Bad Movie Logo
"A website to the detriment of good film"
Custom Search
HOMEB-MOVIE REVIEWSREADER REVIEWSFORUMINTERVIEWSUPDATESABOUT
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 29, 2024, 03:24:03 AM
713386 Posts in 53058 Topics by 7725 Members
Latest Member: wibwao
Badmovies.org Forum  |  Movies  |  Good Movies  |  Die Hard Question « previous next »
Pages: [1] 2
Author Topic: Die Hard Question  (Read 25973 times)
Ash
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 0
Posts: 6775


23 Year Badmovies.org Veteran


« on: February 14, 2007, 05:08:53 AM »

HBO showed Die Hard last night.
I hadn't seen that movie in at least two years.
No matter how many times I see it, it's always a good time.   Thumbup

One question...
Remember the scene where McClane says, "Let's see you take this under advisement jerkweed!" and places that bag of C4 on a chair, sets a computer monitor on top of it, wraps the entire thing with a cord and shoves it down an elevator shaft?
He sets off an enormous explosion.



Would that really work?
Could a load of C4 be set off that way?



« Last Edit: February 22, 2007, 07:09:19 AM by Ashthecat » Logged
Trevor
Uncle Zombie and Eminent Shitologist
B-Movie Kraken
*****

Karma: 2121
Posts: 22715



« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2007, 06:22:44 AM »

I think something must have been added and that there was more than just C4 in that bag. In some movies and books, a detonator is put into C4 and it does nothing more than go "pow" other than totally kablooiey.  TeddyR

A great scene nonetheless.
Logged

I know I can make it on my own if I try, but I'm searching for the Great Heart
To stand me by, underneath the African sky
A Great Heart to stand me by.
Menard
Guest
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2007, 07:22:09 AM »

Well, I will just scratch the surface of explosives since the main intent is to enjoy a very enjoyable movie.

HE, or High Explosives, are categorized into three basic types by use: primary; secondary; and booster. Chemically, and according to how the explosive is packed, it could be used as more than one type of explosive. A primary explosive is one that is very sensitive to shock, heat, etc., and is used to set off a less sensitive but more powerful secondary explosive. The most recognizable example of this is blasting caps used as a primary (initial explosion) inserted into a stick (or more) of dynamite or into a block of C-4. A booster explosive is just that; a more powerful initiating explosion set off by a primary, but itself used to set off a more powerful, but less sensitive, secondary explosive.

I bring up the booster explosive because, in the scene, John McClane could have used the monitor as a primary (the picture tube could have a minor explosion upon being dropped) and have packed something else with the C-4 as a booster to be set off by the explosion of the picture tube. Of course, we could just look at the picture tube as a trigger to set off the primer. If he had a pack of C-4, he most likely had blasting caps as well since he took it from terrorists and they would have had blasting caps with their C-4. The use of the monitor as a trigger was actually well thought out as a way to set off the explosives; to say there is a potential it would not work is definitely true, but McClane is a hero and it must work.

The scene and the movie work for me. TeddyR

*As a note to rules lawyers: I am using the popular term C-4 as most people will refer to plastique as such. I know that the term semtex is more commonly associated with terrorist explosives, and we can get into ridiculous namings of RDX compositions, but, dangit, let's just enjoy the movie. TongueOut
Logged
Bill C.
Bad Movie Lover
***

Karma: 9
Posts: 106



« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2007, 05:47:44 PM »

Actually, in the scene we saw John actually inserting detonators (I think here we'd call them blasting caps) into the margarine-sized stick of plastic explosive before he stuck a CRT monitor on top of it and shoved it down the elevator shaft.  The scene opened with him sticking one cap into the explosive, then another, then "f**k it!" and a third cap.  (Yes, that was from memory.)

So, as Menard explained above, the apparent idea was for the monitor to somehow set off the caps and thus the explosive.  Damn shame about the chair...
Logged
Menard
Guest
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2007, 06:02:08 PM »

Damn shame about the chair...

Yes, it was a nice chair. TeddyR

It has been a while since I have seen it, so I could not remember if it showed the blasting caps or not. Thank you for pointing that out.
Logged
trekgeezer
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 0
Posts: 4973


We're all just victims of circumstance


« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2007, 07:29:12 PM »

They always have too much fire in explosions in the movies (mainly because they use gasoline to make them). You don't see this back in the 30's, they used real dynamite. The explosions were far more realistic back then .
Logged




And you thought Trek isn't cool.
Ash
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 0
Posts: 6775


23 Year Badmovies.org Veteran


« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2007, 08:30:54 PM »

The scene opened with him sticking one cap into the explosive, then another, then "f**k it!" and a third cap. 

When I was watching it, I was sitting at my computer and only halfway paying attention to certain scenes.
I'd forgot about where he stuck the extra blasting caps into the C4.

