Kevin's Watch

Good stuff. And the worst moments in movie trailers...

CineMassacre: The Top 10 Worst Movie Clichés

"When you have to shoot, shoot! Don't talk!"

Some of these are things I hadn't noticed consciously, but agree with now they've been pointed out. Others, notably 'the trip', are things I had noticed and that make me want to punch people. Really, ALWAYS tripping? REALLY?

Ha ha ha, yeah. James (the narrator in this vid; and who's famous as the Angry Video Game Nerd) is totally right about how they act like their legs just got cut off.

-odd, I can't seem to play it, just get a Harely Davidson Commercial.

the helicopter will always crash

The "two-days-from-retirement-kiss-of-death".

Hah! Last night's Lost episode used 3 of them in the first 5 minutes [the trip, being scared by not-the-monster, and the class bell].

The list left out the sub-genre of "car won't start..." the classic "dropped the freakin keys" [also used in buildings/cells, etc.]

Here's a great parody of movie trailers.

not sure if this is one of the cliches listed but how about in war or prison movies..the guy talking about how hes gonna rebuild that classic mustang or start a business when he gets home always gets killed. xcept on rare occasions.

I hate the introduction of characters by a phone ringing and then seeing them wake up. I get that its a way of outlining the character, ie: a boozer (with hangover) Married (with wife) attitude to women (if not wife), family man etc... But it is really overdone and lacks any imagination.

finn wrote:I hate the introduction of characters by a phone ringing and then seeing them wake up. I get that its a way of outlining the character, ie: a boozer (with hangover) Married (with wife) attitude to women (if not wife), family man etc... But it is really overdone and lacks any imagination.

That's one I hadn't thought of, but you're completely correct.

One of the most annoying film cliches for me is opening a movie with a city-scape. It was great in the '70s, it's dull and uninspired now.

This site,

tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Tropes

Has a complete list of recurring techniques and cliches and how they apply to random films. Quite entertaining and tongue and cheek. Heres a thorough rundown of District 9, spoilers abound but whited out. All obscure links actually go somewhere, describing the trope.

tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/District9

For example, this is the link for the Badass Moustache Trope, present in the movie. All blue highlighted phrases are links to similar tropes.

Few things say Badass the way a well groomed mustache does. Well, unless you're a woman. Also works as an easy and quick way for an established character to Take A Level In Badass.
Did I mention it helps with the ladies?
Not to be confused with the Beard Of Evil, although a Badass Beard may also be present. The Badass Mustache is smaller and more defined and does not inherently bring with it villainous intent. Also not to be confused with the Porn Stache (though they might overlap).

Years ago there was a pretty funny SNL skit about the "Handsome Actor" with about a dozen cliches/tropes in it [Alec Baldwin was in it]

I hate the TVTropes site.

This explains why.

xkcd.com/609/

^ So true.

^ So true.

When people go fishing and just as they finish the poignant conversation, the fish jumps onto the hook.

I also hate it when the "deep in thought" moment is emphasised by loss of hearing..... how do these people survive past infancy?

The idea that someone standing way inside peripheral vision addressing you in an otherwise empty room cannot be seen or heard gets pretty grating imo.