Movie plot holes

Quote: AZDuffman

Any plot holes in movies bother you?


I never thought of this one until now. In "Star Wars IV" they say the exhaust port is "2 meters wide." But:

1. When it happened, the meter had not yet been invented.
2. The meter can only be used on earth as a meter is 1/1,000,000 the distance from north pole to equator if I remember my science correct* So how could they get an accurate measurement for one?

I never thought about this until just now.**

*Yes, I know the distance of a meter has since been redefined. But Star Wars IV happened before that. In fact it was probably filmed before that.

**Yes, I know not to tell this to women at parties.
link to original post

Quote: Gandler

In the theme of this website, the Wizard of Odds, the plot primer was based around Dorothy running away from her home because the Sherrif has an order to euthanize Toto from when the dog bit the richest lady in the county.

She returns after her adventure and the outcome of the order is never addressed again. I don't know why, but this has always bothered me.

(Quote truncated for relevance)

link to original post

Quote: Ace2

I believe you’re off by one order of magnitude

Rough calculation: Earth has circumference of about 25,000 miles, so distance from equator to pole about 6,000 miles, which is about 10,000 kilometers, times 1,000 is 10 million meters

If you want to really impress a woman at a party, calculate the mass of earth in your head (but describe the steps)
link to original post

Quote: GenoDRPh

I legit want to know why movies set in ancient or medieval times use the word "Godspeed" when the word wasn't even invented until 1250 or 1300 AD...

Gene
link to original post

Quote: GenoDRPh

That logical leap my be okay with you, but not me.

I'm okay with using modern English in movies set in ancient times, It shows shallow thinking and a certain ignorance on the part of screenwriters to use anachronistic words.

Gene
link to original post

Quote: MrV

As I posted at DT, the plot of "Top Gun:Maverick" has a couple holes in it big enough to fly an F-18 through.

1. Why use fighters to attack a target that would be ideal for a missile strike?

2. Why use Hornets when Raptors or even Lightnings would do better, with their stealth capability (yeah, they said they were "unavailable:" sure...).
link to original post

Quote: MrV

As I posted at DT, the plot of "Top Gun:Maverick" has a couple holes in it big enough to fly an F-18 through.

1. Why use fighters to attack a target that would be ideal for a missile strike?

2. Why use Hornets when Raptors or even Lightnings would do better, with their stealth capability (yeah, they said they were "unavailable:" sure...).
link to original post

Quote: EvenBob

In the industry plot holes are called continuity. It's especially bad in reality TV shows where in the same scene you sometimes have somebody wearing two different sets of clothes. In the old movies it would not be uncommon for there to be a clock in the background that had a different time on it every time they what the f*** switch the camera angle. You never see that anymore now they just use stopped clocks. There's a famous scene in North by Northwest the Alfred Hitchcock movie with Cary Grant where he's in the backseat of a car with a police officer and they supposedly to go around a sharp corner and the police officer leans into the turn and Cary Grant sits there straight up. It's pretty funny. Hitchcock is famous for leaving that kind of stuff in his movies to give people something to talk about.
link to original post

Quote: darkoz

Continuity issues are not plot holes. Not in the industry especially. Two separate things.

Quote: MrV

EB doesn't care if he's wrong.

Quote: GenoDRPh

I am okay splitting hairs when I evaluate whether I like a movie or not.

Gene
link to original post

Quote: EvenBob

In the industry plot holes are called continuity. It's especially bad in reality TV shows where in the same scene you sometimes have somebody wearing two different sets of clothes. In the old movies it would not be uncommon for there to be a clock in the background that had a different time on it every time they switched the camera angle. You never see that anymore now they just use stopped clocks. There's a famous scene in North by Northwest the Alfred Hitchcock movie with Cary Grant where he's in the backseat of a car with a police officer and they supposedly to go around a sharp corner and the police officer leans into the turn and Cary Grant sits there straight up. It's pretty funny. Hitchcock is famous for leaving that kind of stuff in his movies to give people something to talk about.
link to original post

Quote: AxelWolf

The new Top Gun movie was a big thumbs down for me.

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

I legit want to know why movies set in ancient or medieval times use the word "Godspeed" when the word wasn't even invented until 1250 or 1300 AD...

