johnpalmer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
johnpalmer) wrote2018-06-24 01:01 pm
johnpalmer) wrote2018-06-24 01:01 pm
Ever feel cheated?
In a story I read, a "jaw dropping" revelation was to be made. Citizen Kane, this big, famous, popular movie, extensively studied, had a huge plot hole in it. What was this big, huge, jaw-dropper?
Simply this: everyone knows Charles Kane died all alone, in his "Xanadu" estate, right? So how did it become known that his "last words" were a single word: "Rosebud".
And I did find that to be an interesting thought - maybe everyone overlooked it, suspension of disbelief or "well, obviously someone heard, somehow!"
I finally watched it, and it was a pretty good flick, though I have no idea why it's praised so much. Maybe I need cinema appreciation lessons, or, maybe I need more information about movies made in and around that time. One thing to remember is that someone needs to show what an art form can do, and once they've shown it, others will follow, and possibly do the exact same thing, better... but the first artist to show off that technique is still the one who saw what could be done.
But as for a plot hole? Geez... they interview his butler, and the butler says, flat out, that he'd heard him say the word, just before he dropped the glass globe on the floor (which is how the movie opens).
So I'm annoyed. Still a good movie, the "jaw dropping" story is still a good story, but, dang, it, I'm annoyed that the bit about the plot hole was so transparently wrong.
Simply this: everyone knows Charles Kane died all alone, in his "Xanadu" estate, right? So how did it become known that his "last words" were a single word: "Rosebud".
And I did find that to be an interesting thought - maybe everyone overlooked it, suspension of disbelief or "well, obviously someone heard, somehow!"
I finally watched it, and it was a pretty good flick, though I have no idea why it's praised so much. Maybe I need cinema appreciation lessons, or, maybe I need more information about movies made in and around that time. One thing to remember is that someone needs to show what an art form can do, and once they've shown it, others will follow, and possibly do the exact same thing, better... but the first artist to show off that technique is still the one who saw what could be done.
But as for a plot hole? Geez... they interview his butler, and the butler says, flat out, that he'd heard him say the word, just before he dropped the glass globe on the floor (which is how the movie opens).
So I'm annoyed. Still a good movie, the "jaw dropping" story is still a good story, but, dang, it, I'm annoyed that the bit about the plot hole was so transparently wrong.
no subject
no subject
Thank you! But in this case, it wasn't that I "forgot" so much as I didn't know :-).
But I was aware that "dummy" classes like "art appreciation" sometimes made things clear that wouldn't be obvious without them, if they're taught well. I've been watching some old entertainment and thinking on it and how it's put together, and it's interesting; I can see how it could become a trade - something a skilled person could do, sometimes brilliantly, sometimes badly, but generally predictably.