UGH! Time Bombs
 

Call me weird but am I the only one that gets upset when in movies and the (insert correct color wire here) gets clipped the timer on the bomb stops? Wouldn't it keep counting down but after it hits zero nothing happens? It pisses me off. And don't lay down the "adds to the drama" excuse. :D

Bet if <b>you</b> were doing the clipping, you'd be <i>thrilled</i> if it stopped counting down! -wink-

It's a cliche. It worked once before and everyone copied it. Because it's so overused, now it's boring when we see that timer with some wires.

Is the bomb dependant on the clock? like it will only blow up when the clock's hand hits that certain spot? if so, just stick your finger there! this doesn't apply to if it's a digital timer :) but then there's not ticking!

Maybe when they cut the wite, they're just cutting the power supply to the clock, and the BOMB KEEPS GOING. Everyone lets out a sign and shakes each others hands while the bomb continues to count down...

And why are time bombs so noisey? Why build a time bomb in the first place if it's going to beep really loud every second as it counts down? That's just going to help the good guys find it faster. Sheesh, bad guys can be so dumb.

Yeah... and why put so much time on the thing in the first place? Don't give them time to find it.

My favorite bomb was the bomb that MacGyver had to disarm that one time that had a blob of mercury on a glass plate. If the bomb mechanisms were moved and the mercury hit some receptors the bomb would blow up. If the box was opened the bomb would blow up. If the timer counted down to 0 the bomb blew up.

I think MacGyver resolved it by wheeling it into an elevator. I'm unsure what happenned next but I think it probably involved a yard of copper wire, a can of Tab soda, packets of table salt, and an abacus.

The first bomb scene that came to mind is Armageddon. I agree, bomb scene = anticlimatic, the exact opposite effect they are trying to induce b/c it is so overdone.

I would love it for once they clip the wrong wire :)

Here's a related question. Which movie used the ticking time bomb/suspense thing first? My guess is Goldfinger.

I just love that all bombs have a nice big timer so everyone knows how much time they have or don't have. If I ever made one, I'd make it so the bomb exploded when the clock reads 5 minutes or something like that.

Why does it have a timer anyway? Is it for the convenience of the person who might be standing next to it? How considerate of the bomber.

Two things:

First, there is no such thing as a MacGyver solution that doesn't involve duct tape! :D And, wasn't there another McGyver time bomb episode where he ended up using a piece of paper (or some similar non-conductive material) to prevent a relay from closing, which prevented the bomb from exploding? My question is, what kind of nimrod explosives expert builds a bomb with a "user-accessible" relay that can be so easily defeated?

And second, my favorite "time bomb" scene is from Galaxy Quest. Disable the device, and it keeps on "ticking", until... (watch the movie to find out what happens)