Gene
link to original post

By that logic you may as well ask why movies set in ancient times use dialogue in English at all (before it was invented).

Or why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era use modern English instead of English from the time.

The simple answer is modern audiences would rather dialogue and phrases that are understood.
link to original post

Quote: gordonm888

Why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era have every character with perfect teeth? Because literally no one who lived in those time periods had perfect teeth that were supernaturally white.
link to original post

Quote: MrV

EB doesn't care if he's wrong.

Same with roulette, obviously.
link to original post

Quote: darkoz

Die Hard.

After getting dropped off at Nakatomi Plaza, Bruce Willis driver parks the limo in the lower floor garage and remains.

Throughout the movie he notices not one tremor or loud bang nor is there a single crack in the concrete at the end of the film when the driver finally drives out.

Not even after Bruce discovers pounds of C4 which he straps to an office chair and drops down an elevator shaft which bottoms out at the lower level of the building causing the most massive explosion in the film, knocking out the entire first five floors!

Hmmmm!
link to original post

Quote: Joeman

Plot Hole

The whole movie revolves around Simon's binary explosives whose two parts are inert by themselves, but explosive when mixed. When McClain finds the first bomb on the subway train, it hadn't mixed yet. Why doesn't he just pull the hoses out so that the two parts can't mix? I mean aside from the fact that the movie would be over in 20 minutes.

link to original post

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

I legit want to know why movies set in ancient or medieval times use the word "Godspeed" when the word wasn't even invented until 1250 or 1300 AD...

Gene
link to original post

By that logic you may as well ask why movies set in ancient times use dialogue in English at all (before it was invented).

Or why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era use modern English instead of English from the time.

The simple answer is modern audiences would rather dialogue and phrases that are understood.
link to original post

Why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era have every character with perfect teeth? Because literally no one who lived in those time periods had perfect teeth that were supernaturally white.
link to original post

Quote: TigerWu

I think some people are confused as to what a "plot hole" actually is.

A character doing something stupid, like attacking a target with a jet when a missile would work better, is not a plot hole.

Something left unexplained, storywise, is not a plot hole.

A plot hole is basically when something happens that is impossible within the context of the story. If a character is killed, but then reappears later in the story with no explanation, that would be a plot hole.

Quote: gordonm888

Why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era have every character with perfect teeth? Because literally no one who lived in those time periods had perfect teeth that were supernaturally white.
link to original post

Moviewise, it would be distracting if everyone had gross, or even normal teeth.

In reality, Medieval people with gross teeth is a common misconception.

"People in the Middle Ages considered healthy, white teeth a sign of beauty and wrote of sweet-smelling breath as a desirable attribute. So, not surprisingly, we have extensive evidence that people liked to keep their teeth clean and a large amount of evidence of toothpastes and teeth powders, as well as mouth washes and treatments for halitosis.

Contrary to the depiction of medieval peasants with blackened and rotting teeth, the average person in the Middle Ages had teeth that were in very good condition. This is substantially due to one factor—the rarity of sugar in the diet. Most medieval people simply could not afford sugar, and those who could used it sparingly, usually as a seasoning or minor ingredient and almost never as a condiment or the basis of a dish. This means that most people used natural sugars, such as those in fruits and honey; even then, they ate this kind of sugar sparingly. Taken with a diet high in calcium via dairy, high in vegetables and cereals, and low in foods that cause decay, the average medieval person ate the way most modern dentists would recommend for good teeth."

Quote: MrV

EB doesn't care if he's wrong.

Same with roulette, obviously.
link to original post

EB's Roulette system is one giant plot hole.
link to original post

Quote: TigerWu

Quote: darkoz

Die Hard.

After getting dropped off at Nakatomi Plaza, Bruce Willis driver parks the limo in the lower floor garage and remains.

Throughout the movie he notices not one tremor or loud bang nor is there a single crack in the concrete at the end of the film when the driver finally drives out.

Not even after Bruce discovers pounds of C4 which he straps to an office chair and drops down an elevator shaft which bottoms out at the lower level of the building causing the most massive explosion in the film, knocking out the entire first five floors!

