his hometown. He has now been granted a more normal childhood/life. He has come full circle, faced his greatest fear, and found that all the terrors and tribulations have evaporated like a bad dream. There is no need for Reggie to know about all this since it has not yet happened--nor will it happen this time around. It has, in a sense, all been in Mike's head. Except that Mike has truly "won" the game simply by facing--and accepting--his own mortality. He could have done this sooner (by clasping the Tall Man's hand), but he wasn't ready yet then. Maybe I'm an optimist. But I've always felt strongly that people that learn to accept Death find that they have a "new" appreciation for Life. Dealth and Life are the same coin. Stop struggling, fearing, and you see the whole--and the beauty of just living in the moment, much as Mike, quite relaxed, grins privately and settles comfortably back into the seat at Reggie's side. Like I said, I was the ONLY crew member with these views and everyone looked at me like I was screwy. lollol Although it isn't necessary to answer all the questions in "Phantasm" (that is, afterall, the beauty of the films), I sure would have liked to have seen more of the Tall Man's planet. P4 follows the idea of the Tall Man being Death--in which case, the alien nature and dimensional planet are irrelevant. I don't think there is a need for P5 either. But knowing the changing nature of each "flavor" of movie, P5 might turn everything on its head once again and introduce a whole different perspective.
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vitaman2007
Sentinel Sphere
"Be de be de be de...f#@ you Buck!"
Posts: 698
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Post by vitaman2007 on May 4, 2008 8:21:24 GMT -5
I have to concur. I'm fine with P4 being the end. If Don can squeeze out another one for the fans that would be great. Even a vamped up relaunch with a new story line would be acceptable (with Don's blessing and oversight of course).
As Don said in the commentary (something like)... " the Tall Man is basically the embodiment of Death".
The beauty of these films is that you can pick reason 1 through 4, as stated above.
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briggs
Zombie
Unlucky Caretaker
sphere ball attack man throat
Posts: 337
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Post by briggs on May 4, 2008 9:12:03 GMT -5
I must admit until I read Post-Mortem's comments I was not satisfied at all with the ending, but those really put things into perspective.
I guess I can live with one of those now that you explain them, but I still think putting a conclusion on in P5 would be the best. If Reg dies in a blaze of glory, I wanna see how.
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Post by gopher in heat on May 4, 2008 11:11:58 GMT -5
Wow Kristen, amazing reflection there.
I must agree with you in the fact that Phantasm IV does indeed serve well as a conclusion to the series, and I too always took the ending as Mike getting a re-start on his life.
But I must also proclaim that I want a Phantasm V more than anything. For me, it's not so much that it has to happen, but I really want it to. I think that there's definitely a lot of story left to tell, areas to explore, and questions to answer (as well as raise) in the Phantasm universe. And I'm pretty sure I'm not alone here in the hopes of a fifth installment.
So to sum it up, yes, Phantasm IV does make a very nice bookend to the series as it stands. But at the same time, I do believe it could be trumped by a well thought out Phantasm V. As long as there is a sliver of hope left for a new film, I will hold onto it dearly with an optimistic heart.
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Post by mirai on May 4, 2008 11:24:00 GMT -5
i agree wit Postmortems points because i have though of those points at sometime or other
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Post by Natalie on May 4, 2008 13:56:46 GMT -5
I am actually happy with P4. It has a great ending, and it allows us to put in our thoughts and our interpretation of it and such.
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hemidemi1
Dwarf
Phantasm High Priestess
Posts: 88
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Post by hemidemi1 on May 4, 2008 15:28:43 GMT -5
AH HA HA ! You are screwy That's why I love ya! Seriously though...I definitely LOVE Oblivion next to the first it's probably my fav. Many questions answered but also many more added. Kristen you know this already BUT the Civil War stuff really intrigued me. Man if I didn't go crazy with thoughts after that whole bit. So not that I didn't absolutely love P4....I will always want more Phantasm...even if it doesn't happen..I can still dream ok that was bad..heh
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Post by OblivionGoon on May 4, 2008 19:47:59 GMT -5
postmortem, your explanations are phantastic to say the least. I love the idea of the ball being Mike's soul. I think that you can throw in the idea of #3 with your analysis, they compliment each other. When I first saw P4 it was WTF? But now that I have seen it countless times, I can throw a new scenario in the mix and fall in love with it over and over. The film itself is so rich in philosophy and intrigue that it could never be answered by a cut and dry method.
