Why is it the the joystick and throttles in these movies make big clunking sounds and have to be moved like the gearshift on a 1979 F-350 tow truck?
Depends on the airplane. Some thrust levers are totally silent, some clunk at the stops (particularly when moved rapidly) or at a thrust setting detent, while others have internal linkages to various things—say a gust lock solenoid for example.
On my primary jet going past Thrust Set (which is how you get to Max Thrust—this is primarily for a non-normal or emergency situation) causes a clicking sound as you go over the detent. It also clicks going the other direction coming out Max back into Thrust Set. On some older jets in order to go into burner one had to go to the Mil Thrust stop then move the thrust lever outboard to go into burner. You would probably CLUNK that.
In movies, generally speaking, it is embellished though.
