25 Cinematic Cliches
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Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
haha good list.... a lot of true stuff in there... may I add another?
The super villan who always has the strength to beat the good guy... but always has a lapse in their brilliance and it beaten.
The super villan who always has the strength to beat the good guy... but always has a lapse in their brilliance and it beaten.
donkathon
Carbonite Member
Just read the 25 of them, so I may hop on the bandwagon-
The bad guy is 50% of the the time named Kawalski.
When someone hangs up, the other person on the other end of the line hears a dial tone, though no dial tone is ever heard when the other hangs up.
A child will trip when trying to escape evil, having one of the other characters try to help him. Then the kid will escape, but poor momma is eaten/killed.
A protagonist will get drunk, and rant about his girlfriend, resulting in a big fight.
In a dating movie, a girl with more than a purpose for dating, will meet a guy. The guy, who likes her, has an incoherent problem, which is why the girl met him in the first place. They love each other, the girl hates the fact that she "loves" on of her said clients, and eventually the beans spill, resulting in a mess and a breakup. In a comedic act strewn out by friends, a messy set of events brings them back together, and they say two words, and magically are back together again.
When a person is on the computer, they never use a mouse. Pushing buttons located all over the keyboard (esc to pause to enter to ctrl) will bring up a file on some criminal, then bring up his record, then pinpoint his location. (Or, using the keyboard, a person will control a camera or other utility which is otherwise impossible, let alon impossible to control via keyboard.)
In any "catastrophe" and/or "big creepy animal" movie, (Tremors, Godzilla, Day after Tommorow, etc), when something big happens, a character will make a cheesy joke or pun, like when someone sees this grotesque huge said animal, a character will say to another person, "Were gonna need more blabla".
And, the most important one is-
Horror movies take place in the dark.
The bad guy is 50% of the the time named Kawalski.
When someone hangs up, the other person on the other end of the line hears a dial tone, though no dial tone is ever heard when the other hangs up.
A child will trip when trying to escape evil, having one of the other characters try to help him. Then the kid will escape, but poor momma is eaten/killed.
A protagonist will get drunk, and rant about his girlfriend, resulting in a big fight.
In a dating movie, a girl with more than a purpose for dating, will meet a guy. The guy, who likes her, has an incoherent problem, which is why the girl met him in the first place. They love each other, the girl hates the fact that she "loves" on of her said clients, and eventually the beans spill, resulting in a mess and a breakup. In a comedic act strewn out by friends, a messy set of events brings them back together, and they say two words, and magically are back together again.
When a person is on the computer, they never use a mouse. Pushing buttons located all over the keyboard (esc to pause to enter to ctrl) will bring up a file on some criminal, then bring up his record, then pinpoint his location. (Or, using the keyboard, a person will control a camera or other utility which is otherwise impossible, let alon impossible to control via keyboard.)
In any "catastrophe" and/or "big creepy animal" movie, (Tremors, Godzilla, Day after Tommorow, etc), when something big happens, a character will make a cheesy joke or pun, like when someone sees this grotesque huge said animal, a character will say to another person, "Were gonna need more blabla".
And, the most important one is-
Horror movies take place in the dark.
MalcolmOng
Veteran
I have more:
When the hero is in a gun fight he never gets shot if he takes his shirt off(i swear i'd rather place my money on a bulletproof vest)
The hero while fighting will get screwed up, shot, and tortured and take all of that unflinchingly. Afterwards when the beautiful co star tends to his wounds he cries like a baby girl.
Hot girls(no complaints here)
When the hero is in a gun fight he never gets shot if he takes his shirt off(i swear i'd rather place my money on a bulletproof vest)
The hero while fighting will get screwed up, shot, and tortured and take all of that unflinchingly. Afterwards when the beautiful co star tends to his wounds he cries like a baby girl.
Hot girls(no complaints here)
MojoTrancer
Well-known member
I've had chinese food in the plain white box before. I think I was like twelve or something. It can happen 
That list actually wasn't too good. I'm trying to remember where I saw the best movie cliche list ever. If I can find it, I'll post it.
