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.
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)
Quote: AZDuffmanAny 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.
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That didn't bother me because English wasn't a language yet so every word they say is just a translation.
I do have a plothole from that film that annoys me so much I wrote dialogue for it in a comedy I wrote. If you are interested I can provide a link to the scene on YouTube.
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.
The meter usage in Star Wars I honestly have never thought of, but its a fantasy world with fictional measures (many that are never explained), so I guess it can be explained that meter means something more fixed in their universe. I don't know if I would really call this a "plot hole", since its used consistently in the movie. I mean I am sure some physicist can find ample wrong with their version of "light speed" as well, but its not a plot hole, just an inaccuracy (maybe, though in fantasy worlds anything can be what you make them even terms we have an established meaning of). For example, in Lord of the Rings (the books) "leagues" is often used as a measure for parties and armies from each other, and I remember in school learning there was something wrong with their measure compared to in the books (I don't recall the details), but I never gave it much thought. That is the beauty of fantasy worlds, measures can mean whatever the author intends (in my view).
Would we have preferred a completely made up system of measurement, like they used on the original Battlestar Galactica?
Gene
Quote: GandlerIn 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)
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Could be because the twister dropped a house down on Miss Gulch in real life, too. And since she was dead, there was no reason to execute the order, and the Sheriff just let it go.
Gene
Quote: Ace2I 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)
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It might be that, I am trying to remember back to 1984 when I learned it.
Gene
Quote: GenoDRPhI 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
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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.
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...).
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
Quote: GenoDRPhThat 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
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Its either modern English or its not. You can't be upset that modern words and phrases are used in movies that (incorrectly) use modern English in a historical setting (or a modern foreign setting). Otherwise, that is just splitting hairs.
You don't even need to go back that far, you can go to WWII movies, or even modern English movies that take place in modern foreign countries where words and phrases are used that are/were pretty much not a thing for them.
There are some movies that do history "right" (or close to it), strict dialogue in the original language and era with subtitles, but these are rarely popular with the masses. In fact most movies with 100% subtitles for any reason are rarely popular. History almost always takes second (or third) place to entertainment and accessibility.
If you are watching a fictional movie about the Crusades in modern English, and the thing that most historically offends you is the term, "God Speed", being used by characters, then something is off base.
(Though all of these would be "inaccuracies" none of them would be "plot holes" ).
Quote: MrVAs 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...).
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I haven't seen the movie but have seen the strike. I can think of two problems with a missile strike.
1. They might not have accurate enough mapping to use a missile. The run and target are a total ripoff of the Death Star run, a long run along a sort of trench. Might not be able to get a missile to lock on to it.
2. The target might be too small for a missile. Missiles are good but not perfect.
Gene
So first ten minutes batmobile is shown to be impregnable to fire and hand grenades above, below on the sides, etc
Half hour into movie Batman battles Catwoman on a rooftop. She almost catches him but he escapes by throwing bat acid at her
Half hour after that the Penguin installs a remote control and commandeers the batmobile as Batman drives it. Batman discovers the remote control is attached below the car steering.
Here is the plothole. Batman physically punches a hole through the floor with his bare fist to remove the remote control. The metal that even grenades couldn't penetrate Batman punches through with his bare fist!
And what gets me really angry is that half an hour earlier the screenwriter established he carried bat acid. I mean I could have brought it if they showed Batman first sprinkling his bat acid on the floorboard and then punched a hole through it.
But nope, what is left is not just a plothole but a surprisingly lazy plothole.
The new Top Gun movie was a big thumbs down for me.Quote: MrVAs 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...).
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I did like Tom Cruise's American Made.
Quote: EvenBobIn 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.
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Continuity issues are not plot holes. Not in the industry especially. Two separate things.
And I worked twenty years in the industry.
Continuity errors are the responsibility of the continuity girl (today maybe they use guys as well) who's job is to keep track of these issues
A film set is very hectic. Often what appears one single scene was shot over a few days. Definitely over a few hours at least
These mistakes are usually discovered in editing where it's too late (expensive) to go an fix.
Digital EFX can help today which is why you don't see these issues as much.
But continuity is definitely not the same as plot holes.
Quote: darkoz
Continuity issues are not plot holes. Not in the industry especially. Two separate things.
I don't care.
Same with roulette, obviously.
Correct him, politely point out how his wheels are spinning in quicksand, and ... "I don't care."
Classic.
Didn't he leave the forum for a substantial amount of time after incorrectly predicting the next president?Quote: MrVEB doesn't care if he's wrong.
Quote: GenoDRPhI am okay splitting hairs when I evaluate whether I like a movie or not.
Gene
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I agree with you. The things that bother you in a movie, bother you. Other people’s views of whether that’s irrational are besides the point.
Quote: EvenBobIn 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.
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In "Major League" they are in the middle of a game and the clock says about 10:00 but daylight so it has to be they shot it in the morning.
Quote: AxelWolfThe new Top Gun movie was a big thumbs down for me.
