# Mistakes by movie characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 27, 2010, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007 "2010-03-27T08:14:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/21 "2010-03-28T21:39:17Z")
On a Beretta, the extractor protrudes slightly when there is a round in a chamber, so if you look carefully you can tell if the chamber is loaded. I don’t recall that ever being used in a movie or TV show. My favorite unloaded gun scene is from **Cheers** > [@](#): > > • Cheers (1982 to 1993) — It’s hard to believe that beloved TV character Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) once pulled a gun on someone. After getting dumped at the altar by Diane, Frasier confronts her ex, Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and flashes a revolver, convinced that Sam is responsible for his humiliation. After a moment of panic, Sam relaxes, saying “Ah, wait a second… what are you doing? The gun’s not even loaded.” > > Frasier sniffs at this. “Oh, of course you know it’s not, because Frasier Crane is a harmless person, who never caused you a moment’s concern, not a moment’s worry, who was never a threat to your relationship with Diane and he isn’t a threat now. Is that it, Sam?” > > Sam points at the revolver’s chamber and says, “No, it’s just that the little holes there are empty.” ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/22 "2010-03-28T22:27:16Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > On a Beretta, the extractor protrudes slightly when there is a round in a chamber, so if you look carefully you can tell if the chamber is loaded. I don’t recall that ever being used in a movie or TV show. > > My favorite unloaded gun scene is from **Cheers** Then of course, the scene from Fifth Element where Corbon Dallas is being held at gunpoint at his own front door. Actually, that movie had lots of comedy based on characters obviously not knowing how to use their firearms. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/23 "2010-03-28T22:29:36Z")
animal house - trusting them. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/24 "2010-03-28T22:53:23Z")
Admiral Nelson’s cigarette case in **Blackadder.** ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/25 "2010-03-29T04:09:44Z")
> [@](#): > > R2 was never wiped of memory. He’s got stuff in there that would … well, I just don’t wanna say. I read a fan theory about how Chewbacca and R2-D2 were the secret leaders of the Rebel alliance. They were the masterminds behind the scenes who manipulated the other characters around to get them where they were supposed to be. Luke, Han, Leia, Lando, and even Obi-Wan and Yoda were just being led around by Chewie and R2. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/26 "2010-03-29T14:38:33Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > _Phantom Menace_: They land on Tatooine to repair their ship. Qui-Gon has to go into Mos Eisley to get the parts. R2 goes with him for technical support or whatever; he has a function. The queen makes herself go because, well, she’s the queen. _Why the **fuck** did they take Jar-Jar Binks?!_ There was no reason to take him! Leave his worthless ass on the ship! He doesn’t end up being useful _in any way whatsoever_! My **Phantom Menace** stupid character oversight: Okay, so Qui-Gon makes two bets with Watto. For the first bet, he stakes their ship (that silver SR-71) against the parts he needs to repair it. Well and good. He then claims he won a pod racer in a game of chance (actually the pod racer Anakin built) and stakes it against Anakin’s freedom. He actually tries to get Shmi, Anakin’s mom, in the deal as well, but Watto states, “No pod is worth two slaves.” But a pod must be worth _one_ slave, because Watto accepts the bet. Then, Anakin goes on to win the race. Result: Qui-Gon wins the parts to repair the ship, and wins Anakin’s freedom. He keeps his stakes, which were the ship and the racing pod. Here comes the dumb part: before leaving, Anakin sells his racing pod, and apparently gets a great deal on it (and why not, it’s the pod that beat Sebulba); when he shows the money to Shmi, she’s impressed and says, “That’s wonderful, Ani!” So…why didn’t Qui-Gon, or Anakin for that matter, use the money from the sale of the pod to buy Shmi’s freedom? It’s not like they need the money for anything, they already won the parts they need and they’re traveling with the queen of a freakin’ planet. It was established that a pod is worth one slave. Watto, given the way he acted after the race, probably needed money to pay off his gambling debts. Neither of them even _try_ to buy her from Watto; you’d think Anakin would have thought of it, at least. You could argue that Qui-Gon didn’t want her along, but then why did he try to include her in the original bet? It’s just plain dumb all around. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/27 "2010-03-29T15:14:52Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > It’s just plain dumb all around. That pretty much describes the whole prequel trilogy. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/28 "2010-03-29T15:26:25Z")
everything that happened on tattoine in phantom menace was awkwardly forced. the redlettermedia 70 minute review pointed out a few of the flaws but really you could take **every single action** that happened in those 40 minutes and point out the flaws. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/29 "2010-03-29T15:37:51Z")
if Tom Cruise’s character in _The Firm_ had never cheated on his wife - they would have never had pictures to blackmail him with. The end. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/30 "2010-03-29T16:32:07Z")
In _Jurassic Park II_ it’s easier to count the non-mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/31 "2010-03-29T16:50:52Z")
