Movie Knock-outs

[suncrafter]

I hate "Movie Knock-outs". You guys know what I'm talking about - right? A good guy, in a movie, needs to incapacitate someone like a guard. So the good guy sneaks up and hits the guard (or who ever) with an object of some kind (lamp, pipe, vase, branch, etc...) and the guard is "knocked out", but is otherwise fine.

Oh my ****ing God that is SO ANNOYING!!!!!! Why do they keep using this unnecessary and STUPID cliche in movies!?! I'm not a doctor - but I'm willing to bet that if you hit someone hard enough to incapacitate them - then this is how it would happen:

22% - instant death

32% - unconsciousness, vomiting, bleeding, death occurs in less then an hour unless hospitalized.

27% - severe brain damage requiring hospitalization.

18% - spinal injury requiring hospitalization.

1% - unconsciousness with no permanent consequences.

And what gets me the most is how UNNESSESARY it is as a plot device! If a writer does not want to show the hero killing the guard - then have him use chloroform or a taser! Or have him over power the guard with a struggle. CHRIST! WHY why why do they keep using this stupid cliche!?!?!?!?

[The Rob]

Tired guys with families, mortgages, and maybe a vice or two, sitting around a table at three in the morning. You'd embrace nonsensical shortcuts too.