[Stumpage]

Ok, it's actually way off the topic chart, but hey, it's a slow day. Anyway, is there a particular movie scene which you feel is done to death?

Example: In no less than 3 movies I watched yesterday, I saw the ever-popular "Too cool to look back explosion". I'm sure anybody who reads this has seen it. The hero, or antagonist for that matter, is walking away, usually in slow motion. Behind him, and it's always a him, there is a massive explosion as some type of structure (House, car, tank, whatever) explodes in a huge fireball rivalling a Nuclear mushroom cloud.

Regardless of what has just been summarily destroyed, our ultra-cool hero or anti-hero continues walking on, sneer covering his face, and he will ABSOLUTELY not look back towards the carnage. That would destroy the "coolness" of the scene.

Anyway, I'm rambling, but obviously the film-makers guild must have some unwritten rule that this shot must be in every movie, at least action flicks. It's everywhere, I tell ya...I wouldn't be surprised to see some Christmas special where Mr. Santa Claus slowly and angrily saunters away from some house, just before it explodes in a shower of debris because no treats were left for him or Rudolph. Of course, he would refuse to glance back.....

Ok, rambling over.

[ShamsWoof10]

That's an interesting observation...

[Stumpage]

That's an interesting observation...

Guess I have a bit too much time on my hands...

[ShamsWoof10]

Guess I have a bit too much time on my hands...

That was an interesting obervation I wasn't f*ckin' with ya'... As I was reading through it I was thinking about how many scenes follow the exact pattern... As for your quote... I know what you mean by it but think about it... I ask you... would you rather have a load of time or a load of money..? What is more valuable...?

[Stumpage]

As for your quote... I know what you mean by it but think about it... I ask you... would you rather have a load of time or a load of money..? What is more valuable...?

Interesting.....Not to get too philosophical, but I would think that with load of money you might be able to afford a load of time. Don't know if the ol' vice-versa would apply.....Anyway, kind of thoughts I usually don't dwell on until I'm deep, deep into a case of Carlsberg

[ShamsWoof10]

Interesting.....Not to get too philosophical, but I would think that with load of money you might be able to afford a load of time. Don't know if the ol' vice-versa would apply.....Anyway, kind of thoughts I usually don't dwell on until I'm deep, deep into a case of Carlsberg

Well sh*t if that's the case how much is 10 years..? Do I get a discount if I buy in bulk..? If so I would like 100 years and to start from 18 years old.. Please email me my order confirmation... If this works out well I may be in the market for 500 years...

Just f*ckin' with ya'....

[Bill Dozer]

Ok, it's actually way off the topic chart, but hey, it's a slow day. Anyway, is there a particular movie scene which you feel is done to death?

Example: In no less than 3 movies I watched yesterday, I saw the ever-popular "Too cool to look back explosion". I'm sure anybody who reads this has seen it. The hero, or antagonist for that matter, is walking away, usually in slow motion. Behind him, and it's always a him, there is a massive explosion as some type of structure (House, car, tank, whatever) explodes in a huge fireball rivalling a Nuclear mushroom cloud.

Regardless of what has just been summarily destroyed, our ultra-cool hero or anti-hero continues walking on, sneer covering his face, and he will ABSOLUTELY not look back towards the carnage. That would destroy the "coolness" of the scene.

Anyway, I'm rambling, but obviously the film-makers guild must have some unwritten rule that this shot must be in every movie, at least action flicks. It's everywhere, I tell ya...I wouldn't be surprised to see some Christmas special where Mr. Santa Claus slowly and angrily saunters away from some house, just before it explodes in a shower of debris because no treats were left for him or Rudolph. Of course, he would refuse to glance back.....

Ok, rambling over.

On that same note, how about the riding of explosions? The ones that are especially bad are where the hero can't jump through the window or door so he/she times an explosion just right and rides it through the window. I was just thinking this watchin MI3 over the weekend. Shrapnel is as good as a bus ticket when you got to get somewhere fast.

[Bill Dozer]

Any scene where the supporting character says "we got company."

