Reader George

A smash cut is an abrupt cut, right? Like from Rocky talking about his fight to getting punched in the face by Drago.

A cut is just a cut. Like a jump cut or whatever. Can be in the same scene, where a smash is usually to a different scene altogether (location, tone, etc). At least, that's how I understood it.

Maybe I'm wrong?

Jump cuts affect continuity. A cut by definition is a cut. A "smash cut" -- sorry smash cut fans -- is compensating for a weak transition between scenes. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_transition for the technicalities. Smash cut is an invention that always jolts me out of the story.

A smash cut is compensating for a weak reader. Looks exciting. Keeps them moving forward over a giant leap that might confuse them.