# Moments that ruin suspension of disbelief \*spoilers!\* **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2011, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902 "2011-02-28T11:29:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/81 "2011-03-02T18:20:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Obviously the result of some alien kid’s history of computing project and nespotism. _nespotism_ – (n.) A despotism in which nepotism is a dominant feature. A Palinism created by SDMB member **Alka Seltzer** ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/82 "2011-03-02T18:30:14Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Sorry to double post , but have just remembered, uncannily clean and ironed clothes in historical dramas,eg. Sharpe and Dr. Quinn medecine woman. Currently watching the TV series Foyles War which is set in the Second World War, not being of the WW2 ilk I can’t say how accurate it is but one thing does quite often ruin my suspension of disbelief, all of the vehicles depicted are shown as sparkling clean and in mint condition. Obviously its because they are period vehicles lovingly cared-for by their owners, but really after showing a supposed twenty mile drive through the countryside in the pouring rain they should pull up at their destination with at least _some_ mud spatters or leaves on them. Nitpicky, yes, understandable, yes, affects WSOD, absolutely On a side-note, one thing I have wondered about that series is the main character is a Detective Chief-Superintendent and yet he’s shown as very hands-on doing his own investigations, was that a result of the lack of manpower during the war or did such a high-rank really do such basic policework during that period? > [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Independence Day - Hijacking our satellites to co-ordinate a global countdown. If it’s just a countdown, don’t they have clocks? Obviously the result of some alien kid’s history of computing project and nespotism. I’ve heard a lot of criticisms of ID4, many of which don’t have much validity, but that is a good one. Wonder how it can be fanwanked away? ---
**Author:** ![MovieCriticNextDoor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@MovieCriticNextDoor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieCriticNextDoor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/83 "2011-03-02T21:09:13Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Currently watching the TV series Foyles War which is set in the Second World War, not being of the WW2 ilk I can’t say how accurate it is but one thing does quite often ruin my suspension of disbelief, all of the vehicles depicted are shown as sparkling clean and in mint condition. Obviously its because they are period vehicles lovingly cared-for by their owners, but really after showing a supposed twenty mile drive through the countryside in the pouring rain they should pull up at their destination with at least _some_ mud spatters or leaves on them. Nitpicky, yes, understandable, yes, affects WSOD, absolutely > > On a side-note, one thing I have wondered about that series is the main character is a Detective Chief-Superintendent and yet he’s shown as very hands-on doing his own investigations, was that a result of the lack of manpower during the war or did such a high-rank really do such basic policework during that period? I love Foyle’s War. I would forgive that show far more grievous errors than I’ve ever spotted in it just for the pleasure of watching Michael Kitchen. However, while as far as the show is concerned, yes, the lack of manpower during the war is the reason Foyle is so hands-on, that’s also a mistake. There was no such rank as Detective Chief Superintendent at that time. The title was first introduced in 1949. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/84 "2011-03-02T21:36:15Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > I’ve heard a lot of criticisms of ID4, many of which don’t have much validity, but that is a good one. Wonder how it can be fanwanked away? The satellite countdown isn’t for the aliens benefit, it’s just an artifact of the hacking method. The way two Windows can be overlaid on top of each other in a Mac. Remember, the aliens never expected us to find the signal. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/85 "2011-03-02T22:12:57Z")
> [@MovieCriticNextDoor](#): > > I love Foyle’s War. I would forgive that show far more grievous errors than I’ve ever spotted in it just for the pleasure of watching Michael Kitchen. It is a good show, I bought a ‘best of’ collection for my mum and ended up watching it myself, though personally I find it a pleasure to watch Honeysuckle Weeks 😉 > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The satellite countdown isn’t for the aliens benefit, it’s just an artifact of the hacking method. The way two Windows can be overlaid on top of each other in a Mac. > > Remember, the aliens never expected us to find the signal. I’m not sure I understand what you mean, its been a long time since I saw the movie\* but I thought the aliens were using a descending signal hidden in the human communication network as a means of co-ordinating their eventual attack? \*though I’m currently working my way through my collection of old DVD movies and ID4 isn’t far down the list ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/86 "2011-03-02T22:58:29Z")
> [@dwyr](#): > > Also the fact that all the scenes in town were shot in Versailles. But that could be considered kind of nitpicky on my part since I grew up in E’town. My mother grew up near E-Town (I have a bunch of cousins who still live there). She bought the movie for the scenery and felt very let down. ---
