If you want some examples of how to echo your introductory hook in your conclusion, you have no further to look than Tom Hanks movies. First up, Forrest Gump. Remember how the movie starts? That feather floating around?
There it is. Just floating through the air for, like, a million years. Then, finally, it lands at Forrest's feet. He bends down, picks it up, and we learn he's sitting on a bench and waiting for the bus.
Anyone remember how the movie ends? That's right. It ends with Forrest sitting on a stump, waiting for a bus. And what's that down by his feet? Could it be?
There it is. Just floating through the air for, like, a million years. Then, finally, it lands at Forrest's feet. He bends down, picks it up, and we learn he's sitting on a bench and waiting for the bus.
Anyone remember how the movie ends? That's right. It ends with Forrest sitting on a stump, waiting for a bus. And what's that down by his feet? Could it be?
Now, does the film actually have anything to do with that feather? Well, yes and no. I mean, is the movie about a man with mutant chicken powers who hides his feathers from the world in fear that they will judge, mock, and, ultimately, capture and dissect him in the name of science? Not exactly. Is the film about a small town chicken rancher trying to make it in the big city as a chicken robotics expert? Of course not. Thematically, however, the movie is all about the feather. Forrest, like the feather, is blown by the wind from place to place with no direction or free will of his own. Chance is piloting Forrest's ship, not fate - just like the feather. We call this symbolism. So yeah, the filmmakers chose an opening hook that connects with the body of the film thematically, just like you can choose a hook for your essay that connects thematically - via your link - to your essay's central topic.
Next up, Saving Private Ryan. At the beginning of the movie, an elderly vetran visits the graves of his fallen soldier brethren. We then flashback to the war:
Later, near the end of the film, as Ryan's flashback comes to a close, we flashforward, back to the present with Ryan still kneeling in Arlington Cemetary.
And that's how you know the movie is over. The end echos the beginning, and the audience has closure. It just wouldn't make any sense to suddenly cut back to the war one last time. In the writing business we call it "The End."
One last example. So, okay, Forrest Gump won the Academy Award for best picture (beating Pulp Fiction?), and Saving Private Ryan was nominated (losing to Shakespeare in Love?), but you know what film was robbed of awards and glory? Splash. That's the one where Tom Hanks falls in love with a mermaid. Oh yeah. I don't care how many award-winning films Hanks stars in. For me, he'll always be the guy falling in love with a fishlady. And how!
The movie starts with Hank's character as a kid on a boat, staring at the water. He then jumps overboard and, while everyone panics on deck, sees a mergirl. They, of course, fall in love.
And just try to guess how this thing ends...
So that's how you echo your hook in your conclusion. You think like a Tom Hanks movie.
Question time: What other films, short stories, books, etc. can you think of that utilize the echo technique and 'Gump it'? Please give an example and describe it in detail. (I would expecially like to hear any ideas you might have on Tom Hanks movies I failed to mention. If anyone can think of any, I'll probably post them, too.)
In the movie A Cinderella Story starring Hilary Duff this same technique is being put in use. In the begining of this movie Hilary Duff is sitting with her dad on his car which, is on a ledge overlooking the San Fernando Valley and she is talking about how fun her life is. Then her dad dies and things take a turn for the worse. In the end of the story though we find Hilary in the same position. She is sitting on the same car on the same ledge over looking San Fernado Valley except, this time she is sitting with her boyfriend and she is talking about how here life is perfect. This is significant since it shows how Hilary fought through all the terrible things in her life and is just as happy as before her dad died.
ReplyDeleteIn the movie "Big" there is also the same technique. This Tom Hanks movie starts off when he is a kid at an amusement park in New York City. He finds a magic genie machine and he puts in a token and makes a wish. Tom Hanks as a kid turns into an adult. The audience watches the pros and cons of his new adult life. When Tom was an adult his bestfriend eventually got mad at him becuase he never had time to do anything with him anymore and Tom Hanks's mom was worried about him because he made up a story that he was kidnapped. Eventually, at the end he feels remorseful so he goes back to the same amusement park and puts another token into the same genie and makes a wish. Tom Hanks then turns into a kid again and goes home. This is like the technique used in forest gump becuase of the how the beginning and the end are alike to create a special mood for each audience member.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the movie "Click" Adam Sandler was living a dull life of constant work. He rarely spent any time with his family. Sometimes he would promise to be with his family but blow it off for some excuse related to his work. He didn't truly know his daughter and son. They were just as important as strangers to him but he would show false compassion towards them. On the other hand he had his wife who he actually set time aside to spend with her. She was starting to become very concerned for Adams real reason for working so hard and so often. Then he went to Bed Bath and Beyond and fell asleep. He had a dream about his life with this universal remote control he had received from Bed Bath and Beyond. He used the remote so frequently to a point were communication with his family was an occasion. Then at the end of his dream him and his whole family had grown up and he was an old man. He was asked by his son to go with him and his grandpa out for a guys night out and he declined. Then he started to die and he ran to his family and apologized for his repelling behavior and died. Finally, at the end of his dream he woke up and realized that he was warned of his future if he kept up what he has been doing. So he went to bed that night and the next morning saw on the counter the exact remote from his dream and threw it away. He then spent precious time with his family and took them on the camping trip that they desired to go on. This hook being echoed at the end of the movie from the beginning is what made the movie so interesting. The dream that Adam had saved him from living a lonely life. In this example it made the story have a happy ending. Lastly, if there wasn't an echoed hook in this movie it wouldn't be even close to being as intriguing and good. Most hit movies and stories will most likely contain this element but you just never realized it.
ReplyDeleteThe movie "Big" is another perfect example of an echoed hook in the beginning and in the end. Matt's example is somewhat similar to mine. How there is a conflict and the person is ignoring and ruining his life completely. Then he is finally reached by something very important which changes the character's perspective of life. Then the character straightens everything out and lives the life that would be more eventful, adventurous and fun. They ended living life good rather than the boring life that they were bound to end up with before realizing their mistake.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with peter's example also. I liked the thorough examples and description of his beliefs. It definitley helped explain his point of view. That is why t persuaded me so much.
ReplyDelete*it*
ReplyDeleteYou guys are missing the point. We're not talking about a theme or polot coming full circle. We're talking about a specific image - a feather, a door, the sun - that is shown at the very start and the very end of a movie. This image doesn't have to do anything with the story, necessarily.
ReplyDeleteWe're talking specifics, not generalities. Keep trying.
The movie the "Titanic" is an example of which the hook is echoed. In the beginning of the movie, an elderly Rose is interviewed by a treasure hunter, Brock Lovelett, who is looking for a valuable diamond called the Heart of the Ocean. Rose flashbacks to when she boarded the Titanic with her mother. We find out that Rose's fiance gave her the jewel. At the end of the movie, the flashback ends. The elderly Rose goes to the stern of Brock Lovett's ship. She still has the Heart of the Ocean, which she drops into the ocean to join Jack, the one she loved and her fiance Cal, among others who died on the Titanic.
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