# The SDMB Dictionary of Film cliches **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589 "2003-09-19T13:41:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/41 "2003-09-19T20:57:34Z")
An addition to the MovieOS (though this has declined in recent years as directors and actors become more technology savvy) anything on a computer can be done by banging away on the keyboard for approximately 1-2 seconds, even if said action is drawing a picture or searching the hard drive. Seen in: Revenge of the Nerds, Jurassic Park, countless others ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/42 "2003-09-19T21:00:33Z")
Ebert might have this, but I usually turn to: [http://www.moviecliches.com/](http://www.moviecliches.com/) enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/43 "2003-09-19T21:13:04Z")
**Bugetary Law of Female Competency** A female character’s ability to engage in self-preservational activities is directly proportional to the budget of the film. In an ultra-low budget cheapie, a woman will stand, facing the monster/slasher as he/it slowly advances toward her and scream. The woman is, of course stabbed, devoured or impregnated with an alien embryo. In mid-range budget movies, the woman will scream and run away, usually breaking a heel (all women in these movies wear high heels). She stands about a 50/50 chance of escaping. If she gets away, is usually because she is rescued by a male character. In a big budget action flick, the woman, usually played by Sigourney Weaver, will open up a can of whup-ass on the offending villian/monster/horny alien. Examples: bottom end budget, _Breeders_ Top end, _Alien and sequels_. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/44 "2003-09-19T21:35:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*You guys do known about [Ebert’s Little Movie Glossary: A Compendium of Movie Cliches, Stereotypes, Obligatory Scenes, Hackneyed Formulas, Shopworn Conventions, and Outdated Archetypes, by Roger Ebert](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0836280717/qid=1063994677/sr=1-16/ref=sr_1_16/103-7831893-3992664?v=glance), don’t you? \*\* The latest edition includes several of my contributions. > [@](#): > > All bombs will have a giant digital display (as opposed to an internal timer) that shows exactly how much time our heroes have left. When I get to make my big-budget 'splosion thriller, it will have a scene like this: Heroes find bomb with big red (it has to be red) digital countdown display Heroes work frantically to defuse bomb Timer ticks down toward zero Tension builds 3… 2… 1… zero Heroes squint eyes shut– Pause They look again at the bomb One guys says, “Hmmm,” pokes around Pulls readout off bomb in one piece Other guy says: “Did it malfunction?” First guy: “No, it was never attached.” Other guy: “So that wasn’t the timer?” First guy: “Guess not.” Other guy: “So we actually have no idea how long we have.” First guy: “Apparently.” Other guy: “Oh.” Pause And back to the bomb, working as fast as possible ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/45 "2003-09-19T21:58:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RikWriter \* > \*\*How about the > **Voluntary Disarmament and Leaving Armed Bad Guys Behind Us Rule**? > > In most action movies (also TV shows) when the heroes manage to overcome a pursuer/guard/bad guy they will leave him where he lays, whether he is dead or not, and leave him with a loaded and functional firearm. The smartest thing to do of course would be to grab the gun and use it, but even if they don’t know enough about firearms to be able to use it well, couldn’t they at least take the time to get rid of it and tie up the bad guy? \*\* That or eject the ammunition/magazine from the firearm and throw it off a cliff somewhere. Not terribly hard to do with a basic knowledge of firearms. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/46 "2003-09-19T22:05:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > \*\*The Most Over Used Movie Cliche Of All Time, Ever: \*\* The Incredibly Stupid Teenagers \*\*: Teenagers will always hold a major party at the same date and time and in the same place as where a major massacre occured. > > Sites? Hell, the whole teenager slasher genre. The second cliche is the last teenager standing will be incredibly beautiful and very scantily clad. \*\* Collary: After/during said party, the teens will pair off and go off into some isolated area to have sex/go skinny dipping, thus making it incredibly easy for them to be slaughtered one by one without the rest knowing. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/47 "2003-09-19T22:12:21Z")
**Selective Tanker Contents** In any action film, the contents of any tanker truck are determined by the subcategory of “action movie” in which it appears. There is a 90% chance that if this truck is shown in the foreground of a shot it will explode/rupture at some point in the film. Action-action: Gasoline, liquid nitrogen, napalm Action-comedy: Sewage, milk, glue Action-political drama: oil (from a business owned by a corrupt politician), toxic waste, experimental disease (less likely to explode) ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/48 "2003-09-19T22:17:18Z")
**The Bogart Ratio** Characters who smoke will be seen lighting ten cigarettes for every one cigarette they are seen stubbing out or throwing away. sightings: _Casablanca, The Big Sleep, High Fidelity_ **The Knight Boat Principal** In any movie or TV show that revolves around a unique, high-tech piece of equipment–whether it be a talking car, a giant robot, or ghost elimination devices–the protagonists will always be faced with situations that are solvable using that piece of equipment. Named for a scene in the Simpsons where Homer, Lisa, and Bart are watching a show called Knight Boat, which is similar to Knight Rider but with a talking boat instead of a car. When the bad guys fleeing Knight Boat take the sensible step of leaving the water for the land, Knight Boat notices a canal that runs parallel to their escape route. Lisa says “There’s ALWAYS a canal!” Sightings: _Ghostbusters, Big O, etc. etc._ which leads us to **The Ubiquity of Giant Robots** In anime and many Japanese films, such as the _Godzilla_ movies, giant robots are cheap, effective, and so easy to manufacture and maintain that everybody who is anybody has one. which brings us to **The Anime Improvement Corrolary** Everything is better if you add a giant robot. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/49 "2003-09-19T22:26:28Z")
**The World Is a Parking Lot** In the event of an emergency, it is OK for the main character to park wherever they want without consequences or police interference. For example: the curb, the middle of the road, on a sidewalk, on the neighbor’s lawn, etc. ---
**Author:** ![YellowTail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5ac83/32.png) [@YellowTail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowTail)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/50 "2003-09-19T22:33:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by vibrotronica_ > \*\ ***The Knight Boat Principal** > > In any movie or TV show that revolves around a unique, high-tech piece of equipment–whether it be a talking car, a giant robot, or ghost elimination devices–the protagonists will always be faced with situations that are solvable using that piece of equipment.\*\* There’s a great quote, I don’t know who said it: “To the guy who only has a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.” **Human Waste Recycling System** Nobody ever needs to go to the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/51 "2003-09-19T22:50:32Z")
1. **The Run & Duck Invulnerability Ruse** It is now fairly well established that if you are, say, a movie hero being attacked by several bad guys, and they are in helicopters while you are on the ground, and they are firing at you with the sorts of machine guns that spray a squillion bullets a second, you can survive by using the rather brilliant tactic of running a bit quickly and ducking every now and then. When will real-life soldiers learn to adopt this incomparably brilliant strategy? Cites: the Die Hards and other Willis vehicles, most action movies, most Bond movies 1. **The Chuck-My-Toys-Out Swipe And Crash** If you are going through a bit of a bad patch, and are feeling angry about things and having a bit of a tantrum, clearly the most natural way to express this is to approach the nearest horizontal surface on which numerous objects are neatly arrayed (e.g. a fully-laden table, sideboard or laboratory bench) and swipe along it with your arm in a rather brusque fashion, sending the objects crashing to the floor. Even though no-one has ever seen anyone do this in real life. Cites: more or less any emotional ‘drama’ ever brought to the silver screen ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/52 "2003-09-19T23:05:58Z")
**I must speak while typing** Whenever a movie character is typing, they are irresistably compelled to speak along as they type, while sitting alone in their rooms. Ex: _Wargames_, _Sleepless in Seattle_. **Vietnam Soundtrack** No scene taking place in VietNam shall be without a classic rock song playing in the background, preferably by The Doors, Credence or Hendrix. **Get that steering column fixed!** Every movie car has 10 times the amount of play in the steering wheel than a normal car, requiring constant overcorrection. **Hubcap regeneration** If a hubcap happens to come off during a movie chase, it regenerates. Ex: _Bullitt_, _Striking Distance_, _Planes, Trains and Automobiles_, every episode of _CHiPs_. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/53 "2003-09-19T23:39:59Z")
No immediate sightings for this – it has been too long, but memory tells me this is true: **Show Us Your Tits and Die** Found in slasher or generic horror movies. First woman to bare her breasts ends up dead – usually seconds after revealing her glorious Boob Job. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/54 "2003-09-22T13:41:11Z")
\*\* ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/55 "2003-09-22T13:42:34Z")
**THE SEXY HITMAN** Professional assassins are the most considerate, sensitive, and most desirable lovers. Used in: anything by Robert Ludlum, Species, The Langoliers, many other examples… ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/56 "2003-09-23T01:25:20Z")
**The optical regenerative powers of surprise** If a character wears eyeglasses, and he sees something that is shocking or unexpected, he will take off his glasses to get a better look. Ex: almost anything starring Jeff Goldblum ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/57 "2003-09-23T15:27:12Z")
\*\* The Doppleganger principle \*\* If a hero or group of heros belong to a specialized group the major villian will share the same skills or have once been part of taht organization and have gone bad. The Villain should never have a different skill set. If you are an ex commando with partatrooper training and proficient with the sword, your nemisis will have been in your same unit, and sword class but went evil. Sightings: SWAT Numerous Urban War films. ---
**Author:** ![YellowTail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5ac83/32.png) [@YellowTail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowTail)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/58 "2003-09-23T21:09:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dooku \* > [B **Hubcap regeneration** > > If a hubcap happens to come off during a movie chase, it regenerates. > > Ex: _Bullitt_, _Striking Distance_, _Planes, Trains and Automobiles_, every episode of _CHiPs_. \*\* The ultra-classic _Bullit_ car chase also features the incredible self-repairing headlight! ---
**Author:** ![YellowTail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5ac83/32.png) [@YellowTail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowTail)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/59 "2003-09-23T21:10:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dooku \* > [B **Hubcap regeneration** > > If a hubcap happens to come off during a movie chase, it regenerates. > > Ex: _Bullitt_, _Striking Distance_, _Planes, Trains and Automobiles_, every episode of _CHiPs_. \*\* The ultra-classic _Bullit_ car chase also features the incredible self-repairing headlight! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589/60 "2003-09-23T22:22:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monstre \* > \*\ ***Corollary: The Giant Ticking Digital Display** > > All bombs will have a giant digital display (as opposed to an internal timer) that shows exactly how much time our heroes have left. \*\* [_Galaxy Quest_](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0177789/) did a nice job of spoofing these. “The counter always went down to the last second on the show!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-dictionary-of-film-cliches/202589.md?page=4)