That list actually wasn't too good. I'm trying to remember where I saw the best movie cliche list ever. If I can find it, I'll post it.
HorseFilms
Look ma no hands
Because daylight isn't scary. Anyone who tries to convince you it is doesn't know how to light a night scene.pto2212 said:
rogar-BigGrin(DBG)My local Chinese place always uses the white boxes.
wabbit
Evil has Ears
I see plagiarism as an internet cliche: http://www.filmsound.org/cliche/ (you will find Robin Bougie's number 10 almost word for word under helicoptors and airplane audio cliches).
:lipsrseal
:lipsrseal
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Mine always has.
This guy ever hear of Claymores ?
This guy ever see Body Heat ? Last Tango in Paris ? Basic Instinct ? Fatal Attraction ? The Specialist ? Total Recall ?
Can anyone verfiy this claim ? Is this guy some helicopter pilot in his sparetime ? Wait; what chirp-chirp=chirp sound ? This is a cliche ?
Name one movie other The Abyss that actually did this ?
Terry_Lasater
All about the Caption
White boxes in Oklahoma.
KingVidiot
Well-known member
in period pieces, vintage cars are always freshly polished, painted, and clean --
Well, they're new for the period right? My car was dent and scratch free for almost 2 years.
Chinese food takeout in a movie always comes in those little white boxes--
I always get the ones with red dragons or people on them, but I'm sure white is common
If someone dies with their eyes open, someone will close them by effortlessly moving their hand over the deceased face — and they will remain tightly shut--
well if you push the lids down they will stay, don't ask how I know this, ask any cop
Women that don’t sweat during sex--
what movies is he watching?
contact with his ex-wife who will still have strong feelings for him even if she’s remarried--
I think a lot of ex-couples still have feelings for each other
Dogs who always know who is evil, and bark at them--
actually, anyone that knows about animals realizes that they pick-up subtleties in personalities and attitudes, not really a stretch
WHO IS THIS GUY? A lot of his points were very lame. I think many people posted better ones in this thread. It seems like anyone with a website loves to get on the old soapbox for any reason. Shame on you Robin Bougie.
I'm too lazy to have my own rant website, so I do it here once in a while. Hopefully my rants come across as more thoughtful and not too serious.
Well, they're new for the period right? My car was dent and scratch free for almost 2 years.
Chinese food takeout in a movie always comes in those little white boxes--
I always get the ones with red dragons or people on them, but I'm sure white is common
If someone dies with their eyes open, someone will close them by effortlessly moving their hand over the deceased face — and they will remain tightly shut--
well if you push the lids down they will stay, don't ask how I know this, ask any cop
Women that don’t sweat during sex--
what movies is he watching?
contact with his ex-wife who will still have strong feelings for him even if she’s remarried--
I think a lot of ex-couples still have feelings for each other
Dogs who always know who is evil, and bark at them--
actually, anyone that knows about animals realizes that they pick-up subtleties in personalities and attitudes, not really a stretch
WHO IS THIS GUY? A lot of his points were very lame. I think many people posted better ones in this thread. It seems like anyone with a website loves to get on the old soapbox for any reason. Shame on you Robin Bougie.
I'm too lazy to have my own rant website, so I do it here once in a while. Hopefully my rants come across as more thoughtful and not too serious.
I hate seeing pretty models portraying roles that I know in life experience are performed by people who are NOT usually pretty models.
District attorneys
Surgeons
Doctors
Lawyers
Law enforcement officers
Scientists (come on be realistic guys, how many bio chemists with 4 phds look like halle berry? Have you met any...I know a few bio chemists and well....)
Teachers, professors
Archaeologists
The list goes on. Casting like that instantly takes me out of the film.
District attorneys
Surgeons
Doctors
Lawyers
Law enforcement officers
Scientists (come on be realistic guys, how many bio chemists with 4 phds look like halle berry? Have you met any...I know a few bio chemists and well....)
Teachers, professors
Archaeologists
The list goes on. Casting like that instantly takes me out of the film.
MojoTrancer
Well-known member
ROKOKO said:
Yeah but isn't it just a given that the movie world is prettier than ours? I certainly hope when they make my life story into a movie that they cast a better looking guy to play me.
