Topic: Movie/TV clichés

[Tom]

There is probably already a thread, but I couldn't find any.

What recurring instances in movies/TV shows bother you?

I just came across an example which always bothers me:
Why is that, that in movies when someone is (almost) run over by a car/truck, the car/truck is honking like crazy beforehand but does not show any sign of slowing down?
The first thing I do when I have a sudden obstacle is to hit the breaks. Honking is the last thing on my mind then. If it all this comes after you have avoided the crash.

[DJ Doena]

Yes I hate that cliché, especially when it comes to trains that run the car over and continue as if nothing had happened (e.g. Back to the Future III).

Over time I got bored with the whole concept of "only a flesh wound". When characters get shot every (two) weeks but neither have ever any lasting consequences nor get a scar - and I'm not talking about people with healing abilities (like Clark Kent, Wolverine or Claire Bennett).

[Tom]

Over time I got bored with the whole concept of "only a flesh wound". When characters get shot every (two) weeks but neither have every any lasting consequences or even have a scar - and I'm not talking about people with healing abilities (like Clark Kent, Wolverine or Claire Bennett).

The famous episode reset. Like something I noticed in my recent Wonderfall marathon. Jaye got a big scratch in her face in one episode. They remembered to showcast this scratch in every scene after it happened. But in the next episode it was all gone. And that one continued exactly where the last one left off! Okay, we really couldn't see her face in the scene, which connected both episodes. But in the very next scene (which is set a few hours later) she is completely healed.

[Antares]

When someone is driving and continually looks at the passenger instead of the road. They never veer off the road or into the oncoming traffic.

[snowcat]

...the villain in a horror movie looks dead but comes back only to be killed again.

[goodguy]

Over time I got bored with the whole concept of "only a flesh wound".

But you have to admit, the late Alias was a riot in that regard.

[Kathy]

Here's an old post with a similar theme:

http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,299.msg2960.html#msg2960

[goodguy]

Also interesting, Roger Ebert's Movie Glossary has about 700 entries about often used clichés:
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=GLOSSARY
Be aware that the entries often have examples that might be considered spoilers.

[Jimmy]

The famous episode reset. Like something I noticed in my recent Wonderfall marathon. [...] But in the very next scene (which is set a few hours later) she is completely healed.

This isn't a cliché at all... She's French Canadian and all of us possess this instant healing power

[DJ Doena]

Also interesting, Roger Ebert's Movie Glossary has about 700 entries about often used clichés:
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=GLOSSARY
Be aware that the entries often have examples that might be considered spoilers.

Not to mention (again) TV Tropes which is an entire wiki about this topic.

[Dragonfire]

The good guys have a handgun and never had to reload the bullets.  The bad guys have machine guns and spray bullets everywhere and hit no one.  The the good guy, with the never ending supply of bullets - I called them self reproducing once in a review - fires a few shots and takes all the bad guys.

[Critter]

Always managing to stop a bomb with one or two seconds to go.... Or going to cut one wire then at the last minute switching and cutting the other wire instead, it being the right one.

[Najemikon]

I just dropped across one that Roger Ebert named "Fruit Cart!".

An ancient tradition. Any vehicular chase sequence must involve the upturning or smashing of a cart of fruit, such as one would find along a street or in a farmer's market. These crashes (which may occur in mid-chase, or as the grand finale) precipitate much strategic leaping by merchants, shoppers, and other pedestrians (played by stunt persons) who fling themselves out of harm's way in the nick of time.

Example: "All Bond movies include at least one Fruit Cart Scene, in which market stalls are overturned in a chase, and this one sets some kind of a record by having the carts destroyed by the blades of a helicopter that's chasing Bond and Wai Lin."
-- from Roger Ebert's review of "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997)

[Antares]

  The bad guys have machine guns and spray bullets everywhere and hit no one.

Sounds like Star Wars.   

[DJ Doena]

btw: 100 things to keep in mind when you want to become an Evil Overlord.