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Ahtman wrote: I'm tired of the "I didn't tell you X to protect you" trope that happens far to often to drive plot lines.
Oh yeah, especially since the knowledge being open half the time would have solved a lot of unnecessary conflict that feels artificial once it's been revealed. An even dumber version of this is what drives the mutiny subplot in The Last Jedi, when it makes no sense that Admiral Purplehair wouldn't inform Poe on a really basic plan. There wasn't even the suggestion of a spy on board which would have made more sense to be secretive.
Ahtman wrote: I'm tired of the "I didn't tell you X to protect you" trope that happens far to often to drive plot lines.
I'd go a bit further (though that is annoying in and of itself).
The 'I didn't tell you, because its the only way the writers can think of to create inter-personal conflict in the second act.' Doesn't matter if its a rom-com, drama or action film, there are so many time where two or three sentences would just completely disrupt the angst-fence and get things back on track. But instead you've got two (or more) characters pointlessly angry and arguing for 20+ minutes (screen time, maybe years of plot time), and its always really fething dumb.
Its even worse when one person is trying to have the conversation, but somehow fails, and then just gives up.
Ahtman wrote: I'm tired of the "I didn't tell you X to protect you" trope that happens far to often to drive plot lines.
David Lynch pulled something like that in the Twin Peaks revival series. Way he handled it was to have Gordon Cole (the character that HE portrays in the show) deliver said missing information/retcon of what we knew and then apologize to another character for not revealing it sooner. Other character replies that it's okay, and Lynch says no, it was wrong and I'M SORRY.
Of course, he was apologizing to the audience, even if he didn't look straight into the camera and fully break the fourth wall. It was hard not to give him a pass. Lynch can be great like that.
A variant on that that always irritates the hell out of me where the big reveal involves evidence that was never previously shown to the audience, or even alluded to.
It’s such a cheap shot!
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I feel the absolute worst trope is the "Smart Kids, Dumb Adults" one. Tons of films and shows made with this one... HP, Spy Kids, Sky High, ...
Dozens of others.
Only slightly less bad is the Kids vs Adults variation of the above, where the kids always win. Really bad movie as an example: Rock and Roll Highschool Forever. An absolutely horrid follow up to the somewhat cheesy Ramones film Rock and Roll High School.
Same trope though. The original had the better sound track.
Of all the races of the universe the Squats have the longest memories and the shortest tempers. They are uncouth, unpredictably violent, and frequently drunk. Overall, I'm glad they're on our side!
Office of Naval Intelligence Research discovers 3 out of 4 sailors make up 75% of U.S. Navy.
"Madness is like gravity... All you need is a little push."
helgrenze wrote: I feel the absolute worst trope is the "Smart Kids, Dumb Adults" one. Tons of films and shows made with this one... HP, Spy Kids, Sky High, ...
Dozens of others.
Only slightly less bad is the Kids vs Adults variation of the above, where the kids always win. Really bad movie as an example: Rock and Roll Highschool Forever. An absolutely horrid follow up to the somewhat cheesy Ramones film Rock and Roll High School.
Same trope though. The original had the better sound track.
I think those are "kids films" though.. So the trope is not supposed to appeal to adults therefore we find it completely unrelatable
I think for adult films is the "adults don't believe the kid" because.. well.. they wouldin't believe the kid that an demon live in his wardrobe.
AngryAngel80 wrote: I don't know, when I see awesome rules, I'm like " Baby, your rules looking so fine. Maybe I gotta add you to my first strike battalion eh ? "
Not always.
The Freddy Kruger movies, Lost Boys, Fright Night, Buffy The Vampire Slayer (film and tv versions), The Simpsons, Family Guy, Pump Up The Volume, Battle Royale... Not really 'kids" shows.
Of all the races of the universe the Squats have the longest memories and the shortest tempers. They are uncouth, unpredictably violent, and frequently drunk. Overall, I'm glad they're on our side!
Office of Naval Intelligence Research discovers 3 out of 4 sailors make up 75% of U.S. Navy.
