If there's one thing we hate about most movies today, it's the overuse of computer generated images. Sometimes they can be cool, if used right, but many times it just steals the authenticity of the scene right away. Whatever happened to the good old fashioned way of doing things? Well, it would seem many times the 'good old fashioned way' was insanely dangerous, even if it was breathtaking and amazing. So today we'll be taking a look back at some of the most ridiculous things people have ever done in the name of authenticity in their movies. Note: We'll be excluding any stunts or sequences that resulted in the death of the stunt person, or lasting injury. Let's keep this good, clean fun.
18. Inception - Spinning Hallway
Just a word of warning.... we're going to be covering a
lot of Christopher Nolan's work here. Our first Nolan entry would be that of the infamous spinning hallway scene in Inception. In the movie, the dreamer is in a van that tips and rolls down an embankment, while inside the dream they experience the dizzying motion as well (while two characters are embroiled in a rather intense fight). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTgdLgazq-E To film the scene, the production crew originally intended to build a 40-foot long set similar to a hamster wheel, with cameras mounted to the floor, the walls, etc. But as the scene grew more and more elaborate, the set also grew to a dazzling 100-feet. The actors were placed inside (not stuntmen) and for weeks had to learn the choreography of the scene. After learning the moves for their fight, the room slowly began to spin. With each practice the set would spin faster until finally they could perform the scene as it was intended to be in the film.
17. Live And Let Die - Crocodile Bridge
Like Christopher Nolan, the James Bond franchise is well known for using as many 'practical effects' as possible, that is, a special effect with no trick photography or post-production tricks (like CGI or green screen). While the scene in question is widely mocked, what went into making it is rather harrowing. In the film, James Bond has been placed in the middle of a pond with one lone rock to stand on. All around him are crocodiles continually getting closer to him with the obvious intention of making a snack of him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmH0PP_zAKo To escape, he spies some that are in a pretty much straight line to land, so he runs across their backs as they snap at his legs and feet. To film this, they got a stuntman to actually run across their backs. Not only were they able to find someone willing to try this stupid plan, they did
five takes of this stupid plan. On the fourth attempt one of the crocs managed to bite his foot, but still he did one last take, which is the one you see in the movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EikxJDFQD78 That's right. His foot got bitten, and he still went again.