# Targets in disaster movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2004, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925 "2004-05-13T07:52:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/1 "2004-05-13T07:52:33Z")
If a Sufficiently Large Catastrophic Event (SkyNet becoming self-aware, alien invasion, tsunami, hurricane, flash fire, thermonuclear strike, etc. ) is shown to affect California, you just knoooOOooow we’re going to see the destruction of the Hollywood sign, the L.A. freeways, havok in San Francisco, etc. If they do the usual montage shots of places around the U.S., you’ll see various Washington monuments and edifices bite the dust, along with Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty. All movies seem to hate the Space Needle. Boulder Dam. What’s left? ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/2 "2004-05-13T11:07:12Z")
Well, outside the US, you tend to have the Effiel Tower & the Pyramids hit. ---
**Author:** ![Thirty-Nine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@Thirty-Nine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirty-Nine)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/3 "2004-05-13T11:38:18Z")
Not to mention Big Ben or the Tower Bridge and a suitably colourful section of Tokyo (neon lights are a must). And it’s not just San Francisco - it has to be the Golden Gate Bridge. The street in front of the Flat Iron building in New York must also be destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/4 "2004-05-13T11:39:47Z")
Well, natch. They want a visual indicator of the disaster hitting some well known feature. That creates both a visual locator (tells you where it is) and an emotional reaction (“Oh, gosh, that’s the White House!”) You wouldn’t get the same reaction (and there might be geographic confusion) if it they just showed random buildings – like, if they’re trying to show a global effect, and they show a street scene in Milan, how would you KNOW it was Italy? So, instead, they’ll show the tower of Pisa. Would you prefer that when they film the destruction of Paris, they show a street scene from downtown LA? That’s been done, too, by filmmakers who figure people won’t notice and are saving on budget. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/5 "2004-05-13T11:43:57Z")
Speaking of which, have the Opera House or Sydney Harbour bridge ever been high-budgetly destroyed? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/6 "2004-05-13T13:06:25Z")
Well, in Independence Day, when the big ships were brought down, one narrowly missed the Sydney Opera House. It was shown in the foreground. And in Mad Max:Beyond Thunderdome, you see the Opera House in ruins, as it is flown over near the end of the picture. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/7 "2004-05-13T13:06:53Z")
The top of the Chrysler Building seems to be easily removed in most disaster movies as well. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/8 "2004-05-13T13:54:01Z")
The Taj Mahal in India and possibly the Kremlin. ---
**Author:** ![Riqay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Riqay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riqay)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/9 "2004-05-13T14:05:02Z")
I would think that the Great Wall of China is recognizable to everyone, and significant for having protected the countries western border for centuries … _until now_. (cue music) ---
**Author:** ![Riqay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Riqay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riqay)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/10 "2004-05-13T14:06:20Z")
> [@Riqay](#): > > countries erf … “country’s” ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/11 "2004-05-13T14:07:15Z")
_Targets_ in disaster movies? You know I can’t think of ever having seen a single Target get destroyed in a disaster movie. Or even a Walmart. 😃 Although with product placement these days … ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/12 "2004-05-13T14:16:09Z")
I’d think the most obvious choice is the one no one wants to talk about. ☹ That’s not an option any more, so I’ll add the Empire State Building. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/13 "2004-05-13T14:19:08Z")
It seems to me that when I produce my disaster movie (Night of Fifty-Foot Kittens) I would film many disaster shots for each market. A Tabby trashes the Sydney Opera House for Australia. A Siamese slices the airport in Hong Kong. A Persian Blue blows up Government House in India. You get the idea. Would make for good television ads in each market. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/14 "2004-05-13T14:19:26Z")
NYC is _the_ place to destroy. If you can destroy it here, you can destroy it anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/15 "2004-05-13T14:34:59Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > NYC is _the_ place to destroy. > > If you can destroy it here, you can destroy it anywhere. [Sinatra]New York, Ne-ew YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK!!![/Sinatra] ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/16 "2004-05-13T15:59:16Z")
In every disaster movie I’ve ever seen that had any section set in Britain, Big Ben, London Bridge, and the Tower Of London generally eat it. Usually in that order. Has Buckingham Palace ever been wiped out in a disaster movie? ---
**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:** [May 13, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/17 "2004-05-13T18:58:48Z")
What about the Gateway Arch in St. Louis? I’m not sure if it’s ever been a Summer Blockbuster Target, but it seems like it ought to. And while we’re at it, how about destroying the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, anyone? Cleveland never gets enough attention. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/18 "2004-05-13T19:09:25Z")
I don’t think I’ve seen the Sears Tower or the World Trade Center get targetted in a movie. Neither were touched (on screen) in Independence Day, were they? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/19 "2004-05-13T19:18:51Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I don’t think I’ve seen the Sears Tower or the World Trade Center get targetted in a movie. Neither were touched (on screen) in Independence Day, were they? King Kong used it as his base of operations in the 70’s remake, but he left it relatively unscathed (excepting for stray bullet holes and a big ape-shaped dent in the street in front of it) ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925/20 "2004-05-13T19:24:22Z")
The big Castle from the Magic Kingdom? Or the Epcot Ball? (although Disney would likely object, trademarks and all that) I wouldn’t mind seeing the Vegas strip get totalled either. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targets-in-disaster-movies/244925.md?page=2)