[ShamsWoof10]

Any scene where the supporting character says "we got company."

HAHAHAHA oh that's good... Man it is funny to notice these things... Thanks for the laugh... Hollywood knows how to try and distort our reality....

The one that comes to mind for me is when ONE guy has a gun and fights off dozens of people who some how all happen to have bad aim and keep missing..

That's a good point below...

[isetcap]

I like how everybody dies INSTANTLY when some particularly destructive protagonist comes along in a movie. In reality, bullets will definitely kill someone but rarely is the result instantaneous.

[Stumpage]

The one that comes to mind for me is when ONE guy has a gun and fights off dozens of people who some how all happen to have bad aim and keep missing.....

After reading that quote, I automatically think of a movie I saw some years back. It had Owen Wilson in it, and don't quote me, but I think it was called "Behind Enemy Lines" or something like that.

Anyway, in the pivotal climax of the movie, Wilson makes a mad dash off a cliff or something, with nearly the whole Serbian army (Seriously, tons of them) directly behind him, pouring everything they have to try to cap his ass. Mortar, machine gun, tanks, heavy artillery, grenades; Basically, any destructive armament known to man.

And through it all (Cue the hero music)....Wilson survives! without a scratch and smiles away into the closing credits.....Hurrah!!

[Mudcat]

If we want to go for the ultimate cliche: I think of the beleaguered hero who has been misunderstood through the whole movie suddenly being redeemed and receiving the slow clap from one person that eventually turns into applause from the whole crowd.

Way to go hero. You were right all along. We appreciate you now.



And then there's the conspicuous cough. The hero (or perhaps the hero's beloved mother) suddenly lets out a conspicuous cough. "Are you okay, mom?"

"Yes dear, I'm fine," she says long-sufferingly.

But of course there was absolutely no reason to have the scene if she was really fine. Mom's a goner. Only a matter of time.

Adios screen mom. You're in a better place now.

[Willie Bee]

How about handing off the badge to the town's new sheriff after the bad sheriff has been dispatched in a noon showdown? The only movie that scene has been cool was at the end of Silverado.

[Stumpage]

Any scene where the supporting character says "we got company."

Bill, a few hours after reading your post I saw the new "Die Hard" flick last night, and sure enough about halfway through one of the villians utters this phrase.

I literally laughed out loud, which had my wife and a few nearby movie-goers glancing at me with a "WTF was so funny about that?" look on their confused faces.....

[THE HITMAN]

A little off this topic, but a few big screen falacies get repeated alot.
1) how many times in flicks have you seen a cat atop something ready to pounce and attack. Then let out a loud snarl? Now, in real life, cats are quiet as can be until upon they're prey, they never announce they are coming.
2) The bad guys drive away in a car and it is seen sppeding down the road, 100, 200 or more feet away. Then the camera zooms in on the license plate as if the good guys see it from that distance. You try it..............identify the numerals from that distance. Mostly impossible without binocs.
3) Someone gets shot by a gun and lurches backwards a yard or two in the air. Nope............laws of physics will tell you this doesn't happen. Unless the gunman lurches backwards, also from the same amount of force.

[Bill Dozer]

Yea, just watched MI3 over the weekend... same thing. They say it in the getaway helicopter scene. It's almost as if they are using it sarcastically, mocking other movies. I can't tell.

[adriano]

3) Someone gets shot by a gun and lurches backwards a yard or two in the air. Nope............laws of physics will tell you this doesn't happen. Unless the gunman lurches backwards, also from the same amount of force.

You beat me to that. Actually, it would have been fine if it was only a yard or two.

[ShamsWoof10]

After reading that quote, I automatically think of a movie I saw some years back. It had Owen Wilson in it, and don't quote me, but I think it was called "Behind Enemy Lines" or something like that.

Anyway, in the pivotal climax of the movie, Wilson makes a mad dash off a cliff or something, with nearly the whole Serbian army (Seriously, tons of them) directly behind him, pouring everything they have to try to cap his ass. Mortar, machine gun, tanks, heavy artillery, grenades; Basically, any destructive armament known to man.

