I'm trying to help a friend of mine identify a movie he's been trying to find for years. We were talking about martial arts films and he mentioned there's one he wishes he could remember and has tried researching it, but hasn't been able to find it. He doesn't remember the title or who plays in it. He thinks he saw it when he was around 11 years old, so this would have probably been a movie from the mid to late 90's, possibly early 00's. In the film these guys has these magical swords with special abilities and the swords had names. He said that in the film their master kills one of them and the other guy comes back and defeats his master at the end while having both of the swords. I thought maybe he was referring to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon or something with the mystical swords, but he said it isn't that. Does anybody know what movie this is he's looking for?
Quantom X
1st Oct 2018
General questions
29th Sep 2018
Freedom Fighters: The Ray (2017)
25th Sep 2018
General questions
I just remembered a movie I saw a few years ago. I want to say it came out in the mid 00's but it might have been later or even earlier. I think it was about some kids living in an underground civilization in a city that was built to help them survive long enough for the nuclear waste lands that were now the Earth's surface to become inhabitable again. But for some reason they had stayed underground for thousands of years longer than they were supposed to and the city was starting to malfunction and becoming a danger. I seem to also remember giant mutant moles causing them problems also. And in the end of the film they get to the surface and are surprised to find that it's covered in green plant life and perfectly suitable for life now. What movie was this?
Chosen answer: "City of Ember", a 2008 film based on the 2003 book. Considered a box office flop.
23rd Sep 2018
Superman (1941)
Question: So I have seen several places where people have been claiming that The Mad Scientist in this first episode was based on Nikola Tesla, and have seen many people complaining about him being portrayed as a bad guy in this. However, IMDb trivia states that "Boris Karloff' engineer Poelzig in Edgar G. Ulmer's The Black Cat (1934) was the inspiration for The Mad Scientist..." I've tried looking into it a little bit, but I can't seem to determine which is the correct person that The Mad Scientist was based on... Maybe both?
3rd Sep 2018
Ready Player One (2018)
Question: In Aech's workshop after she shuts the lunchbox with the miniature spaceships in it, and says to excuse Parzival who gets nervous around pretty girls. Aech then snaps her fingers towards Art3mis who responds by pulling out her broken bike for a heads-up display and tosses it to Aech. Only, if you watch closely, the screen that pops up in front of Art3mis appears as Aech snaps her fingers before Art3mis even moves. My question is were Aech's fingers controlling Art3mis inventory screen? Or am I seeing a mistake here that the screen appeared before Art3mis actually summons it? Cause there is a slight delay between the screen appearing in front of Art3mis before she actually moves or reacts to Aech's finger snaps. (00:17:40)
Answer: Because Aech is in control of the garage, its possible Aech creates a way for Art3mis to allow her bike to appear inside it. Art3mis only then puts her bike into the screen (window) which then becomes corporeal and throws it at Aech. Aech sort of allows Art3mis to spawn her bike in the garage, so Aech can fix it. I guess in a way Art3mis gives ownership of the bike to Aech so Aech can fix it.
15th Aug 2018
Ready Player One (2018)
Question: When the guy playing as Jason Voorhees gets killed in the OASIS, he throws off his goggles in a fit of rage and attempts to jump out the window to commit suicide. He's at work with other workers and surrounded by Dell computers. Am I mistaken... or are those modern day Dell computers? This movie takes place in 2045 and to me it seems unrealistic for a Japanese/Chinese company to be using almost 30 year old computers. (00:06:50)
Answer: It is not uncommon for movies set in the future to include technology or brands from the era that they were made. For example, futuristic movies like Back to the Future Part II, Blade Runner or Alien include technology and brands that were popular when they were made, as well as appear just as they appeared at the time their respective movies were made, but become outdated as the years go by. This is done mainly because the filmmakers do not know what the real technologies or brands will be in 2045 so they have to use modern technologies and brands of our time to include in the movie. Though sometimes the technologies and brands can be incorporated with the technology the future setting in the movie has established to make it feel as real as possible.
Answer: I didn't notice the computers, but yes, you're right. They could have put Plexiglass boxes with glowing lights inside on everyone's desks where an electronic device might go, no wires, with maybe a place to put the headset onto for charging. I think that would have looked futuristic and been acceptable to the movie viewers. (Or maybe a pyramid design instead of a box design.) But someone else might suggest that the owner of the business where all the people work (if it is a business) might have opted for the "retro look" even though the computers/electronics inside are far beyond what they look like.;-).