**Author:** ![Pandoranoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce73a5/32.png) [@Pandoranoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandoranoid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/87 "2011-03-03T15:45:49Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Clea Duvall is rather conspicuously absent from your list. IIRC she originally got second billing on the film; it was only after the movie launched Jolie’s career that the promotional material was revamped to feature her instead. Are you omitting her because you don’t consider her to be Hollywood attractive, or because the revamped publicity was so utterly successful in the promotion of Jolie over Duvall that you and everyone else has completely forgotten about her? I omitted for two reasons: first, I thought three by-name examples would be enough to make my point, and second, those were the only actresses in the movies whose names I knew off the top of my head. But I googled Clea Duvall and, yep, she would stick out in a mental hospital like a sore thumb. I’m not saying that girls that pretty are never committed- just that it’s rare. When you see someone that pretty in a mental hospital, it raises your eyebrows. ETA: so I guess it’s option number two. Sorry, Clea. You’re real purdy, too. ---
**Author:** ![Pandoranoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce73a5/32.png) [@Pandoranoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandoranoid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/88 "2011-03-03T15:55:07Z")
Another WSoD killer for me: when one character says, ‘Wow, you look tired’ or something, and they don’t at all. For some reason the example that stick in my head is this awful made-for-cable movie starring Ellen Barkin as a guy who, for various boring reasons, has died and been reincarnated as a foxy blonde. At one point early in the movie, someone comments that she looks kind of flushed, and she/he says something like ‘yeah, it’s this damn makeup-ya gotta be a fuckin’ Rembrandt to apply the stuff!’ Her make-up, of course, looks perfect, as though it were skillfully applied by a make-up artist–which, of course, it was. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/89 "2011-03-03T17:30:27Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The satellite countdown isn’t for the aliens benefit, it’s just an artifact of the hacking method. I’m pretty sure when it reaches zero they start zapping cities. That’s a countdown, not an artifact. > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The way two Windows can be overlaid on top of each other in a Mac. This reminds me of a quote in Futurama, when they are sending up technobable analogies in the Star Trek episode. 🙂 > [@](#): > > Fry: Usually on the show, they came up with a complicated plan, then explained it with a simple analogy. > Leela: Hmmm… If we can re-route engine power through the primary weapons and configure them to Melllvar’s frequency, that should overload his electro-quantum structure. > Bender: Like putting too much air in a balloon! > Fry: Of course! It’s all so simple! ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/90 "2011-03-03T21:32:50Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Currently watching the TV series Foyles War which is set in the Second World War, not being of the WW2 ilk I can’t say how accurate it is but one thing does quite often ruin my suspension of disbelief, all of the vehicles depicted are shown as sparkling clean and in mint condition. Obviously its because they are period vehicles lovingly cared-for by their owners, but really after showing a supposed twenty mile drive through the countryside in the pouring rain they should pull up at their destination with at least _some_ mud spatters or leaves on them. Nitpicky, yes, understandable, yes, affects WSOD, absolutely I can overlook the cars, but what gets me every time is [the men’s hats.](http://www.radiotimes.com/shows/foyles-war/main.jpg) I don’t know whether the wardrobe department is just clueless about hats, or they’ve done an unusual amount of research and replicated some bloody awful wartime rationing utility issue headgear (though in that case, surely a senior police officer would have had at least one good, pre-war hat?). All I know is, I’ve never seen anything like them anywhere else, and they take me out of the show every time. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/91 "2011-03-03T21:45:14Z")
> [@Pandoranoid](#): > > Another WSoD killer for me: when one character says, ‘Wow, you look tired’ or something, and they don’t at all. For some reason the example that stick in my head is this awful made-for-cable movie starring Ellen Barkin as a guy who, for various boring reasons, has died and been reincarnated as a foxy blonde. At one point early in the movie, someone comments that she looks kind of flushed, and she/he says something like ‘yeah, it’s this damn makeup-ya gotta be a fuckin’ Rembrandt to apply the stuff!’ Her make-up, of course, looks perfect, as though it were skillfully applied by a make-up artist–which, of course, it was. For me, more generally, it is those productions which call for a lead role to go to someone unattractive - but the makers of the movie simply cannot help casting a typical Holywood star for the role. Especially notice this where the story calls for an unattractive woman. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/92 "2011-03-03T22:32:41Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > For me, more generally, it is those productions which call for a lead role to go to someone unattractive - but the makers of the movie simply cannot help casting a typical Holywood star for the role. Especially notice this where the story calls for an unattractive woman. Likewise when we see a flashback and the actor/actress is supposed to be some 20 years younger and it just is NOT possible to make a 40 year old woman look like a teenager, no matter the fuzzy focus or longhaired wig. (I’m looking at YOU, Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler in PS, I Love You). I appreciate that not every actor has as much archival footage of himself over his lifetime as Sir Michael Caine for filmmakers to draw on 30 years later, but come on. I’d rather see a person the right age playing the character in the flashback, it makes far more sense. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/93 "2011-03-03T22:53:19Z")
Any movie that depends on that “humans only use x% of their brain!” nonsense. Often followed up by some character gaining powers by “now I can use it ALL!” ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/94 "2011-03-03T23:05:16Z")
