"Is that really how the story ends?"
"For the sake of saving humanity, does Ellie have to die?"
"No, we can't accept that. Joel, go and save Ellie."
If this story were told in an Eastern context, Ellie would surely have sacrificed herself—willingly, even. But this is North America, a Western narrative.
Sacrifice is noble, yes but it should never be you or your loved ones who sacrifice. Let someone unimportant do it.
If Joel had simply walked away here, the film would have been hailed as a masterpiece. Critics would have rejoiced but audiences would have exploded, and so would the box office, only downward.
So Joel didn't leave. As the Firefly soldiers escorted him out of the hospital, his eyes grew colder and harder. Just when the audience was anxiously fearing that Ellie's skull would be opened, Joel made his move.
Action scenes have always been Tom Cruise's forte. Even though Joel in the movie is over fifty and slightly slower, he's still an absolute powerhouse.
He kills the two Firefly soldiers escorting him, seizes their weapons, and charges back into the hospital.
Peter could hear the cheers erupting from the fans behind him. Everyone applauded Joel for turning back to save Ellie. Humanity's fate? Who cares. What matters is that Ellie lives.
Even Leonardo DiCaprio joined in the praise. He leaned toward his model girlfriend and said, "If I were Joel, I'd do the same."
His girlfriend replied, "But Leo, you're not Joel."
Leo paused. "Can't I just imagine it for a second?"
After a fierce battle, Joel rescues Ellie and escapes with her to the parking lot—only to find Marlene waiting for him there.
One audience member couldn't take it anymore. "Fuck, Marlene is way too selfish."
"Yeah, she's ready to send Ellie to her death just for some uncertain project?"
Halle Berry's expression darkened, though it wasn't really noticeable—her skin tone helped hide it.
Then a timid voice from the audience spoke up, "But I think Marlene had a point. If Ellie doesn't sacrifice herself, humanity will have to keep living in this kind of world. And Ellie agreed to it."
"Bullshit!" another audience member snapped. "Why doesn't Marlene sacrifice herself then?"
"Because…"
Before the first person could finish, another cut him off bluntly: "Ellie couldn't possibly have agreed. Even if she did, she's a minor! She needs a guardian's consent. Joel is her guardian, and he doesn't agree."
"Well…"
People weren't sure if the law still applied in a post-apocalyptic world, but that argument did seem convincing.
If this were set in an East Asian country, Joel's actions would surely be condemned by everyone—after all, he jeopardized the greater good and potentially doomed humanity.
But through the lens of Western values, Joel's actions would be widely praised, though not without controversy.
Yet when you put yourself in Joel's position, you realize—many would want to do what he did, but few would have the courage or ability to actually do it.
The sunset glow, that most beautiful time of day, painted the road as a car drove along it.
Ellie woke up. As flashbacks flickered in her mind, Joel told her, "There were dozens of kids like you—immune. But it didn't work. They couldn't make a cure."
The acting was outstanding, especially Saoirse Ronan's performance.
To be honest, this young actress had given audiences more surprises than anyone expected. Her scenes with veteran Hollywood actors were steady, powerful, and exceptional.
Even Saoirse Ronan's parents hadn't expected their daughter to perform this brilliantly. They already anticipated that once the film premiered, she would become an overnight sensation.
In the final scene between Ellie and Joel, Saoirse Ronan delivered an Oscar-caliber performance.
Peter thought that if this weren't a sci-fi commercial film, she might actually have been nominated for an Academy Award. The girl was truly remarkable.
"Swear to me," Ellie said, "that everything you told me about the Fireflies is true."
After a long silence, Joel finally answered, "I swear…"
Ellie's expression shifted—conflicted, uncertain but in the end, she chose to believe him. "Okay."
The camera lingered on Ellie's face. And the film ended there.
It wasn't a complicated story—just an adventure. Yet the intensity, the emotional depth, and the layers of feeling pulled everyone in completely.
Following the plot, you'd cry for Tess and Sam's sacrifices, share Joel and Ellie's rage, feel Joel's fury, and finally experience the quiet peace that followed everything.
That was the note Peter wrote down in his notebook. He was deeply moved that a zombie film in Gilbert's hands could display such rich and complex emotions.
When the theater lights came on and the actors prepared to take their curtain call, the audience—still lost in the story—finally stood up and applauded, giving their warmest claps to the cast and crew.
Tom Cruise and Saoirse Ronan became the center of attention, especially Saoirse Ronan. Her portrayal of Ellie had captured nearly everyone's heart.
Even though the little girl was a chatterbox with a foul mouth, she had become not only the light in Joel's life but also the light in the hearts of the audience.
More importantly, Saoirse Ronan's performance was simply brilliant.
Taylor Swift, who was watching the premiere, gazed at Saoirse Ronan on stage with envy. Though she was already quite famous herself, she still couldn't help but feel jealous of anyone who rose to stardom.
Avril Lavigne, on the other hand, was struck with inspiration—she decided to go home and write a song after the premiere.
During the post-premiere event, Taylor Swift and Avril Lavigne both took the stage to perform, singing the film's insert song and main theme.
During the fan Q&A session, one audience member asked Gilbert, "Director Gilbert, from Ellie's expression at the end, it feels like the story isn't over. Will there be a sequel?"
"Yes, yes! Will there be a second part?"
All eyes turned toward Gilbert, everyone eager to hear the answer they wanted.
Gilbert replied, "For me, the story ends here. But I don't rule out the possibility of a sequel in the future."
Tom Cruise followed with, "Joel is one of the most special characters in my entire acting career. I'd love the chance to play him again someday."
Saoirse Ronan's answer, however, was the most interesting. "I hope the director takes his time. I want to play an adult Ellie. This role means so much to me—it's changed the way I see life and has deepened my love for acting."
The responses about a sequel were ambiguous. The original game did have a sequel, though it caused quite a bit of controversy.
Gilbert personally felt that ending the story here was perfect. Leaving some blanks was also a form of art—it allowed the audience to imagine freely what might come next.
Perhaps Ellie would discover Joel's lie, or maybe a new immune individual would appear, leading to another clash with the Fireflies.
The ending, where Joel and Ellie head toward Tommy's camp, also left much room for imagination—what kind of story would unfold there?
If the box office performed well, Disney and Warner Bros. would surely not miss such an opportunity. By then, they could easily find someone new to take over the project.
..
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