# Finish the Movie Cliche! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 10, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988 "2008-11-10T04:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/81 "2008-11-12T03:24:27Z")
…they are nearly out of gas, or losing too much altitude, and the gauges MUST but tapped upon. When reading something on a computer, the character will… ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/82 "2008-11-12T03:34:56Z")
read aloud. Even in a library. If two kids are just starting to get into things when the parents come home, they’ll… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/83 "2008-11-12T05:46:44Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > If two kids are just starting to get into things when the parents come home, they’ll… scramble to get their clothes put on properly and will stammer an explanation for what was going on that, while entirely unconvincing, will be instantly accepted by the parents (if a comedy) or instantly rejected by the parents and lead to severe disciplinary consequences for the girl (if a drama). When the tough-as-nails, callous professional assassin has his target in his rifle sights, he will only fail to pull the trigger if… ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/84 "2008-11-12T08:00:43Z")
…the hero shoots the assasin in the back of the head half a second before he is about to take his shot. Usually the gunfire will lead the viewer to think the shot was taken, until the camera pans out to show the hero, gun extended, standing over his now dead body. If a secondary character, over the age of 55, coughs at any point during the first half of the movie… ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/85 "2008-11-12T08:10:41Z")
…he will be found to have a terrible, incurable illness, leading to death… but not before dispensing several valuable plot points. This may be averted if the illness is the main character’s motivation for setting out in the first place. Evil Overlord Hiring Exam Question 177: You see a shadow move to your left, possibly see something small fly past you, and then here a “mysterious sound” to your right, which way do you investigate with all the other guards in the area? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/86 "2008-11-12T08:17:11Z")
Shadows can’t hurt you, but mysterious noises can! Turn to the right every time! But be sure to turn back to the left just in time to see the foolery of your decision as the hero punches you in the nose and knocks you out cold. A child who is picked on by the other kids at school always… ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/87 "2008-11-12T08:34:58Z")
Turns out to develop special powers, but never uses them to turn his tormentors into jelly because he’s “moral” or something like that. In real life hacking is a crime and an annoyance, it can lead to money theft, identity theft, fraud, or moderately amusing IM conversations under your friend’s name. Yet Hollywood, never faced with a threat they couldn’t grossly exaggerate, decided to give it magical powers, name three things Hollywood thinks hacking (or, more generally, computers) can do. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/88 "2008-11-12T08:47:57Z")
name three things Hollywood thinks hacking (or, more generally, computers) can do. 1. Initiate launch of nuclear missiles. 2. Change traffic lights from red to green. 3. Take over satellites which can then be used to spy on people on earth. Staying on the computer theme. The notorious hacker always turns out to be… ---
**Author:** ![jakeofalltrades1964](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@jakeofalltrades1964](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeofalltrades1964)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/89 "2008-11-12T08:52:59Z")
looks back. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/90 "2008-11-12T09:06:17Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > The notorious hacker always turns out to be… A bunch of benevolent individuals trying to save the world/start an underground counter-terror organization (I shit you not, this was the plot of Swordfish). Two characters are fighting while falling form a high building with debris falling around them. Despite basic physics their speed relative to the objects is… ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/91 "2008-11-12T09:39:49Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > The notorious hacker always turns out to be… I remember a time when it was always a ten-year-old kid. Woman says “I’m pregnant.” Man says… ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/92 "2008-11-12T12:08:39Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > A bunch of benevolent individuals trying to save the world/start an underground counter-terror organization (I shit you not, this was the plot of Swordfish). > > Two characters are fighting while falling form a high building with debris falling around them. Despite basic physics their speed relative to the objects is… slower. The debris will hit the ground first with a satisfying thud while by-passers scream. > [@](#): > > Woman says “I’m pregnant.” Man says… “Is it a boy or girl?” What three things would happen if a step-mum, unpopular with her husband’s kids, moved into a deserted house in the middle of nowhere, with just the kids? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/93 "2008-11-12T12:31:17Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > When the tough-as-nails, callous professional assassin has his target in his rifle sights, he will only fail to pull the trigger if… The target’s children come into view. Also applies to planned detonations. **For any romantic comedy, name the person each character will end up with:** a) Rich guy jerk b) Nice guy who just can’t pull the trigger with his longtime girlfriend c) Likeable playboy who just won’t settle down d) Super hot sort of bitchy career woman e) Long-time “perfect” girlfriend f) Quirky girl who inexplicably can’t find anyone in spite of how attractive she is Also, **Any young woman who just moved to NYC…** ---
**Author:** ![PerditaX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@PerditaX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PerditaX)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/94 "2008-11-12T13:17:06Z")
…will be mugged in a dark alley, but rescued, not by a policeman but by… ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/95 "2008-11-12T14:51:51Z")
> [@PerditaX](#): > > …will be mugged in a dark alley, but rescued, not by a policeman but by… A handsome and charming (if inexplicably single) young man. Then she will be the victim of something scary, like supernatural events or a serial killer. At some point the lights of the apartment/ house will go off, and she will stumble in the dark, suddenly, something jumps on her! It’s… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/96 "2008-11-12T16:26:16Z")
… the cat, at least the first time around. After that it will be … ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/97 "2008-11-12T16:32:15Z")
…the handsome and charming young man, who’s now carrying a… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/98 "2008-11-12T18:04:12Z")
bottle of champagne and two glasses. **msmith537** , that’s what I was thinking re: the assassin and the only thing to make him refrain from shooting. The noble Indian who befriends the laconic cowboy will inevitably, by the end of the film,… ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/99 "2008-11-12T18:51:01Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The noble Indian who befriends the laconic cowboy will inevitably, by the end of the film,… be killed by other cowboys. In any comedy if a character is an architect there will at some point be a scale model of a building presented. By the end of the film that model… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988/100 "2008-11-12T19:01:12Z")
will be spectacularly destroyed, usually by accidental fire. When we get a look at the apartment of the NYPD “cop on the edge,” it is always… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-movie-cliche/471988.md?page=6)