# What cliched scene do you never ever wanna see in a movie again? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301 "2005-09-25T05:11:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![unophobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/41988e/32.png) [@unophobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unophobia)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/21 "2005-09-25T15:38:03Z")
The so-called Disney effect, that nothing ever happens to the kid, even when she is in the middle of a shootout that goes Jon Woo-like. John Woo would, of course, put a cap on the kid’s ass. Also: The ‘Please don’t go/But I must’ scene. Those who watch Benny Hill regularly have an idea what it’s about. Falling down is good self-defense to being dragged or held–if you can’t go all Rothrock, do that instead! Can’t believe women are so helpless. ---
**Author:** ![unophobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/41988e/32.png) [@unophobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unophobia)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/22 "2005-09-25T15:40:56Z")
> [@Erinaceus europaeus](#): > > An inept thief or snotty little kid wants to team up with the hero, who pretends to leave him behind only to change his mind 5 seconds later. > > **Walk away, dammit!** The “comic relief” isn’t worth the risk of having to rescue your stupid side-kicks from their self-induced life-threatening situations. Most annoying example: that little “prince” brat in Red Sonja. That kid though, remembered that he was in _The Last Dragon_ and started kicking ass at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/23 "2005-09-25T15:41:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That’s a plot device, though, not a “scene.” Is there a particular scene used as part of this plot device that drives you nuts? Somewhere in the movie the once-rich person will have an epiphany where they realize that the simple things in life are the most important. Or worse yet, after they get their wealth back, they’re about to do something “rich” and decide to go off and do soemthing that’s really meaningful thus shocking their rich friends who just don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/24 "2005-09-25T16:10:32Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > But she has GLASSES[sup]TM[/sup]! And PAINT-COVERED OVERALLS[sup]TM[/sup]! And a PONYTAIL[SUP]TM[/sup]! Damn you! Beat me to it! But in regards to that, “Not Another Teen Movie” is great, if for no other reason than because it breaks, or just satirizes/parodies, all those teen comedy cliches. Like the one guy starting to clap slowly and has everyone else join in. “You can’t just start the slow clap at any time! It has to be the right moment!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/25 "2005-09-25T17:28:33Z")
I’ve said this before, but what the heck. The infamous “Character gets captured, and (usually) put in jail. Character fakes sick and lures one inept guard into cell. Character beats up guard, takes his gun and escapes” cliche. It happens all the time in the movies and I’m sick of it. Come up with something else that doesn’t rely on the guard being incredibly stupid. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/26 "2005-09-25T18:06:00Z")
Which is usually called a “ventilation shaft” in the movie. I installed ductwork. You wont fit in 99% of it. If it’s a huge building with return air runs large enough for an adult to crawl through, you’ll be cramped and it will probably be coated with a quarter inch of dust. When you get inside it probably won’t support your weight. If it does you’ll make a lot of noise crawling around it. You can’t sneak from one room to another in the ductwork. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/27 "2005-09-25T18:37:30Z")
> [@Erinaceus europaeus](#): > > An inept thief or snotty little kid wants to team up with the hero, who pretends to leave him behind only to change his mind 5 seconds later. > > **Walk away, dammit!** The “comic relief” isn’t worth the risk of having to rescue your stupid side-kicks from their self-induced life-threatening situations. Most annoying example: that little “prince” brat in Red Sonja. Ooooooohhhh. I feel your pain. I so wanted to see his keeper, or Sonya, or someone - anyone - smack him right in the mouth. Standard disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form advocate violence or child abuse. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/28 "2005-09-25T18:39:42Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > I’ve said this before, but what the heck. > > The infamous “Character gets captured, and (usually) put in jail. Character fakes sick and lures one inept guard into cell. Character beats up guard, takes his gun and escapes” cliche. > > It happens all the time in the movies and I’m sick of it. Come up with something else that doesn’t rely on the guard being incredibly stupid. But but but if they did it the way it really is, the hero would have to serve out his sentence! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/29 "2005-09-25T19:01:17Z")
> [@Eutychus](#): > > This usually only involves taking off her glasses and letting her hair down. And occasionally, straightening her hair. ---
