MovieChat Forums > The Mechanic (2011) Discussion > How one early dumb scene can blow a movi...

How one early dumb scene can blow a movie

posted 11 years ago by SpacemanBob
16 replies | jump to latest

OK. When Arthur pulls the hit on the drug kingpin in the pool and then he's making it look like he's alive and swimming face down by moving the guys arms. Wouldn't he look like he was just comically thrashing around like someone who cannot swim? Not only, but an indoor pool water is clear and the guard was not that far away and clearly stares down into the water. So the guard is not going to see someone else in the water? Whatever. That scene was so dumb and unbeleivable, it kind of ruined the whole movie for me.

[–] tcw214 11 years ago

did you not notice the pool had black tiles? scuba suit ..black.. the guard was 20 feet up on a balcony and not really paying attention???

[–] BullSchmidt 11 years ago

the guard was 20 feet up on a balcony and not really paying attention

Agreed. The guard looks down, sees the boss doing laps in the pool -- everything's normal, no need for a second glance.

I think the first thing in this movie that tipped me off that it's not to be taken seriously (in terms of realism) was the overly convoluted way Arthur drew the elder McKenna to his death. So many things that could have gone wrong! Right there we saw that this movie was going to rely on flash more than substance.

The really over-the-top scene, to me, was the fight between Steve and the seven foot tall gay guy. We saw Steve get injuries that should have killed him several times over, but he just kept getting up again.

[–] gayspiritwarrior 11 years ago

I find it hard to believe anybody would go into a movie like this expecting realism.

"The value of an idea has nothing to do with the honesty of the man expressing it."--Oscar Wilde

[–] SpacemanBob 11 years ago

I don't know. I see most everyone disagrees with me, so maybe I was expecting too much or in the wrong mindset. I really don't go into a film wanting to dislike it, but I kept thinking this film is a bit stupid beyond the expected implausible from a film like this.

It has been years since my viewing of it, but I do not remember the original being as such. Maybe I will try them both again. At least that scene with the guys flopping around in the water. I was gasping laughing the first view.

[–] moviechatterer (13268) 3 years ago

"I find it hard to believe anybody would go into a movie like this expecting realism."

Why?
I would *expect* realism

[–] seans_life 11 years ago

It didn't ruin the movie for me but SpacemanBob you have a point. It really didn't look like the guy was swimming and the guard basically had the same view as us watching the movie so.

Agreed ... early scene was dumb in the sense that it didn't seem realistic but I was grabbed by the movie from the get go and wanted to watch it.

It was definitely a decent action flick and better than a Bruce Willis movie I recently saw.

[–] dbrockwo 10 years ago

You have a problem with the pool, but no problem with Bishop randomly running into the agent who had supposedly been killed in Cape Town?

[–] Mars70175 9 years ago

IRL I can't go anywhere without running into someone I either worked with, dated, or knew through functions. It doesn't take a lot of traveling to coincidently run into familiar faces.

[–] bek-12 10 years ago

I finally got around to watching this movie, and I actually rewound to view this scene after the first time. Yes, it looked very fake. The dead man was swimming naturally, until the camera went underwater, and you could see the assassin wasn't moving him anywhere near as believably. In fact, at the end of the poor, his hand actually reaches for the side of the pool!

Otherwise, the movie was fine, as far as this type of action movie goes, but this was a really fake looking scene.

[–] amer9001 9 years ago

I disagree, it was a smart scene.

[–] glacier1982 9 years ago

Also just to point out the obvious scuba gear makes a great deal of bubbles which would have been seen by all well before the kingpin got in the pool. Gotta love how they left out how JS got out of the pool, as a soaking wet body tends to make a lot of noise. I'd like to know what he did with his scuba gear afterwards seeing how he didn't have it with him on the bridge and the death was ruled accidental. I think a wet oxygen tank would arouse suspicions. It was a stupid scene.

[–] walkerus 9 years ago

I don't mind a bit of Disneyland in movies as long as what happens makes sense or I might say is believable, but the Mechanic would not have taken on such a weasely and untrustworthy companion in murder as he did. A man whose whole life and lifestyle depends on 'Preparation' to pick someone that I wouldn't trust to change a tyre on my car beggars belief. And at the end to write a note informing the very same workmate of his death and leave it on the car seat, for even someone as unreliable as he was, would have read the note first and not even started the car....... What people do in situations has to measure up to the character they are purported to be or it does not make sense. This I find more disconcerting than the swimming pool scenes.

[–] shothrougheart 9 years ago

Steve did not take the note literally (I also assumed we as the audience were not suppose to either), which is why he is laughing after he reads it. Arthur told him earlier something like "Never touch this car", so the note was more of "If you are driving my car I am going to kill you!" like something you would say to a younger sibling if they touch your stuff, you don't really mean you are going to end their life. Well in this case the note was literal and we all know what happened next!

[–] Plutos_Charm 9 years ago

Late response, but he wasn't using a scuba tank. It looked note like a rebreather, as those dinner make bubbles AFAIK. Either way I think it was a good scene and absolutely grabs the viewer's attention.

[–] SolariS6 8 years ago

The bigger question is how did any guard or maid not see the track of water leading away. Did Statham slurp each drop walking backwards or have a wet vacuum stuffed in his crotch?

[–] Thought_Criminal_J62377 7 years ago

When Arthur pulls the hit on the drug kingpin in the pool and then he's making it look like he's alive and swimming face down by moving the guys arms. Wouldn't he look like he was just comically thrashing around like someone who cannot swim?

You've been in space too long, Bob. The drug boss was swimming in an unlighted black pool and when Arthur moves his arms he does it so well that it looks real. He had goggles on too, so it may be normal for him to stay face down for a bit looking below. I think you're reaching hard for something to complain about. Leave the complaining to us professionals.

Not only, but an indoor pool water is clear and the guard was not that far away and clearly stares down into the water. So the guard is not going to see someone else in the water?

Here you go, trying hard again, but failing. The pool was depicted to have very minimal visibility due to the black tiles and possibly colored water even. If you're going to complain don't ignore facts that nullify your complaint.

Whatever. That scene was so dumb and unbeleivable, it kind of ruined the whole movie for me.

No, Bob, I've placed the dumb squarely on you.

My Crime Is Prohibited Thought, My Oppressors Are Bleeding Heart LiberalsOK.