Being able to suspend your disbelief is important while watching any film or television show. Every detail may not be entirely realistic, but you accept that, in the world of the story, it makes sense. However, sometimes, there are plot points and scenes that viewers just can’t help but call out for being too ridiculous.
Netizens have been discussing the most absurd things that Hollywood has convinced people to believe are normal onscreen, so we’ve gathered a list of their replies below. From hackers magically being able to access any website in the world in seconds to car doors being bulletproof, enjoy reading through these silly details from movies and television shows. And be sure to upvote the moments that you definitely don't buy either!
#1
I'm a medievalist who specializes on the public understanding of the past so... there is just so, so much about the Middle Ages .
I'll start with two silly ones. First of all, back scabbards are not a thing. Sorry, *Witcher* fans-- no matter how cool they look they are deeply impractical and historically were never used. Trying to resheath something very sharp by blindly hitting yourself in the shoulder is a very bad idea.
And sticking just on the sheath; swords do not make a "shiiiing!" noise when unsheathed. Sheaths are generally made of leather-- a "shiiing!" noise would imply metal scraping against metal (and that's usually what foley artists do to recreate it). Those noises are typically added in post.
I got a million more of these if anyone is interested.
I'll start with two silly ones. First of all, back scabbards are not a thing. Sorry, *Witcher* fans-- no matter how cool they look they are deeply impractical and historically were never used. Trying to resheath something very sharp by blindly hitting yourself in the shoulder is a very bad idea.
And sticking just on the sheath; swords do not make a "shiiiing!" noise when unsheathed. Sheaths are generally made of leather-- a "shiiing!" noise would imply metal scraping against metal (and that's usually what foley artists do to recreate it). Those noises are typically added in post.
I got a million more of these if anyone is interested.
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33points
#2
Hackers that furiously tap on the keyboard for 30 seconds..."I'm in".
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27points
#3
You can get anywhere in a major city in minutes, and there is always an open parking spot in front of any place.
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26points
#4
If you keep bothering her long enough she will fall for you. Nah, she will just think you are creepy.
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25points
#5
You can hold all of another person's weight with one arm hanging off a cliff.
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25points
#7
Women always have shaved legs and armpits, even in a zombie apocalypse. They also never have their periods at an inconvenient time. Imagine getting abducted or having to run from the bad guys and - oops, surprise, period is here early!
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22points
#8
Knocking people out with a blow to the skull or jaw is a harmless way to temporarily incapacitate.
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21points
#9
That if you don't want kids, you'll meet *the right person* and suddenly want a brood.
No. The right person would *also* not want kids.
No. The right person would *also* not want kids.
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21points
#10
Air conditioning ducts are an easy way to sneak through buildings.
20points
#11
European here.
That every American lives in a huge house! I mean look at Home Alone for example...
That every American lives in a huge house! I mean look at Home Alone for example...
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20points
#12
Middle aged men covered with scars from a life of action are physically fit and have full range of motion in all their limbs.
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20points
#13
That autistic people are all savants without empathy. Almost always white dudes at that.
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19points
#14
We should all hate our mother-in-law. My MIL was a wonderful woman and I miss her.
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19points
#15
That poverty isn’t that bad. Sure you’re poor but you have a huge open apartment, you’re not juggling to keep utilities on, your landlord will keep giving you a break because you bake him cookies and all else fails, you have a working car and family halfway across the country who will begrudgingly take you in.
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19points
#16
That it's possible to carry on a conversation in a crowded bar without shouting.
(Side note: I've noticed that nearly every cut to a scene set in a bar begins with the sound of billiard balls cracking, just in case the fact that the characters are sitting at a bar counter having drinks doesn't make it clear enough that we are now in a bar.).
(Side note: I've noticed that nearly every cut to a scene set in a bar begins with the sound of billiard balls cracking, just in case the fact that the characters are sitting at a bar counter having drinks doesn't make it clear enough that we are now in a bar.).
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19points
#17
That CPR brings practically anybody back to life, no matter what happened to them.
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18points
#18
All Americans live in Manhattan or suburban LA. Nowhere else exists. Everyone also has at least a middle class lifestyle and there is no poverty.
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18points
#19
90% of anything to do with a medieval battle (or fantasy battle based on medieval tech). A few highlights:
1) Archers did not use volley-fire (i.e. everyone fires their shots together in volleys instead of as individuals); that's a musket tactic and makes no sense for bows.
2) You do not commit a cavalry charge with your lance already lowered (if you're using a lance, you want it to drop into striking position *just before* it makes contact with the target).