2012… the whole movie. It’s pretty damn bad when movies like Armageddon and even Independence day are more believable for me than that turd. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/95 "2011-03-03T23:40:49Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > In ST IV, the tank from the Monterrey Bay Aquarium moves to SF and gets a whale. Just the patio and rail actually. The Monterrey Bay Aquarium doesn’t have a tank there, just a deck overlooking the ocean. Both the tank and the whales were special effects. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/96 "2011-03-04T05:49:31Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Any movie where two people are in the front seat of a car and one is driving while they have a conversation. This takes me out of the work too. It would take me out anyway, just because it’s weird, but it causes me extra anxiety because 20% of the time the driver facing the passenger is a cue for another vehicle to smash into the driver’s side “unexpectedly”. Other automotive things which break my fourth wall: 1. Anytime a character walks on to a street and turns around to face the camera, I’m thinking “OK, time for them to get hit by a bus”. And 90% of the time, they do. Seriously, it’s time to stop this trope. Every time a pedestrian gets hit by a car I feel like hitting my screen. It’s not like they get pushed into the street or something. They wander carefree, and there is a long delay, and then they get hit. Did they not bother to check traffic? Was the car or bus that hit them not watching the road AT ALL? - I’ve had to slightly reorder my expectations after the viral video where the guy gets hit by an ice cream truck. Apparently this trope is not as unrealistic as I thought. 1. It annoys me that no one ever wears a seat belt. Especially as I don’t see any particular advantage to it. It’s not like they are using fake cars without seatbelts. Most states have belt laws which would make the actors put it on instinctively. This is especially egregious on the show (new version) Hawaii 5-0. No one ever wears seat belts. Even though they are often in dangerous police chases. And it’s common for Danno to complain about the other guy’s dangerous driving. Yet no matter how scared he is of the crazy driving, he never puts on a seat belt. And even worse, Chin-Ho drives a motorcycle! Without a helmet! Even in shots where it’s clear it’s the actual actor and not a stunt person! ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/97 "2011-03-04T06:56:39Z")
For me it’s the shaky camera thing. “The Hurt Locker” might have been a good movie, but I couldn’t tell. The way the camera was constantly flying around, it would have been less distracting to have ten foot neon green letters plastered across the screen saying, “THIS IS A MOVIE!” ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/98 "2011-03-04T10:32:49Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > Most friends I know who’ve worked convenience stores say the opposite, and they always complain about Clerks for that. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve heard Kevin Smith himself complain about it – he’s said they knew it sounded unreaslistic, but was a “had to do it” kinda thing. Hmm..I also used to work in both a convenience store and a bar. I knew what brand of ciggies and beer about 90% of the customers would ask for at any given time. Many times they didn’t even need to ask for “a pack of cigarettes” - it would be waiting for them by the time they reached the counter. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/99 "2011-03-04T13:03:03Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > For me it’s the shaky camera thing. “The Hurt Locker” might have been a good movie, but I couldn’t tell. The way the camera was constantly flying around, it would have been less distracting to have ten foot neon green letters plastered across the screen saying, “THIS IS A MOVIE!” The ironic thing is shaky-cam is supposed to _increase_ realism and immersion but I also hate it. Its not so bad during an action scene _(assuming that the director is talented and can still show the viewer what is happening, although thats not very common)_ but when it occurs during a ‘static’ scene it takes me right out of the movie. I don’t know what directors imagine the real world is like but when I’m standing talking to someone I’m not ducking up and down, bobbing and weaving like a hyperactive drunken boxer…well not usually… ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902/100 "2011-03-04T14:54:59Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > This may be from a bad projectionist, not the film. There’s supposed to be a mask on the projector, that hides things that aren’t supposed to show up on the screen. Certainly there are mistakes in movies where booms and shadows are in the scene, but from what I’ve read on SDMB if it’s a high quality movie and it happens it is usually the projectionist’s fault. > > I’m not sure why the prints contain stuff that isn’t supposed to be seen, but they do. What projectionist? Movie theaters hereabouts play DVDs from a computer… well, maybe it’s Blu-Rays now. I don’t have a problem with the “asking for a beer” thing but I think it’s a cultural difference. In Spain many bars have an advertising agreement with a company, usually for a drink. Walk into a bar whose sign displays Gambrinus, you know that asking for “a beer” with no more info will get you a Cruzcampo; if the sign is green, “a beer” gets you Heineken. I don’t even remember which series/movie it was, but I recently saw a scene where the person riding shotgun told the driver to “look at the roaddamnit” when the driver turned. Yes. Thank you. Lab techs wearing heavy makeup. ARRRRGH! Sorry, pet peeve, I know, I know, I’ll go sit quietly in the corner besides the HPLC-MS with the magical presets, while forgetting that the only way you can get I-95 to be that empty is by recording on the Palmetto instead - and it better be before 8am, at that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moments-that-ruin-suspension-of-disbelief-spoilers/572902.md?page=6)