Topic: Death

Spoiler Alert: 9 Movies with Shameless Last-Minute Deaths

Spoiler Alert: 9 Movies with Shameless Last-Minute Deaths
One Day
The Notebook
City of Angels
Country Strong
Beaches

One Day, the Anne Hathaway/Jim Sturgess will-they-or-won’t-they think piece, hit theaters this weekend. While it made a respectable showing at the box office, it bombed with the critics. Besides looking like found footage from Reality Bites, I think the movie’s surprise sad ending might have been the real nail in the coffin (spoiler alert: pun intended).

Movies pulling the old one-two emotional punch at the end is nothing new, but sometimes a character dies and you’re less “Boohoo” than “WTF?” Or at first you’re like “Boohoo,” but then later you’re like “Wait, seriously WTF?” Usually it’s because a character’s death seems not only sudden, but also totally unearned. In an instant, a movie becomes a sucker punch. Shame on you, Hollywood. You lazy sadists, you. Here are nine moves that pull the last-minute death trick: More »

‘Game of Thrones’ Aftermath: Why Characters You Love Need to Die

'Game of Thrones' Aftermath: Why Characters You Love Need to Die

Game of Thrones, HBO’s fantastic television adaptation of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, finished up its first season last Sunday, and boy, was it a doozy. The last couple of episodes were all doozies, come to think of it; if there’s one thing you don’t generally expect when it comes to television shows, it’s that so many main characters end up dying. Naturally, there were some pretty violent reactions to some of these deaths– one in particular– and yes, I see where you’re all coming from. Here’s the thing, though: Sometimes characters, even the ones you love, need to die. And here’s why.

[P.S: Here there be SPOILERS, in case you haven't already figured that out.] More »

The Best and Worst Elizabeth Taylor Obituaries

The Best and Worst Elizabeth Taylor Obituaries

Elizabeth Taylor was one of the most famous actors of our time, her legendary beauty, style and of course talent was something that was always admired. She gave support to AIDS research by starting a foundation in memory of her close friend Rock Hudson (who died of the disease). She was glamorous, savvy and talented, winning two Oscars. Her nickname was “One Shot Liz” for being able to do a scene in one take, I had to do a double take when reading some of the obits all over the internet. Some are downright hateful, and others brazenly rude. I am appalled. The fact that so many people have forgotten what a star Liz Taylor was is just depressing.
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Gallery: Famous Movie Death Scenes

Gallery: Famous Movie Death Scenes
Russell Casse in Independence Day
Rorschach in Watchmen
Mufasa in The Lion King
Maximus in Gladiator
Edward Bloom in Big Fish

Earlier this week, the posters at Reddit contemplated mortality in the fascinating discussion thread titled, “What famous movie death scene would you like your death to be like?” And while many of the answers were sheer ridiculousness, there were some choices that actually resonated with us. The scenes in this gallery are emotional, cathartic, and examples of damn fine acting and writing. Since we’re discussing pretty pivotal scenes, beware of spoilers! More »

‘Celebrity Rehab’ Wasn’t Able to Help Alice In Chains’ Mike Starr

'Celebrity Rehab' Wasn't Able to Help Alice In Chains' Mike Starr

As much as Celebrity Rehab gets headlines for the crazy behavior of its participants (cough cough Jeff Conaway), there are quite a few genuine, heartbreaking cases of people trying to work through addiction on each season. One of the stories that I found particularly touching was that of Mike Starr. The former bassist for Alice in Chains, Starr had done drugs alongside friend and bandmate Layne Staley and admitted on the show that he may have been the last person to have seen Staley alive (Staley died of a heroin overdose in 2002). In one of the few genuinely touching moments of that season of Celebrity Rehab, Staley’s mother Nancy came on the show and told Mike that she forgave him and urged him to turn his life around. More »

Notre Dame Student Dies Taping Football Practice

Notre Dame Student Dies Taping Football Practice

Declan Sullivan, a 20-year-old at Notre Dame college, fell to his death after 50 mph winds collapsed the hydraulic lift tower where he had been taping the school’s football practice, for which he was a student manager. At least, that’s what the story is so far: the government is investigating the details of the student’s death, as well as to why the Fighting Irish team had been outdoors that day to begin with, when similar weather conditions forced them to practice indoors the day before. More »

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