Really? Most everyone I have heard from liked it.
Quote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhI 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
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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.
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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.
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.
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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: MrVEB doesn't care if he's wrong.
Same with roulette, obviously.
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EB's Roulette system is one giant plot hole.
When they rob Roger the drug dealer they dig up his kitchen floor where his money is hidden.
Then they shoot him & stage it like he shot at them as they were coming through the door & call an ambulance.
How do they explain having had time to dig up the kitchen floor when their backup arrives & they supposedly just got there?
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!
Quote: darkozDie 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!
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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.
BTW, I literally fell off my couch when I watched the censored/dubbed network version of DHWaV. Since it stars Samuel L Jackson, there's a obviously going to be a shload of "M******F******"s that the censors have to dub out. I thought I had heard all the usual euphemisms that they dub in... "My Friend," "Mother Lover," "Motor Scooter," etc., but they used one that I had never heard before. For some reason, hearing Samuel L Jackson say Melon Farmer, literally had me on the floor laughing!
Quote: Joeman
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.
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He has no way of knowing if there's some secondary device that would blow if he started yanking on wires or tubes. That's Movie Bomb Logic 101.
EDIT: Also, that's not really a plot hole... more like "dumb character action."
Quote: gordonm888Quote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhI 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
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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.
Quote: TigerWuI 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: MrVEB doesn't care if he's wrong.
Same with roulette, obviously.
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EB's Roulette system is one giant plot hole.
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This is exactly right, a lot of people in this thread are confusing plot holes, with inaccuracies and continuity errors.
As for the teeth article, I am skeptical. I have seen enough historical photos of as recent as the late 1800s of everyday people on the street to see that people did not take care of their teeth like they do now (certainly not average people). Is the medieval era drastically different because of diet? Maybe, but surely that would be regional and not all of Europe.
Quote: TigerWuQuote: darkozDie 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.
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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.
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.
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Oh, I know, but Argyle already knew about the terrorists BEFORE the C4 exploded. You were saying he was completely oblivious to everything that was going on. Unless I misread your post.
Quote: GandlerQuote: gordonm888Quote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhI 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
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: GandlerQuote: gordonm888Quote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhI 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
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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.
Quote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: GandlerQuote: gordonm888Quote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhI 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.
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Believe it or not, the majority of the Soviet population during the Soviet years were religious.
Gene.
Quote: GenoDRPh
Believe it or not, the majority of the Soviet population during the Soviet years were religious.
Gene.
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I do believe that. I know the USSR government tried to force atheism on the population but even in that system this was a hard thing to do.
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.
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The force of the explosion went up the elevator shaft and out the lower floors, blowing the windows out. It would not go out of the shaft and to the garage for the most part.
There are bigger problems in the movie. A grown man would not fit in an HVAC system. He would not have room to change his wifebeater, either. He is talking to the walkie-talkie without holding down the button. It is a good movie full of this stuff.
Gas an <$0.809 was correct for 1989 though.
I find this the most unbelievable scene in the whole movie! ;)Quote: AZDuffmanGas an <$0.809 was correct for 1989 though.
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And you could still buy leaded gas!
I love this movie, and this particular plot hole doesn't prevent me from enjoying it.
When fluctuations in gravity send Coop (Matthew McConaughey) stumbling onto NASA's top-secret mission to save humanity, he's told that it's a trip only he can lead. Huh? So why did those planning the mission - who knew Coop for many years beforehand - never contact him, despite his farm being just a day's drive away? (Which,BTW, is sooo convenient to the plot.)
Even if Coop's arrival was a lucky break, the idea that a man who needs a wormhole to be explained to him would be taking the wheel instead of experts who had probably planned and trained for months makes no sense at all. Which reminds me of Armaggedon, where Bruce Willis is a driller who is chosen to lead a mission to an asteroid to blow it up with nuclear weapons. Yeah, right.
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?
Quote: darkozTerminator 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?
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Maybe that's why they cut that out from the theatrical release....
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: GandlerQuote: gordonm888Quote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhI 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Believe it or not, the majority of the Soviet population during the Soviet years were religious.
Gene.
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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.
Quote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: GandlerQuote: gordonm888Quote: GandlerQuote: GenoDRPhI 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
They spoke English because the show was produced for American TV. Would American audiences prefer the show-intended for them-with all Russian dialogue? TV and movies are history's interpreters, not its chroniclers.
Gene
The final scene where Jeff Goldblum uploads the virus into the Alien mother ship. As bright as Goldblum's character is made out to be, how could he figure out Alien computer technology with a simple Laptop from 1995? Are we supposed to believe that this super advanced race of alien beings who have mastered intergalactic travel are somehow using Windows 95 as their operating system?
The movie tries to explain this away using Binary code as a universal computer language. But it wouldn't explain how he would hack one of their computers in a matter of hours with a crash landed spaceship from 50 years earlier, then connect to the mother ship server in a a few minutes, which would somehow still be utilizing that same network from 50 years ago??