I like all kinds of things that happen in action movies: martial arts, gunfights, car chases, etc. But I've never gotten the appeal of watching things explode... not even a little bit. With fights I like the choreography and the intensity, and with car chases it's usually the speed and the navigation of too-tight spaces (plus the desire to drive that fast in real life). But I just don't get explosions at all. Is it just an audio-visual stimulus thing, or is there something else to it? I've been wondering about this since I was a kid.

Jamie Wants BIG Boom


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I like seeing real explosions in movies, but the CGI ones suck.

People like change. Explosions are physical manifestations of change. Ergo, people like explosions.

or

People like escapism. Theatrical explosions are closely linked with escapist films. Ergo, people like explosions.

or

People feel powerless. Explosions signify power. Ergo, people like explosions.

These aren't mutually exclusive, so people could like explosions because they feel powerless, and want change, but will settle for escapism. Or, I'm totally wrong and people just like pretty colors or whatever.

I never really thought of it. I wouldn't say I love explosions but its almost necessary for some movies. I like nutty action films and of course a big part of the fun are the car chases, gun fights and explosions. Of course most times its what leads up to the explosion that we want to see.

They're cool in real life, the unequivocal power is awesome. On film, not so much generally.

Last movie with effective explosions (one was CG) - The Kingdom
Last movie where I commented "I really just don't think explosions are entertaining" - M:I3

Speaking of explosions. I was watching 3:10 to Yuma yesterday, and there are even unnecessary explosions in that film.

I don't see enough explosions in real life. Movies let me see them more frequently.

Because Michael Bay is God .. and the just the fact that he tells me to enjoy them I'm left with no choice but doing so.

But on a serious note, I think RichC2 nailed it for me .. the sheer awesome power and effectiveness.

Saving Private Ryan - the Omaha Beach sequence. I can't image a more scary scenario than seeing buddies (even enemies for that matter) get shredded apart like that .. never-mind your own chances.

Pearl Harbor - there's on particular sequence of boat explosions. There are 3 or 4 of them all lined up looking all too much like the miniatures that they were. There are so many elements that are wrong with that sequence it detracts from the already detracting story about the events of Pearl Harbor.

I love the running gag on The Simpsons where something collides with a wall (say, a toy airplane) and it shouldn't explode, but it does.

Some of my favorite explosions scenes are in The Matrix when the helicopter explodes and Trinity hits the side of the building. And the ending in Fight Club.

One of my all time favs is "This is for Mathilda"

Best explosion ever

To each his own. I've never seen a car chase scene that didn't bore the crap out of me.

Have you seen Ronin?

Why not ask these guys?

Yep.

Join the Army.

Dude. That's fucking deep. You could just as easily as...

1. Why is sex good.
2. Why are rainbows so good?
3. Why do people just sit around and wait for the story's climax?
4. Why is Juwanna Mann such a good movie?

Regarding explosions... because they heighten my senses while watching an [already good] movie. If the movie ain't no good, neither are the explosions.

I prefer the physical effects myself. I think I remember my first pathetic CG explosion. It was at the end of Swordfish. When he shoots a rocket at the helicopter (or something like that). The explosion blew and I was like, "WHAT THE FUCK". Especially after the bad-ass CG'd opening sequence. That explosion was so quick, cheap, needless. Like they ran out of money or something.

I never realized people went to movies solely for the explosions (though I seem to remember a video series for children from one of those pre-internet "call now ads" that featured construction equipment and building demolition) . I just figured they are a sometimes necessary part of a plot... usually in an action movie and, ya know, part of the action.

If I saw Saving Private Ryan and instead of explosions there were... oh I dunno, cakes and waffles that just flew out of the land mines and other "explosive things" it may take me out of the film.

I think they just come with the territory. Or am I totally off base? I have just never went to a movie to see things blow up good without it pertaining to the plot. Though, I am pretty excited to see things get knocked over in Cloverfield... but I am more interested in the monster itself than the Ka-Booms!

On a related note... the beginning of Scanners features my favorite cinema explosion... does it count??

C'mon, who doesn't like watching things get blowed up real good?

Cuz I'm a closet pyromaniac?

For change you can watch Merchant Ivory films. I guess they don't do as much explosions.

Blow'd Up

Good point.
But Howards End possibly would've been better if Merchant/Ivory had blowed up that mansion at the end

Good point! And I agree ...