# one of the most parodied shots in film history? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155 "2009-06-27T06:52:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/21 "2009-06-27T23:57:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Off the top of my head, I’d say the western gunfight shot is one of the most common. The setting is a long main street in a western town. The shot is framed from behind one of the gunfighters with the second gunfighter facing the first in the distance. The camera is slightly offset so you can see both gunfighters simultaneously in the frame. They draw and shoot. [example](http://www.black-hawk-design.net/wildwest/Gunfighters/gunfight1.jpg) [example](http://www.bullheadchamber.com/images/oatman.gif) [example](http://www.jainlemos.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/gunfight1.jpg) [example](http://www.sobsoldwestproductions.com/img/shootoutatbloodygultch.jpg) > > It’s probably been done hundreds of times. I don’t think that really fits the OP. Those shots are not parodying one original usage, they are just shot the same way because that’s the easiest way of showing two people in one frame. Now, the specific way that Sergio Leone filmed that type of scene, \*that \*has been parodied many times. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/22 "2009-06-28T00:14:14Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I call it the hero walk. The parody I remember right now was in Monsters, Inc. TV Tropes has it as [Power Walk](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PowerWalk), and it has a long list indeed, for the entry. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/23 "2009-06-28T00:28:33Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Simpsons already did it. South Park did it too. (Ref: Episode 610 “Bebe’s Boobs Destroy Society” and here’s a [clip](http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/153586)) ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/24 "2009-06-28T02:05:22Z")
_The Matrix_ isn’t old enough to be one of the most anything yet, but the shot where Neo jumps, time freezes, the camera pans 360 degrees around him, and only then does time resume, has been parodied a lot. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/25 "2009-06-28T02:09:55Z")
How about the wave scene in “From Here to Eternity?” Seems every variety show in the sixties and seventies did that one… ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/26 "2009-06-28T02:14:39Z")
The slow-mo kung fu kicking in The Matrix has been parodied extensively. On a tangential note, I was watching 2001 and the sequal 2010 the other day when they were on HBO. I wouldn’t really call turning Jupiter into a sun “something wonderful”. It seems more like an interplanetary act of war or vandalism if you ask me. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/27 "2009-06-28T03:04:19Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t think that really fits the OP. Those shots are not parodying one original usage, they are just shot the same way because that’s the easiest way of showing two people in one frame. I agree that most of the uses of this shot are being played straight not as parodies. But other people were also mentioned straight imitations of iconic shots so I mentioned it. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/28 "2009-06-28T03:36:19Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > _The Matrix_ isn’t old enough to be one of the most anything yet, but the shot where Neo jumps, time freezes, the camera pans 360 degrees around him, and only then does time resume, has been parodied a lot. Nitpick, that was Trinity. But you’re quite right–that’s been all over the place. /Anal ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/29 "2009-06-28T03:41:46Z")
The Statue of Liberty half buried in the Earth from Planet of the Apes. What do I win? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/30 "2009-06-28T04:08:23Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Nitpick, that was Trinity. But you’re quite right–that’s been all over the place. > > /Anal It could also be the subway scene with Neo & Agent Smith. I believe they do a 360 degree pan there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/31 "2009-06-28T04:25:05Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > The Potemkin steps are a good choice, but has the benefit of being over 80 years old. Another famous shot from a more recent film is Dustin Hoffman framed by Anne Bancroft’s leg in _The Graduate_. And even more recently, the Neo-leans-back-to-bulletdodge managed to find its way into every spoof within a matter of months. Also, the final scene from _The Graduate_ has been parodied many times. It is the scene where Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) knocks on the balcony window in the church to try to stop Elaine’s wedding. Ben and Elaine then run away together and catch a bus. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/32 "2009-06-28T04:30:20Z")
Indiana Jones trying to outrun a boulder. I’ve even seen it parodied in anime. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/33 "2009-06-28T04:36:41Z")
The first “2001” parody I remember seeing was this one, in “The Groove Tube,” probably at a midnight showing back in my high school days. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E8axw5-l1-8/hqdefault.jpg "the groove tube - full intro") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8axw5-l1-8) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/34 "2009-06-28T04:49:56Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > The “Battleship Potemkim” stairs shot is interesting since so very few people have probably seen the movie. (I’ve seen it maybe twice. Most recently in the past year when it was on TCM.) [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0015648/movieconnections) indeed lists quite a few homages to the staircase scene. [The Odessa Steps and Its Descendents](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH1tO2D3LCI&NR=1) (Youtube). ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/35 "2009-06-28T05:05:59Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [The Odessa Steps and Its Descendents](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH1tO2D3LCI&NR=1) (Youtube). I’m a little skeptical that every appearance of a large public staircase in a flim is a reference to **Battleship Potemkin**. Some of those certainly were, but the Star Wars one especially was a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/36 "2009-06-28T05:44:20Z")
\*Jaws \*gets parodied a lot…both visually and sonically. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/37 "2009-06-28T10:40:24Z")
There’s a scene in Vertigo where Hitchock used a technique called a ‘Dolly Zoom’, in which the camera is moved towards or away from the subject while a zoom lens goes the other way, causing a shift in field of view that creates a strange, hallucinatory effect. It can look like the background is pulling away from or moving towards a stationary object. It’s been used a million times in movies since, including many parodies. Here’s a youtube video showing clips from various movies which used the dolly zoom: [Dolly Zoom Youtube Clip.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y48R6-iIYHs) ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/38 "2009-06-28T11:24:41Z")
Another recent one that gets parodied quite a bit is Sharon Stone’s beaver flash in Basic Instinct. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/39 "2009-06-28T13:46:45Z")
Erm, guys, I don’t think you’ve understood the question in the OP. > [@](#): > > So during my reading about the film I kept coming across writers mentioning this scene as having been frequently parodied in the years since. Example, this critic says of the shot that it must be “one of the most parodied in cinema history,” > > Ok. **Name one**. What other film or TV show has parodied this specific shot? The OP is not interested in OTHER scenes that have inspired parodies. What he wants is specific examples of movies/ TV shows that parody that particular scene from 2001. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155/40 "2009-06-28T14:21:28Z")
Sorry Peter. We did not feel like discussing the flung bone shot (sounds like a dish at a Chinese take-out place). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-most-parodied-shots-in-film-history/501155.md?page=3)