I can’t believe how often hardened criminals use words like “frickin’” when their movies are re-aired on network T.V. Seriously, just bleep it out and let me imagine some realistic dialog. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/32 "2010-03-29T16:57:07Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > I can’t believe how often hardened criminals use words like “frickin’” when their movies are re-aired on network T.V. > > Seriously, just bleep it out and let me imagine some realistic dialog. That’s why I really love shows like _Breaking Bad._ They do just this…I think it’s actually just cut out, no bleep, which I find better cause it doen’t “pull me out” as much. Although I heard they aren’t uncensored on the DVDs, which stinks…but I think that’s because the master copies, or whatever, only exist as censored versions, so they only way to have in uncensored would to actually dub it back over, which would be downright nutty. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/33 "2010-03-29T16:59:48Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > if Tom Cruise’s character in _The Firm_ had never cheated on his wife - they would have never had pictures to blackmail him with. > > The end. In another Grishmam movie, “The Client,” the kid refuses to testify against the Mob, even thought the feds will put him and his family in Witness Protection and set them up with a better life. Instead, he gets a lawyer, who rpeatedly lets him put his life in danger, and only at the END agrees to have the kid testify against the Mob in exchange for being put in Witness Protection with his family. He does EXACTLY what he could have done 10 minutes into the movie! ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/34 "2010-03-29T17:02:33Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > That’s why I really love shows like _Breaking Bad._ They do just this…I think it’s actually just cut out, no bleep, which I find better cause it doen’t “pull me out” as much. I agree, just cutting out the word is even better . . . but either is better than inserting a _different_ word that the character would _never_ use in that situation. This is a big pet peeve of mine. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/35 "2010-03-29T17:28:44Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > When Robert DeNiro’s crew hits the armored truck in “Heat”, Val Kilmer’s character wastes time reading the labels on the packages instead of grabbing everything and bugging out. Taking everything would guarantee that he got the right package, and not leave a clue for Al Pacino’s character that he was dealing with a crew of professional thieves. I don’t know how Michael Mann fell for this, unless he didn’t know how else to tip off Vincent Hanna (Pacino) that he’s dealing with a top notch crew. > > I can’t believe that an experienced crew would waste time to not take home worthless envelopes. I thought that discretion gave them even more credibility as professionals. Taking everything in the truck could have done two things. One, if some of the additional unknown items were for instance insured by the Federal Government or some other “very interested” party, it might bring more resources to bear on its return. It might invite more HEAT. Two, if they were caught, the value of the additional items might have brought a more harsh penalty upon them. They might have received additional years in prison, even though those items may have been essentially worthless to them. Therefore, they took only what they knew to be immediately liquid and of determinable value, bearer bonds, valuable enough by themself alone to have made the heist worthwhile. Now when Waingro smoked the guards it all became a moot point. The attention they planned precisely to avoid then came down on them in spades. Until then though they were an in and out, larceny only operation. I see what you’re saying but I think they consciously weighed the time factor against the additional risk and acted judiciously. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/36 "2010-03-29T17:42:33Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > In _Jurassic Park II_ it’s easier to count the non-mistakes. Argh. My husband and I started calling Julianne Moore’s character “TWSP” for “The World’s Stupidest Paleontologist.” She had been talking about non-interference with these species, and then goes ahead and scoops up an injured baby TRex, getting its blood on her in the process, when there’s a pissed-off momma TRex out there. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/37 "2010-03-29T17:42:46Z")
Meant to add: In H.E.A.T. there were several things that would have led any investigating officer, whether it be from the Robbery or Homicide division, to deduce he was dealing with professional thieves. As Pacino mentioned, the recently stolen truck, the quick duration of the operation and knowledge of when the help call went out, the location near on-ramps to numerous highways, the implied probability area surveliance cameras had been disabled, the use of sophisticated shape charges… those made the fact they only took what they wanted a redundant assessment WRT their professionalism. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/38 "2010-03-29T17:51:37Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Argh. My husband and I started calling Julianne Moore’s character “TWSP” for “The World’s Stupidest Paleontologist.” She had been talking about non-interference with these species, and then goes ahead and scoops up an injured baby TRex, getting its blood on her in the process, when there’s a pissed-off momma TRex out there. :smack: Not to mention yelling at the guys for throwing candy wrappers, then petting a baby stego, then going right back to yelling at people for putting out cigarettes. (OK, perhaps I exaggerate, but not by a lot!) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/39 "2010-03-29T17:57:59Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Not to mention yelling at the guys for throwing candy wrappers, then petting a baby stego, then going right back to yelling at people for putting out cigarettes. (OK, perhaps I exaggerate, but not by a lot!) Ugh, yes, I repressed the pet-the-widdle-baby-dino scene. Way to risk the “baby smells funny; reject it” mother response, if that species has it. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007/40 "2010-03-29T18:01:10Z")
The worst part was that in the Lost World book by Michael Crichton, she’s actually badass. She drives a motorcycle with the kid, Kelly, tries to shoot down a raptor. She helps rescue Ian Malcolm in the trailer scene. AND she doesn’t squeal at having to use detergent for shampoo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistakes-by-movie-characters/534007.md?page=3)