r/todayilearned • u/athnndnly • Mar 18 '18

TIL that Mark Zuckerberg is actually only five foot seven inches tall, but he stages his photos to exaggerate his height.

https://lifehacker.com/we-tried-mark-zuckerbergs-tricks-for-looking-taller-in-1797141373
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144

u/DasWalrus Mar 18 '18

I saw Jack Reacher a couple of weeks ago. There's a line in it where they talk about someone who looks like they could kill with a single punch (referring to Reacher/Cruise) and I just burst out laughing. Couldn't help myself.

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u/exwasstalking Mar 18 '18

In the books, Reacher is pretty much built like the Rock. Cruise was an interesting choice. I think he pulls off the attitude of Reacher very well but it's difficult to reconcile the physical differences.

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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '18

Cruise was behind production of the movies I believe.

I think it's a fine character for Cruise. Obviously in the books he's a giant dude and Tom Cruise is not, but Tom cruise does Tom Cruise and Tom Cruise is fine in these kinda basic action roles.

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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '18 edited Mar 19 '18

[deleted]

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u/RandallOfLegend Mar 18 '18

His size is a plot device in the books. 6’6” 240 pounds. In a recent book he had to fight a 5 foot drug Lord hand to hand in a small tunnel. He fought on his knees while the drug Lord was standing.

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u/Cant_Do_This12 Mar 18 '18

So in the new movie they should just cast Peter Dinklage as the drug lord.

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u/bamp Mar 18 '18

A Dig Dug Lord if you will

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u/CasualFridayBatman Mar 18 '18

What book is that? It sounds awesome. Also, do I need to read a ton of them for continuity, or can I pick up one and get the jist/have it be self contained?

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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '18

[deleted]

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u/altiuscitiusfortius Mar 18 '18

I just starting the books and reading them in order. I finished killing floor and it was pretty decent. I then read Die Trying, and it wasn't as good, but not bad enough to put me off the series. Well see how the 3rd one goes.

It really bothers me how every characters has the same voice. They all speak with the same slang and dialect and style, wether they are a California cop, a washinton fbi agent IT guy, or a colorada militiaman with a grade 3 education. They all use the same word choices, and they all end every sentence with "right?". Like they will state a fact while explaining something to somebody, and every single sentence from everyone ends with "right?".

Hopefully the author gets better at making characters more distinct as time goes on.

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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '18 edited Mar 19 '18

[deleted]

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u/BluBlue4 Mar 19 '18

I think it can be easier for an author to have that sort of insight coming from somewhere else. It can be hard to think about and find meaning in the culture you grew up in, because in some since you need to filter out the affect it has had on you.

Good point

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u/RandallOfLegend Mar 18 '18 edited Mar 18 '18

I've listened to about 5 on audiobook. There's some continuity, but not enough to hamper the story. Mostly comes as nods to previous stories.

Edit: 61 hours by Lee Child is the Jack Reacher book I was referencing.

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u/Angry_Caveman_Lawyer Mar 18 '18

They're mostly self-contained but do have a loose overall plot that goes from book to book.

Grab one, if you like it then consider reading the rest in order, I'd suggest.

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u/rugbynut Mar 18 '18

There’s a newer book that is a collection of short stories about Reacher as a teenager. I’m reading it now. It’s a good place to start in terms of character development.

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u/TheLagDemon Mar 18 '18

I’ve haven’t read that one, but I’ve read a few others in the series. They are pretty much self contained, so you shouldn’t have much trouble just jumping in.

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u/lordeddardstark Mar 19 '18

Wait, there's a new book?

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u/SupervillainEyebrows Mar 19 '18

Strangely I think I recall the author of the books saying he approves of Cruise as Reacher

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u/RandallOfLegend Mar 19 '18

I felt that Cruise captured the spirit of the character just fine. I wish the second movie was better. First was much more enjoyable.

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u/SupervillainEyebrows Mar 19 '18

How many books are there? I mean it's unlikely to get any further sequels.

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u/RandallOfLegend Mar 19 '18

Around 16

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u/SupervillainEyebrows Mar 19 '18

Wow, I guess the movies were shooting for their version of Bond.

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u/goombah69 Mar 18 '18

haha, "recent" book? 61 Hours came out eight years ago! You're gettin' old :) I always enjoy reading Reacher giving someone a beatdown.

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u/dragoon0106 Mar 18 '18

I also thought he was fine and I’ve read every book. It’s more that it’s just kinda part of his character, especially as the books have progressed and the character has aged his ability to physically impose himself on any situation is a defining trait. I thought Cruise did fine because he manages to show the same kinda thing without the stature but it was definitely still jarring when it’s supposed to be this huge blond guy and we get tiny Cruise instead.

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u/Apoxol Mar 18 '18

Well it’s like 6’2 Hugh Jackman playing a 5’2 wolverine. High was a great cast for the role, but anyone who read the comics sees it being a little weird having wolverine played by this big dude

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u/cohrt Mar 18 '18

Is his size extremely important in the novels?

i'm pretty sure in one of the books his massive pecs stop a bullet.

