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It's two fold for me.

As has been mentioned before it depends on how the cliffhanger is implemented. Ending a story in a movie, tv show or game then using a cliffhanger to tease something new is fine. Using it to drag out a current story is just plain annoying. Too many TV shows do this with end/start of season double episodes.

This one mostly applies to videogames and TV shows with season ending cliffhangers, particularly when they choose the option to drag a current story; not getting a sequel or next season.

If a cliffhanger teases something new and there's a resolution on the way I don't mind it at all.
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hedwards: Yeah, but I think that's fairly standard for the genre. Maxwell Smart never ended Kaos. Inspector Gadget never finished defeating Dr. Claw and the kids never finished defeating Barney.

When you think about it, the quest in most of those shows is just a MacGuffin to push the character forward through the series.
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stg83: Yeah that is true in most cases, but Samurai Jack was actually cancelled and Genndy Tatrtakovsky has mentioned many times that he wants to finish the story with a Samurai Jack movie.
I also heard that JJ Abrams is directing it. And that was long ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_Jack#Film
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Elmofongo: The samething happened to Samurai Jack another Genndy Cartoon thats grossly underapreciated.
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Reever: Whaaaat? Samurai Jack didn't get finished? Or did I misunderstand?!
And the sad thing is the last episode was not a finale, just a filler episode about Jack looking after a lost infant.

Also the Blade Runner inspired episode was one of the best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpGje9ZqPTc

Genndy was a my introduction to alot of things, Star Trek, 300, Blade Runner, etc.
Post edited April 21, 2014 by Elmofongo
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Elmofongo: I also heard that JJ Abrams is directing it. And that was long ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_Jack#Film
I think that version is dead and J.J Abrams was going to only produce it, also he is too busy with the Star franchises. I am sure that if the movie happens then Genndy will direct it himself. Actually I am more optimistic about it now as Hotel Transylvania was a big hit, and if the sequel as well as Genddy's other planned animated movie are successful then I am sure it will allow him to do what he wants later.
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Elmofongo: And the sad thing is the last episode was not a finale, just a filler episode about Jack looking after a lost infant.
Actually I woudn't call it a filler episode as it was a nice episode and another tribute to Lone Wolf and Cub but not as great as the previous one in Jack Remembers the Past episode. :)
Post edited April 21, 2014 by stg83
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Elmofongo: I also heard that JJ Abrams is directing it. And that was long ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_Jack#Film
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stg83: I think that version is dead and J.J Abrams was going to only produce it, also he is too busy with the Star franchises. I am sure that if the movie happens then Genndy will direct it himself. Actually I am more optimistic about it now as Hotel Transylvania was a big hit, and if the sequel as well as Genddy's other planned animated movie are successful then I am sure it will allow him to do what he wants later.
The best thing about Hotel Transylvania was the animation it was like something out of Looney Tunes.

