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BT
Preeminent Apostolic Prelate of the Discipleship of Jabootu
USA
168 Posts |
 Posted - 01/16/2009 : 2:16:04 PM
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This might stretch the actual definition of MacGuffins (they may be more like plot holes), but I'm thinking of movies in which the central plot device is made to seem important throughout the film, but in actuality are pointless. Let me stress that I LOVE each of these movies, to varying degress. Obviously spoiler ensue:
The Usual Suspects- The main point of Keyser Soze's complex plot, is to have the gang murder the ONE guy who knows what he looks like, as his anonymity is key to his dealings. However, by the end of the movie, EVERYONE knows what he looks like, and further, it's intimated that he is going to disappear, and quit the whole thing. So his big plan is, to protect his identity, he will spend hours speaking to the cops IN PERSON.
Major League- The central plot which drives the movie is that the owner of the Indians wants to get out of Cleveland, and has found a loophole in her contract which will let her move the team to Miami, if the team fails to draw something like 600K fans. So she assembles an awful team. Fair enough. However, by the end of the movie, the team has played so well, that the stands are packed, much to the owners chagrin. Right before the big game, she walks through the clubhouse, trying to get into the heads of the players, in order to make them choke, as she has been doing all season. However, by this time, the team has CLEARLY drawn more than enough fans to negate any chance of he using the loophole. So she has already "lost" her chance. Even worse, the ONLY thing she could accomplish by screwing with the teams heads, would be that they would miss the playoffs by one game, thereby depriving her of all the extra income the playoffs would generate. She has literally NO motivation.
The Hunt For Red October- Again, a film close to my heart, the plot revolves around who will end up with ownership of a sub so silent, so untraceable it could "park a couple a hundred warheads off Washington, and no one would know a thing about it until it's all over". Scary stuff. However, as the Red October sails on it's maiden voyage, literally the VERY FIRST American sub it runs into, not only hears it, but is able to develop a sound signature pattern, which would help them trace it later. The caterpillar drive was found and cataloged by the first sub to hear it. Not so scary.
I'm sure you guys can think of more. |
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zombiewhacker
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
1475 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2009 : 4:41:38 PM
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Well, I guess the aliens' invasion plans in Signs and War of the Worlds would top my list.
"Yeeeccch! We never would've invaded your planet if we knew you had bacteria!" |
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BradH812
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
1294 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2009 : 8:46:37 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by BT
This might stretch the actual definition of MacGuffins (they may be more like plot holes), but I'm thinking of movies in which the central plot device is made to seem important throughout the film, but in actuality are pointless. Let me stress that I LOVE each of these movies, to varying degress. Obviously spoiler ensue:
The Usual Suspects- The main point of Keyser Soze's complex plot, is to have the gang murder the ONE guy who knows what he looks like, as his anonymity is key to his dealings. However, by the end of the movie, EVERYONE knows what he looks like, and further, it's intimated that he is going to disappear, and quit the whole thing. So his big plan is, to protect his identity, he will spend hours speaking to the cops IN PERSON.
Major League- The central plot which drives the movie is that the owner of the Indians wants to get out of Cleveland, and has found a loophole in her contract which will let her move the team to Miami, if the team fails to draw something like 600K fans. So she assembles an awful team. Fair enough. However, by the end of the movie, the team has played so well, that the stands are packed, much to the owners chagrin. Right before the big game, she walks through the clubhouse, trying to get into the heads of the players, in order to make them choke, as she has been doing all season. However, by this time, the team has CLEARLY drawn more than enough fans to negate any chance of he using the loophole. So she has already "lost" her chance. Even worse, the ONLY thing she could accomplish by screwing with the teams heads, would be that they would miss the playoffs by one game, thereby depriving her of all the extra income the playoffs would generate. She has literally NO motivation.
The Hunt For Red October- Again, a film close to my heart, the plot revolves around who will end up with ownership of a sub so silent, so untraceable it could "park a couple a hundred warheads off Washington, and no one would know a thing about it until it's all over". Scary stuff. However, as the Red October sails on it's maiden voyage, literally the VERY FIRST American sub it runs into, not only hears it, but is able to develop a sound signature pattern, which would help them trace it later. The caterpillar drive was found and cataloged by the first sub to hear it. Not so scary.
I'm sure you guys can think of more.
It's been twenty years, but I remember when reading Tom Clancy's novel that Clancy cleared up that little plot hole: in the end, the character figured out that the "silent" caterpillar drive was a failure; it would be very difficult to detect, but someone who knew what to listen for could spot it. |
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