Have you ever noticed in action movies/t.v. shows; the hero will confront the villain and get shot: three or four slugs right in the chest. Then, after the villain runs off the hero will get up (much to the surprise of the damsel in distress/informant that he is protecting). He’ll open up his shirt and explain, “I’m wearing a vest.” Then he will immediately remove said vest.
Apparently the hero figures, “Hey, I’ve already been shot there’s no way I’ll need this vest any longer; even though my nemesis is still on the loose.”
The villain should just wait around the corner and then, after the hero arrogantly removes his protection, pop out and pump a few more rounds into him and say, “There, that’ll teach you, you big dum-dum.” Or alternately, the villain could just do a little more target practice before leaving his secret lair and learn how to do a head shot. Then he could say, “I guess you should’ve have worn that vest on your head. It would have saved your life and no one would have to look at your ugly face, you infidel pig-dog.” Or words to that effect. After all, why should the hero be the only one who gets to make a semi-clever smart ass comment after killing someone (i.e. “Where’s Buzz-saw?” “He had to split.” [Incidentally I'll e-mail a six-pack of Blue Beaver Beer to anyone who can identify that quote.])
Yes, I agree, it’s annoying that they always remove their body armor after being shot. They did that in “The Mentalist,” too – Grace gets shot, survives with her armor, tells her boyfriend he MUST wear his body armor, he agrees, and thereafter he never does. Annoying.
“Running Man.” Thanks for the offer, but save that bilgewater. It’s espresso or nothing for me.
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Quote is from ‘The Running Man’. Great movie!
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Most heroes, especially ones with rippling abdominal muscles and biceps, love to have at least one action scene bare-chested. For this reason, villains usually find a way to rip off the hero’s suit or shirt.
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i hate to be awkward guys, but i am colour blind and the new background makes it hard for me to read the text!
Grr. I never saw “Running Man” and I refuse to cheat by Googling it, so I was going to say, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Obviously, that was wrong.
Every once in a while I wonder what that feels like — wearing a vest and then being shot in the stomach. If I was absolutely positive I wouldn’t die a horrible, unfortunate death, I’d think about trying it.
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hi Ernie,
Arrhhh!
Marvin and Matt beat me to the answer with Running Man, but since Marvin doesn’t appreciate a fine beer, you can email it to me!
Steve, the beer-drinking, vest-wearing trade show displays guru (and Arnie fan, well, at least, Arnie the movie-star fan…)
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Don’t real vests loose some, if not most, of their effectiveness after being shot. I have always thought their resoning behind removing it was based off this and to make it easier to breath, because they would likely have some broken ribs afterwards. Well in real life anyway.
I tend to think that the lack of headshots is the worst, especially in shows that have reaccurring villans that never seem to learn. I mean after the fifth time of shooting or poisoing someone, you would think they would go ahead and just finish the next time they get a chance. This is especially true when you don’t see any blood…
You know what Marvin; I guess you’re not familiar with Blue Beaver Beer (which is truly your loss). It is not made with bilge water, it’s made with glacial run-off water; that’s totally different. Although Matt was the first one to submit the correct answer, Steve-The-Trade-Show-Guru was the first correct answer that I personally read; therefore I will be sending both of you the prize. I suggest you check you (in)box for Beaver every two minutes for the next forty-eight hours. And a special shout-out-props-what-up to Cardiogirl for not cheating, I’ll send you some Honey Brown Beaver.
I actually thought that quote would be slightly more challenging. It’s been many, many years since I’ve seen “Running Man”, but I can recall a few of the one liners. Do any of you recollect what Arnie said after he offed Sub-Zero?
Something like “Once, Sub-Zero! Now, a Plain Zero”
Lol! That’s a nice one! Hmm, why do i have this feeling that you are pro-villain? He-he! Hero’s have to be smart, that hero on your post sure was a dumb one. He could have remove his vest after making sure that the villain is already 6 feet under. Lol!
Too funny… this drives me nuts, too.
I remember seeing a bit on BBC where the reporter decided to demo the vest and agreed to be shot on camera. Apparently it hurts like a son-of-a-bitch, and the guy started swearing up a storm as he tore at the vest to get it off.
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Funny I never really thought about it until I read your post but how silly they always rip it off. Great idea if I am a villian I am going to wait around the corner and then make my move again!! LOL!
Gomez: Haha, I saw that too. It’s funny how movies severely misrepresent reality but hey, it makes them look more badass. I just hope all the viewers can discern between fiction and reality.
OK, Seriously, when is the bad guy going to learn how to shoot the good guy somewhere unprotected, say in the leg or head?? He would stand a much better chance of causing some major damage in those areas. Then the good guy would not be so quick to remove his vest. On a side note, how come every time the good guy gets the snot beat out of him he gets up and moves on like nothing happened?? I get a stubbed toe and I’m out.
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You know what, As I read your post.. I can’t deny that You make me smile.. Funny..
This is a good funny post. But a very good point indeed.
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No kidding. Perhaps he thinks the villain has run out of bullets. How about in the old Superman shows where the villain would shoot at Superman until the gun is empty then throw it at him. Like that was going to do something after shooting him several times didn’t!!
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Lol. Pretty funny observation. I think the whole vest thing started with Fist Full of Dollars, where Eastwoord comes back into town to tie up loose ends, wearing a vest because the villain had previously bragged about his ability to always shoot someone in the heart. After the vest does its job, and Eastwood takes it off, he actually lets the villain try his hand at beating Eastwood on the draw. A fair duel. Of course Eastwood then PWNS him!
hahaha. you said right my friend. It happens usually when hero has nice body and he try to expose it.
Writers need to spontaneously throw the audience off with a scene like this, just to get a reaction. Have the hero get popped in the head, and just have the movie end then.
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LOL You right I never really thought about it before.
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Its also weird when the hero runs more than 10 miles to save the heroine from the villain despite having bullet injury in his chest.. I cant stop laughing when I see those vintage movies.
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Some of the movie still have this cliche scenes you are describing. I am annoyed at this too.
That’s almost as good as when the villians in Scooby Doo get their masks ripped off.
Vests are too new school though; it’s all about suits of armor!
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This will always be an eternal debate. Just like the old Bond villians. Why didn’t they just kill Mr. Bond when they caught him.
I always wanted a bullet proof vest. Not that I am looking to get shot, they just always looked cool.
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I wish I had a bullet proof vest. Thanks for the great read
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as everyone knows, there is only one bullet with “your name” on it.
By ensuring said bullet is stuck in your vest, then it can no longer be of any danger to you?
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woow.. what ever its means.. i really don’t get it.. its seems like im already drunk in here… but anyway i really like this site….
like others say’s its like “That’s almost as good as when the villians in Scooby Doo get their masks ripped off” hahahhaha
sounds funny…
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I have to agree with you that the face shot should be higher on the priority list than multiple shots too the body. But I would also say that sometimes with out a bullet proof vest the hero seems to come away just fine from a few good shots. Let’s start to bring some reality back to the game…
This reminds of the scene in Dumb n Dumber where they get Lloyd to wear a bulletproof vest. Then afterwards his buddy asks ‘what if they shot you in the face’. Obviously they were mocking the use of bulletproof vests in movies, but serious action movies still use this gimmick to resurrect the hero. When it enough enough? At least try to be more creative.
Usually though, doesn’t the hero wait until the villain is dead before revealing, to his lover’s relief, that he was wearing a vest? Anytime he doesn’t, he usually gets shot. I find it amazing how every hero finishes a movie in nothing but his pants and a slightly grubby white vest.
fortunately that didn’t happen in kickass, i would have been upset if a kid on that got killed that way.
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