Answer: 25 years from now a computer will still need an input device, a display device, and a box to hold the processor. Why would computers change all that radically? As the old saying goes: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Computers have changed appearance radically over the past 10, 20, 30 years. Yes a computer from 1999 would have had an "input, display and box" but there's a stark difference in technology and design between that era and the modern day.
Since most people play on their own in their own homes and only on the Oasis, what a computer looks like seems much less important.
13th Aug 2018
Incredibles 2 (2018)
Question: Evelyn in this movie immediately struck me as looking exactly like Roxanne from Megamind. Seriously, look at each character. Is there some sort of hidden connection between them? Or is this purely coincidence that Evelyn and Roxanne look like twin sisters? Or... possibly Roxanne being a descendant of Megamind considering Incredibles 2 is set in the past.
Answer: I think the fact that Evelyn from Incredibles 2 and Roxanne from Megamind bear some similarities is purely coincidental. The idea that there may be a hidden connection between the two is unlikely and the idea of them being related is even more unlikely. It should be noted that Incredibles 2 is a Pixar production, and Megamind is a Dreamworks production, so the two aren't even made by the same company. Perhaps, her design was inspired by some features of Roxanne, but the idea of the two being connected or related is pretty doubtful.
Answer: It seems to just be a coincidence, or more likely the limitations of the 3D animation style used. Of course, in real life there are unrelated people who look-alike. However, it's unlikely the characters are suppose to be related since "Megamind" was created by DreamWorks, which is a subsidiary of Universal, which is a division of NBCUniversal (formed by the merger of GE's NBC and Vivendi Universal). Since 2011, NBCUniversal has been controlled by Comcast until they owned it outright in 2013. "The Incredibles" films were created by Pixar, which is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company. Plus, I don't think there's been any significant individual who worked with both animation studios who would have influence on the character development and hundreds of people are involved in the animation processes.
8th Aug 2018
It (2017)
Question: Is there any real significance to the key around Beverly's neck that you see her wear throughout the film? I don't believe they ever really mentioned it and she is just seen fiddling with it a couple times. But she's never seen without it.
Answer: It's the key to her apartment. She wears it around her neck so she doesn't lose it.
6th Aug 2018
The Jackal (1997)
Question: At the very end, Preston tells Declan "Thank you for everything." To which Declan responds "Oh, thank you, Da." The subtitles even say that he says Da and capitalize the D in it. Why exactly did he say "da"? is that an Irish thing? I don't think he was trying to call him Dad right? and Da is Russian for Yes. And where it being the Russian yes kinda makes sense in that contexts... it does't really. So why did he say "Da" after the thank you? (01:58:35)
Answer: He does say Da - it's an Irish way of saying Dad.
So the English word "Dad" but then the last D swallowed in the Irish accent. I hear him say dad, the last D quiet but not silent.
Answer: Are we sure he wasn't talking about a DA as in Deputy Assistant as a forseen promotion? As we know he is a Special Agent in the movie, but after stating he is quite the hero for saving the First Lady's life perhaps a promotion is also coming.
But that's always pronounced as the initials DA.
2nd Aug 2018
The Jackal (1997)
Question: I'm asking this as a question, cause I'm unable to determine if this is actually a mistake with the weird writing... or if I'm just missing something. Right after The Jackal kills Lemont, it cuts to the FBI in a room trying to piece things together. Witherspoon walks in and says "Here we go, sir. Eleven days ago, Charles C. Murdock bought himself a brand new Dodge mini van. Now, that was a big surprise to Mr. Murdock, whose passport and wallet were stolen 16 days ago at the Helsinki Airport." He says this to Preston and the rest as if this is brand new news, a new lead they have to go on and a break they've needed. But then Preston just looks at him contemplating this and immediately responds. "Anything from the border? We sent a description of the van to every crossing from here to Manitoba." Him saying this as if they had this information long ago and already had people searching for it. To me this doesn't make any sense with how either of those characters said their lines. Witherspoon has been with Preston and the others almost this entire time in on the investigation and would have known if they already knew about the van. And if the van was actually a new lead Witherspoon just found and was telling them. Then what Preston said makes no sense. So where is the error in this or am I just missing something? (01:01:35)
Answer: It seemed to me that they had a description of the van, but had not yet identified the owner. Witherspoon is saying the van was purchased with a stolen identity and therefore they still don't know who really bought the van.
But how did they even have a description of the van then? Up to that point it seemed they didn't know anything about a van. This is why i'm confused.
The film makers may have cut out some scenes that would explain it in better detail, but as it is, there's no mention when the FBI knew about the van. However, they did know the Jackal was using James' passport and flew into Montreal so they have been able to follow him, although they're always a step behind. I don't think it's a plot hole or bad writing though, but it certainly up for debate.