**Author:** ![Corporate\_Hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@Corporate\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corporate_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/30 "2005-09-25T19:04:44Z")
Ridiculous gun fights. By this I mean gun fights that include any of the following: - Hero maintaining godlike accuracy while performing a stunt (i.e. shooting while diving through the air, power-sliding a car, jumping a motorcycle, etc.) - Hero using two guns, akimbo style, and swinging their arms around willy-nilly (i.e. shooting in two opposite directions at once without looking, going into kung-fu shooting stances, etc.) - Hero shooting endlessly without reloading. - generic Bad guys who, despite the fact that they’re supposed to be gangsters/assassins/soldiers, lack the firearm proficiency to hit the Hero. I still love John Woo movies and the like, but it seems like so many action movies these days employ these wacky gunplay cliches! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/31 "2005-09-25T19:06:44Z")
> [@Corporate Hippie](#): > > Ridiculous gun fights. By this I mean gun fights that include any of the following: How about the scene where the hero jumps across something and is able to shoot two guns while in mid-air? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/32 "2005-09-25T19:30:11Z")
This doesn’t just apply to movies, but I hate the following cliches: -When a kid saves the day, usually by bumbling his way through the Dangerous Situation(see: The Phantom Menace) -The Good Guy and the Bad Guy are fighting. The Good Guy wins the fight, and the Bad Guy is usually left dangling off of a cliff. The Good Guy, being, you know, Good, saves the Bad Guy. Then the Bad Guy attackes the Good Guy again, the Good Guy ducks, and the Bad Guy goes toppling off of the cliff. This happens in way too many movies to mention. -Ridiculous reversals of fate at the climax. The Hero has won. But then a Disaster happens, and now the Bad Guy has one, but then a Miracle happens, and the Hero has won again. Repeat ad naseum for the last 10 minutes of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/33 "2005-09-25T19:33:26Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > -The Good Guy and the Bad Guy are fighting. The Good Guy wins the fight, and the Bad Guy is usually left dangling off of a cliff. The Good Guy, being, you know, Good, saves the Bad Guy. Then the Bad Guy attackes the Good Guy again, the Good Guy ducks, and the Bad Guy goes toppling off of the cliff. This happens in way too many movies to mention. Including about 20% of Disney films, where you need to have the bad guy dead but can’t have the good guy be responsible for it. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/34 "2005-09-25T20:39:58Z")
A cake being destroyed. Why, WHY??!! must a large, elaborate cake be destroyed in so many movies? If there’s a wedding cake, you’d better believe that someone’s going to get punched and fall into it. If there’s a birthday cake, at one point the dog will be scarfing it down. Dude, it’s not funny anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Erinaceus\_europaeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@Erinaceus\_europaeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erinaceus_europaeus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/35 "2005-09-25T20:46:53Z")
> [@Millit the Frail](#): > > If there’s a wedding cake, you’d better believe that someone’s going to get punched and fall into it. If there’s a birthday cake, at one point the dog will be scarfing it down. And if it’s a huge cake, a stripper will climb out of it at an inappropriate moment 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/36 "2005-09-25T20:50:28Z")
> [@Millit the Frail](#): > > A cake being destroyed. > > Why, WHY??!! must a large, elaborate cake be destroyed in so many movies? If there’s a wedding cake, you’d better believe that someone’s going to get punched and fall into it. If there’s a birthday cake, at one point the dog will be scarfing it down. Dude, it’s not funny anymore. Or the big sheet of glass, or driving a car through an outside market where there are lots of veggies, stuff animals, boxes, and/or barrels. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/37 "2005-09-25T20:52:50Z")
I think the “big sheet of glass” thing exists only as a parody now. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/38 "2005-09-25T20:53:18Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Or the big sheet of glass, or driving a car through an outside market where there are lots of veggies, stuff animals, boxes, and/or barrels. That, at least, is being spoofed quite a bit these days. One of those ‘Wayne’s World’ movies did, and the ‘Family Guy’ DVD movie does too. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/39 "2005-09-25T20:56:34Z")
Any cop movie where they introduce a gung ho rookie for no apparent reason. You know he’s going to die. And leave behind a young bride. Who’s pregnant. And was going to tell him later in the day. But he gets killed on the way to meet her. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301/40 "2005-09-25T21:01:36Z")
> [@Erinaceus europaeus](#): > > And if it’s a huge cake, a stripper will climb out of it at an inappropriate moment 🙂 Surely you’re not trying to discourage strippers in movies. Are you some sort of commie? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cliched-scene-do-you-never-ever-wanna-see-in-a-movie-again/323301.md?page=3)