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A plot hole is a gap in a storyline that goes against the flow of logic set-up by the plot. Plot holes are usually seen as weaknesses and flaws in a story, and writers try to avoid them (except in certain deliberate circumstances, usually for humorous effect) to make their stories seem as realistic and lifelike as possible.
The viewing or reading audience notes a plot hole when something happens during the story that seems highly unlikely, or would be impossible to imitate in real life. It is usually seen as a mark of good writing or directing when a storyteller presents a story in such a way that the audience does not notice plot holes, or willingly chooses to overlook them in favor of enjoying the story.
Examples
- A well-known plot hole occurs in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. When James Bond meets Ernst Stavro Blofeld, neither man recognizes the other, despite a previous confrontation in 1967's You Only Live Twice.
- In Superman II, Superman mysteriously regains his powers without explanation despite his mother telling him the process was irreversible. No explanation is given due to scenes involving Marlon Brando being cut.
- The 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives has a large plot hole occurrence when Walter destroys the Stepford Program implanted in the wives (and Roger)'s brains. This resets them, showing it was all just a chip controlling their brains. However, earlier in the film it shows that one of the wives can dispense money from her mouth, as an ATM.
- The Curse of the Black Pearl was accused of one in which the character of "Bootstrap Bill" Turner was said to be killed though he was under the undead curse. The hole was exploited for the sequel, Dead Man's Chest where Stellan Skarsgard plays a surviving Bill.
- The 2000 film Battlefield Earth is notorious for containing numerous plot holes, which are quite ludicrous even outside the framework of the story. For instance, primitive cave-dwellers with no working knowledge of electronics or science learn to operate AV-8B Harrier Jets, which are still active and fully-fueled after being in storage for over 1000 years (jet fuel has a half-life of four years), more effectively than most extensively-trained military pilots in less than a week's time without any explanation as to how or why.
See also
"Plot hole"