5. Heroes Getting A Second Wind
Kings Road EntertainmentNow, it is possible to get a "second wind" in real life - that goes without saying. A rush of adrenalin, a moment of anger or any number of other incentives or catalysts can make us feel energised when we previously weren't (take seeing the finishing line of a marathon, for example - after suffering for several miles, you suddenly find the energy to muster up an impressive sprint finish). However, movies take the idea to a whole new and ridiculous level. A prime example comes in the form of Kickboxer's Kurt Sloane, as played by Jean-Claude Van Damme. After training specifically to go up against Tong Po - the man who crippled his brother Eric in a previous bout - Sloane finally got the chance to face the ruthless fighter in the movie's final battle. He endured a torturous beating in the fight and looked as good as dead in some shots, as his entire body gave in and he was practically asleep on his feet. However, the appearance of Eric - who had been kidnapped - at ringside suddenly gave Kurt a second wind. And then it got silly. Not only did Kurt get a second wind but, having previously struggled to defeat Tong Po in a moderately fair fight, he then had his hand-wraps (which were coated in sharp objects) removed AND he was able to block and hit Tong Po whilst not even looking at him. Another Van Damme character - Frank Dux - was able to do something even more ridiculous in Bloodsport when, in similar circumstances, he was able to defeat a previously troublesome opponent whilst blind, having had quicklime thrown into his eye. Spider-Man in the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man movie, Rocky Balboa in pretty much every film he's been in, the Karate Kid in both the classic and rebooted versions of the movie and even the T-800 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day have all experienced this seemingly impossible second wind.