MojoTrancer said:Yeah but isn't it just a given that the movie world is prettier than ours? I certainly hope when they make my life story into a movie that they cast a better looking guy to play me.
I just think it sets a bad precedent. Why can't GOOD actresses come first before pretty AVERAGE ones? Now it is such a cliche, that actresses know that they have to LOOK hot to get a role, while their actual acting ability does not necessarily need to be excellent. If someone plays me, I want the dude to be a great actor, I don't want some brad pitt or keanu reeves (in my case taye diggs or morris chestnut or tyrese) playing me. I'd roll over in my grave at that. Nowadays it is like EXPECTED that actors in lead roles are pretty in some way. That sucks, and is a real cliche i'd like to see stop in movies.
Rick Meyer
Veteran
I did appreciate his # 24. "Every time we’re introduced to a police precinct house, one or more colorfully dressed prostitutes are being brought in while bickering with their arresting officer. "
He could have spent his time just creating a BAD COP CLICHE' LIST:
8. The villian is someone the protagonist has a history with as in, he was arrested by the cop 20 years earlier and now he wants revenge.
7. The captain is always a TUMS popping angry angry man who loves to shout.
6. At one point or another the captain will eventually use the phrases "I BUSTED MY ASS TO GET HERE" and "I AINT ABOUT TO LOSE MY BADGE OVER SOME LOUSY HUNCH".
5.The coffee is always very very bad....usually displayed by a sip...a wince...then a comment like "this is goddamn lousy coffee".
4.They always refer to each other by their last names, as in "Mahoney, get in here".
3. The protagonist cop is always some renegade who breaks all the rules and STILL doesn't lose his badge, even after driving a car into a storefront to catch the bad guy.
2. Even if the captain IS about to take the protagonists badge, he tends to hold off in favor of giving him just 24 hours to crack the case....as in "ALL RIGHT...I DONT KNOW WHY I AM DOING THIS....BUT YOU GOT 24 HOURS OR IM TAKING YOU OFF THE CASE AND GIVING YOU A DESK JOB!!!!"
1. If the protagonist has a partner played by a no-name actor, he is usually dead within the first 30 minutes of the film.
I'm sure theres a million more. If you think of any, please add 'em to the list....
Rick
He could have spent his time just creating a BAD COP CLICHE' LIST:
8. The villian is someone the protagonist has a history with as in, he was arrested by the cop 20 years earlier and now he wants revenge.
7. The captain is always a TUMS popping angry angry man who loves to shout.
6. At one point or another the captain will eventually use the phrases "I BUSTED MY ASS TO GET HERE" and "I AINT ABOUT TO LOSE MY BADGE OVER SOME LOUSY HUNCH".
5.The coffee is always very very bad....usually displayed by a sip...a wince...then a comment like "this is goddamn lousy coffee".
4.They always refer to each other by their last names, as in "Mahoney, get in here".
3. The protagonist cop is always some renegade who breaks all the rules and STILL doesn't lose his badge, even after driving a car into a storefront to catch the bad guy.
2. Even if the captain IS about to take the protagonists badge, he tends to hold off in favor of giving him just 24 hours to crack the case....as in "ALL RIGHT...I DONT KNOW WHY I AM DOING THIS....BUT YOU GOT 24 HOURS OR IM TAKING YOU OFF THE CASE AND GIVING YOU A DESK JOB!!!!"
1. If the protagonist has a partner played by a no-name actor, he is usually dead within the first 30 minutes of the film.
I'm sure theres a million more. If you think of any, please add 'em to the list....
Rick
Cliches (like character stereotypes) are tricky. Personally I try to avoid them at all costs but I'm not sure that Chinese take-out boxes are really a cliche per se. If a major plot point hinges on how the food is delivered, then maybe there's a better way to convey it. Otherwise the little white boxes are a device that quickly allows the audience to get up to speed with what's going on without dwelling on it to the extent that it takes them out of the movie. Would the movie be any better if the food came in a zip-lok bag?
just my 2 cents.
dmc
just my 2 cents.
dmc