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Ali MacGraw's Disease

Movie illness in which only symptom is that the sufferer grows more beautiful as death approaches.

Antiheroine Skin Rule

In a Horny Teen-ager Movie, the "bad girl" who is the object of the hero's desire will always expose more flesh than the girl whom he ends up with at the end of the film, despite equal sexual activity. If the "good girl" is shown topless in a love scene, it must be accompanied by slow music. In a Dead Teenager Movie, the girl who exposes the least skin is inevitably the only survivor.


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Big Nod, The

Comes after the Last Word. After a character is fatally wounded, first he lies motionless and recites an incredibly meaningful statement. Then his head nods to one side.

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Bullitt Shift

Cars in high-speed chases can shift through more gears than they have. Cf. BULLITT, where Steve McQueen's car upshifts more than 16 times.

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Cole Rule, The

No movie made since 1977 containing a character with the first name "Cole" has been any good. (Exception: DAYS OF THUNDER, which was good but not all that good.)

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Principle of Selective Lethality

The lethality of a weapon varies, depending on the situation. A single arrow will drop a stampeding bison in its tracks, but it takes five or six to kill an important character. A single bullet will always kill an extra on the spot, but it takes dozens to bring down the hero.

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Rising Sidewalk

No female character in an action film can flee more than 50 feet before falling flat on her face. Someone then has to go back and help her up, while the monster/villain/enemy gains ground.
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Quote:
Any rule with three exceptions is no rule at all.