I agree that internal consistency is paramount. This holds as much in fantasy as in science fiction. You can make up magic that does anything whatsoever you like, but once you've made up your magic system, it has to work consistently.
I also agree with Louise with the point about some errors being more damaging than others. It's like in historical novels/movies. Showing someone in Britain eating a variety of vegetable 25 years before it was introduced to the country doesn't damage anyone, but twisting history in order to portray one nationality or group as entirely in the wrong does have real world implications.
Strangely, I'm more tolerant of stupid science when it's the main premise of the plot than when it's a small detail. When it's the central premise, then the whole film becomes a case of, "okay, so this couldn't happen... but what would it be like if it did?" I like my crazy and ridiculous premise to be upfront... but then to evolve sensibly from then on, following a consistent logic that flows from the crazy premise. What I particularly hate is when a story has made moderate sense almost until the end, and then introduces some crazy impossibility to get the characters out of their sticky situation.
no subject
I also agree with Louise with the point about some errors being more damaging than others. It's like in historical novels/movies. Showing someone in Britain eating a variety of vegetable 25 years before it was introduced to the country doesn't damage anyone, but twisting history in order to portray one nationality or group as entirely in the wrong does have real world implications.
Strangely, I'm more tolerant of stupid science when it's the main premise of the plot than when it's a small detail. When it's the central premise, then the whole film becomes a case of, "okay, so this couldn't happen... but what would it be like if it did?" I like my crazy and ridiculous premise to be upfront... but then to evolve sensibly from then on, following a consistent logic that flows from the crazy premise. What I particularly hate is when a story has made moderate sense almost until the end, and then introduces some crazy impossibility to get the characters out of their sticky situation.