Plot hole or not a plot hole, that is the question...

The word “Plot Hole” seem to be thrown around quite a bit and most often, misused or downright misunderstood.

A "Plot Hole" is when something contradicts the rules of that particular story, or when something is impossible in that particular universe where this story unfolds.

It is not some stupid decision by a character or just dumb events. Those makes perhaps lazy writing, but not actual Plot Holes. Examples like; “why doesn’t she just go upstairs and get that gun we saw earlier”, or “why does she run to the car, when we know the other guy has the key”… all good points, but they can easily be explained by a stupid or stressed out character who simply forgot. It is not illogical and impossible events or actions and so not Plot Holes.

The key word here, I believe, is that if it is something that is impossible, or something that just could not be - then we have a potential Plot Hole. If the question is like, “why didn’t they just…”, then we usually have no Plot Hole
True Plot Holes are not that easy to find.

One way to define a Plot Hole is to ask these two questions:

1: Does the questioned event or statement contradict earlier events or statements in the story?

2: Is the questioned event or statement logically impossible in this story or universe?

If “YES” to one of the two questions, then we have a potential Plot Hole. If “YES” to both these two questions, and we have a definite Plot Hole.

Often when I read a TOP TEN list on the biggest Plot Holes in movies, about 80% of the listed are not real Plot Holes.

Allow me to list some famous examples:

1: “Citizen Kane”(1941), when he dies, he utters out his last word; “Rosebud”. This sparks a search by a reporter to find the meaning of the word. The Plot Hole is that Kane was alone, when he died. No one heard it. At first notice, it contradicts what is essentially shown, and so is a YES to the first question and becomes a potential Plot Hole. However, one could argue that his butler heard it… it is not explained in the movie who heard him say this and so it does not go against question 2 in principle. I say, it is only a potential Plot Hole. Not as clear cut, as many say.

2: “The Matrix” (1999). Cypher makes a deal with Agent Smith while he is secretly connected to the Matrix. It is established in the movie that one require an operator to be connected and so are all other connections shown in all the three movies. Therefor the answer is “YES” to question 1. It is a potential Plot Hole. Of course, it is not necessarily a “YES” to question 2 as it can be explained simply by Cypher having a timer he invented for this reason or whatever. I say it is a Plot Hole because it goes against what is specifically explained and shown in all three movies. Could have been fixed easily.

3: “Minority Report” (2002), after the hero is imprisoned his wife frees him with his old eyes, as they can gain her access to the facility. Since he is then a criminal, his security clearance would have been deleted. Although a popular stated Plot Hole, it is not. The answer is NO to both questions. Indeed, his credentials should have been blocked but evidently, they were not. What should have been done, does not necessary tell us anything of what is possible. Can be attributed to ether lazy writing, or lazy security. But not an impossibility and nor does it go against earlier events or statements. In fact, earlier events support it. And besides, no one knew of his eye operation except him (and his wife). Unlikely as that is, it is not impossible and so NOT a Plot Hole. The answer is NO to both questions.

4: “Batman Begins” (2005), the villain’s plan was to infect the water supply with a toxin that is activated only when water is heated to become gas or fog so it can be inhaled. However, no effects are reported except in the end when he drives around on a huge microwave emitter. Logically, bathing and cooking etc. should have spiked the city for weeks up until the final showdown. So this is a YES to question 2 and also question 1. A Plot Hole.

5: “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009), Silverfox can will any man to do whatever by simple touch. So why does she not simply touch Major Stryker and command him to release her captured sister? This is indeed a risk Stryker takes and we can assume he has done all the precautions he can think off. He is after all an expert in handling mutants. Fact is, that she never touches him and we can assume he is aware of the risk and keeps her at arm’s length always, except in the end. So even though, it could have fixed her predicament sooner, it does not constitute as a Plot Hole. The answer is NO to both questions.

My point is just that finding Plot Holes are not easy.

Do you have any you wish to throw to the test :) ?