Best movie stupidity of 1984

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Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom picture

Stupidity: Lao Che's intention was to kill Indy. He had no intention of giving him the antidote. So then why would he bring a real antidote? Why not just fill it with something else instead? From his perspective, bringing a real antidote was a waste of time, and also very stupid in case Indy managed to get it, which he did. In fact, Lao Che could've brought a fake antidote and given it to Indy. He probably wouldn't have noticed the difference, and then there wouldn't have been a fight in which one of his men was killed.

MikeH

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Suggested correction: If you're using a poison it is always worth having an antidote nearby just in case something goes wrong.

Lao Che could still have the real antidote in his pocket and give a vial a fake antidote to Indy. Plus, if you're implying Lao Che would need the antidote should he accidentally be poisoned, it would also be a stupidity for him to give the antidote to Indy.

Lao Che's goal is not to kill Indy, it is to get the emperor's remains without having to give up the diamond. He even tries paying for the emperor outright with valuable coins. He brings the antidote in case he loses track of the poisoned glass and the wrong person is poisoned. He never intends to actually give the antidote to Indy, he's only using it as leverage so Indy will hand over the diamond without making a scene. Indy only gets the antidote after he kills Lao's henchman and the antidote is knocked off the table.

BaconIsMyBFF

More Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom stupidity
A Nightmare on Elm Street picture

Stupidity: When the parents knew Freddy was doing the killing then why didn't they watch him like a neighborhood watch so they could catch him trying it again, and thus avoid the legal technicality which threw out of the first case? It seems idiotic they broke the law to punish this lawbreaker.

Rob245

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Suggested correction: The parents believed Freddy would not face justice for his crimes. They were unwilling to allow him the opportunity to kill another child, and believing the justice system had failed them they took the law into their own hands. They completely got away with their vigilante justice. The only bad thing that happened was Freddy was brought back as a vengeful demon with superpowers. There is no way the parents could have known this would happen.

BaconIsMyBFF

It is still a stupidity. Even if they wanted him to suffer, they would try to avoid legal problems at all costs. It is good that they wanted to prevent him from killing another child but they still shouldn't act so hastily.

Stupidity entries are not meant to be stupid acts by characters. They're for minor plot holes. Without in-film evidence why the acts would be a plot hole, there is no stupidity mistake. And assuming what characters would or would not do does not make a valid mistake (not to mention revenge killings do happen in real life and in movies a lot).

Bishop73

No, it's not. What else were they supposed to do when he was caught and set free? It's still not their fault what happened next.

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Beverly Hills Cop picture

Stupidity: The 1st time Foley enters the warehouse with the woman, 2 guys enter with the wooden box and black bags on top to transfer the bonds, then take it back to the truck. Why enter the warehouse at all when they could've put the bonds in the bag anyway, inside the van? They had no reason to go to the warehouse at all. (00:42:20 - 00:43:25)

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Body Double picture

Stupidity: Despite being assaulted by an intruder that she managed to temporarily fend off, the female neighbor takes forever to say something when she calls the police, which is just enough time for the villain to regain his senses and attack her with a huge drill.

Movielover1996

More Body Double stupidity
Ghostbusters picture

Stupidity: It's mostly a fun absurdity, but it is somewhat contradictory to showcase the Ghostbusters being featured as the cover story of every major publication and news outlet, and yet to get help not only they put an ad on the newspaper, but a single person applies for the job (which is all it took for them to accept).

Sammo

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The Last Starfighter picture

Stupidity: During the scene in which Grig and Alex share family photos, Alex goes to pull his wallet out of his back pocket while he's wearing his starfighter suit, which has no pockets, as can be seen when Alex walks towards Maggie after exiting the ship. (00:54:00)

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The Initiation picture

Stupidity: It seems idiotic that only mesh gates hold the inmates of the asylum back when indoors, surely they'd use steel or have them shut in with concrete and electronic key pads.

Rob245

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Silent Night, Deadly Night picture

Stupidity: It seems unlikely any mental asylum would leave a child with a patient regardless of the patient being in a catatonic like state.

Rob245

More Silent Night, Deadly Night stupidity
Ninja III: The Domination picture

Stupidity: If the ninja can inhabit a dead body (and one that has been dead for a LONG time, even) without any penalty in his agility and powers and it is stated that only another ninja can truly kill him (which surely seems correct, since he would still fight even when hit by hundreds of bullets), the whole movie plot that involves him possessing Christie - who is a reluctant and part-time host - does not quite make sense.

Sammo

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