- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
In your opinion, what's the greatest set-up and pay-off in cinematic history?
Posted on 8/15/24 at 3:39 pm
Posted on 8/15/24 at 3:39 pm
What's the best example you can think of a smart and subtle set-up that paid off in epic fashion later in the movie?
I'm sure there are lots of better ones, but I keep coming back to Ripley and the power loader.
Smoothly woven into the script as part of Ripley's fall from grace into a lowly dock worker following the Nostromo incident, the loader scene at the beginning not only puts her "swagger" on display - earning her the respect of Hicks - but it also sets up the final battle at the same time. And no viewer could've seen the set-up happening. The first time I watched it, I had completely forgotten about the loader and figured that Ripley was dashing for a grenade launcher or something. But then that door opens and she delivers her best line of the movie...
I'm sure there are lots of better ones, but I keep coming back to Ripley and the power loader.
Smoothly woven into the script as part of Ripley's fall from grace into a lowly dock worker following the Nostromo incident, the loader scene at the beginning not only puts her "swagger" on display - earning her the respect of Hicks - but it also sets up the final battle at the same time. And no viewer could've seen the set-up happening. The first time I watched it, I had completely forgotten about the loader and figured that Ripley was dashing for a grenade launcher or something. But then that door opens and she delivers her best line of the movie...
This post was edited on 8/15/24 at 3:40 pm
44
Posted on 8/15/24 at 3:44 pm to UGATiger26
Kind of weird, because it’s backwards, but the tattoos in Memento.
Posted on 8/15/24 at 3:46 pm to UGATiger26
Posted on 8/15/24 at 3:50 pm to UGATiger26
I know it's shite on now, but man the first time watching Sixth Sense was amazing. Then you watch it again with the context and it's great.
Posted on 8/15/24 at 3:54 pm to UGATiger26
William Munny walks through the stormy night and kills the men who decorated their bar with his friend Ned.
Posted on 8/15/24 at 3:56 pm to UGATiger26
Notables come to mind...
The Italian Job.
Shawshank Redemption
The Usual Suspects
The Italian Job.
Shawshank Redemption
The Usual Suspects
Posted on 8/15/24 at 4:00 pm to Corinthians420
Correct.
Posted on 8/15/24 at 4:01 pm to UGATiger26
There are others, but the first one that came to mind for me was when I first saw Oceans 11 (on vhs 
)
May not be high on this list, but a young me was fascinated with that movie. L
Edit: Lucky Number Slevin was a fun ride as well for this type of category.
) May not be high on this list, but a young me was fascinated with that movie. L
Edit: Lucky Number Slevin was a fun ride as well for this type of category.
This post was edited on 8/15/24 at 4:03 pm
Posted on 8/15/24 at 4:05 pm to UGATiger26
The Prestige stands out to me. The twist is so simple that I felt like an actual idiot for not even considering it. Everything is there the whole time. I was convinced the twist was going to be that he was actually magic
Posted on 8/15/24 at 4:12 pm to SouthEasternKaiju
quote:Reading OP, 3 that immediately popped into my head were Memento, Sixth Sense and The Usual Suspects. All three got mentioned within 5 posts.
The Usual Suspects
Posted on 8/15/24 at 4:15 pm to UGATiger26
Would the Sixth Sense fall into this category?
Old Boy (Korean) definitely does.
Old Boy (Korean) definitely does.
Posted on 8/15/24 at 4:20 pm to UGATiger26
The ending of Snatch was the first time I can say I was on my feet watching it.
Posted on 8/15/24 at 4:25 pm to LSUMANINVA
This may not really qualify because it's not one big one but many small ones, but pretty much everything that happens in the last 20-30 minutes of Hot Fuzz is setup in the first hour and half of the movie. It's such an amazing movie. I think I'm going to watch it this weekend.
This post was edited on 8/15/24 at 4:26 pm
Posted on 8/15/24 at 4:34 pm to TigerNutwhack
“I AM your father!” “Noooooooooooo!”
Posted on 8/15/24 at 5:02 pm to UGATiger26
The slow build in Unforgiven topped off with Eastwood going off on the sheriff and townsfolk at the end.
Posted on 8/15/24 at 5:04 pm to TigerNutwhack
Posted on 8/15/24 at 5:35 pm to Laugh More
Oceans 11 is a great call.
One of the most underrated movies in history. But I’m not sure if it fits this thread, only because of the swift left turn it took in the end. There wasn’t really much “setup” for the payoff (even though the payoff was amazing). But the whole “Kansas City shuffle” aspect of it takes it out of contention IMO.
Excellent movie though.
If trilogies count, Lord of the Rings had a pretty sweet buildup and payoff.
And The Prestige as well, as it’s mentioned several times already. May be my favorite movie of all time.
quote:
Edit: Lucky Number Slevin was a fun ride as well for this type of category.
One of the most underrated movies in history. But I’m not sure if it fits this thread, only because of the swift left turn it took in the end. There wasn’t really much “setup” for the payoff (even though the payoff was amazing). But the whole “Kansas City shuffle” aspect of it takes it out of contention IMO.
Excellent movie though.
If trilogies count, Lord of the Rings had a pretty sweet buildup and payoff.
And The Prestige as well, as it’s mentioned several times already. May be my favorite movie of all time.
This post was edited on 8/15/24 at 6:23 pm
Posted on 8/15/24 at 5:38 pm to UGATiger26
Posted on 8/15/24 at 5:46 pm to UGATiger26
Foreshadowing the car accident that Marty McFly would get into, and that his family curse was to get over being called a coward.
It’s there the whole time, there’s so much going on in the trilogy that viewers just see it as a character trait that doesn’t really mean much, but it pays off in a great way
It’s there the whole time, there’s so much going on in the trilogy that viewers just see it as a character trait that doesn’t really mean much, but it pays off in a great way
This post was edited on 8/15/24 at 5:48 pm
Posted on 8/15/24 at 5:52 pm to UGATiger26
Page 1 of 4
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News