Never Recycle a Building: Difference between revisions

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== Films -- Animation ==
== Films -- Animation ==
* Carl and Ellie's house in Pixar's ''[[Up]]''. It appears to have been abandoned for quite some time when Carl and Ellie first meet inside as children, and it remains that way up until they buy and refurbish it after their marriage. [[Egregious]] because [[World War Two]] ([[Fridge Logic|and it's accompanying]] dual housing shortages -- one during the war, [[It Got Worse|and one after]]) happened somewhere in between there.
* Carl and Ellie's house in Pixar's ''[[Up]]''. It appears to have been abandoned for quite some time when Carl and Ellie first meet inside as children, and it remains that way up until they buy and refurbish it after their marriage. [[Egregious]] because [[World War Two]] ([[Fridge Logic|and it's accompanying]] dual housing shortages -- one during the war, [[It Got Worse|and one after]]) happened somewhere in between there.
* In ''[[The Princess and The Frog]]'', Tiana's father sets his sights on an abandoned mill as the place to set up the restaurant he dreams of starting. Not only was the mill empty for some time before he announces this, it remains empty for another ten years or so, while Tiana grows up and saves the money so she can buy the mill for the same purpose after her father dies. One of the things that kicks off the plot is that as soon as she tells the men selling the mill that she's able to afford it, she's informed that someone else just happened to outbid her on it. Given how the men are jerks who suggest that Tiana couldn't handle running a restaurant because she's black, [[Fanon]] has taken to the notion that Tiana was simply lied to about the competition.
* In ''[[The Princess and the Frog]]'', Tiana's father sets his sights on an abandoned mill as the place to set up the restaurant he dreams of starting. Not only was the mill empty for some time before he announces this, it remains empty for another ten years or so, while Tiana grows up and saves the money so she can buy the mill for the same purpose after her father dies. One of the things that kicks off the plot is that as soon as she tells the men selling the mill that she's able to afford it, she's informed that someone else just happened to outbid her on it. Given how the men are jerks who suggest that Tiana couldn't handle running a restaurant because she's black, [[Fanon]] has taken to the notion that Tiana was simply lied to about the competition.




