Rewrite a new ending for a bad book or movie.
The movie that needs a changed ending, in my opinion, is "Pay it Forward," starring Kevin Stacy, Helen Hunt and the kid that was in "The Sixth Sense." whose name escapes me now. This is such a gripping, beautiful story, amazing plot, poignant drama and so deserving of a happy ending that when tragedy strikes, one feels cheated and furious.
The concept is brilliant. A young boy around twelve-years-old, gets involved in a school project with his class and teacher.(Kevin Stacy) The class has to devise a way to make a better world and put it into effect. The boy's plan is so unigue, yet simplistic that it takes off at once, spreading across the country like the flu. So basic. Do something nice for someone and their thanks to you is to do the same for someone else-pay it forward.
The boy's Mother is divorced and a recovering alcoholic. Through her son, she falls in love with his teacher. Life could not get better. The world becomes a better place as people everywhere, "pay it forward."
Then one day a pair of bullies corner the boy and beat him up, killing him with a knife. The act is so startling that the movie becomes a sham. At his funeral, thousands who have "payed it forward." come from all over the
country and hold a candlelight vigil outside his home.
I would rewrite this by omitting the death of the boy as it was not essential to the plot, has no redeeming qualities except as shock value and is offensive to the viewer, who feels betrayed. His "Pay it Forward" would have continued as ripples from a stone skip across a creek. Like a snowball gathering size rolling down a big hill, it had to go forward. The boy's death was not needed and ruined the movie. This may be why it did not do well at the box office and quickly moved to HBO.. Still, when ever I catch it on television, I am compelled to watch it again. It is that good.
Regis