Hmmmm!
link to original post

Argyle is listening to loud music and talking on the phone while most of the gunfights are going on 30+ floors above him. He also finds out about the terrorists before the detonators explode, because he hears about it on the news and listens to them on the CB.
link to original post

Quote: darkoz

The biggest explosion wasn't thirty floors up. It was lower level basement when the entire C4 was dropped to the bottom of the elevator shaft.

Not a tile loose in the lower garage though.
link to original post

Quote: Gandler

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

I legit want to know why movies set in ancient or medieval times use the word "Godspeed" when the word wasn't even invented until 1250 or 1300 AD...

Gene
link to original post

By that logic you may as well ask why movies set in ancient times use dialogue in English at all (before it was invented).

Or why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era use modern English instead of English from the time.

The simple answer is modern audiences would rather dialogue and phrases that are understood.
link to original post

Why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era have every character with perfect teeth? Because literally no one who lived in those time periods had perfect teeth that were supernaturally white.
link to original post

Oh absolutely, cosmetically you can take the argument even further, why do all women in such movies have perfectly shaved legs and other areas when that was not a practice (and in reality should be completely hair), etc.... Heck even facially shaved men were rare (more common in higher classes and military which granted most Medieval movies feature).

It comes back to modern taste.

Everyone is willing to sacrifice historicity for taste and entertainment, and people are very selective about what they choose to be offended by when it comes to historical inaccuracies.
link to original post

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: Gandler

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

I legit want to know why movies set in ancient or medieval times use the word "Godspeed" when the word wasn't even invented until 1250 or 1300 AD...

Gene
link to original post

By that logic you may as well ask why movies set in ancient times use dialogue in English at all (before it was invented).

Or why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era use modern English instead of English from the time.

The simple answer is modern audiences would rather dialogue and phrases that are understood.
link to original post

Why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era have every character with perfect teeth? Because literally no one who lived in those time periods had perfect teeth that were supernaturally white.
link to original post

Oh absolutely, cosmetically you can take the argument even further, why do all women in such movies have perfectly shaved legs and other areas when that was not a practice (and in reality should be completely hair), etc.... Heck even facially shaved men were rare (more common in higher classes and military which granted most Medieval movies feature).

It comes back to modern taste.

Everyone is willing to sacrifice historicity for taste and entertainment, and people are very selective about what they choose to be offended by when it comes to historical inaccuracies.
link to original post

I'm okay with non-modern women in movies looking and grooming like modern women, In some cases it's appealing to the taste of the audience. In other cases it's practical - try and find actresses that don't have bare legs and axillas. I'm also okay with fantasy movies and TV shows having things out of place. GRR Martin has a good quote about why Tolkien has potatoes in Middle Earth and why Martin therefore has corn in Westeros, even though in the fictional time periods neither plant was known to those in those locals.

I'm also okay with movies set in non-modern times using modern languages. After all the intended audience is modern people who need to understand the darn thing. But, for the love of all that is cinematic, use only idioms and expressions that were known to the time period at issue. And that includes scientific knowledge as well.

Gene
link to original post

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: Gandler

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

I legit want to know why movies set in ancient or medieval times use the word "Godspeed" when the word wasn't even invented until 1250 or 1300 AD...

Gene
link to original post

By that logic you may as well ask why movies set in ancient times use dialogue in English at all (before it was invented).

Or why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era use modern English instead of English from the time.

The simple answer is modern audiences would rather dialogue and phrases that are understood.
link to original post

Why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era have every character with perfect teeth? Because literally no one who lived in those time periods had perfect teeth that were supernaturally white.
link to original post

Oh absolutely, cosmetically you can take the argument even further, why do all women in such movies have perfectly shaved legs and other areas when that was not a practice (and in reality should be completely hair), etc.... Heck even facially shaved men were rare (more common in higher classes and military which granted most Medieval movies feature).

It comes back to modern taste.

Everyone is willing to sacrifice historicity for taste and entertainment, and people are very selective about what they choose to be offended by when it comes to historical inaccuracies.
link to original post

I'm okay with non-modern women in movies looking and grooming like modern women, In some cases it's appealing to the taste of the audience. In other cases it's practical - try and find actresses that don't have bare legs and axillas. I'm also okay with fantasy movies and TV shows having things out of place. GRR Martin has a good quote about why Tolkien has potatoes in Middle Earth and why Martin therefore has corn in Westeros, even though in the fictional time periods neither plant was known to those in those locals.

