Movie Cliches we accept/dismiss while viewing.
03-06-04, 10:00 PM
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Movie Cliches we accept/dismiss while viewing.
Okay, so I've had this thought for a long time. Whenever we see a movie, there's usually some kind of Hollywood/Movie Cliche that they throw in there to help move the story along that would never fly in the real world, but we accept it as being okay (consciously or subconsciously) because it's "just a movie."
Let's compile a running list of movie cliches that are definitely out of place.[list=1][*]The Wake-Up Kiss: the most accepted and obvious display of a movie cliche that would never work in real life. This subject has been discussed in movies, even.[*]Car Keys in the Visor: Who does this? No one I know... You'd have to be pretty silly to leave your keys in the car. (Extra - When breaking into cars, people often check the visor for keys, as if people would lock their doors with the keys inside).[*]555-XXXX: For obvious reasons, phone numbers are always prefixed with 555, even though the only number that will work with the 555 prefix is 555-1212 (information).[*]Dialtone Hang-up: This happens when characters are having an arguement on the phone and one decides to hang up. We know this when we hear the dialtone, which seems to come RIGHT after the hang up.[/list=1]
Let's compile a running list of movie cliches that are definitely out of place.[list=1][*]The Wake-Up Kiss: the most accepted and obvious display of a movie cliche that would never work in real life. This subject has been discussed in movies, even.[*]Car Keys in the Visor: Who does this? No one I know... You'd have to be pretty silly to leave your keys in the car. (Extra - When breaking into cars, people often check the visor for keys, as if people would lock their doors with the keys inside).[*]555-XXXX: For obvious reasons, phone numbers are always prefixed with 555, even though the only number that will work with the 555 prefix is 555-1212 (information).[*]Dialtone Hang-up: This happens when characters are having an arguement on the phone and one decides to hang up. We know this when we hear the dialtone, which seems to come RIGHT after the hang up.[/list=1]
03-06-04, 10:12 PM
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555-XXXX: For obvious reasons, phone numbers are always prefixed with 555, even though the only number that will work with the 555 prefix is 555-1212 (information).
As for adding to the list...
Car stalling, door not opening, window not opening when trying to get away.
Someone always falls when being chased
Cops and the bad luck with retirement
Gun having extended clips with limitless ammo/Not needing for reloading
Gun shot kills a man in one shot and they don't move after they drop
Western guns actually hitting their target.
03-06-04, 10:15 PM
#3
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we've had a similar thread before I think...
one that annoys me is how someone always pulls the slide on a pistol or pumps the shotgun to make the victim know they really mean it. Well, they should've grabbed the gun before that cuz it didn't have a round chambered.
one that annoys me is how someone always pulls the slide on a pistol or pumps the shotgun to make the victim know they really mean it. Well, they should've grabbed the gun before that cuz it didn't have a round chambered.
03-06-04, 10:18 PM
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i like the one where one person is on the phone and if they don't pan to the other person talking on the line..the person that is shown must answer by repeating what the other person "must have said" (off camera that is) ya know what i mean? i see that a lot...
03-07-04, 12:06 AM
#7
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally posted by Jackskeleton
Gun shot kills a man in one shot and they don't move after they drop
Gun shot kills a man in one shot and they don't move after they drop
Last edited by Robert; 03-07-04 at 12:09 AM.
03-07-04, 01:05 AM
#9
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People don't sleep naked unless its some kind of sex thriller, they usually wear :
-Full button down Pajamas
-Slippers
-Robe
Kids all have long floppy hair and have an arsenal of quick one liners. There aren't too many dimbulb childen in the leading family, unless there is a ridiculously cliched, glasses wearing, science nerd in the family
Cocaine automatically either destroys or turns people into raving lunatics. There are no functioning bumpheads
Drunk Drivers never get home safe
We all sing "For s/he's a jolly good fellow" when someone brings out a birthday cake
People always live with intimately groomed back of necks. I mean in life, sometimes you see some bastard with a lot of hair needing a trim on the back of their neck, but even the mangiest guy in ANY movie has a perfectly groomed delination between head and shoulders.
Italians always are in the mob or want to be
-Full button down Pajamas
-Slippers
-Robe
Kids all have long floppy hair and have an arsenal of quick one liners. There aren't too many dimbulb childen in the leading family, unless there is a ridiculously cliched, glasses wearing, science nerd in the family
Cocaine automatically either destroys or turns people into raving lunatics. There are no functioning bumpheads
Drunk Drivers never get home safe
We all sing "For s/he's a jolly good fellow" when someone brings out a birthday cake
People always live with intimately groomed back of necks. I mean in life, sometimes you see some bastard with a lot of hair needing a trim on the back of their neck, but even the mangiest guy in ANY movie has a perfectly groomed delination between head and shoulders.
Italians always are in the mob or want to be
03-07-04, 01:22 AM
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Speaking of being naked, no one ever really dries themselves off when getting out of the shower, they just wrap a towel around themselves.
SO FAKE!
SO FAKE!
03-07-04, 02:55 AM
#12
Banned by request
Originally posted by The Nature Boy
Cocaine automatically either destroys or turns people into raving lunatics. There are no functioning bumpheads
Cocaine automatically either destroys or turns people into raving lunatics. There are no functioning bumpheads
A computer wizard types furiously on a computer and the letters on the screen come up as if they're being typed by a third grader.
Someone gets shot and is blown backwards through a glass window/mirror.
03-07-04, 06:16 AM
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Something I always hate in movies is how airbags stay inflated, they actually deflate nearly as fast as they inflate. What is really sad is that a good deal of people actually believe that they stay inflated and you can even buy tools for cars that have something to puncture an airbag incase you are in an accident.