In the movie the Jackal (Willis) often changed the colour of the van, white, blue, red etc. So for a proper BOLO of a van especially in 1997 there are many (including currently) many colours of a minivan (family van) so the color it was sold as was changed and it showed him practising washing away one color over another and the last being red.
1st Aug 2018
The Jackal (1997)
Question: After meeting Douglas at the gay bar, The Jackal heads out and walks up to a car while putting gloves on. He fakes a cough and presses something to the driver window and it shatters with a bang. What exactly did he use and how did he break the window so easily with whatever that was? It appeared he simple just pressed a knife lightly to the window. What did he do? (00:43:20)
Answer: He probably used a window punch. It's a small device used for breaking a car window in the event of an emergency. A recessed metal pin is within a plastic housing. When pressed against the window, the pin's pointed end pushes into the window, shattering it. I carry such a device on my key chain.
30th Jul 2018
The Jackal (1997)
Question: I know that nowadays, the F.B.I. does have operations abroad. However when this film was made 20 years ago showing the F.B.I. operating in Moscow... did the F.B.I. conduct operations outside of the country as depicted? I was under the impression that was the CIA's job.
Answer: It is stated that the FBI is working with their Russian equivalent, the MVD on a joint operation. The FBI primarily focuses on domestic issues but does on occasion engage in operations outside of the United States with the assistance and in the aid of foreign governments. The CIA would not be the appropriate government agency to handle the operation in the movie because that mission is a law enforcement operation. The CIA is strictly an intelligence gathering organization with no law enforcement authority.
Answer: Since 1940 (prior to the CIA being established), the FBI have been stationed in various foreign countries. Usually agent don't have the authority to make arrests, however, they can if Congress has granted the FBI extraterritorial jurisdiction and the host country agrees. The FBI establishes attaché offices, commonly known as legats, in foreign cities. In 1993 there were 21 of these offices and the new FBI director, Louis Freeh, wanted more and by 1997 there were 32. So, yes, 20 years ago the FBI conducted operations in foreign countries. I know currently there's a legat in Moscow, although I don't know when it was established. However, given the nature of the film, it's not unreasonable to think the FBI could quickly set up operations in Moscow, if they were not already established there, with no explanations needed since it's already something the FBI does.
Answer: It is the C.I.A's job to conduct foreign investigations. You're right in that respect. Why the FBI is involved is either unexplained or not mentioned.
30th Jul 2018
The Jackal (1997)
Question: When Major Koslova confronts Ghazzi in the club, he speaks first with a joke or line of some sort. "What, no kick back this week?" What is that supposed to mean? A google search revealed nothing to me. (00:05:55)
Answer: Kick back means bribe. He's insinuating that he can bribe anyone to look the other way whilst he continues his dealings.
Answer: A "kickback" (one word) could be considered a type of bribe, but more commonly it is an arranged pay-off for some type of business transaction. Someone does something to make money, either legally or illegally, and someone who aids or is in someway useful to them is paid a percentage of the profits.
30th Jul 2018
Doom (2016)
Question: When VEGA starts giving Doomguy the report on the facility casualties after Dr Hayden tells him to, I picked up on a couple number references in what he says. His lines are thus... "61,337 UAC members deceased, 81% of the facility is on lockdown, demonic presence through the Mars installation is critical. According to the records, Dr. Hayden, the invasion originated in the Lazarus Facility. It seems that a Hellwave was activated transforming 64% of all UAC employees into the creatures you see roaming through the facility. The rest were killed by the demons released from cells by Olivia Pierce." 61,1337 seems to be a reference/joke to the number 1337 being Leet, or elite with the 6 as a demonic figure. Demon Elite. And then the 64% seems to be a reference to doom 64. So what's the significance of the 81% number then? Or are these numbers all just a coincidence?
Answer: Another thing I've noticed is that if you add up all the individual numbers in 61,337 and then reverse the two letters you get 20 and 16. Both together is 2016, the year the film was released. Could be a coincidence but I doubt it.
Answer: The original "Castle Wolfenstein" was released in 1981. The popular "Wolfenstein 3D" was released in 1992 by Id Software, and gained them significant credibility.
29th Jul 2018
Doom (2016)
Question: Listen closely to this audio. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLkotrb1O5o The subtitles in the game show that he says; "All UAC employees are subject to regular Med-Checks to ensure their production capabilities are not degraded." However when listening to it... to me it sounds like he's saying "That" instead of "Their." I've listened to it over and over trying to decipher if the word he uses is "That" or "Their." I think there is a mistake here in the game with the subtitle using the wrong word... However I can't be certain. Is this guy saying "That" or "Their"? What do you think?