== Films -- Live Action ==
== Films -- Live Action ==
* Disney's ''[[Tron Legacy (Film)|Tron Legacy]]'' begins when Sam Flynn, the son of Kevin Flynn, is spurred to investigate his father's disappearance decades ago. Sam's search takes him to Flynn's abandoned arcade, which has been sitting intact for the last 25 years on the outskirts of town.
* Disney's ''[[Tron: Legacy]]'' begins when Sam Flynn, the son of Kevin Flynn, is spurred to investigate his father's disappearance decades ago. Sam's search takes him to Flynn's abandoned arcade, which has been sitting intact for the last 25 years on the outskirts of town.
** It makes sense that the building is still owned by the Flynn family, or at least Encomm, who have kept the taxes and utilities up to date (the power is still connected, for example). And the arcade was obviously shut down and dust-proofed in an orderly way. Why no-one has broken into it & stolen all the valuable arcade cabinets is another question.
** It makes sense that the building is still owned by the Flynn family, or at least Encomm, who have kept the taxes and utilities up to date (the power is still connected, for example). And the arcade was obviously shut down and dust-proofed in an orderly way. Why no-one has broken into it & stolen all the valuable arcade cabinets is another question.
*** It's implied by [[Expanded Universe]] material that Alan has been paying for the upkeep for the same reason he kept the pager. Of course, this brings up the [[Fridge Logic]] of why he didn't investigate the place and find the improvised laser lab himself.
*** It's implied by [[Expanded Universe]] material that Alan has been paying for the upkeep for the same reason he kept the pager. Of course, this brings up the [[Fridge Logic]] of why he didn't investigate the place and find the improvised laser lab himself.
* In ''[[Its a Wonderful Life]]'' George & Mary Bailey move into an old abandoned mansion which until then had been used for the local teens to throw rocks at.
* In ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' George & Mary Bailey move into an old abandoned mansion which until then had been used for the local teens to throw rocks at.
* Probably because it's a major deathtrap, the abandoned firehouse in ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' remains conveniently available until Venkman ''et al'' need a place of business.
* Probably because it's a major deathtrap, the abandoned firehouse in ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' remains conveniently available until Venkman ''et al'' need a place of business.
{{quote| '''Spengler:''' I think this building should be condemned. There's serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring is substandard, it's completely inadequate for our power needs, and the neighborhood is like a demilitarized zone.<br />
{{quote| '''Spengler:''' I think this building should be condemned. There's serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring is substandard, it's completely inadequate for our power needs, and the neighborhood is like a demilitarized zone.<br />
'''Stantz:''' Hey. Does this pole still work? ''(slides down)'' Wow, this place is great! When can we move in?! }}
'''Stantz:''' Hey. Does this pole still work? ''(slides down)'' Wow, this place is great! When can we move in?! }}
* Inverted in ''[[The Shadow (Film)|The Shadow]]'' (1994 film version): [[Big Bad]] Shiwan Khan uses his [[Mind Control]] powers to hide an entire skyscraper mega-hotel in plain sight by convincing everyone that it's a semi-active construction site.
* Inverted in ''[[The Shadow (film)|The Shadow]]'' (1994 film version): [[Big Bad]] Shiwan Khan uses his [[Mind Control]] powers to hide an entire skyscraper mega-hotel in plain sight by convincing everyone that it's a semi-active construction site.
* [[Slasher Flick]] ''[[Hell Night (Film)|Hell Night]]'' takes it place in a manor which has been abandoned for 12 years.
* [[Slasher Flick]] ''[[Hell Night (film)|Hell Night]]'' takes it place in a manor which has been abandoned for 12 years.
* The Victorian mansion in ''[[Mousehunt (Film)|Mousehunt]]''. Justified as the mouse drove out everyone who tried to live in the house. Exactly how long is that mouse's life-span?
* The Victorian mansion in ''[[Mousehunt (film)|Mousehunt]]''. Justified as the mouse drove out everyone who tried to live in the house. Exactly how long is that mouse's life-span?
* The [[Abandoned Hospital]] in ''[[Accepted]]'' has just been sitting around for who knows how long, before the kids decide to turn it into a fake college.
* The [[Abandoned Hospital]] in ''[[Accepted]]'' has just been sitting around for who knows how long, before the kids decide to turn it into a fake college.
* It hasn't been ''abandoned'', but the video-rental store that holds a vital clue in ''[[Men in Black (Film)|Men in Black]] II'' is still there after twenty-five years, even though most people moved on to DVDs years ago.
* It hasn't been ''abandoned'', but the video-rental store that holds a vital clue in ''[[Men in Black (film)|Men in Black]] II'' is still there after twenty-five years, even though most people moved on to DVDs years ago.
* The Blackwell Hotel in ''[[See no Evil (Film)|See no Evil]]''. Justified because it was just a hobby to its owners and after it almost burned to the ground, they lost interest in it.
* The Blackwell Hotel in ''[[See no Evil]]''. Justified because it was just a hobby to its owners and after it almost burned to the ground, they lost interest in it.
* In ''[[Double Impact]]'', after officially teaming up, Chad and Alex, as well as their 'Uncle' Frank, set up in an abandoned villa in Hong Kong.
* In ''[[Double Impact]]'', after officially teaming up, Chad and Alex, as well as their 'Uncle' Frank, set up in an abandoned villa in Hong Kong.