I'm also okay with movies set in non-modern times using modern languages. After all the intended audience is modern people who need to understand the darn thing. But, for the love of all that is cinematic, use only idioms and expressions that were known to the time period at issue. And that includes scientific knowledge as well.

Gene
link to original post

Here is a different example (more modern).

I started watching Chernobyl (HBO, 2019) a couple days ago (not technically a movie, but miniseries/show, so close enough). I am four episodes in, and highly recommend it (so far it has been excellent, obviously have not finished it, but I know the history so I don't care about spoilers).

This is a show set in 1980s Russia (Soviet Union), however, it is in English (mostly for main dialogue), and clearly American English (why not UK English since that is geographically closer?). This is "bizarre" (by logical standards) because background characters speak Russian to each other, writings on the set are in Russian, etc.... but the dialogue is in English. Why would the primary characters happen to speak English to each other in the 1980s Soviet Union while all of the background characters (often their higher-ups) are speaking Russian to each other in the background? Surely, they would be thought of as American spies? There are also some phrases that I am 95% sure were never used by 1980s Soviets, like "so God help us".

In the presence of military supervision would two scientists greet each other in Russian, and then proceed to discuss sensitive plans in English in 1980s Soviet Russia? I doubt it......

Does this bother me? Not at all. Its obvious that it was made for modern American audiences. But, pretty much every dialogue sequence could be nitpicked by this logic.
link to original post

Quote: GenoDRPh

Believe it or not, the majority of the Soviet population during the Soviet years were religious.

Gene.
link to original post

Quote: darkoz

The biggest explosion wasn't thirty floors up. It was lower level basement when the entire C4 was dropped to the bottom of the elevator shaft.

Not a tile loose in the lower garage though.
link to original post

Quote: AZDuffman

Gas an <$0.809 was correct for 1989 though.
link to original post

Quote: darkoz

Terminator 2: special edition (the theatrical edit doesn't have these scenes.)

The T2 robot is sewing a wound with stitches on Sarah Connors arm.

Concerned, Sarah asks if he knows what he is doing. He replies, "I have detailed files on human anatomy."

Literally the very next scene, Sarah and her son, John are in the back seat of a car which the terminator drives and Sarah scolds John such that he cries.

The T2 sees the tears and asks "What is that coming from your eyes?"

Okay so this terminator with detailed files on human anatomy doesn't know about tear ducts or the human predilection for crying?
link to original post

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: Gandler

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

I legit want to know why movies set in ancient or medieval times use the word "Godspeed" when the word wasn't even invented until 1250 or 1300 AD...

Gene
link to original post

By that logic you may as well ask why movies set in ancient times use dialogue in English at all (before it was invented).

Or why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era use modern English instead of English from the time.

The simple answer is modern audiences would rather dialogue and phrases that are understood.
link to original post

Why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era have every character with perfect teeth? Because literally no one who lived in those time periods had perfect teeth that were supernaturally white.
link to original post

Oh absolutely, cosmetically you can take the argument even further, why do all women in such movies have perfectly shaved legs and other areas when that was not a practice (and in reality should be completely hair), etc.... Heck even facially shaved men were rare (more common in higher classes and military which granted most Medieval movies feature).

It comes back to modern taste.

Everyone is willing to sacrifice historicity for taste and entertainment, and people are very selective about what they choose to be offended by when it comes to historical inaccuracies.
link to original post

I'm okay with non-modern women in movies looking and grooming like modern women, In some cases it's appealing to the taste of the audience. In other cases it's practical - try and find actresses that don't have bare legs and axillas. I'm also okay with fantasy movies and TV shows having things out of place. GRR Martin has a good quote about why Tolkien has potatoes in Middle Earth and why Martin therefore has corn in Westeros, even though in the fictional time periods neither plant was known to those in those locals.

I'm also okay with movies set in non-modern times using modern languages. After all the intended audience is modern people who need to understand the darn thing. But, for the love of all that is cinematic, use only idioms and expressions that were known to the time period at issue. And that includes scientific knowledge as well.

Gene
link to original post

Here is a different example (more modern).

I started watching Chernobyl (HBO, 2019) a couple days ago (not technically a movie, but miniseries/show, so close enough). I am four episodes in, and highly recommend it (so far it has been excellent, obviously have not finished it, but I know the history so I don't care about spoilers).