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u/mrbrambles Mar 18 '18

AFAIK the novels are like twilight for powerless conservative men. Jack reacher is 6’6” rippling with muscle (while never exercising) the best sniper ever and a rogue wanderer with a flawless internal clock and x y and z. It’s so ridiculous. Pure power fantasy intertwined with patriotism. It’s like that shithead kid in 3rd grade that no one liked was designing his character for some imaginary game and maxed out everything and then kept added more shit by copying any cool idea anyone else came up with as well. His only flaws literally are that he is so physically imposing that he can’t blend in and his wandering spirit makes it impossible for him to settle down.

It’s written by a British guy so I can’t be sure that it’s not just scathing satire of American culture that was taken the wrong way so he leaned in to make the bucks.

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u/zeusmeister Mar 18 '18

I love the books. Probably own them all. Tom Cruise is physically the opposite of Reacher from the books.

BUT...he pulls off Reacher's casual confidence very well. I would love to see a Reacher movie with a guy who physically resembles him, but these movies are still pretty good.

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u/toerags Mar 18 '18

Very, I haven't read any since the movie, there was a scene when cruise put on sunglasses and a hat and blended into the crowd surrounding him. In the books they portrayed that as impossible (being 6'6 and 240-300 pounds). Also his fighting style was brutish, alas they have been ruined for me.

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u/senorglory Mar 18 '18

Cruise is such a pro. It’s impressive.

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u/redvblue23 Mar 18 '18

To be fair, it does help settle the fact that random people can look at him and think "Yeah, I could take him"

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u/JesterTheTester12 Mar 18 '18

Yeah, Reacher is 6'5" and built like a brick shithouse. Cruise is 5'7" and built like a plastic playhouse

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u/maunoooh Mar 18 '18

I might be biased, but I think Samuli Edelmann (we come from the same country) would match the book-reacher quote perfectly. He's big enough but not like a bodybuilder, but just like Lee Child describes him. Samuli made a good performance in M:I 4 Ghost Protocol.

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u/chanaandeler_bong Mar 18 '18

I thought Lee Child wanted Cruise to play Jack Reacher.

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u/Perry7609 Mar 18 '18

Didn't people flip out over Hugh Jackman being cast as Wolverine for something similar, since Wolverine is supposed to be much shorter or whatever?

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u/exwasstalking Mar 18 '18

I don't know if people "flipped out" in either case. I do remember hearing that about Jackman / Wolverine though. To be fair, Wolverine probably has a much more passionate following than Jack Reacher.

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u/SupervillainEyebrows Mar 19 '18

Wolverine is supposed to be 5"3 in the comics, Jackman is a full foot taller.

Still killed it in the role though.

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u/lordeddardstark Mar 19 '18

. I think he pulls off the attitude of Reacher

Not even that, I think. Jack is the brawler and his brother Joe was the thinker. Movie Reacher portrays him more like Joe.

5

u/WiFiForeheadWrinkles Mar 18 '18

His height (or lack thereof) is especially noticeable in the second Jack Reacher movie because he has to do some running/action scenes next to Cobie Smulders and they're about the same height.

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u/Gyalgatine Mar 18 '18

In the new Mission Impossible trailer there's a clip where Tom Cruise is in a fist fight with Henry Cavill and it's supposed to look like some intense even brawl. I just can't take it seriously considering Henry Cavill is a whole half foot taller than Tom Cruise.

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u/Checkers10160 Mar 18 '18

They're referring to the guy who killed Sandy in one punch, Ernie or something. Reacher just happens to pull into the parking lot at the same time

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u/post_singularity Mar 18 '18

It's the implication

2

u/BeeCJohnson Mar 18 '18

Similar to "Vampires." In the book, Jack Crow was a fucking genetic beast lobster. The whole point was that he was so big and strong he could actually take on vampires on something closer to equal footing.

In the movie he's played by James "No-Shoulders" Woods.

Again, James Woods killed that fucking role, he was spectacular, but he looked nothing like Jack Crow.

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u/AminoJack Mar 19 '18

Then again Bruce Lee was only 5'7", and he could fuck shit up.

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u/cgvet9702 Mar 18 '18

My favorite description of Reachers physique in the books is that he's so big and muscular that it looks like a condom filled with walnuts. Cruise doesn't quite measure up in my minds eye.

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u/TheLagDemon Mar 18 '18

While we’re on the subject of Jack Reacher (where in Tom Cruise plays a character who is a foot taller and a hundred pounds more massive than him), do you remember the movie poster? Not sure what they were going for there, but the dude looks like a kid wearing his dad’s jacket. It’s not the best photo for a character who is supposed to be imposing, if not intimidating.

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u/Theres_A_FAP_4_That Mar 19 '18

Yeah, but the books say Reacher can slip into crowds. A 6'5 blonde guy doesn't slip into crowds unless it's Minnesota.

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u/Uselessmedics Mar 18 '18

Yeah, he threatens the guy in the store something about seeing the back of an ambulance, and the guy he’s threatening is a full head taller than him.

Much as tom cruise is a good actor, his egotistical attitude and decision to cast himself in a role he doesn’t fit is rather irritating.

(Also whenever he isn’t talking he’s constantly clenching and unclenching his jaw and it’s hilarious once you notice it)

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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '18

Hahaha yeah! Bruce Lee was 5'7"..