Deus Ex Machina

[stayillogical]

I just wanted to start a discussion on this plot device.

For anyone that doesn't know what it means, a deus ex machina is literally god from a machine. "It is an ironic plot device in which a surprising or unexpected event occurs in a story's plot, suddenly and completely resolving an otherwise unsolvable conflict. It is an improbable contrivance in a story characterized by a sudden unexpected solution to a seemingly intractable problem."

It's highly regarded as an inferior plot device and criticism of a writer's creativity. Personally, I disagree. I think in some cases, it works (e.g. Magnolia). What do you guys think? What are some cases where it works or doesn't work?

Edit: Sorry to disappoint the LOST fans, but this is not about the episode of the show. ;-)

[matt_rawlings]

I agree that in Magnolia, it works perfectly and is a creative use of that device in order to highlight the spontinaity of coincidence in the most surreal manner.

[AShannon04]

How was it used in Magnolia? Haha, that's a serious question. I'm looking for an example, so maybe I'll be able to add something else.

[stayillogical]

How was it used in Magnolia? Haha, that's a serious question. I'm looking for an example, so maybe I'll be able to add something else.

The biblical plague. It came out of NOWHERE. I watched it for the first time last week and paused it to have a good laugh. A friend told me to watch it and wait for a huge deus ex machina. I laughed so hard when I understood why he was smirking.

[AShannon04]

Ah yes

[matt_rawlings]

All the characters intersect on a narrative plain using that Aimee Mann song.

Then, out of nowhere...it starts raining frogs

[stayillogical]

Please spoiler that ASAP! I was so glad I had no idea when I watched it.

[matt_rawlings]

Done...my bad.

The opening to Magnolia is also one of the best out there

[Fluke13]

in dodgeball the container with the money in it at the end has "deus ex machina" written on it

good job by the director on that one

on a disappointing note, this device is used way too much these days, because people are lazy

[Recovery Room]

Someone post more examples of these.

[stayillogical]

The finale of Seinfeld. lol

[airik625]

A huge theme in Donnie Darko. It's even mentioned a couple times in the film.

[hailthewarrior]

I think when done properly they're fine, like, you know it's one but you don't care... but when it's so obvious the author/writer/director was lazy and just didn't want to imagine, that pisses me off. (See the "bad" vampires coming out of nowhere in Twilight. Why did I ever promise to read that shitty book?)

[WakingTheMisery]

For some reason I could only think this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/46/Ex_Machina%2C_the_First_Hundred_Day s.jpg

[stayillogical]

I just finished watching Shakespeare in Love. The Queen at the end is a very blatant deus ex machina.

[Smash Adams]

Wayne's World
scooby doo ending woo woo woo woo