My fav scene was Dracula and the human walking in some catacombs and Drac was walking in a very Cartoony matter.
Those examples you give only end inconclusively up to a point. For example, Mass Effect 2 ends with the Collectors being defeated and a major victory for the good guys. True, we see the Reaper armada closing in, but the good guys aren't minutes from death, and the story specific to the game, with the Collectors, has been resolved. I haven't watched the Hobbit 2, but Wikipedia tells me that it ends right in the middle of the action, which isn't really the same thing.
Post edited April 21, 2014 by BadDecissions
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Elmofongo: And the sad thing is the last episode was not a finale, just a filler episode about Jack looking after a lost infant.
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stg83: Actually I woudn't call it a filler episode as it was a nice episode and another tribute to Lone Wolf and Cub but not as great as the previous one in Jack Remembers the Past episode. :)
Best scene in Samurai Jack ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqdDYLi0Lw
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haydenaurion: Heh heh.....
Yeap. I waited two freaking years to be able to play the second part. And the stupid thing is Amy Hennig had the whole story written and lined-up already, she would have made it into a single game if she could, but it was too ambitious a concept for what the technology of the day allowed, so they ended up having to split it up... :-\ but, still, having to wait for two years to get Soul Reaver 2 was a bit too much, I understand that they wanted to take advantage of technological advances in the industry, but I'd rather have an uglier Soul Reaver 2 running on the first one's engine, in order to get the story earlier.
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Elmofongo: Best scene in Samurai Jack ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqdDYLi0Lw
Indeed, thats the one where young Jack got his inspiration from. One of the many reasons that set Samurai Jack apart from the rest of the animated shows. Truly great series which I actually never watched on Cartoon Network but much later when it came out on DVD. If there still anyone who hasn't seen I strongly urge you to watch it. :)
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Elmofongo: I notice that people these days hates Cliff-Hangers, but why whats so inhernitly wrong about them. No one complained about the ending toMass Effect 2 or Empire Strikes Back, but alot of people hated the ending to the Hobbit 2 and even Halo 2. What is the big deal here. Whats wrong with ending inconclusively that makes you excitted for the finale?
Anachronox
Sin Episode 1
XIII
Dreamfall (although that's finally getting a sequel)
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Elmofongo: Best scene in Samurai Jack ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqdDYLi0Lw
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stg83: Indeed, thats the one where young Jack got his inspiration from. One of the many reasons that set Samurai Jack apart from the rest of the animated shows. Truly great series which I actually never watched on Cartoon Network but much later when it came out on DVD. If there still anyone who hasn't seen I strongly urge you to watch it. :)
This scene was also awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT0rbL5p0cQ

And this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmkxsQnNujI


GAHHHH THIS SHOW WAS FUCKING AWESOME!!!11
high rated
The reason people hate cliff-hangers is
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Austrobogulator: The reason people hate cliff-hangers is
I second your post because, the way I see it,
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Elmofongo: I notice that people these days hates Cliff-Hangers, but why whats so inhernitly wrong about them. No one complained about the ending toMass Effect 2 or Empire Strikes Back, but alot of people hated the ending to the Hobbit 2 and even Halo 2. What is the big deal here. Whats wrong with ending inconclusively that makes you excitted for the finale?
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pds41: Anachronox
Sin Episode 1
XIII
Dreamfall (although that's finally getting a sequel)
Well the whole reason I made this thread was because of people's reaction to the ending of Hobbit 2.

Unlike those games Hobbit 2 will be concluded in 3 that is confirmed to be released.

But still I do understand why people hate it and I especially think Cliff Hangers in TV shows that got cancelled afterwards is the worst of all.
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Austrobogulator: The reason people hate cliff-hangers is
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groze: I second your post because, the way I see it,
Some people here liked the more ambious ending of Blade Runner Director's Cut.
Post edited April 21, 2014 by Elmofongo
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Elmofongo: And the sad thing is the last episode was not a finale, just a filler episode about Jack looking after a lost infant.

Also the Blade Runner inspired episode was one of the best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpGje9ZqPTc

Genndy was a my introduction to alot of things, Star Trek, 300, Blade Runner, etc.
Oh man, I loved that series when I was a kid, just thought about going back and watching it from start to finish...it's sad they didn't finish it :/

And yeah, that looks awesome.
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Elmofongo: I notice that people these days hates Cliff-Hangers, but why whats so inhernitly wrong about them. No one complained about the ending toMass Effect 2 or Empire Strikes Back, but alot of people hated the ending to the Hobbit 2 and even Halo 2. What is the big deal here. Whats wrong with ending inconclusively that makes you excitted for the finale?
Firstly it can be very cheap. It can be a way of putting off having a good resolution so you can do it later (Halo 2, Pirates of the Caribbean 2, Buried at Sea ep1). It's a big aspect of sequel baiting, sometimes ruining a satisfying resolution for the audience (Every modern horror film Saw 1 stands out here. Terminator 2's ending was changed just to leave it open for sequels). And finally They're often used to bait sequels that don't come (Bulletstorm, Silver Surfer Animated, The Italian Job).

Cliff-hangers aren't inherently bad but I think people are sick of them. They're part and parcel of the franchising disease that's infected the entertainment industry. We need more Stand alone movies and books. But as long as we buy franchises they will continue to push them out.

But I will never get sick of the Sylvester Stallone movie Cliffhanger!