The Fire Ant Gazette - A Midland, Texas Blog

Movie Magic Revealed!
Category: Movies...
Posted Sunday, October 24, 2004 at 10:10 PM [GMT-6]

Die Hard is one of my favorite movies, well made and acted. Sure, it shows its age a bit nowadays, with references to CB radios and "police RVs," but that's part of the fun of rewatching it.

The FX Network showed the movie this afternoon as part of its series that shows some of the extras found on movie DVDs. It's a way to pick up some of the behind-the-scenes trivia while watching the movie. (Or trying to watch it; combine the DVD extras with the ever-increasing number of commercials and you're lucky to get five consecutive minutes of the film.)

Anyway, one of the tidbits I heard today was that since Bruce Willis spent a good deal of the movie barefooted, he was outfitted with "steel-belted rubber feet" for protection during the major stunts. I had never heard that before, and I wondered if something like that would be more noticeable to an informed audience. Not five minutes later, this scene became indelibly etched in my mind, and I will never again be able to watch Die Hard without noticing it:

Screen shot from 'Die Hard' - Bruce Willis and his amazing rubber foot

Obviously, Willis' pant leg was supposed to cover the seam between his real leg and his rubber foot, but for fast moving scenes such as this one (where he dives over the ledge of the building to escape gunfire from the FBI's helicopter)...well, let's just say that the director probably didn't think anyone would notice.

It was a good plan, because much of magic is about misdirection. In this case, the usual focus will be on Willis' head or bloody arm; no one would normally be watching his feet.

Thanks to FX, that's all I'll see in the future!

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Comments

This is what happens when you eat an apple from the Tree of Knowledge, Eric. ;-) "What an awful thing is wisdom when it gives no comfort to the wise."

A lot of these "goofs" aren't normally noticed during the cinema experience. But now, thanks to the magic of DVDs and a crystal clear pause/ frame advance, these kinds of details come to light (with the help of obsessive fans who watch their fave films over and over again). There's even sites dedicated to documenting them. www.moviemistakes.com

If that wasn't enough, the DVD extras give us an inside look "behind the scenes", at the cost of some of the movie's magic.

Posted by: Mr. Freen at October 25, 2004 03:58 AM

Very cool catch.

Posted by: jen at October 25, 2004 09:08 AM

In World War II, Japanese soldiers were using such a kind of shoe, WITH AN EXTERNALLY VISIBLE COMPARTMENT FOR THE TOE, SEPARATE FROM THE COMPARTMENT OF THE OTHER 4 TOES.

WHEN STUCK IN HEAVY RICEFIELD MUD, THE JAPANESE SOLDIER COULD WIGGLE HIS TOE, ALLOWING AIR TO GET IN, BREAKING THE VACUUM, ENABLING HIM TO PULL OUT HIS SHOE, WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD BE GLUED BY SUCTION TO THE MUD.

Posted by: The Eurasian at October 25, 2004 10:30 AM

Eric, while I appreciate some features of the "DVD on TV" broadcast - especially seeing the full image rather than one formatted to fit my television screen - there are others that just drive me crazy.

You hit the nail right on the head when you said ... (Or trying to watch it; combine the DVD extras with the ever-increasing number of commercials and you're lucky to get five consecutive minutes of the film.)

Me? I don't mind having the DVD extras, but not right in the middle of the film! More often than not, I won't bother watching the "DVD on TV" broadcast, but it will remind me of a good film to add to my Netflix queue.

Harking back to an earlier topic ... it was ol' timey music day at church this past weekend ... "Old Rugged Cross" and "I'll Fly Away" with accompaniment by a bluegrass band; and an arrangement of the old Shaker hymn, "Simple Gifts," with new lyrics and retitled, "Lord of the Dance."

Posted by: Jeff at October 25, 2004 11:56 AM

Mr. Freen, I think obsessive searching for this sort of thing takes the fun out of it (unless it's your hobby, like blogging), but the serendipitous discovery -- even if directed to look by a third party -- is somehow fulfilling.

Jen, like I said, I never would have noticed it if the narrators hadn't just mentioned the fake feet. I'm now beginning to wonder if the same technique wasn't used in making the LOTR trilogy. I just can't believe those hobbit guys really had such big hairy feet! ;-)

Jeff, I guess the network is trying to inject new life into oft-broadcast flicks. It doesn't bother me that much. If I really want to watch it straight through, I'll plug in the DVD. Usually, it's just on as A/V white noise.

I didn't think I was familiar with "Simple Gifts" until I googled and listened to this midi version. We've sung "Lord of the Dance" in Sunday School before. Don't recall ever singing it in worship services though (you know how we Baptists are about dancing! ;-).

Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind saying in this very public forum, which church do you attend?

Posted by: Eric at October 25, 2004 12:31 PM

OT. . .

Thought you and yours might be interested in knowing about this. . .

http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/04_10_24_corner-archive.asp#043466

Posted by: TulipGirl at October 25, 2004 12:32 PM

Eurasian, that's a pretty fascinating bit of trivia about the Japanese fake feet during WWII. Thanks for sharing that.

Posted by: Eric at October 25, 2004 12:32 PM

TulipGirl, since I maintain the Midland County GOP website, I find out about these things pretty early in the game. Nothing against Mr. Lowry, but I'm not going to pay $17 to hear anyone speak at lunch, with the possible exception of Dubya himself! I suspect it will be a packed house, even with my absence.

Say, as long as we're OT...when can we expect some more blogging from your hubby? I think he's carrying this vacation thing a bit too far!

Posted by: Eric at October 25, 2004 12:43 PM

Eric, I attend First Prez in Midland. the Minsiter of Music there is Gregory Pysh, who seems to have taken the Psalms (#100 and others) very much to heart.

The band, by the way, was an in-house ensemble called The Backsliders.

Back to original topic ... I agree with you about the fun that is lost when the search for filmmakers' gaffes becomes obsessive ... but they are interesting.

And they can happen to even the most exacting practitioners of the art. I remember my Mom warning me to closely watch a scene in Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" where a little boy in the crowd clearly anticipates an explosive moment in the Mt. Rushmore NP cafeteria that has not yet occurred.

Posted by: Jeff at October 25, 2004 01:57 PM

I thought you'd probably know already. . . But just in case. *grin*

I'm glad we got to see W when we were in your neck o' the woods--at the old Cactus Hotel in San Angelo. Said some nice things about my kids (as he should. *L*) I took a pic of Hubby shaking his hand, but only got the hand. . .

Anyway, the big Disco keeps saying he's going to post this or that. . . I think he'll get back into a good blogging rhythm soon.

Posted by: TulipGirl at October 27, 2004 12:43 PM

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