Future-past-present

[Joe Washington]

The movie Babylon A.D. began with the main character facing what could be his death. After that, we find ourselves at the beginning of the chain of events leading to that scene. The whole thing becomes a puzzle for us to fit the pieces together to know what's going on.


Which shows, movies, or stories would have benefited from beginning with a scene that takes place in the future, then showing us the series of events leading up to that future scene, and showing some of what happens after the future scene which has become the present?

 

[Colonel Midnight]

The episode from Firefly, 'Out of Gas', comes to mind as an example that does this notion very well.

I've heard Lost tends to do this fairly often as well... but can't confirm as I've never watched the show.

Cheers,
-CM-

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

^^ I'd say that "Lost" has done any form of non-linear storytelling that is possible... flashbacks, flashforwards, as well as flat-out time travel.

It became hard to follow what "present day" is supposed to be on "Lost". I think it was the year 2004 from Season 1 to 4 (with flashbacks/forwards into the past and future), 2008 in the first half of Season 5, and 1977 in the second half of Season 5. So far nobody really knows in which year Season 6 is going to take place.