"Madness is like gravity... All you need is a little push."
It might be sort of a kids movie but in Jurassic Park 3 when the kid survives on the island isolated and without supplies for two weeks and trained hunter survivalists die within ten minutes of arriving always annoyed me.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2020/12/02 13:05:15
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
Ahtman wrote: It might be sort of a kids movie but in Jurassic Park 3 when the kid survives on the island isolated and without supplies for two weeks and trained hunter survivalists die within ten minutes of arriving always annoyed me.
The Newt Effect.
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A variant on that that always irritates the hell out of me where the big reveal involves evidence that was never previously shown to the audience, or even alluded to.
It’s such a cheap shot!
Ah, the BBC Sherlock style of mystery writing.
The Laws of Thermodynamics:
1) You cannot win. 2) You cannot break even. 3) You cannot stop playing the game.
Colonel Flagg wrote:You think you're real smart. But you're not smart; you're dumb. Very dumb. But you've met your match in me.
I guess. I know I’ve watched it, but couldn’t tell you much about it.
It’s just such a lazy trope. We, the audience, want to feel included. We want to feel we have at least a chance to consider the same evidence as presented, and guess the guilty.
But the whole “hinges on this piece of evidence not referred to or mentioned” is rubbish.
Example of a borderline case? Poirot, The Third Floor Flat. In that, the central piece of evidence is shown to be noticed by Poirot - but the significance isn’t explained until The Big Reveal. That, I don’t mind. At least I knew there was something of significance, even if I was kept in the dark as to what, how and why. I know I have blanks.
But when you’re viewing it and it’s “clearly Character D. Motive, opportunity, lack of a clear alibi”, only for a rug pull, such as a previously unseen, unmentioned, unheralded or even hinted at “evil twin” or “long lost child”? Nope. Nope nope nope. Sold off, write a proper mystery and come back to me.
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helgrenze wrote: Not always.
The Freddy Kruger movies, Lost Boys, Fright Night, Buffy The Vampire Slayer (film and tv versions), The Simpsons, Family Guy, Pump Up The Volume, Battle Royale... Not really 'kids" shows.
Lost Boys wound up being an inversion of the trope, as
Why do we assume an artificial intelligence would want to become human? Let's face it, human existence is pretty awful when looked at from an outsider POV.
Matt Swain wrote: Why do we assume an artificial intelligence would want to become human? Let's face it, human existence is pretty awful when looked at from an outsider POV.
I suppose being a human might beat being made of wood, so Pinocchio gets a pass.
Data told riker he was superior to humans in many ways but would give it all up to be human, and one wonders why.
I like the idea of a an A.I. who prefers his more open experience to the limits of flesh and mortality.
Best version of this was Bicentennial Man with Robin Williams based on a story by Asimov.
Of all the races of the universe the Squats have the longest memories and the shortest tempers. They are uncouth, unpredictably violent, and frequently drunk. Overall, I'm glad they're on our side!
Office of Naval Intelligence Research discovers 3 out of 4 sailors make up 75% of U.S. Navy.
"Madness is like gravity... All you need is a little push."
Nuclear reactors do NOT explode when they melt down, at least not a nuclear explosion with a mushroom cloud and miles-wide blast radius. So many movies act like reactors are full of weapons-grade material that is already near critical mass or something.
Shooting a bomb does NOT make it explode, especially with something like a nuke or plastic explosive (i.e. C4). Again, movies often get this wrong.
And finally, lava is hot, REALLY hot. So hot, in fact, that just standing within a few feet of it would cause your hair to catch fire and your lungs to be scalded. Yet in movies, characters are only burned/injured by lava if they actually fall into it. As long as they don't touch it, they're fine. It's like the movie makers think that the vulcanologists in documentaries are just wearing those shiny suits for looks.