So yes, I suppose that would make a really big explosion.   hot
« Last Edit: February 22, 2007, 06:42:16 AM by Ashthecat » Logged
Jim H
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 314
Posts: 3669



« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2007, 10:03:00 PM »

I assumed the caps he stuck into it were set off by electricity.  Monitors, especially older ones, can hold VERY LARGE charges, and a massive drop would be enough to release it on impact.
Logged
Yaddo 42
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 153
Posts: 1629


Where's that brick.......


« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2007, 06:21:54 AM »

Two of the things I liked about the new Miami Vice movie was that explosions were more realistic, and the effects of bullets and how they pentrate cars was done much better than most films.

I went target shooting with some friends one time and we used some old computer parts as improvised targets. Lots of discharge from one of those old, big monitors when you first shoot one. So I can see using it to set off the caps and then set off the explosives.
Logged

blah blah stuff blah blah obscure pop culture reference blah blah clever turn of phrase blah blah bad pun blah blah bad link blah blah zzzz.....
Ash
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 0
Posts: 6775


23 Year Badmovies.org Veteran


« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2007, 06:43:55 AM »

So the computer monitor was the ignition device.  (what's a better word for "ignition"?)
Without it, the whole thing probably wouldn't have gone off.

That'd be a great idea for the guys on the Mythbusters TV show to try out!   Thumbup
I just may e-mail them with that suggestion.
You never know...maybe they could try it out on a much smaller scale.

By the way,
CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME VIDEO DEDICATED TO McCLANE & DIE HARD Small | Large


HERE'S THE VIDEO OF THE DETONATION SCENE I WAS TALKING ABOUT Small | Large
« Last Edit: February 22, 2007, 07:07:36 AM by Ashthecat » Logged
Viktorcrayon
Bad Movie Lover
***

Karma: 8
Posts: 139



WWW
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2007, 12:04:10 PM »

People really know something about weapons on this board.  Buggedout

*mental note not to p**s anyone off
Logged
Menard
Guest
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2007, 12:17:19 PM »

People really know something about weapons on this board.  Buggedout

I've always maintained that it is not a good idea to let D&Ders play with matches. hot


*mental note not to p**s anyone off

All I have to do is post and I've accomplished p**sing someone off. Hell, I don't even have to post really; I lose karma whether I've posted or not.
Logged
Viktorcrayon
Bad Movie Lover
***

Karma: 8
Posts: 139



WWW
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2007, 12:38:36 PM »

Hehe... But seriously... Everyone seems to know their weapons. I've never held a gun, and i think i've just SEEN one, 4 or less times.
Logged
Jim H
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 314
Posts: 3669



« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2007, 10:18:23 PM »

Hehe... But seriously... Everyone seems to know their weapons. I've never held a gun, and i think i've just SEEN one, 4 or less times.

Really?  Everytime I see a cop walking around, they're got a handgun on their belt...

Edit: I see you're in Denmark.  Beat cops don't carry there?  I know they don't in some countries in Europe...
Logged
Andrew
Administrator
Frightening Fanatic of Horrible Cinema
****

Karma: 0
Posts: 8457


I know where my towel is.


WWW
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2007, 10:29:02 PM »

People really know something about weapons on this board.  Buggedout

*mental note not to p**s anyone off

For certain weapons - yes.  It is an integral part of what I do.
Logged

Andrew Borntreger
Badmovies.org
Pages: [1] 2
Badmovies.org Forum  |  Movies  |  Good Movies  |  Die Hard Question « previous next »
    Jump to:  


    RSS Feed Subscribe Subscribe by RSS
    Email Subscribe Subscribe by Email


    Popular Articles
    How To Find A Bad Movie

    The Champions of Justice

    Plan 9 from Outer Space

    Manos, The Hands of Fate

    Podcast: Todd the Convenience Store Clerk

    Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

    Dragonball: The Magic Begins

    Cool As Ice

    The Educational Archives: Driver's Ed

    Godzilla vs. Monster Zero

    Do you have a zombie plan?

    FROM THE BADMOVIES.ORG ARCHIVES
    ImageThe Giant Claw - Slime drop

    Earth is visited by a GIANT ANTIMATTER SPACE BUZZARD! Gawk at the amazingly bad bird puppet, or chuckle over the silly dialog. This is one of the greatest b-movies ever made.

    Lesson Learned:
    • Osmosis: os·mo·sis (oz-mo'sis, os-) n., 1. When a bird eats something.

    Subscribe to Badmovies.org and get updates by email:

    HOME B-Movie Reviews Reader Reviews Forum Interviews TV Shows Advertising Information Sideshows Links Contact

    Badmovies.org is owned and operated by Andrew Borntreger. All original content is © 1998 - 2014 by its respective author(s). Image, video, and audio files are used in accordance with the Fair Use Law, and are property of the film copyright holders. You may freely link to any page (.html or .php) on this website, but reproduction in any other form must be authorized by the copyright holder.