== Literature ==
== Literature ==
* At the end of [[Arthur Machen (Creator)|Arthur Machen]]'s ''The Three Imposters'' (1895) the protagonists stumble upon a mansion that's been abandoned since at least the eighteenth century. It's within walking distance of London and completely accessible to passers-by yet is still untouched except for the natural processes of decay slowly corroding the furniture, tapestries, and other unlooted decor.
* At the end of [[Arthur Machen]]'s ''The Three Imposters'' (1895) the protagonists stumble upon a mansion that's been abandoned since at least the eighteenth century. It's within walking distance of London and completely accessible to passers-by yet is still untouched except for the natural processes of decay slowly corroding the furniture, tapestries, and other unlooted decor.
* After the Full Moon Garage in ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' is abandoned due to the [[Our Werewolves Are Different|lycanthrope biker gang]] that owned it being slaughtered, it is left relatively untouched... because other bad guys like its convenient location and run-down appearance for their own dirty work. Harry finds himself revisiting it.
* After the Full Moon Garage in ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' is abandoned due to the [[Our Werewolves Are Different|lycanthrope biker gang]] that owned it being slaughtered, it is left relatively untouched... because other bad guys like its convenient location and run-down appearance for their own dirty work. Harry finds himself revisiting it.
* The Riddle House in ''[[Harry Potter (Literature)|Harry Potter]]'' is abandoned for the most part due to [[Big Bad|Voldemort]] killing the original owners, who were his own family. A few families try to live there but find the place [[Haunted House|creepy]], so the current owner only keeps it for "tax reasons".
* The Riddle House in ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'' is abandoned for the most part due to [[Big Bad|Voldemort]] killing the original owners, who were his own family. A few families try to live there but find the place [[Haunted House|creepy]], so the current owner only keeps it for "tax reasons".
* In one of the early ''[[NUMA Series]]'' novels, the heroes figure out how a massive drug smuggling operation is being run and speculate as to where the drug handoff will be made. One character invokes this trope. Another immediately shoots it down, pointing out that abandoned warehouses are hard to come by in major port cities.
* In one of the early ''[[NUMA Series]]'' novels, the heroes figure out how a massive drug smuggling operation is being run and speculate as to where the drug handoff will be made. One character invokes this trope. Another immediately shoots it down, pointing out that abandoned warehouses are hard to come by in major port cities.




== Live Action TV ==
== Live Action TV ==
* The Hyperion Hotel has been sitting abandoned quite a long time until the title character rents it in ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]''. Of course, the demon in residence there might have had something to do with it.
* The Hyperion Hotel has been sitting abandoned quite a long time until the title character rents it in ''[[Angel]]''. Of course, the demon in residence there might have had something to do with it.
** In the fourth season Connor also moves into what appears to be an abandoned natural history museum, full of dust and stuffed wildlife, complete with working electricity.
** In the fourth season Connor also moves into what appears to be an abandoned natural history museum, full of dust and stuffed wildlife, complete with working electricity.
* In ''[[Fringe]]'', the [[Mad Scientist]] returns to his lab in the basement of a Harvard building after 17 years and just has to dust the place down before getting back to work; not only has the space been left unused, but all the equipment is still there. Considering what Walter and Bell get up to down there, that might have been the smartest thing to do.
* In ''[[Fringe]]'', the [[Mad Scientist]] returns to his lab in the basement of a Harvard building after 17 years and just has to dust the place down before getting back to work; not only has the space been left unused, but all the equipment is still there. Considering what Walter and Bell get up to down there, that might have been the smartest thing to do.
* Another example of Never Recycle a Room can be found in the fifth season of the new ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' series. In this case, of course, there really ''is'' something protecting the room.
* Another example of Never Recycle a Room can be found in the fifth season of the new ''[[Doctor Who]]'' series. In this case, of course, there really ''is'' something protecting the room.
* Gotham City in the Adam West version of ''[[Batman (TV)|Batman]]'' had some serious problems with abandoned factories and warehouses. It's almost like they ''wanted'' them to be taken over by criminals.
* Gotham City in the Adam West version of ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' had some serious problems with abandoned factories and warehouses. It's almost like they ''wanted'' them to be taken over by criminals.
* ''[[Nash Bridges]]'' and his elite police unit have usually claimed a building that the city of [[San Francisco]] had lying around unused. In the fourth season, this was a former floating cannery that was later converted to a nightclub and later seized in a drug raid. It proves to be a decent place to set up shop, being spacious and having a place for everything they need. The only downside is a [[Running Gag|tendency]] to play "Disco Inferno" with no reason or explanation.
* ''[[Nash Bridges]]'' and his elite police unit have usually claimed a building that the city of [[San Francisco]] had lying around unused. In the fourth season, this was a former floating cannery that was later converted to a nightclub and later seized in a drug raid. It proves to be a decent place to set up shop, being spacious and having a place for everything they need. The only downside is a [[Running Gag|tendency]] to play "Disco Inferno" with no reason or explanation.
* The characters in ''[[Highlander (TV)|Highlander]]'' always find a empty warehouse nearby when they need to fight. While this is usually plausible, there is at least one case when they manage to find one close to the Seine in the center of Paris, in an area where it would need TARDIS-like features to fit.
* The characters in ''[[Highlander (TV series)|Highlander]]'' always find a empty warehouse nearby when they need to fight. While this is usually plausible, there is at least one case when they manage to find one close to the Seine in the center of Paris, in an area where it would need TARDIS-like features to fit.




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