And through it all (Cue the hero music)....Wilson survives! without a scratch and smiles away into the closing credits.....Hurrah!!

I liked this one this made me laugh... I don't use those expressionarly little things but this was good they way it was told followed by the little dancing things... Too funny!!!

[ShamsWoof10]

3) Someone gets shot by a gun and lurches backwards a yard or two in the air. Nope............laws of physics will tell you this doesn't happen. Unless the gunman lurches backwards, also from the same amount of force.

This is a very good observation too... The person flies back like Jr. Seau hit him not a bullet and sometimes if a car is right behind them they roll over the hood and fall off the other side.... Now that's a bullett... I liked Bill's "We got company" I can see why you would laugh when you saw it in a movie... I laughed when I read it...

This is great stuff guys keep it up....

[Mudcat]

So often, movie people seem to waken from nightmares by sitting bolt upright with wild eyes, gasping.

I don't recall me or anyone I have slept with in my entire life doing that.




Also - and this is probably more of a pet peeve than a "tired scene" - but do all phone numbers have to start with 555? I can get all immersed in the action and suddenly there's a 555 phone number and it pulls me right out of it and reminds me I am just sitting around, watching a movie.

I actually have heard a plausible explanation of why they do that. There are morons out there who will actually phone numbers they see in movies. Why, I don't know. You tell me. But since there are no real 555 numbers there is no risk of the morons bothering real people who might sue over the nuisance.

It just seems to me that the studios could use new, real phone numbers and just set them up with advertising or whatever.

As I say, more of a pet peeve than being right on topic but there it is.

[THE HITMAN]

Your plausible explanation is right on that one, Mudcat. But, interesting thought on the numbers with advertising, etc. The problem with that,I guess, is the number would have to be retired in a few years or kept running.............for folks dialing that real number after the movie is years old.

[Hulu]

You are correct Mudcat. There are actually a range of numbers that are specifically reserved for movies and television so that some poor slob doesn't get phone calls from lonely nut bars at all hours of the night.

After the song 867-5309 was a hit, people with that number were getting dozens of phone calls a day and some even still get calls to this day.

[Willie Bee]

So often, movie people seem to waken from nightmares by sitting bolt upright with wild eyes, gasping.

I don't recall me or anyone I have slept with in my entire life doing that.

Granted, we haven't slept together, Mud, so you wouldn't know this. But I come out of dead sleeps in an instant to a sitting position. First time my wife leaned over to kiss me while I was sleeping to wake me up and I head-butted her, well, that was also the last time she did that.

Cars exploding or bursting into flames when they crash or go over a cliff.

[Mudcat]

I come out of dead sleeps in an instant to a sitting position. First time my wife leaned over to kiss me while I was sleeping to wake me up and I head-butted her, well, that was also the last time she did that.

Now that sounds like a funny, non-tired movie scene.



One scene I find tired is the digital countdown clock on a bomb. Movie bombs consistently have nice, external, digital countdown readouts.

I realize how this contributes to suspense/tension but, as a born critic who really prizes originality, I find it tired. Every once in awhile a film will break the mold and have the bomb disarmed with 2 or 3 seconds left rather than 1. I appreciate that.

[cloudagh]

"Now I have a machine gun. Ho, Ho, Ho"

How about every time some hero could be dead by a quick double-tap to the head, but instead we get some long drawn out speech extolling the futility of the hero's cause, followed by the inevitable:
- fist fight
- well timed, well placed, falling piece of debris
- hero's backup posse storming through the door

[Bill Dozer]

If we want to go for the ultimate cliche: I think of the beleaguered hero who has been misunderstood through the whole movie suddenly being redeemed and receiving the slow clap from one person that eventually turns into applause from the whole crowd.

Way to go hero. You were right all along. We appreciate you now.

ha! It kind of works in Lucas

[Stumpage]

Not too harp on it, as it has already been brought up by myself earlier in the thread, but getting back to the "Bad guys can't shoot straight" concept.....