3) Hollywood has absolutely no clue how armour works. Chainmail hoods with big gaps under the chin, articulated plate mail (i.e. basically the most advanced armour made before blackpowder made metal armour obsolete) being combined with things like skull cap, which is from a completely different era, people armouring their shoulders and legs while leaving their heads and throats completely unprotected - armour is a mess.
4) Charges in medieval combat were not massive hordes of warriors screaming and sprinting full speed towards the enemy before engaging in a swirling melee; you charged in tightly disciplined blocks of soldiers and, above all else, you *maintained your formation*! Breaking formation and letting enemies get beside or, worse, behind you was one of the worst things you could do in medieval combat and breaking formation was usually a precursor to the unit turning around and running a few seconds later.
5) No one ever used boiling pitch/tar to burn attackers during a siege. Pitch and oils were valuable and expensive resources and it would be a complete waste to use them to attack a soldier or two when boiling water or even a sizable rock tossed down from the ramparts would have the exact same effect and was much more easily replaced.
EDIT: A couple more that always grind my gears when I see them.
6) An archer will almost never hold a bow for an extended period of time after drawing it. Most military longbows have a draw weight above 100 pounds, which means that for however long you're holding the bow drawn it's like your muscles are lifting a 100+ pound weight. You'll tire yourself extremely quickly holding it like that, so all those scenes you see where the archers all nock arrows, draw, and then hold while the enemy closes would never happen. Firing generally happens extremely quickly after drawing, allowing only whatever time is needed to correct aim.
7) Nearly all uses of flaming arrows. You would use flaming arrows during a siege, either as the attacker (to try and light homes and buildings on fire and therefore draw defenders away from the walls) or, more rarely, as the defender (siege towers were generally quite flammable and were also one of the more serious threats to the defenders; accordingly, they were frequently covered with wet animal hides to try to mitigate the risk of catching on fire). Beyond that, the only thing you're doing with flaming arrows is potentially lighting someone's corpse on fire after you hit them.
Basically, medieval battles looked almost nothing like Hollywood thinks they did, and a number of people have been conned into thinking a number of Hollywood-myths are actually accurate depictions.
1) Archers did not use volley-fire (i.e. everyone fires their shots together in volleys instead of as individuals); that's a musket tactic and makes no sense for bows.
2) You do not commit a cavalry charge with your lance already lowered (if you're using a lance, you want it to drop into striking position *just before* it makes contact with the target).
3) Hollywood has absolutely no clue how armour works. Chainmail hoods with big gaps under the chin, articulated plate mail (i.e. basically the most advanced armour made before blackpowder made metal armour obsolete) being combined with things like skull cap, which is from a completely different era, people armouring their shoulders and legs while leaving their heads and throats completely unprotected - armour is a mess.
4) Charges in medieval combat were not massive hordes of warriors screaming and sprinting full speed towards the enemy before engaging in a swirling melee; you charged in tightly disciplined blocks of soldiers and, above all else, you *maintained your formation*! Breaking formation and letting enemies get beside or, worse, behind you was one of the worst things you could do in medieval combat and breaking formation was usually a precursor to the unit turning around and running a few seconds later.
5) No one ever used boiling pitch/tar to burn attackers during a siege. Pitch and oils were valuable and expensive resources and it would be a complete waste to use them to attack a soldier or two when boiling water or even a sizable rock tossed down from the ramparts would have the exact same effect and was much more easily replaced.
EDIT: A couple more that always grind my gears when I see them.
6) An archer will almost never hold a bow for an extended period of time after drawing it. Most military longbows have a draw weight above 100 pounds, which means that for however long you're holding the bow drawn it's like your muscles are lifting a 100+ pound weight. You'll tire yourself extremely quickly holding it like that, so all those scenes you see where the archers all nock arrows, draw, and then hold while the enemy closes would never happen. Firing generally happens extremely quickly after drawing, allowing only whatever time is needed to correct aim.
7) Nearly all uses of flaming arrows. You would use flaming arrows during a siege, either as the attacker (to try and light homes and buildings on fire and therefore draw defenders away from the walls) or, more rarely, as the defender (siege towers were generally quite flammable and were also one of the more serious threats to the defenders; accordingly, they were frequently covered with wet animal hides to try to mitigate the risk of catching on fire). Beyond that, the only thing you're doing with flaming arrows is potentially lighting someone's corpse on fire after you hit them.
Basically, medieval battles looked almost nothing like Hollywood thinks they did, and a number of people have been conned into thinking a number of Hollywood-myths are actually accurate depictions.
18points
#20
That celebreties are highly intelligent people that the rest of us should take advice from.
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18points