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We received more than 100 reader responses to last week's column, "Spoil the Ending?", where we discussed the pros and cons of giving away the conclusion to the movie Million Dollar Baby.

Many of you said you don't want to know how a movie ends under any circumstances. Quite a few of you feel that as a Christian website, we have some sort of "moral obligation" to give away the ending if it's potentially offensive to our fellow believers. And a whole bunch of you felt our proposed solution—adding a link at the end of the review that gives the reader the option of learning how the movie ends—is a good idea.

Some of you also noted that the words "click here" in our example did not work as a live link. To clarify: They weren't meant to work as a live link; it was merely an example of how we might handle similar situations in the future.

Since so many of you do want the option of knowing how Million Dollar Baby ends, we're going to give it to you. We've added that option at the end of our review.

We also thought you'd like to see a sampling of reader responses to this issue (readers' names are in parentheses at the end of each response):

"I think your proposed approach is exactly right. It is patronizing to suggest that people need to be told ahead of time something that could be objectionable to them. Take this to the extreme, and you have to give away much in every movie. If a person wishes to know such things, giving them an option to learn about it seems reasonable." (Sheldon W. Sorge)

"You have no such moral duty to give away the ending. Anyone going to a movie is impacting the experience, the experience designed by the director, by being predisposed in a certain way beforehand. I go to movies and plays to be intellectually challenged. I would like to know if there is nudity, sexuality, profanity, so I can decide whether it will be edifying. I don't even want to know that there is a plot twist; then I'm looking for it. When reviewers do that they shortchage the experience of the film." (William O. Holston Jr.)

"I think you did right NOT to reveal the ending. I don't think it matters if it's a Christian audience or not—spoiling the end (without warning) spoils the end. I watch many movies that are definitely not Christian, but which are thought provoking and encourage me to question my beliefs on the way to solidifying them. If anyone had ruined The Sixth Sense for me before I saw it, I would have been really mad." (Christine M. Henshaw)

"I think you should give readers the OPTION of seeing your analysis of the moral issues raised by Million Dollar Baby even if that option gives away the ending of the movie. I have no intention of seeing the movie, but still want to be able to converse intelligently about it with people who have seen it. I at least want to be aware of the issues raised and be able to ask relevant questions of friends who see the movie and have formed opinions about its value." (Steve Bennett)

"If the movie is really so good that it has a shot to win the Academy Award, then it is good enough to withstand multiple viewings. And if it's good enough to withstand multiple viewings, then it is good enough to have the ending spoiled." (Nick Alexander)

"In response to your warning of divulging the ending, I as a Christian want to know before I go. Please protect our values." (Marlene Long)

"I do not think it is a moral responsibility of Christian movie reviewers to warn their readers of content that will ruin the ending of a movie." (Tim Olshefski)

"Yes, you DO have a moral obligation to warn Christians. We depend on your advice and admonition about films, etc. Please don't let us down. Forewarned is forearmed." (Jackie Humphrey)

"I for one would have been most grateful for an only-click-here-if-you-don't-mind-knowing-the-ending link. If it was a concern to you, chances are it will be for your readers. But please, in future, don't 'tease' us with any more you-might-be-concerned-about-this-movie-but-I-won't-tell-you-why reviews, and I won't send any more e-mails with too many hyphens." (Matthew Arnold)

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Related Elsewhere:

Million Dollar Baby	Printer view

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Spoil the Ending?	Printer view
We've actually been talking about that around here lately, thanks to one recent film. Think we're crazy? Read on to find out why—and then let us know what you think.