My armies (re-counted and updated on 11/7/24, including modeled wargear options):
Dark Angels: ~16000 Astra Militarum: ~1200 | Imperial Knights: ~2300 | Leagues of Votann: ~1300 | Tyranids: ~3400 | Stormcast Eternals: ~5000 | Kruleboyz: ~3500 | Lumineth Realm-Lords: ~700
Check out my P&M Blogs: ZergSmasher's P&M Blog | Imperial Knights blog | Board Games blog | Total models painted in 2024: 40 | Total models painted in 2025: 25 | Current main painting project: Tomb Kings
Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote: You need your bumps felt. With a patented, Grotsnik Corp Bump Feelerer 9,000.
The Grotsnik Corp Bump Feelerer 9,000. It only looks like several bricks crudely gaffer taped to a cricket bat.
Grotsnik Corp. Sorry, No Refunds.
AngryAngel80 wrote: I don't know, when I see awesome rules, I'm like " Baby, your rules looking so fine. Maybe I gotta add you to my first strike battalion eh ? "
Data told riker he was superior to humans in many ways but would give it all up to be human, and one wonders why.
He was programmed that way. Its almost a cop-out, but isn't really. Data was created to emulate humans (to become more like humans), while Lore was not.
One of the reasons he's less than human is the drive to become human isn't something he has any input on or even agency in deciding.
ZergSmasher wrote:And finally, lava is hot, REALLY hot. So hot, in fact, that just standing within a few feet of it would cause your hair to catch fire and your lungs to be scalded. Yet in movies, characters are only burned/injured by lava if they actually fall into it. As long as they don't touch it, they're fine. It's like the movie makers think that the vulcanologists in documentaries are just wearing those shiny suits for looks.
This one gets to me a lot. And it isn't just the heat, its also all the toxins and non-breathable substances in the air, including tons of just plain simple CO2, which can swamp low-lying areas as it cools off. The 'endless' fight between Obi-wan and Anakin is laughable for how green-screened it is, but really between the heat and the air, even with 'force fields' ablating some of the heat, they'd be on their knees wheezing and gasping in short order. After a few minutes they'd just be dead.
ZergSmasher wrote:And finally, lava is hot, REALLY hot. So hot, in fact, that just standing within a few feet of it would cause your hair to catch fire and your lungs to be scalded. Yet in movies, characters are only burned/injured by lava if they actually fall into it. As long as they don't touch it, they're fine. It's like the movie makers think that the vulcanologists in documentaries are just wearing those shiny suits for looks.
This one gets to me a lot. And it isn't just the heat, its also all the toxins and non-breathable substances in the air, including tons of just plain simple CO2, which can swamp low-lying areas as it cools off. The 'endless' fight between Obi-wan and Anakin is laughable for how green-screened it is, but really between the heat and the air, even with 'force fields' ablating some of the heat, they'd be on their knees wheezing and gasping in short order. After a few minutes they'd just be dead.
Also, that actually being IN the lava would kill you near instantly from both the shock and the near immediate burning that would happen. Even when partially cooled, aka "crusted", lava takes seconds to start burning things, not minutes.
Of all the races of the universe the Squats have the longest memories and the shortest tempers. They are uncouth, unpredictably violent, and frequently drunk. Overall, I'm glad they're on our side!
Office of Naval Intelligence Research discovers 3 out of 4 sailors make up 75% of U.S. Navy.
"Madness is like gravity... All you need is a little push."
Along the above lines, how about the lifeless planet with breathable atmosphere?
As far as modern science knows, earth's 02 rich atmosphere is a byproduct of biological activity. In fact when the first 02 producing microbes evolved a very long time before the dinosaurs the rising 02 levels they caused killed most life on earth at the time.
Biological activity seems to be the only way to have high levels of 02 as it is unstable, so a lifeless planet with a breathable atmosphere looks unlikely.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2020/12/05 02:47:01
"But the universe is a big place, and whatever happens, you will not be missed..."
