Ominous Multiple Screens: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}} |
{{trope}} |
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[[File:wargames1.jpg|link=War Games|frame| |
[[File:wargames1.jpg|link=War Games|frame|Yep. We're boned.]] |
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== Comic Books == |
== Comic Books == |
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* ''[[Watchmen]]''. We get the ominous sense of Ozymandias' superhuman intelligence: he ''can'' pay attention to all those screens at once. Ozymandias claims to see oncoming war from the vibes he picks up from the |
* ''[[Watchmen]]''. We get the ominous sense of Ozymandias' superhuman intelligence: he ''can'' pay attention to all those screens at once. Ozymandias claims to see oncoming war from the vibes he picks up from the images—so the pictures take on a second dark significance. |
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* ''[[Dark Angel]]'' a character watched many screens, and combined this with some form of ESP-type ability he referred to as heuristics to predict the future. |
* ''[[Dark Angel]]'' a character watched many screens, and combined this with some form of ESP-type ability he referred to as heuristics to predict the future. |
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* [[Superman]]: In a goody-two-shoes version of this trope, Supe has been shown to have a room that resembles an empty missile silo filled from top to bottom with screens showing every news report from around the world at once. Justified since Supes actually has the ability to watch all the screens at the same time, so he can go out and help when necessary. |
* [[Superman]]: In a goody-two-shoes version of this trope, Supe has been shown to have a room that resembles an empty missile silo filled from top to bottom with screens showing every news report from around the world at once. Justified since Supes actually has the ability to watch all the screens at the same time, so he can go out and help when necessary. |
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* In ''[[V for Vendetta]]'', the head honcho (Adam Susan in the comics, Adam Sutler in the film) of <s>the British Nazi Party</s> Norsefire has a very [[Cargo Ship|errr... interesting relationship]] with his |
* In ''[[V for Vendetta]]'', the head honcho (Adam Susan in the comics, Adam Sutler in the film) of <s>the British Nazi Party</s> Norsefire has a very [[Cargo Ship|errr... interesting relationship]] with his Ominous Multiple Screens. |
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** In the comic he also employs professional (and henpecked and cuckolded) voyeur Conrad Heyer to watch screens of just about everything, including all party members' bedrooms, ''even his own''. |
** In the comic he also employs professional (and henpecked and cuckolded) voyeur Conrad Heyer to watch screens of just about everything, including all party members' bedrooms, ''even his own''. |
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* Eejee's chamber in the ''[[Knights of the Old Republic]]'' comics. |
* Eejee's chamber in the ''[[Knights of the Old Republic]]'' comics. |
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{{quote|'''Dilbert:''' My pay is below market. Can I have a 20% raise? |
{{quote|'''Dilbert:''' My pay is below market. Can I have a 20% raise? |
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'''[[Pointy-Haired Boss]]:''' No, but I'll let you use two flat screen monitors in your cubicle so it feels like you're an evil genius in a secret lair. |
'''[[Pointy-Haired Boss]]:''' No, but I'll let you use two flat screen monitors in your cubicle so it feels like you're an evil genius in a secret lair. |
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*later* '''Dilbert:''' [[Evil Laugh|BU-WA-HAHA!]] |
*later* '''Dilbert:''' [[Evil Laugh|BU-WA-HAHA!]] |
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'''Wally:''' Who got a second monitor? }} |
'''Wally:''' Who got a second monitor? }} |
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* ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'': The Architect's chamber is filled wall-to-wall with screens, showing Neo. The implication is they are {{spoiler|other Ones from earlier instances of the Matrix}}. It was also used for surveillance so he could see anywhere in the Matrix at any given time, be it past or near future, which actually made sense. Often the screens would work together to form a bigger image. |
* ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'': The Architect's chamber is filled wall-to-wall with screens, showing Neo. The implication is they are {{spoiler|other Ones from earlier instances of the Matrix}}. It was also used for surveillance so he could see anywhere in the Matrix at any given time, be it past or near future, which actually made sense. Often the screens would work together to form a bigger image. |
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** This is [[Foreshadowing|foreshadowed]] in the first film in the scene where the Agents interrogate Neo; the view shows multiple screens showing Neo in the interrogation room, then zooms in on one screen which becomes the actual scene itself as the Agents walk in. This effect is used and reversed multiple times in the Neo/Architect sequence. |
** This is [[Foreshadowing|foreshadowed]] in the first film in the scene where the Agents interrogate Neo; the view shows multiple screens showing Neo in the interrogation room, then zooms in on one screen which becomes the actual scene itself as the Agents walk in. This effect is used and reversed multiple times in the Neo/Architect sequence. |
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* ''[[Scary Movie]] 4'': The Architect is parodied by George |
* ''[[Scary Movie]] 4'': The Architect is parodied by George Carlin—He has cameras in Cindy's house - including her bathroom - on the wall of screens in his lighthouse. |
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* Elliot Carver in ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'' has a room like |
* Elliot Carver in ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'' has a room like this—fitting for a villain who's a media baron. |
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* ''[[The Witches of Eastwick]]'': Darryl Van Horn has a bank of TV screens, apparently just for the hell of it. One woman isn't enough for him, why should he settle for one screen? |
* ''[[The Witches of Eastwick]]'': Darryl Van Horn has a bank of TV screens, apparently just for the hell of it. One woman isn't enough for him, why should he settle for one screen? |
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* ''[[Serenity]]'': Mr.Universe's control room. Although the number of screens is toned down and really just to show how random Mr.Universe is. |
* ''[[Serenity]]'': Mr.Universe's control room. Although the number of screens is toned down and really just to show how random Mr.Universe is. |
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== Literature == |
== Literature == |
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* ''[[Gormenghast]]'': Villain Steerpike has a hidden chamber where he watches all comings and goings in the |
* ''[[Gormenghast]]'': Villain Steerpike has a hidden chamber where he watches all comings and goings in the castle—except instead of TV screens, it's all down through hidden mirrors and periscopes. |
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* In ''[[Nightside|Hell To Pay]]'', Jeremiah Griffon has a wall of TV screens in his conference room, playing non-stop world news and financial reports. Probably a [[Shout-Out]] to Ozymandius, except that Jeremiah admits they're mostly for effect: he's a centuries-old immortal and nothing on the news is likely to surprise him, but the display [[Genre Savvy|intimidates potential business rivals]] by making him appear brilliant and informed. |
* In ''[[Nightside|Hell To Pay]]'', Jeremiah Griffon has a wall of TV screens in his conference room, playing non-stop world news and financial reports. Probably a [[Shout-Out]] to Ozymandius, except that Jeremiah admits they're mostly for effect: he's a centuries-old immortal and nothing on the news is likely to surprise him, but the display [[Genre Savvy|intimidates potential business rivals]] by making him appear brilliant and informed. |
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* The second book in the Alosha series, Shaktra, is a fantasy example of this, with {{spoiler|[[I Am Legion|a group of hive-minded alien races]] attempting to recruit the Earth races via the Internet.}} Eerily glowing screens ensue, used to intense atmospheric effect. |
* The second book in the Alosha series, Shaktra, is a fantasy example of this, with {{spoiler|[[I Am Legion|a group of hive-minded alien races]] attempting to recruit the Earth races via the Internet.}} Eerily glowing screens ensue, used to intense atmospheric effect. |
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