HELLOOO Miss Maven.. I will have to be a rule breaker.. ha. (but I see I am not alone!)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
but for me it really does depend.. on a lot of things. Mostly the reason for "happiness" or "sadness" in a story. And of course you have to rule out certain things like, for instance, is it a comedy?? (because HEY.. I would get ticked off if I were watching say.. It Happened One Night and the "walls of Jericho" did not finally get permission to fall at the end... ha.)
But dealing just with a straight "dramatic" tale.. set in whatever genre, whatever time period.. I think it would just depend on who was "happy" or "sad" at the end of things.. and why.
Now if you ask me which sort of story I prefer to watch (happy, sad, or some combination thereof) OH me.. now that would be even harder for me to explain.. ha.. because I likely would be even LESS able to answer that question than the one you have here.. ha.. Because to be honest.. THAT just depends too.. ha.. on what sort of mood am in at the time.
But maybe for me.. to try and answer your question, the more important thing that really is a "must" for me to truly enjoy a story is that I like a good resolution. I like things to end however they should (for better or worse) for the main characters, or for the plot.. or both. (or at least how I THINK they should anyway.. because never let it be said that I do not take my movies and movie characters personally, ha
I want to be left feeling like I got the whole story, and not be dissatisfied with whether or not they got things worked out.. or got what they deserved.. or will be able to face another day after climbing insurmountable odds, etc, etc. However things SHOULD end (in my mind, anyway.. ha) that is how I want them to end... even if it is sad. Or unpleasant.. or even if it absolutely brings me to my knees laughing. I just want everything to play out.. and not just spin its wheels.
I can take it if a movie makes me laugh.. makes me cry.. makes me mad.. makes me feel creeped out.. or even gives me a combination somehow of all of that mixed together.. ha. But just don't leave me hanging!!
And yet, I don't mean to imply that I need all the details "wrapped up in a bow". I just mean that I want to be left with a feeling that the story is finally at an end, and the tale has been told (happy or sad.. for better or worse). Completely.
One of the best examples for this I can think of is the film The Searchers. (And if you are one of the few people on this site who may have not yet seen this film, stop reading now as I must give you a huge spoiler alert) Debbie is home.. being welcomed by open arms and everyone is celebrating, etc, etc, etc.. and yet as they all go inside, one by one.. just before the door closes.. there stands Ethan.. The guy who just spent YEARS roaming around, his heart filled with hatred and determination. There he is left standing.. all by himself, watching as everyone else moves on. What is his life's purpose now? He could not go through with the plans he had for Debbie (thankfully). And the man he'd been hunting and had vowed to gain vengeance on is dead now... He's lost his brother (and the woman we come to suspect that he loved so long ago as well) Apart from Marty (with whom he only has a tentative relationship with at best and who will be starting his new life with Laurie and moving on) and apart from Debby (who really doesn't need him right now as much as she needs the Jorgensons) all of his kin are gone.
Ethan is pretty much a man alone, and what in the WORLD does he have now a the end of it all? And as the door in front of him slowly closes.. we are left to wonder whether or not if in some ways.. maybe NOW his "search" is only just beginning.
And you might say.... WAIT a minute "O Girl Who Said You Like a Good Resolution for Your Characters" you JUST said you want a good resolution to the story. And you would be right. ha.. But to ME.. this IS a good resolution for him (so that is what I mean by saying the ending does not necessarily have to be all tied up in a neat little bow) He has come full circle. He started the film with the door opening up to reveal he is coming back home after being away for a long, long time. And now.. that is where he has ended up again. At "home" Only this time.. as the door slowly closes (with him looking on) we get the idea that maybe his home is somewhere else now, and he will have to be moving on. Again, I say.. Maybe now his REAL "search" is just beginning. It is a "happy ending" kinda moment in many ways (Debbie has been rescued.. everyone is celebrating, yaddah yaddah, yaddah") and yet, THAT is not the "ending" that you FEEL because there is a measure of sadness as you see poor Ethan just standing there.. watching that door slowly go shut. UGH!! Gets me every time.. It is a very emotional moment.
And maybe THAT sort of tale is what (for me) will "resonate" (to use your word)... a story that stirs my emotion, whether one direction or another. I want to feel whatever it is I should. Anyway.. I likely am not explaining it all the way I wish I could.. ha.. but I guess I am saying, it can't always be "cut and dried" for "happy and sad". Maybe that was what you meant by "sad happy sad" ha.. But really to me it still just depends on HOW the story plays out. (OH good grief, I am no help at all, ha)
I guess what I am saying is, that I WANT to cry when I am supposed to.. I want to be angry.. if something should make me mad. And I want to bust a gut laughing it up if that is the best way to wrap up the story. But the point is.. after I watch a story, I don't want to feel "detached" from the characters by the end. I want to CARE about how they end up... rather than to just be left wondering WHAT in the world was THAT all about.
OH, for goodness sake (SILLY me) I am just now coming back in to edit my post because DUH!!!!!!!!!!! Miss Maven I see now that you DID "mean that" when you said "sad happy sad" because I SEE now that the very iconic closing scene I just described is actually one of the very pictures you included in your photo collection at the beginning of your post.. HA!!!!! (silly me) Why go through all that blabbage when a PICTURE will do just as well. (duh) ha.
Just disregard everything I said.. ha.. because now that I just spent all that time blabbing away.. I clearly haven't added anything new.. ha. (Silly me, indeed) OH well.. what was it that Miss Emily Latella used to say on Saturday Night Live.. ha.. "Never mind"
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)