"Windtalkers", starring Nicholas Cage. If you've seen this movie, then it becomes readily apparent why the Japanese were eventually defeated in WW II. It's not that they lagged behind the US in terms of War production; It's not because they moved too far, too fast and stretched their supply lines too thin; It's not even the fact that they "woke a sleeping giant" with their attack on Hawaii.....

No, if you've ever seen Windtalkers, you'll come to the realization that they lost because they couldn't hit the side of Mount Fuji with a bullet from 150 metres. American Marines are able to dodge enemy fire with every type of Matrix-style move known to man. You've never seen so many riccochets and dirt-killing near misses in your movie-going life, I assure you. Meanwhile, the aforementioned marines employ sniper ability that rivals any present day member of the SAS...At least, according to this flick.

[Mudcat]

Hey Willie, that is the second time today I have seen that exact signature (and a fine signature it is). Are you also on the forum at imdb or is it just a coincidence?



Meanwhile, to keep on topic:

Howzabout the tired old scene where the hero (or it could just be some generic corpse-to-be) is being chased on foot by some sort of evil person/thing. He/she is trying to get away - and that's when the slapstick begins. He trips, he gets up and trips again, he drops his keys, he picks up the keys and goes to unlock the car but he fumbles badly trying to get them in the lock. Evil continues to close ground.

And what happens when he finally gets in the car and tries the ignition?

I believe we all know the answer to that.

[isetcap]

They just don't make cars like they used to. Every time I get in either one of my cars, I turn the ignition and it always starts immediately. It's so boring. Gone are the days of extreme anticipation resulting from the uncertainty as to whether or not your car will start.

I suppose that things could be different if I were regularly being chased by some frightening person with intent to kill.

[Lucas]

They just don't make cars like they used to. Every time I get in either one of my cars, I turn the ignition and it always starts immediately. It's so boring. Gone are the days of extreme anticipation resulting from the uncertainty as to whether or not your car will start.

I do not have this problem, my car´s no problem starting is 50-50. You have just to change your car.

I suppose that things could be different if I were regularly being chased by some frightening person with intent to kill.

I do not feel 100% safe too. Mostly after using too much chemicals.

I am afraid that everybody who has problem with boring scenes has problem with himself. Simply do not go to movies advertised by massive commercials and do a little search. There are plenty of good movies around, most not from USA.

[Bill Dozer]

ok, since we are talking about cars, how about cars that can launch into the air at will?

If the driver needs to make up ground in an emergency he says "hang on" or "buckle up" to his terrified just-rescued passenger and they find a flatbed truck with its gate down to use as a ramp or a draw bridge that is going up. The worst I remember is The Fast and The Furious 2 where at the end they launch off a boat dock just right to land on the escaping boat. But what did I expect watching that flick right?

Also in car scenes, for the hundreds of times the hero drives on the sidewalk, anyone ever see a pedestrian get taken out?

[Dark Horse]

You mean running heroes keeping up with speeding cars aren't real?

[Dark Horse]

On the other hand, there is nothing cliche about the relationship between a man and his gun, and the many nuances of lonesomeness. Compare above photo to this striking image that is sure to force a tear from even the most cold-hearted bandito:

[Dark Horse]

There is a place for movie cliches. My greatest frustration with moviemaking, by far, is that nobody ever handed sweet innocent Marilyn a pistolo. One good cliche to destroy another! Would that really have hurt Hollywood that much? Or Marilyn with a cigar?

[Mudcat]

ok, since we are talking about cars, how about cars that can launch into the air at will?

Oh yeah. One of the worst offenders had to be Speed (although, in that case, it was a bus full of people that was lighter-than-air, not a car).

It was booting along at 50+ mph on a bridge and - OHMYGAWD LOOK OUT!!!! - there is a large section of bridge missing up ahead! There's no ramp either! There is just flat road, then a hundred yard gap-of-doom, then more flat road at exactly the same level as the take-off point.

But they drove faster so that took care of that.