# "not going in there" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2025, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408 "2025-02-17T07:28:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/1 "2025-02-17T07:28:35Z")
Evil henchmen decide not to intervene in a pitched battle in a number of movies. In the 5th Element, Leeloo is going apeshit on a bunch of Mangalores. Two late arrivals see their buddies flying out the door and turn tail. I remember a similar scene in one of the Star Wars sagas where Vader is vaderizing some ‘disappointing’ individuals and a couple of stormtroopers do the same about face. Which Star Wars and which came first? I’m sure it’s a bit of a trope. What other movies/series has this happened in? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/2 "2025-02-17T07:37:03Z")
I don’t remember that in the Vader trilogy. However, there is a scene in the sequel trilogy where Kylo Ren is flying off the handle, furiously lightsabering the consoles in a side room, and two approaching stormtroopers pause, exchange a look, and then turn and leave. Is it possible that’s what you’re remembering? Edit to add: found the video. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6ZrdPMU-Ofw/hqdefault.jpg "The Force Awakens: Kylo Ren freakout/anger scene") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZrdPMU-Ofw) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/3 "2025-02-17T08:38:52Z")
Iron Man 3, at about the 1:40 mark in this clip. The henchman drops his gun and says “Honestly, I hate working here. They are so weird,” and quickly walks away. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wFmhcp10be8/hqdefault.jpg "Tony Stark Escape Scene - "5,4,3,2,1 - Told You" - Iron Man 3 (2013) Movie CLIP HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFmhcp10be8) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/4 "2025-02-17T10:17:26Z")
“Who are those clowns?” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KTuPiHwUFGo/hqdefault.jpg "Real Men (1987) - Clown attack") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTuPiHwUFGo) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/5 "2025-02-17T11:35:20Z")
After shooting up Fist’s bar in the first _Mass Effect_ game, Commander Shepard and his crew go into the back room, where they find two more people with guns - dock workers. You can choose the Paragon option of talking them out of fighting you. “This might be a good time for you to find a different place to work.” “Yeah, you might be right.” “I never liked Fist anyway.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/6 "2025-02-17T11:45:18Z")
THE PRINCESS BRIDE: four armed guys charge at Inigo Montoya; four seconds later, they’re worse off than if they’d charged at Clark Kent; fifth guy makes a choice. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CaSRr0T3lrI/maxresdefault.jpg "The Princess Bride - Hallway scene") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaSRr0T3lrI) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/7 "2025-02-17T14:33:59Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > I’m sure it’s a bit of a trope. > **[Screw This, I'm Outta Here! - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ScrewThisImOuttaHere)** > > Sometimes, a character is pushed just a bit too far. They might be thrown into a dangerous situation, where they'll most likely get slaughtered by their enemy. They might be stuck with people who infuriate or annoy them, and be expected to stay … ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/8 "2025-02-17T15:10:00Z")
“He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.” This sentiment was known in ancient Greece and the modern version is said to be derived from works then. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/9 "2025-02-17T15:11:01Z")
That’s not exactly a minion, though. Sometimes it’s the hero’s minions, too: > [@](#): > > Zoe: Wait, this is something the Captain needs to do for himself. > Mal: No, it isn’t! > Zoe: OK. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/10 "2025-02-17T16:24:57Z")
One of the best versions is in The Nice Guys where It’s the protagonists who quietly nope out of a situation. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/11 "2025-02-17T16:38:14Z")
There’s a good inversion in Avengers: Age of Ultron where all the henchmen are shouting “No surrender!” and the main bad guy quietly tells his #2 that he’s going to go surrender. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/12 "2025-02-17T16:46:28Z")
[deleted] I have missed the point. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/13 "2025-02-17T17:26:46Z")
Or > **[Backing Away Slowly - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BackingAwaySlowly)** > > It's a situation anyone who spends much time with other people has experienced: another person does something so strange or off-putting that you can't help but feel intensely uncomfortable. Perhaps a Cloudcuckoolander is on top of their weirdness … which _the Force Awakens_ bit is also under. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/14 "2025-02-17T18:08:40Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > a scene in the sequel trilogy where Kylo Ren is flying off the handle Yes, thanks. I would find a different hallway, job, future as well. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/15 "2025-02-17T21:10:55Z")
The famous jet engine scene from Firefly has this vibe. [“Damn”](https://youtu.be/kQtdfh2Uxoo?si=azB5AJmbV8-VlHZj&t=178) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/16 "2025-02-17T23:03:31Z")
This Iron Man 3 is one of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/17 "2025-02-17T23:27:01Z")
I like the bar fight in the first jack reacher movie - or atleast Reacher’s description to the person he’s fighting: **Reacher** : It’s 3 against one… **BadGuy** : How do you figure, there’s 5 of us **Reacher** : Once I take out the leader, which is you, I’ll have to deal with 1 or 2 enthusiastic wingmen - the other 2 always run **BadGuy** : You’ve done this before? **Reacher** : yeah, many times… let’s get this done [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/h9woMb5tC2I/maxresdefault.jpg "Jack Reacher: Bar Fight Scene (HD CLIP)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9woMb5tC2I) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/18 "2025-02-18T17:31:58Z")
I think it’s in _Slap Shot_, when the Hansons have started attacking fans at one of their games, there’s a sot of some players from the other team. “Think we should get into this?” \ “Just a thought.” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/19 "2025-02-19T21:42:14Z")
“The smartest Batman goon ever!” gets linked a lot in discussions similar to this one. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pMd4S-LkywI/maxresdefault.jpg "The smartest Batman goon ever!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMd4S-LkywI) Note that he’s _already_ had a run-in with Batman, thus the bruises. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408/20 "2025-02-19T23:26:13Z")
That reminds me a bit of a scene from the first John Wick movie. Wick is sneaking into a club and gets the drop on the henchman watching the back door. It turns out that they know each other, so they make very tense small talk, and Wick tells the man to take the night off. The goon, with obvious relief, says thank you, walks away and we never see him again. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8goQyjvcjdo/maxresdefault.jpg "John Wick - Francis scene") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8goQyjvcjdo) Other movies, the hero would have knocked him out, or the henchman would have tried to pull a fast one on him. Here, though, the goon knows the score. He’s been given his life as a gift, and he’ll take it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-going-in-there/1014408.md?page=2)