A. Michael Baldwin stating that P5 was a "thinking man's" Phantasm knocks my socks off. If they top P4 in the thinking spectrum of things, our heads will blow up like Don's in the Alamo clip.
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Post by jswift2004 on May 4, 2008 21:10:52 GMT -5
I want P5 ...color me selfish
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Post by postmortem on May 4, 2008 22:11:23 GMT -5
Thank you, Obliviongoon.
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Post by bcg1969 on May 5, 2008 15:10:17 GMT -5
i am satisfied with the ending to part 4 but i still hope a fifth one is made. one can never get enough of a great thing.
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Post by The Never Dead on May 5, 2008 19:01:48 GMT -5
I'm very happy with OblIVion & think it was a nice way to end the series but in all honesty...bring on Phantasm V. I want to see the gang together for one more hurrah & have some questions answered. I know back in the day I wanted for many things to go unanswered due to liking the whole mystique thing about the series but that has since changed. I want answers!
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Post by 4barrelhemi on May 12, 2008 8:00:29 GMT -5
The very first time I saw Oblivion when it was released back in 98 I thought if this is the last movie which me and my friend and I'm sure others thought it possibly was. I thought that they way it ended was very good.
Kinda like everything went full circle and came back to the begining.
I would LOVE a P5 though I just hope that if that is the last one that it would have as equally great.
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Post by posterboy on Jun 18, 2008 0:23:48 GMT -5
I'm completely happy with P4 being the last one, and all things coming full circle. Hey, I heard the entire original cast from P1 is supposed to show up at the Chicago convention, but I have heard no word as to if the two women looking directly into the camera during the main street scene have signed on to be there. i still need their autographs.
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cusackclass
Drilled
Little brother, I can't stop him but maybe I can slow him down.
Posts: 40
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Post by cusackclass on Mar 10, 2009 22:25:10 GMT -5
Yes, I think I would be perfectly happy on how the series ended if there wasn't ever a part 5. Sure there's still many unanswered questions and different theories on what had happened. I just thought the last image of Mike and Reggie back in the 1970's driving off into the darkness was perfect. I like the idea if this really is the final film that was Mike's last happy memory before he died.
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Post by The Never Dead on Mar 10, 2009 22:54:54 GMT -5
I like the idea if this really is the final film that was Mike's last happy memory before he died. If it is indeed the last film, I do agree about that being a really nice ending to the series. End it on the last happy memory that Mike had.
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Post by jswift2004 on Mar 26, 2009 23:35:27 GMT -5
I like the ending to Phantasm 4 , but I want Phantasm 5 as a victory lap/encore. One more run so to speak
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Post by OblivionGoon on Apr 9, 2009 11:33:26 GMT -5
I like the idea if this really is the final film that was Mike's last happy memory before he died. If it is indeed the last film, I do agree about that being a really nice ending to the series. End it on the last happy memory that Mike had. Exactly, ND. It's somewhat happy, but it is also very bittersweet. We should be left to wonder what happend, and how it happened.
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Post by cryptkeeper2529 on Apr 11, 2009 0:39:02 GMT -5
Theres a lot I could say, but I'm gonna keep it simple. Although I do agree that I'm somewhat content (MUCH better finalle than Phantasm III), I am in no way ok with Phantasm IV being the last. It's just way too bittersweet of an ending, did we really come this far to give it the same if less depressing as the first?
If Phantasm V is made I personally think it should have a more linear ending. Before you jump on me citing how 'un-phantasm' that is, lemme explain. Despite the fact that it was never supposed to end either time when it did, Twin Peaks ending with the prequel film 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'; despite being a prequel abiding by most of the information in the first part of the series, it somehow manages to create an immense amount of questions, and keep in mind the last episode of the series ended with an insane number of cliffhangers so it would get a Season 3 (it didn't), making it one of the most obnoxiously frusterating francises out there to be a fan of. Phantasm V needs to be an epic conclusion to the series; leaving a film open ended for numerous possibilities and discussion is fine and dandy but to take it, streach it into 4-5 movie series, and then end it the same way just seems rather obsurd. I'm not saying it should be totally linear, maybe be a little mythical and such but closing on a note such as Oblivion dosen't seem quite right, not to mention it seemed rather small after the epic scope of Parts II & III.
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