Everyone loves a plothole
January 18th 2010 17:44
Okay, so that's not strictly true. In fact, it's not true at all. But in the same way that a journo will sometimes use a catchy title to lure people in (admit it, it works), Hollywood filmmakers will frequently overlook enormous plotholes in their movies, in order to have the story flow the way they want it to. And it's not just two-bit, second grade B-movies that do this. Oh no. Films like the Star Wars franchise, Harry Potter movies, Jurassic Park and the latest Star Trek all have gaping plotholes that could ruin the whole moviegoing experience for the staunchly logical among us.... but perhaps you need to ask yourself, when has Hollywood ever been about logic?
Whether it's an impossible coincidence, a major flaw in continuity or odds that are more than a million to one, filmmakers will often completely disregard facts in order to make their movies work. Mark Hill from cracked.com wrote this article devoted solely to some of the most commonly used fact-sidestepping techniques used in Hollywood (it's worth a read, unless you hate swearing, in which case don't fucking go there).
And while plotholes may irritate certain audiences, to me they've always been forgivable based upon the very (ahem) fact that movies are not meant to be about reality - they're about fantasy, the imagination, and escapism. If you want reality, then watch a documentary. Even then you can't guarantee that you'll be getting the real deal!
My favourite plothole would have to be the one that is used time and time again, in just about every action film known to mankind: the one where the groups of bad guys - whoever they may be - are highly trained in the art of combat, and yet will very rarely kill a main character. The James Bond films are notorious for this: Bond can be shot at hundreds of times in each film, and yet those bullets will never hit their mark. But of course, it only takes our leading man a single shot to kill them!
And why not? These bad guys are pawns, extras, day players. If anyone is going to kill our favourite character, well it had better be the main antagonist because no-one wants him (or her) taken down by a nobody. So if you want to be generous about it, the plothole could simply be thought of as a device used by filmmakers to give audiences exactly what they want.
So tell me - what's your favourite plothole in a movie? And do obvious flaws in Hollywood films annoy you, or do you simply accept them as par for the course? Let me know your thoughts.
The plothole: one thing James Bond couldn't survive without
Whether it's an impossible coincidence, a major flaw in continuity or odds that are more than a million to one, filmmakers will often completely disregard facts in order to make their movies work. Mark Hill from cracked.com wrote this article devoted solely to some of the most commonly used fact-sidestepping techniques used in Hollywood (it's worth a read, unless you hate swearing, in which case don't fucking go there).
And while plotholes may irritate certain audiences, to me they've always been forgivable based upon the very (ahem) fact that movies are not meant to be about reality - they're about fantasy, the imagination, and escapism. If you want reality, then watch a documentary. Even then you can't guarantee that you'll be getting the real deal!
Do you guys ever actually kill anyone?
My favourite plothole would have to be the one that is used time and time again, in just about every action film known to mankind: the one where the groups of bad guys - whoever they may be - are highly trained in the art of combat, and yet will very rarely kill a main character. The James Bond films are notorious for this: Bond can be shot at hundreds of times in each film, and yet those bullets will never hit their mark. But of course, it only takes our leading man a single shot to kill them!
And why not? These bad guys are pawns, extras, day players. If anyone is going to kill our favourite character, well it had better be the main antagonist because no-one wants him (or her) taken down by a nobody. So if you want to be generous about it, the plothole could simply be thought of as a device used by filmmakers to give audiences exactly what they want.
So tell me - what's your favourite plothole in a movie? And do obvious flaws in Hollywood films annoy you, or do you simply accept them as par for the course? Let me know your thoughts.
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Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Having Craigy-Waigy as your Bond rep I think is perhaps a touch unfair, though. Bond has always gotten away with it through his audacity and Craig adds a frightening aggression to the role - my trigger finger would get a little shaky if he were charging at me. Then again, perhaps I'm just a little one-eyed - despite the last quarter of Casino Royale and all of Quantum of Solace.
Comment by Journeywoman
Great Hair Style Tips
I Dream of Hollywood
Fashion Peach
As for Daniel Craig as Bond, well, I just love that particular photo of him. He's definitely more aggressive than Sean Connery or Roger Moore's Bonds ever were, but to me it just lends a new side to the character.... every Bond actor has brought something to the table, and with Daniel Craig it's the toughness. I'm still a fan of Moore's dodgy one-liners though