I wish that Jack and Ennis, the people who are too damn real in my head to be characters in a story or on film, could have a happy ending.
Yep.
But the story? If I step back and appreciate the story and the movie as art, then, well, I think the sad ending is a big part of why the story feels so powerful.
I agree completely with what you said. I guess I wasn't able to make clear what I'm thinking. When I step back and look at the story or the movie I very much appreciate them for the art they are, each in it's own way. Then I don't want a change for the ending, for the reasons you and the other posters have mentioned: it makes the story so powerful, it's not only a love story, but also a story about homophobia and probably we all would not be here, it (probably) wouldn't have such an impact on us.
I don't watch the movie as much as I think about it because I just don't want the sadness sometimes
Yes, me too. This story and the movie got me really good. And the last time I saw it, I wasn't able to shrug off the sadness for days. Guess that was what made me wish it would have ended in another way.
I wish very badly for Ennis and Jack they could have a happy end.
And
sometimes I wish for my own peace of mind Annie Proulx would have written it different. When I wrote the OP I definately had such a moment. But not now anymore.