Plot, characters and setting are among the most important components that make up any story. I know there are many more things that go into the creation of a great tale, but for today’s exercise, let’s narrow it down and agree that these three broad categories are the basic essentials to any story. Just like beginning, middle and end. They must all be there to make for an enjoyable experience. Right?
Maybe not.
I now offer a movie that is missing huge gaps in two of the three categories and I still enjoyed the movie, albeit, I grumbled about the huge gaping plot holes the entire time.
Cloverfield came out in Jan of ’08. (Yes, I’m a little behind on my movie list, just as I am on my to be read list. Forgive me.) It’s a monster movie. I love a good monster movie and I’m aware that you have to allow for a certain amount of suspension of belief in any paranormal, monster, magical, etc…story. I know. BUT>>>>
Here’s the trailer to refresh your memory.
Plot – four young people risk life and limb by running into an area that the Army has shut off to protect humans from a monster large enough to push over the Empire Sate Building and the little monster-babettes it is shedding like skin into the streets.
This is a great premise. Where I get lost is over the number of huge plot holes that the filmmakers expect the audience to ignore.
First – The entire move is filmed from the POV (point of view) of one of the guys that has decided to keep his video recorder running throughout an ENTIRE disaster that is far beyond September 11th proportions, “to preserve it for others to see.” He does this even as he is being munched upon by freakish, large toothed monsterettes,. He does this as the group runs through dark tunnels, climbs up collapsed buildings and fights for their lives on numerous occasions. He even kept rolling as his love interest gets killed from being infected by a monsterette bite.
Maybe I’m just a weenie, but I would have dropped that camera and ran like a little girl in the first 10 minutes of the movie. Just saying. And the battery life on that video camera had to be nuclear or something.
Next – the two girls have on high heels throughout the entire movie. Uh, hello? Have you ever tried to run in high heals? For about 30 seconds, sure you can. But, these girls were on the run for hours – in a city that was being destroyed with huge chunks of concrete, broken bricks and twisted steel beams were everywhere. They looted a store for a cell phone battery- why not grab some shoes for the rest of the adventure.
(she is wearing 4 inch wedge heels here)
Lastly – The Army stopped them, killed one of the girls for being contaminated and then let them go. Um…the Army was there to stop people from going into the area. Yet, they let these three go INTO the quarantined area. The same area where the monster had torn down entire city blocks. I think not.
AND – if they did let them into the quarantined area… at this point, the girl in the high heels should have been left behind with the Army dudes to evacuate her. Her character had no compelling reason to go after the lost friend from the beginning. But she goes.
AND – Maybe considering that you’re an the Army encampment, Umm… can you say Army boots? Did she get some decent shoes from them? No. How about any of the abandoned stores or houses along the way? No. She was still in shiny silver high heals when they headed into the bevy of the beast to scale 24 stories of a destroyed building.
I know it was a monster movie and since I have a soft spot for them, they get a large amount of leeway with me, but this one pushed my limits hard. My editor, KK, would have nailed me on every one of these things.
Are there any stories/movies/TV shows have left you wondering who approved that? Whatever ‘that’ is. Or how’d they get ‘that’ all the way through a huge production cycle and not see it?
Whew… Rant over now…
It was a fun movie. Really, I swear.
Occasionally, you can overcome plot holes with good premise.
Kiss Kiss
~Mari
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