Director Antoine Fuqua discussed the initial poor reception of 'Training Day' during a San Diego Comic-Con panel, revealing that test audiences were upset by the death of Denzel Washington's character, Alonzo Harris, at the film's conclusion. Despite Washington's popularity, Fuqua argued that Alonzo's death was essential to convey the film's message about corruption in the police force. In a broader context, discussions about films often reveal that even poorly received movies can have redeeming qualities, such as strong opening scenes that set high expectations. Films like 'Octopussy' and 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' serve as examples of movies that started strong but ultimately faltered. Meanwhile, other films, despite their flaws or unpopular characters, like 'The Fifth Element' and 'Night of the Living Dead', have achieved lasting acclaim and impact. Ultimately, box office performance does not always correlate with a film's quality or cultural significance.