1 thing that Hollywood has always overdone

It depends on what side a character is on. Villainous henchmen have shite aim.

In their defense they have gotten better over the years. They usually don't have the infinite clips anymore. They at least make an attempt now to pop out the clip after 15 bullets or so.

Also with regard to shootings, Hollywood seems to think the human body can withstand bullet impacts and continue functioning as if they were mosquito bites. Its nothing to see a hero take a shot to the shoulder, vanquish the bad guy and be seen laughing it off as if there wasn't major trauma to his body. They can even run with bullets in their legs.

I've never been shot but I know two guys who were the victims of a punk with a gun and they both said once shot there was little they could do but succumb to the pain.

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I've never been shot but I know two guys who were the victims of a punk with a gun and they both said once shot there was little they could do but succumb to the pain.

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Writing speaking programs for a lot of military events, I know a LOT of guys who've been shot under a variety of circumstances. Not only can they keep functioning, they can do some wildly heroic things.

Including this guy, Jack Jacobs, who I had the honor of meeting few years ago. This is his Medal of Honor citation.

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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Jacobs (then 1st Lt.), Infantry, distinguished himself while serving as assistant battalion advisor, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. The 2d Battalion was advancing to contact when it came under intense heavy machine gun and mortar fire from a Viet Cong battalion positioned in well fortified bunkers. As the 2d Battalion deployed into attack formation its advance was halted by devastating fire. Capt. Jacobs, with the command element of the lead company, called for and directed air strikes on the enemy positions to facilitate a renewed attack. Due to the intensity of the enemy fire and heavy casualties to the command group, including the company commander, the attack stopped and the friendly troops became disorganized.

Although wounded by mortar fragments, Capt. Jacobs assumed command of the allied company, ordered a withdrawal from the exposed position and established a defensive perimeter. Despite profuse bleeding from head wounds which impaired his vision, Capt. Jacobs, with complete disregard for his safety, returned under intense fire to evacuate a seriously wounded advisor to the safety of a wooded area where he administered lifesaving first aid. He then returned through heavy automatic weapons fire to evacuate the wounded company commander. Capt. Jacobs made repeated trips across the fire-swept open rice paddies evacuating wounded and their weapons. On 3 separate occasions, Capt. Jacobs contacted and drove off Viet Cong squads who were searching for allied wounded and weapons, single-handedly killing 3 and wounding several others. His gallant actions and extraordinary heroism saved the lives of 1 U.S. advisor and 13 allied soldiers. Through his effort the allied company was restored to an effective fighting unit and prevented defeat of the friendly forces by a strong and determined enemy. Capt. Jacobs, by his gallantry and bravery in action in the highest traditions of the military service, has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

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Including this guy, Jack Jacobs

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WOW

Absolute badass.

any evil henchman EVER has yet to hit a good guy running away from them in a straight line at close range....just once I'd love to see an evil underling just clip some main character right in the back of the head and drop him.

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Including this guy, Jack Jacobs

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With all due respect to captain Jacobs, and his amazing courage, but this example in no way nullifies Hollywood's propensity to mitigate gunshot wounds. Despite his obvious heroics there was no indication in the passage you provided that indicates his wounds were any more serious than producing impaired vision.

Again, this in no way is a knock on the captain. The man deserves the acknowledgement he received. Just that this is a bad example. In fact any singular example would fail to challenge the point that Hollywood under plays the trauma caused by gunshot wounds.

Another one is how when the hero is in a fight he can basically incapacitate someone with one punch. I get sick and tired of seeing this in almost EVERY fight on Tv or movie. An attacker will approach the protagonist, protagonist will nail him with a punch to the face, bad guy is down for the count. Sometimes it's a karate chop to the back of the head, sometimes it's a flip over the shoulder. But it seems like bad guys in movies sure are pussies to where they almost always are taken off their feet and never heard from again as a result of a single punch.

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Despite his obvious heroics there was no indication in the passage you provided that indicates his wounds were any more serious than producing impaired vision.

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He was, in fact, covered with shrapnel wounds all over one side of his body. What impaired his vision was a roughly 5 inch hunk of metal sticking out of his head above the eye. He also had flesh wounds to his arm and leg.

As I said, having been involved with a lot of military events, I know of MANY soldiers who sustained wounds more than serious enough to satisfy your criteria and did heroic things. One in particular, whose story I wrote for a USO event, was shot 5 times during an ambush in Iraq, including one shot that fractured his pelvis. He was still able to implement first aid while simultaneously engaging the enemy. I couldn't find the bio I wrote for him and can't remember his name. It was for the USO annual Gala in 2003, I believe. He was given the "Soldier of the Year" award by the organization.

You'd be surprised what adrenaline can do, especially under dire circumstances, and of course, when the price of inaction is death.

Why don't you go to the official Medal of Honor website and start reading citations. Not only will you get a good idea of what people are capable of doing while seriously wounded, but your pride in being an American will be bolstered incalculably.

Start with Vietnam. I remember reading one in which the soldier was shot 7 or 8 times, but was still able to carry men to helicopters as he exposed himself to fire. Can't remember his name either, but it's an amazing story.

There's another one in which a soldier literally held his guts from falling out with one hand while using his rifle to engage the enemy with the other. These men are truly incredible.

Medal of Honor

i like how people shoot at someone fleeing from them who is either going up or down a fire escape. they never seem to be able to hit them.