History Main / MeaningfulLook

*** A skyscraper falls onto Godzilla after he's killed the male MUTO and he locks eyes with Ford. Godzilla gives the awestruck Ford an exhausted but calm look, as if he's thanking Ford for saving his life earlier and acknowledging that they have both been through a lot the past few days.
** ''Film/KongSkullIsland'': After killing the giant Skullcrawler, Kong is leaving the marsh when he turns and looks back at Mason Weaver and James Conrad, recalling the bond he had formed with them.

-->'''Skinner:''' Are you worried about him, Agent Scully?
-->'''Scully:''' No, sir.
-->'''Skinner:''' Off the record.
-->(Scully doesn't answer. She just cocks her head and looks extremely sad.)
-->'''Skinner:''' So am I.

-->'''Worf:''' You know that I was forced to fight the Jem'Hadar guards in the camp. Each day they would call me to the ring, and each day I would fight. But then there came a day when I... wavered.
-->'''Sisko:''' You mean you didn't want to go back into the ring?
-->'''Worf:''' No, I mean I [[DrivenToSuicide considered letting them kill me]]. It seemed like the only way out. Just before I went into the ring, Martok turned to wish me success. And then he saw what I was planning, he saw it in my eyes. It was a moment of ''tova'dok''.
-->'''Sisko:''' Of what?
-->'''Worf:''' There is no human word for it. It is a moment of... clarity, between two warriors on a field of battle. Much is said without the need for words. In that moment, he knew what was in my mind. Once I realized that he saw my intention to give up I could no longer go through with it. I went back into the ring and fought once more. He had given me his warrior's heart. Perhaps it is something a Human cannot understand.

-->SOLLUX: yes they will! they just t0ld me.\\
VRISKA: I d8dn't hear them say shit!\\
SOLLUX: they b0th gave me meaningful glances!\\
SOLLUX: like as if t0 say, aw yeah, let's b0unce.

There are two types of Meaningful Look: Between characters, in-universe. Or from author to the audience via a character, but if the look is BreakingTheFourthWall, that's an AsideGlance.

The Meaningful Look can be used by the author of a visual work to communicate a message to the audience rather than to a character, but if the look is BreakingTheFourthWall, that's an AsideGlance.

There are two types of Meaningful Look: Between characters, in-universe. Or from author to the audience via a character, but '''without''' BreakingTheFourthWall.

*** A skyscraper falls onto Godzilla after he's killed the male MUTO and he locks eyes with Ford. Godzilla gives the awestruck Ford an exhausted but calm look, as if he's thanking Ford for previously saving his life and acknowledging that they have both been through a lot the past few days.
** ''Film/KongSkullIsland'': After killing the giant Skullcrawler, Kong is leaving the marsh when he turns and looks back at Mason Weaver and James Conrad.

->''"[A]s they passed, Anne's face caught his eye, and he looked at her with a degree of earnest admiration, which she could not be insensible of. [...] It was evident that the gentleman, (completely a gentleman in manner) admired her exceedingly.''"
-->-- '''Creator/JaneAusten''', ''Literature/{{Persuasion}}''

* Subverted in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''. Lily verbally supports the idea of [[OldFlame Marshall]] dating someone else, but simultaneously shoots her friend one of these looks. The look's meaning is entirely lost on her, something which they lampshade later.

* Subverted in ''Series/{{Rome}}''. Brutus and his fellow conspirators are discussing their plans when Julius Caesar happens to look at Brutus and smile. This throws them into a panic, as they're now convinced he knows about their plotting.

* ''Film/Braveheart'' shows us a masterful use of this trope and reminds everyone that, whatever one thinks of Mr. Gibson's views and personal fixations, he understands the language of cinema. At a wedding ceremony, there is a voice over narration that implies that the king's son, Prince Edward, does not have any love for Princess Isabelle, whom he is marrying, but King Edward Longshanks himself longs for her. Meanwhile, Prince Edward's lover, Phillip, is on hand and watching the ceremony. King Edward Longshanks is quite attracted to the princess, is aware of his son's sexuality, has contempt for his son, and absolutely despises Phillip. Isabelle, meanwhile, has no desire to be a part of this and is trapped. All of this is conveyed to the audience with a few meaningful glances, a bit of physical acting, a glare, some unfortunate gay visual coding, and an awkward kiss within a scene that lasts seconds.

* ''Film/XMen'':

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]

'''Robin:''' That doesn't seem like a look.\\

The Meaningful Look is a supertrope to the TraitorShot, DeathGlare, HeldGaze, LongingLook and DisapprovingLook.

-->'''Worf:''' There is no Human word for it. It is a moment of... clarity, between two warriors on a field of battle. Much is said without the need for words. In that moment, he knew what was in my mind. Once I realized that he saw my intention to give up I could no longer go through with it. I went back into the ring and fought once more. He had given me his warrior's heart. Perhaps it is something a Human cannot understand.

-->SOLLUX: yes they will! they just t0ld me.
-->VRISKA: I d8dn't hear them say shit!
-->SOLLUX: they b0th gave me meaningful glances!
-->SOLLUX: like as if t0 say, aw yeah, let's b0unce.
** Another example of this trope arises when WV is standing in a river intermixed with the blood of all of the pawns that he led to be murdered by Jack Noir. The narrator's dialogue cannot properly display the sadness that WV shows in his simple facial expression.

The Meaningful Look is a supertrope to the TraitorShot, HeldGaze, LongingLook and DisapprovingLook.

** ''Film/XMenFirstClass'': Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr exchange numerous glances throughout the movie, which are indicative of their closeness.

*** Hank [=McCoy=] and Charles exchange an amused "Why am I not surprised?" glance (the former even adds a raised eyebrow) after Peter Maximoff asks them, "I saw your flight plan in the cockpit; why are you going to Paris?"

** Charles and Erik exchange numerous glances throughout ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', which are indicative of their closeness.

*** Hank and Charles exchange an amused "Why am I not surprised?" glance (the former even adds a raised eyebrow) after Peter asks them, "I saw your flight plan in the cockpit; why are you going to Paris?"

** More is said without words than with over the course of Edmure and Roslin's wedding. With just their eyes, Catelyn says to Edmure: "Thanks for going through with this." Edmure says "Score!" when he gets a glimpse of his unexpectedly lovely young bride and Walder says "Hah, look at what you missed out on!" to Robb once Roslin is unveiled.

** In ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', Mystique, disguised as a colonel, winks at Alex in a reassuring manner which says, "Don't worry, I'll get you out of this." Alex is unaware that the colonel is his former friend, though, so the wink confuses him.

* Charles and Erik exchange numerous glances throughout ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', which are indicative of their closeness.