1.
Introduction
a)
Fight scenes in movies often ignore the laws of
Momentum and Force of Impact
b)
“Comic-style” movies are the biggest offenders –
Kick-Ass, Zombieland, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
c)
Thesis: In an attempt at extra dramatization,
movies may ignore the laws of momentum and its subsequent force of impact;
however, unless this physics manipulation fits into the physical world
described by the rest of the film, this action will appear wrong and out of
place.
2.
Kick-Ass
a)
Short Summary
b)
Bazooka Scene
i. Bazooka shot has a very high velocity and mass, and should stop (explode) instantly upon hitting Frank D’Amico
ii. Instead, the bazooka “pushes” Frank as they fly out the window together – at least the width distance of the road outside the building until it later explodes
a. Also breaks laws of falling – bazooka and Frank project in a straight line, when it should be a parabolic arc
c)
DOES NOT fit into movie world
i. Kick-Ass is set in a real place with characters
who are normal people, so the incorrect physics with this scene does not fit
into the physics established within the film
3.
Zombieland
a)
Short Summary
b)
Grocery Store Scene
i. Tallahassee and a zombie (high mass) run at each
other full-speed (high velocity), but when Tallahassee hits the zombie in the
head (large force) with a banjo, the zombie head and banjo are both unharmed.
ii. With such a large force of impact, the banjo
likely would have broken and head would have been visibly injured (Vampire stake
demo). The zombie is knocked down but isn't really hurt until Tallahassee
directly hits him with the banjo.
c)
DOES NOT fit into movie world
i. This is a post-apocalyptic version of the real
world, so it should have real-world physics.
ii. Also, the zombie being unaffected by the blow to
the head does not fit into any altered sense of physicality created by the
zombie virus because the zombies mostly physically react to attacks the way a
human would.
4.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
a)
Short Summary
b)
Matthew Patel Fight Scene
i. Matthew (high mass) rushes at Scott (high
velocity), yet Scott is able to stop Matthew’s high-momentum attacks with only
his static fist or foot
ii. Scott’s small hand/foot represents a small force
that could not stop Matthew’s large force so quickly, especially without any
recoil
a. Law of intertia – Scott’s body does not
compensate for the force acting on him through Matthew’s attacks – he is able
to stay standing straight up/in place despite such a strong blow
c)
DOES fit into movie world
i. The video game motif throughout Scott Pilgrim
allows the filmmakers to play with the film’s physicality. Each of the battles
with Ramona’s Seven Evil Exes breaks laws of physics in different ways, but
because it is presented as a video game battle the exaggerated physics makes
sense.
5.
Conclusion
a)
More often than not, the altering of physics
will feel like a mistake that will take a viewer out of a movie.
i. While scenes from Kick-Ass and Zombieland create
comic effect, they are also clearly physically wrong to a viewer – even if they
can’t explain why
a. ex. Most viewers wouldn’t realize the lack of a
parabolic arc in Kick-Ass, they would just feel that it is wrong – but that
makes it funny
b)
If manipulation is done within the constraints of
a films established physical world, then it can actually help to enhance the
film.
c)
If an artist is going to deviate from the
natural laws of physics, it must be done purposefully and with scrutiny.
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