Answer: Sounds like "their" to me. The accent and rolling into the "production" means I can see it could go either way, but it's certainly not definitively "that" enough to be a mistake, I'd say.
26th Jul 2018
Rampage (2018)
Question: Why did they have to call a stealth bomber all the way from Missouri to go to Wyoming to bomb the creatures? There is an air force base in Wyoming. And secondly, why even need a stealth bomber? they are targeting animals in an already heavily publicized event.
Answer: Likely because the bomber was prepared with the necessary payload, compared to any in Wyoming.
Answer: The Wyoming Base most likely did not have the ordinance or aircraft capable of carrying the ordinance required so they used the closed base with the available ordinance and aircraft. Not every base has the same ordinance and aircraft at the same time.
26th Jul 2018
Rampage (2018)
Question: If the Wolf, the Ape, and the Croc were all exposed to the chemical around the same time, then why is it that the Croc grew to almost triple the size of the other two by the time they hit the city? The ape is bigger than the croc at normal sizes and the wolf is more or less the same size. So why did the croc get that much bigger than the other two?
Answer: Perhaps the chemical has different effects on the animals that it is being exposed to, and the crocodile was mutated into a much bigger size than the gorilla and wolf. I don't think the movie is really expecting anyone to question this, but is really just done to give the protagonists an opponent to face.
23rd Jul 2018
General questions
I've been quoting a movie for years now. When I stop to think about it... I can't remember what movie the quote is even from! So I'm trying to find out of anybody can name the film that this quote is from. But someone is in a public bathroom of some sorts, possibly a truck stop and is hiding in one of the stalls. I think they may have been on the phone, but I'm not sure. An old man comes in and does his business then gets up and whips and you just hear him speaking through the wall. "Corn? Why is it always corn? I didn't even eat corn!" I've quoted that line as a joke many times now over the years but I can not remember what movie, TV show, or possibly YouTube video that was from. Google search doesn't help me it seems.
Answer: You're probably thinking of Mike Myers as "Fat Bastard" in the 2002 comedy "Austin Powers in Goldmember." We see the silhouette of Fat Bastard against the paper wall of a geisha house, peering into the toilet and exclaiming, "Oy, I dinna have any corn!"
I looked up the quote. And while it is similar, I don't think that's exactly the one I'm thinking of. I remember the movie saying the quote that I remember being almost word for word how I mentioned it. I almost want to say it was in a Jackass movie or similar. I just can't remember for sure.
This is the Mike Myers "Fat Bastard" scene. Look familiar? https://youtu.be/f71VqFgwPy4.
Answer: There is a scene in Senseless (1998) where Darryl (played by Marlon Wayans) is listening in on the two girls in the bathroom and Tonya (I think) says the line "Corn? I don't remember eating no corn." Although, it's obvious that the corn-in-poop joke is common toilet humor, so I'm sure a dozen other movies have had the joke and similar lines.
22nd Sep 2017
General questions
I am trying to identify a movie that I saw a part of as a child. I only saw the ending, and this was back in the 90's when I saw it. It was at least a late 80's to early 90's film and I saw it on TV at my grandmother's house. But I only remember once part. That there were two cars racing down a street, but towards each other for some reason. And there was some distance between them as there was not direct line of sight, but they went over hills and around corners. All I can remember is one car was like a purple Lamborghini or such. Or it might have been black. It's hard to remember. But as they two cars drew near to each other, it would cut back and forth to the other driver's face, and then his point of view. And for some reason before the cards met, the point of view of the other driver was seeing the Lamborghini as a man and not a car. Just standing perfectly still but moving towards him in the street. But this man, to my memory was in a full classic diver outfit. Like the old time ones from Scooby Do cartoons where it's like a big metal bowl on the divers head with a window on the front. However he was all purple. And the other driver only saw this, but as they hit. It was a head on collision and both cars exploded. This is all I can remember, and it was 20 years ago so my memory of the exact details is probably off.
Chosen answer: The Wraith (1986) starring Charlie Sheen and Nick Cassavetes.
11th Sep 2015
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
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Answer: My understanding is the Ray uses pure light for his powers while Superman and Supergirl get their power from the solar energy of a yellow sun, not yellow light.
Bishop73
I see. But if it was from pure light, wouldn't his powers have a white glow and not a yellow glow?
Quantom X ★
Most likely just a styling choice. I just know the basics details of his powers and not sure why it comes out yellow (or if it's even stated.) Perhaps for the the same reason the sun appears yellow, short wavelength light becomes scattered.
Bishop73