MovieChat Forums > Sphere (1998) Discussion > Plot hole? (***Spoiler Alert***!!!)

Plot hole? (Spoiler Alert!!!)

posted 9 years ago by lounds
10 replies | jump to latest

Perhaps someone can clear this up for me, or confirm that this seems like a (large) plot hole:

How does "forgetting" the sphere and their experience remove their powers? It took them awhile to figure out they were causing all the horrible events and link that to the sphere. By forgetting the sphere, all they would do is erase their ability to actually understand / control their powers!

They will still have fears, desires, etc, and will cause a lot of freakish things around them, and probably kill themselves in some creative way.

The only explanation I can think of is that by the sphere leaving, their powers would leave, too. But they wouldn't have known that (necessarily) before deciding to forget.

[–] johnthedoe 9 years ago

It doesnt. The movie is just plain stupid. Its not the only stupid thing in it. There at least 10 totally idiotic things.

[–] refzem 9 years ago

This. The entire movie is a plot hole.

[–] vajta99 9 years ago

As I understood by forgetting the sphere they automatically denounced all their powers also. So they lost the powers together with the sphere and in the end they were all plain people again. Just like the rest of us. :)

That's why the end is tragic because people are not capable of having that mighty power: making their dreams come true.

[–] antoni109 9 years ago

The end is tragic, but so is the whole plot

[–] TheUglyCasanova 8 years ago

This pretty much. The ending of the movie mindhumped me since I had just finished the novel and was completely confused as to what was going on for a bit, but in the book when they go into the sphere they have this nice little one on one with their subconscious that enlightens them about themselves or whatnot and in turn gives them the power to manifest subconsciously.

There was none of this teleporting around crap and trying to mind battle each other stuff and no idea why that was even added. Was hoping this would be a good film since Crichton did well with who's hands he put Jurassic Park into, but this just gets all jumbled. I still enjoyed it though, but in a way more comedic way then I was hoping.

[–] morganseer 8 years ago

by forgetting the sphere they automatically denounced all their powers also
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A bit risky, huh. What if forgetting didn't mean renouncing? Their worst nightmares would continue to manifest on dry ground. Yikes!

[–] lostn 9 years ago

They would still have those fears. They just wouldn't be able to manifest them into reality. That makes it safer for everyone and themselves.

And will ensure they don't get locked up.

[–] merco_yavin 8 years ago

i thought it was implied that by choosing to forget the sphere, they forfeit the power to create as well, and thats why the sphere left, because it was no longer being used/had no real reason to be there anymore.

[–] Bill-625 8 years ago

And ... the power to manifest could be relying on the presence of the sphere (because they had to enter the sphere to get the power in the first place, etc.). The sphere leaves, their powers leave without its presence.

[–] sr-neptune 8 years ago

It's actually fairly simple to understand. By forgetting the sphere, they don't just forget that the sphere itself exists, they forget ever encountering it. Therefore it's as if none of it (all the manifestations, paranoia etc) ever happened. All they remember is going down into the ocean, and after that they were brought up. So if the actual event (finding the sphere) never happened, then there is no way for the sphere to manifest their fears because as far as their knowledge goes, it doesn't exist. So basically forgetting it is manifesting that nothing occurred. You can't manifest what hasn't been imagined.

Sorry for being redundant, i know that whole explanation is the same thing repeated but in different ways but I've had to explain this concept so many times in different ways for so many people in order for them to understand. I hope that helps.