03-07-04, 07:45 AM
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Old actors(Connery, Eastwood, et al) chasing the bad guy without passing out from exhaustion.
Cops showing up right when the bad guy is killed...not a second before.
People angrily yelling at each other then suddenly kissing and having sex. Oh yeah right....
Cops showing up right when the bad guy is killed...not a second before.
People angrily yelling at each other then suddenly kissing and having sex. Oh yeah right....
03-07-04, 08:01 AM
#15
DVD Talk Godfather
I love how no one ever uses a mouse on the computer. Everything is done on the keyboard.
taking a grainy security camera tape of a villian who is 30 feet away and they can zoom in and sharpen the image perfectly to see who it is. IMPOSSIBLE!
taking a grainy security camera tape of a villian who is 30 feet away and they can zoom in and sharpen the image perfectly to see who it is. IMPOSSIBLE!
03-07-04, 08:02 AM
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You know what i don't like about the 555 prefix, it is too noticeable. The sequence of three repeated numbers just stands out too much. If it was just some random numbers like 348, or 496, it could be in every movie and still sound natural. Anyway on with the cliches.
When making a call the recipient always answer the phone by the third ring.
Usually when a character turns on a tv, it will be on the news channel and the anchorman/woman will start out by saying "..Once again, [Plot point]...". If the character just received a phone call telling them to turn on the TV this is guaranteed to happen.
Hair and cloths dry almost instantly.
All computers, databases and electronically controlled systems are connected to "the internet".
When making a call the recipient always answer the phone by the third ring.
Usually when a character turns on a tv, it will be on the news channel and the anchorman/woman will start out by saying "..Once again, [Plot point]...". If the character just received a phone call telling them to turn on the TV this is guaranteed to happen.
Hair and cloths dry almost instantly.
All computers, databases and electronically controlled systems are connected to "the internet".
03-07-04, 08:22 AM
#17
Originally posted by Jackskeleton
Gun shot kills a man in one shot and they don't move after they drop
Western guns actually hitting their target.
Gun shot kills a man in one shot and they don't move after they drop
Western guns actually hitting their target.
explain what you mean.
03-07-04, 02:31 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
kind of a general cliche, poetic justice never happens in real life, every day life isn't fair
...good guys never finish first, losers never get the girl
...good guys never finish first, losers never get the girl
03-07-04, 04:29 PM
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some of my unfavourite cliches ..
1. The dramatic final 10 second countdown until the bomb explodes with the clock timer counting down each second ... which takes about 60 seconds in screen time.
2. People who incessantly cock a pistol to ready it. There's ALREADY a round in the chamber, jack-ass.
3. When someone empties a pistol, and the mechanism doesn't slide back into a locked position to show that it is empty, like with (nearly?) every pistol .. but instead, the empty pistol's mechanism stays forward, as if there is actually a round in the chamber .. and thereby taking the good-goy / bad-guy by surprise that the pistol is actually empty of rounds.
1. The dramatic final 10 second countdown until the bomb explodes with the clock timer counting down each second ... which takes about 60 seconds in screen time.
2. People who incessantly cock a pistol to ready it. There's ALREADY a round in the chamber, jack-ass.
3. When someone empties a pistol, and the mechanism doesn't slide back into a locked position to show that it is empty, like with (nearly?) every pistol .. but instead, the empty pistol's mechanism stays forward, as if there is actually a round in the chamber .. and thereby taking the good-goy / bad-guy by surprise that the pistol is actually empty of rounds.
03-07-04, 04:34 PM
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* The thing that always gets me is when someone is hit on the head they always get knocked out on the first blow. Also, some of these people should get brain damage or die from the impact.
* Character verbally reciting what he's thinking just to convey information to the audience. This tactic disgusts me! Screenwriters who do this should be burned in effigy.
* The conman/thief/spy giving away his secrets or private money stash to someone he trusts (usually a kid or woman) when he's in peril only to be double-crossed by them afterwards. Don't these idiots have enough experience to not do this?
The most overused phrase in the history of film....
OH MY GOD!
Law & Order is guilty of this with every opening sequence.
* Character verbally reciting what he's thinking just to convey information to the audience. This tactic disgusts me! Screenwriters who do this should be burned in effigy.
* The conman/thief/spy giving away his secrets or private money stash to someone he trusts (usually a kid or woman) when he's in peril only to be double-crossed by them afterwards. Don't these idiots have enough experience to not do this?
The most overused phrase in the history of film....
OH MY GOD!
Law & Order is guilty of this with every opening sequence.
Last edited by cupon; 03-07-04 at 05:02 PM.
03-07-04, 04:57 PM
#23
DVD Talk Hero
one i can't stand. main character is about to get their brains blown in by somebody, but then out of no where, someobody just so happens to be there and shoot the bad guy dead.
03-07-04, 05:20 PM
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Originally posted by Michael Corvin
I love how no one ever uses a mouse on the computer. Everything is done on the keyboard.
I love how no one ever uses a mouse on the computer. Everything is done on the keyboard.
RIGHT! I was going to post something like that!
Someone asks a character to do something and instead of using the mouse to click a command they start typing furiously on the keyboard.
03-07-04, 05:21 PM
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Originally posted by Five Cent Deposit
You haven't seen Eastwood's Blood Work.
You haven't seen Eastwood's Blood Work.
I just saw it last weekend. However, Spoiler:
Last edited by Giantrobo; 03-07-04 at 08:00 PM.
