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In movies, why do bombs always come equipped with a visible timer?

Braznor

Braznor

Diamond Member
Come to think of it. If I was an explosive expert, I will want to make sure no one knows the time of explosion of my explosive. So why do explosives in TV and movies come with a helpful clock or digital timer on a countdown to the time of the explosion?
 
i've seen about 1000 bombs with timers in movies, and i've seen 0 bombs in real life.

i'll just assume they all have timers on them because i've never seen one in real life.
 
Same reason masks are abhorred in hollywood, more drama. If the audience can see that it's about to blow it creates suspense.
 
Easy answer is when the timer hits 0 it sends out an alarm that is used to trigger the explosion. So in bomb making 101 you use some sort of basic timer used as a trigger.
 
I'm trying to think of how to set off a timed device without some sort of timer? And an analog timer would make things far easier, when it clicks to zero and connects a circuit, boom.
 
For the same reason they showed Hugh Jackman's character in Swordfish "hacking" into government agencies with a gun to his head while getting a BJ... more interesting on screen than the real world example would actually be.



....
 
You can't film it and make it part of the narrative if you can't see it.
 
That's the Expository Countdown Timer. Those kinds of products can be found in many TV shows and movies. Available options include a ticking countdown sound, alarm shortly before detonation, and a whirring sound that increases in frequency as the countdown timer winds down. Limited-edition versions include a special wiring harness of nothing but blue wires.


Other examples of the Expository Corporation's product offerings:
- Expository Corp. LEDs can be found on a cobbled together hand phaser in Star Trek: Because even when you're stuck with ancient technology and limited resources and a severe time limit, you still need to accessorize it to show that it's functional and really futuristic.

- Exposi-Sim General-Purpose Simulation software in Stargate Atlantis, with the Hypothetical Quantum Astrophysics addon package. The GUI simply says "Simulation Running..." and then "Simulation Failed." Most software simulation results can require extensive analysis to determine if they are even usable. Exposi-Sim delivers easy results that require only basic literacy to understand.

- Telephones which automatically prompt a person to repeat what they just heard so that anyone within earshot will know exactly what is being discussed. ("Repeat what you say to provide exposition?")
 
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Trying to think of a legit reason... what if the bad guy is just trying to be safe and he/she wants to know if the explosive is counting down while working on it?
 
So he knows how much time he has to waste.

macgruber.jpg
 
It is probably meant to foreshadow something that is going to happen or ignite a rush in the scenes.

usually when the viewer gets to the point with the timer some very cool action takes place in which it sort of speeds up and becomes more engaging.
 
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