This is a show set in 1980s Russia (Soviet Union), however, it is in English (mostly for main dialogue), and clearly American English (why not UK English since that is geographically closer?). This is "bizarre" (by logical standards) because background characters speak Russian to each other, writings on the set are in Russian, etc.... but the dialogue is in English. Why would the primary characters happen to speak English to each other in the 1980s Soviet Union while all of the background characters (often their higher-ups) are speaking Russian to each other in the background? Surely, they would be thought of as American spies? There are also some phrases that I am 95% sure were never used by 1980s Soviets, like "so God help us".

In the presence of military supervision would two scientists greet each other in Russian, and then proceed to discuss sensitive plans in English in 1980s Soviet Russia? I doubt it......

Does this bother me? Not at all. Its obvious that it was made for modern American audiences. But, pretty much every dialogue sequence could be nitpicked by this logic.
link to original post

Believe it or not, the majority of the Soviet population during the Soviet years were religious.

Gene.
link to original post

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: Gandler

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: Gandler

Quote: GenoDRPh

I legit want to know why movies set in ancient or medieval times use the word "Godspeed" when the word wasn't even invented until 1250 or 1300 AD...

Gene
link to original post

By that logic you may as well ask why movies set in ancient times use dialogue in English at all (before it was invented).

Or why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era use modern English instead of English from the time.

The simple answer is modern audiences would rather dialogue and phrases that are understood.
link to original post

Why movies set in the Medieval-Renaissance Era have every character with perfect teeth? Because literally no one who lived in those time periods had perfect teeth that were supernaturally white.
link to original post

Oh absolutely, cosmetically you can take the argument even further, why do all women in such movies have perfectly shaved legs and other areas when that was not a practice (and in reality should be completely hair), etc.... Heck even facially shaved men were rare (more common in higher classes and military which granted most Medieval movies feature).

It comes back to modern taste.

Everyone is willing to sacrifice historicity for taste and entertainment, and people are very selective about what they choose to be offended by when it comes to historical inaccuracies.
link to original post

I'm okay with non-modern women in movies looking and grooming like modern women, In some cases it's appealing to the taste of the audience. In other cases it's practical - try and find actresses that don't have bare legs and axillas. I'm also okay with fantasy movies and TV shows having things out of place. GRR Martin has a good quote about why Tolkien has potatoes in Middle Earth and why Martin therefore has corn in Westeros, even though in the fictional time periods neither plant was known to those in those locals.

I'm also okay with movies set in non-modern times using modern languages. After all the intended audience is modern people who need to understand the darn thing. But, for the love of all that is cinematic, use only idioms and expressions that were known to the time period at issue. And that includes scientific knowledge as well.

Gene
link to original post

Here is a different example (more modern).

I started watching Chernobyl (HBO, 2019) a couple days ago (not technically a movie, but miniseries/show, so close enough). I am four episodes in, and highly recommend it (so far it has been excellent, obviously have not finished it, but I know the history so I don't care about spoilers).

This is a show set in 1980s Russia (Soviet Union), however, it is in English (mostly for main dialogue), and clearly American English (why not UK English since that is geographically closer?). This is "bizarre" (by logical standards) because background characters speak Russian to each other, writings on the set are in Russian, etc.... but the dialogue is in English. Why would the primary characters happen to speak English to each other in the 1980s Soviet Union while all of the background characters (often their higher-ups) are speaking Russian to each other in the background? Surely, they would be thought of as American spies? There are also some phrases that I am 95% sure were never used by 1980s Soviets, like "so God help us".

In the presence of military supervision would two scientists greet each other in Russian, and then proceed to discuss sensitive plans in English in 1980s Soviet Russia? I doubt it......

Does this bother me? Not at all. Its obvious that it was made for modern American audiences. But, pretty much every dialogue sequence could be nitpicked by this logic.
link to original post

Believe it or not, the majority of the Soviet population during the Soviet years were religious.

Gene.
link to original post

Oh I know, I can speak to a lot about religion in the Soviet Union and transition into today, but it would get far too political for here

But, during the Soviet Union, two Soviet scientists in front of the military would not use such a phrase, nor would they speak in English to each other in such a time.
link to original post