Exactly, Matt Swain. How about any kind of Single biome planets in sci-fi cinema. I'm going to need some explanation how a desert planet like Tatooine or Dune (Arrakis, if you are a real nerd), or Mustafar could support life. Especially the oxygen breathing kind.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2020/12/05 04:45:35
"By this point I'm convinced 100% that every single race in the 40k universe have somehow tapped into the ork ability to just have their tech work because they think it should."
AegisGrimm wrote: Exactly, Matt Swain. How about any kind of Single biome planets in sci-fi cinema. I'm going to need some explanation how a desert planet like Tatooine or Dune (Arrakis, if you are a real nerd), or Mustafar could support life. Especially the oxygen breathing kind.
This one I'll give them, actually. Extremophiles are a thing in hostile environments on Earth, so why not other planets too? However, such life would likely be utterly alien, not the slightly distorted humanoid aliens we see in sci-fi. Those kind of aliens would probably have to come from a very Earth-like planet, varied biomes and all.
My armies (re-counted and updated on 11/7/24, including modeled wargear options):
Dark Angels: ~16000 Astra Militarum: ~1200 | Imperial Knights: ~2300 | Leagues of Votann: ~1300 | Tyranids: ~3400 | Stormcast Eternals: ~5000 | Kruleboyz: ~3500 | Lumineth Realm-Lords: ~700
Check out my P&M Blogs: ZergSmasher's P&M Blog | Imperial Knights blog | Board Games blog | Total models painted in 2024: 40 | Total models painted in 2025: 25 | Current main painting project: Tomb Kings
Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote: You need your bumps felt. With a patented, Grotsnik Corp Bump Feelerer 9,000.
The Grotsnik Corp Bump Feelerer 9,000. It only looks like several bricks crudely gaffer taped to a cricket bat.
Grotsnik Corp. Sorry, No Refunds.
Yes, the singe environment planet is a sf trope, and there are a lot of them in our solar system, but the only habitable planet in it has a varied surface.
Of course the most famous, arguably, planet in SF is just one huge desert so you can see that trope has long roots.
"But the universe is a big place, and whatever happens, you will not be missed..."
AegisGrimm wrote: Exactly, Matt Swain. How about any kind of Single biome planets in sci-fi cinema. I'm going to need some explanation how a desert planet like Tatooine or Dune (Arrakis, if you are a real nerd), or Mustafar could support life. Especially the oxygen breathing kind.
There is an explanation for Tatooine. It used to be a lush planet but then the surface was glassed from orbit. After millennium, the glass broke down and turned to sand.
AegisGrimm wrote: Exactly, Matt Swain. How about any kind of Single biome planets in sci-fi cinema. I'm going to need some explanation how a desert planet like Tatooine or Dune (Arrakis, if you are a real nerd), or Mustafar could support life. Especially the oxygen breathing kind.
There is an explanation for Tatooine. It used to be a lush planet but then the surface was glassed from orbit. After millennium, the glass broke down and turned to sand.
That more begs the question than provides an explanation.
Its not going to have a viable ecosystem after being 'glassed.'
And no particular reason to resettle it after it slowly upgrades into a desolate sandpit.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2020/12/05 20:28:55
AegisGrimm wrote: Exactly, Matt Swain. How about any kind of Single biome planets in sci-fi cinema. I'm going to need some explanation how a desert planet like Tatooine or Dune (Arrakis, if you are a real nerd), or Mustafar could support life. Especially the oxygen breathing kind.
There is an explanation for Tatooine. It used to be a lush planet but then the surface was glassed from orbit. After millennium, the glass broke down and turned to sand.
That more begs the question than provides an explanation.
Its not going to have a viable ecosystem after being 'glassed.'
And no particular reason to resettle it after it slowly upgrades into a desolate sandpit.
Glassed? Deliberately or by natural causes?
"But the universe is a big place, and whatever happens, you will not be missed..."
Eldar- 4436 pts
~16000 Astra Militarum: 
~1200 | Imperial Knights: 
~2300 | Leagues of Votann: 
~1300 | Tyranids: 
~5000 | Kruleboyz: 
~3500 | Lumineth Realm-Lords: 
~700
