MovieChat Forums > Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Discussion > Minor plot hole

Minor plot hole

posted 7 years ago by MikeHunt12345 (932)
25 replies | jump to latest

It's very minor, but I haven't seen anyone else mention this. It feels good to pick up on these things. Lao Che's intention was to kill Indy. He had no intention of giving him the antidote. So then why would he bring a real antidote? Why not just fill it with something else instead? From his perspective, bringing a real antidote was a waste of time, and also very stupid in case Indy managed to get it, which he did. In fact, Lao Che could've brought a fake antidote and given it to Indy. He probably wouldn't have noticed the difference, and then there wouldn't have been a fight in which one of his men was killed.

[–] Karl Aksel (1487) 7 years ago

Yeah, that always bugged me as well.

[–] TheUltimateHippo (2250) 7 years ago

What if Indy refused to give him the diamond unless he got the antidote first?

[–] Karl Aksel (1487) 7 years ago

Then Lao Che would have given him the false antidote, Indy would have given him the diamond, and then Indy would have died.

[–] SpaceAce2001 (387) 6 years ago

Indy could tell he was poisoned because his heart started beating faster, if he drank the false antidote he would have noticed and wouldn't have given up the diamond.

[–] Karl Aksel (1487) 6 years ago

The exchange would have been simultaneous. Besides, Lao Che didn't have to do anything. He could simply not have told Indy he was poisoned, and then waited until Indy keeled over. Doesn't matter if Indy gives him the diamond or not.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Lao Che had brought the real antidote with him in case he accidentally drank the poison instead of Indiana Jones
Also, like some other people have said, he used it to bribe Indy into giving him the diamond

[–] HAL 9010 (906) 7 years ago

In case Indy did not bring the Diamond? Or the real Diamond? In such case he would need him alive...

[–] MikeHunt12345 (932) 7 years ago

Well then why not bring both a fake antidote and a real antidote, and give Indy the fake one unless they needed him alive?

[–] HAL 9010 (906) 7 years ago

True. But we only by definition hear about those villains who fail, are overconfident in their own abilities or just simply arrogant to the world around them (and he seemed to fit several of those).... Was he smart like you suggest, the story would never have come any more to our attention than through a small notice in the local Chinese gazette about a professor shocking on an olive during a performance by the amazing Willie Scott.

He simply underestimated Indiana Jones - like so many before and after him.

In the end, who is to tell how well he planned his "poker game" this evening.... but at the moment he was sure of his win and showed his winning hand too soon.... and evidently invited in his fail. For as we all know; you got to know when to fold 'em... I would not call it a plot hole. Just a; he should have been more careful with estimating his own upper hand this evening. And thankfully, on behalf of the Indian people, he wasn't.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Dosent this debunk your "minor plothole" . This is why they brought the antidote.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Indy didn't bring the diamond, it was what was given to him for the urn.

[–] HAL 9010 (906) 6 years ago

Yes you are right, it was the little statue with the remains of an emperor. But the argument remain unchanged.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

What I'm saying is that the urn was handed over before the diamond. It seems that Lao Che was satisfied with the deal before Indy got the diamond or was poisoned. So it doesn't matter if they're going to poison him after the fact. Either way, I'm siding with Peaceful on this, the only reason I can see to bring the antidote is if the wrong person drank the poison. I guess it would have been a short film if they didn't offer Indy a way out of the deathtrap tho.

[–] HAL 9010 (906) 6 years ago

True, I agree.

[–] TandyMan (11097) 7 years ago

I didn't understand whey Lao Che didn't riddle his plane with bullets if he was just gonna crash it anyhow. Didn't look like a guy who needed to tap dance around authorities.

[–] HAL 9010 (906) 7 years ago

... but still obvious murder on an airport? A crashed plane (or a seeming stroke at a dance club) is in all respects easier to accept and wont cause too much investigation from authorities, I'd reckon.

[–] BillySlater (4241) 6 years ago

More interesting plothole is why did they fly all the way to Chungking in that little prop plane, make a stop then head towards India and then try to crash the plane. They could have done it after they left Shanghai instead of flying out of the country.

[–] Karl Aksel (1487) 6 years ago

One would have thought that at the very first stop, Willie would have insisted on getting off in search for transportation which did not include poultry. And I don't see Indy or Shorty objecting to that.

[–] HAL 9010 (906) 6 years ago

They have a stop? I do not recall.... but that is silly, I agree. Of course one may stretch this to an explanation to have the plane crash in remote mountains in another country to minimize any connections... the registered owner was after all still Lau....

Of course, why would Willie still tag along? Either Chungking was a hole in 1936, and so she really had no better option than to stay with Indy until in a more civilized place, or .... arhhh, hmmm she wanted India too for some reason, and the stop was just 30 min to get refueled.

[–] BillySlater (4241) 6 years ago

Im more interested to know what the intended destination was since Chungking to Delhi is 1800 miles. There is no way that tiny plane makes it that far without refueling, somehow they still made it as far as India though.

[–] HAL 9010 (906) 6 years ago

The pilots could have taken them off route - perhaps they believed some other airport in China. Because when the first meet that old Indian they seem surprised he is Indian .....

[–] Karl Aksel (1487) 6 years ago

There isn't a scene where we see them at the stop, but when we follow their flight path on the map, it goes in straight lines with an obvious stop between the start and finish.

[–] BillySlater (4241) 5 years ago

Never said we saw them stop apart from what is implied from the map. Has no bearing on my original point though. Just seems way too elaborate and nonsensical way of killing Indy, flying an insane amount of time and refueling to parachute out in the middle of nowhere. Not to mention the vast quantities of fuel needed to make those flights feasible in that tiny plane.

[–] Karl Aksel (1487) 5 years ago

Never said you said that. My reply was to HAL, not you.

[–] strntz (12254) 7 years ago

I didn't understand whey Lao Che didn't riddle his plane with bullets if he was just gonna crash it anyhow.

The short answer is because it sucked us into believing he escaped Lao Che, Lao Che's sons, his goons, and the poison!!

Maybe the two pilots are related to Lao Che and didn't want to risk injury or death to them. The poster HAL9010 above makes probably the best point.