Shutter Island - What did you think?

[dejr_8]

Just watched this last night. My wife hated it. I was confused by it. I found a website that said when you watch it a second time (i.e. knowing the ending) everything makes senses.

Should you have to watch a movie twice?

 

[wdwmom2]

DH and I watched it about a month ago. DH didn't like it. I liked it, but yes, it was a little confusing.

And no, I don't think you should have to watch a movie twice to understand it. Nothing wrong with a movie that makes you think, but to actually have to watch it again, eh, no thanks.

 

[DawnCt1]

I started to watch it last night but fell asleep. I will try again.

 

[phorsenuf]

I thought it was really good. I would like to see it again just to see if I would see things differently.

 

[pixiegoose]

We've seen it a few times and really like it. It's a lot like "The Sixth Sense"- once you know the ending, you can go back and see things that make sense knowing the ending.

I also like being able to see the real Shutter Island (in Boston Harbor) though it doesn't (and has never had) a mental institution on it.

 

[CleoPahd]

I really liked it. My husband liked it, but was very confused. I agree with the person that said it was a lot like "the 6th sense", though I haven't watched it for a second time yet to catch everything I may have missed.

 

[Colleen27]

I loved it. I didn't have to see it twice to get it, though. As Pixie said, it is like the Sixth Sense - once you know the ending you wind up going back over it in your mind and seeing all the little things that fall into place and point in the direction of an ending you didn't see coming at all. And when you see it the second time, all of those things that blended into the story are such screaming obvious clues that you wonder how you missed them the first time around.

I thought it was great, very subtle and extremely well done, and I adore the actor Leonardo DiCaprio has become as he's matured.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think it depends on the movie.

I used to work for a video store and heard the first Mission: Impossible 8 times or so. By the time I sat down and watched it with my wife, it made sense and I enjoyed it. If I only saw it once, I might not have liked it.

I don't think Shutter Island is necessary to watch two times to understand. And I think the ending isn't actually concrete. I see three possible scenarios for what actually was going on, and each one seems just as plausible to me as the last. As opposed to The Sixth Sense, which has only one actual explanation.

 

[GingerJay]

I read the book before watching it, so I thought it was wonderful. But my DH who didn't read the book still liked it- of course, he's one of those that like to guess at the twist at the end..he said it was probably one of his favorite movies so far, though.

 

[BigHugsForEeyore]

.

 

[Christine]

I don't think Shutter Island is necessary to watch two times to understand. And I think the ending isn't actually concrete. I see three possible scenarios for what actually was going on, and each one seems just as plausible to me as the last. As opposed to The Sixth Sense, which has only one actual explanation.

I agree. I don't think you have to watch it twice once you actually buy into the ending. That's where I had a hard time. DiCaprio's character had me TOTALLY believing he was a cop and that the institution made him go nuts while he was there. After the movie was over, I did some internet sleuthing and discovered that the writer did not intend for this to be and the movie indeed ended the way it was intended to. However, like FlightlessDuck, I think there are a few different plausiblet theories for the ending. That is different from The Sixth Sense in that the ending was pretty concrete for me.

 

[dejr_8]

I agree. I don't think you have to watch it twice once you actually buy into the ending. That's where I had a hard time. DiCaprio's character had me TOTALLY believing he was a cop and that the institution made him go nuts while he was there. After the movie was over, I did some internet sleuthing and discovered that the writer did not intend for this to be and the movie indeed ended the way it was intended to. However, like FlightlessDuck, I think there are a few different plausiblet theories for the ending. That is different from The Sixth Sense in that the ending was pretty concrete for me.

What are the different theories?

 

[npmommie]

I read the book a few years ago, so the movie was just ok for me, I thought the book was better.
my dh did not read the book, he hated the movie.

 

[MushyMushy]

I really enjoyed the movie. Things started to fall into place for me JUST before the twist was revealed, and the same thing happened with Sixth Sense. I love movies like that, especially when I'm right about the twist.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Just from watching the commercials I knew what the twist was going to be, so I didn't even bother watching the movie.

 

[Lanshark]

I read the book but didn't see the movie. The "twist" in the end came as a total surprize to me. I found no reason to watch the movie after that.

 

[Mimi1965]

Just from watching the commercials I knew what the twist was going to be, so I didn't even bother watching the movie.

Totally disagree- from the commercials I thought the island just had lots of scary nutty folks- totally got it and loved the twist at the end-seeing it a 2 nd time would just clear up a few oddities- like collecting the guns when they entered the place

 

[dodukes]

Loved it here and cant wait to watch it a second time.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I didn't get the ending when they walked back into the house. SO TOTALLY CONFUSED.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

What are the different theories?

OK... so SPOILER ALERT (LOL)...


I don't know about anybody else, but these are mine:

1. Andrew Laeddis (Leo) is crazy, and even though he has a breakthrough in the end, reverts back to his delusion and is lobotomized.

2. Andrew Laeddis is crazy, has a breakthrough, and then FAKES a relapse because he would rather be lobotomized than live with the fact that his wife killed their children and he then murdered her.

3. Teddy Daniels (Leo) is NOT crazy, pretends to have a breakthrough back to the personality the evil Dr. John Cawley tries to convince him is real, and then decides to have the lobotomy because he knows he can't escape.