Answered questions about specific movies, TV shows and more

These are questions relating to specific titles. General questions for movies and TV shows are here. Members get e-mailed when any of their questions are answered.

Question: Since Cage woke up nearly 400 times, how come after so many iterations the mimics still don't know how to win? Especially, since they always know what's going to happen?

Answer: The mimics were winning, that was the point. It's not repeating for them anymore, it's repeating for Cage only, since he took the power for himself. The mimics had already gotten their best result to win by repeating the battle over and over, now it was Cage's turn.

lionhead

Answer: He's young, impressionable, and was probably radicalized by Nazi propaganda.

raywest

Question: Every time I watch this movie I wonder what happened to the beer that Tom spilled while discovering the boxes of files in the Grand Caymen condo?

Answer: I've wondered about that, too. Avery appears to have somehow overlooked it, though it was in a highly visible and in a sensitive place (the locked closet). He probably returned late that night, and by the next day, the maid could have cleaned most of it up before he noticed anything. Also, on that particular trip, Avery may have had no reason to look inside the locked closet, so he would not have seen the broken glass. The spilled liquid outside the door would have dried quickly.

raywest

Answer: Rolling a joint.

LorgSkyegon

Question: Obviously Sloane knew the moment the nurse came in that she was going to be leaving because Ferris planned the whole thing. But wouldn't it be a bit of a giveaway to the rest of the class and the teacher that she starts putting on her coat and gathering her things before any of them find out why the nurse is there? The nurse could have been coming to see someone else, and if Ferris wanted to make sure he and his friends could have the day off and not get caught by Rooney, shouldn't Sloane have been a bit more subtle or played along as if she didn't know what was going on?

Answer: Yes, and she does play along once the nurse and the teacher turn their attention to her. When the nurse first comes in, however, she and the teacher aren't looking in her (Sloane's) direction, so she quickly gets ready while the nurse informs the teacher of what (she thinks) has happened. Maybe a little overeager, sure, and definitely a risk, but her excitement over spending a day playing hooky with her boyfriend just overcame her, I guess.

Answer: I agree with the other answer, but mostly the scene was written for comedic effect and it shows the audience that Sloane was in on the plan. She is being a bit smug knowing that she's pulling one over on the teacher. The other students probably wouldn't care or give her away.

raywest

Question: When Peter is trying to get his powers back after Aunt May spoke to him when he was helping her pack up her belongings, why did he try to jump from one building to another? Surely there must have been a safer way like that time in the first movie when he was just trying to climb a wall or spin a web. Also, would Peter have survived that fall in real life?

Answer: We've seen Peter/Spider-man survive far worse than fall several stories, so yes he would've survived. He hasn't lost his abilities (super strength, super agility, etc.) he's just suffering from a lack of confidence. As to why he chose to jump to another building, what better way to force yourself back into to confidence than doing something dangerous?

Question: What does the last line mean, when Rene Russo says to Pierce Brosnan, after they kiss on the plane, and she's still straddling him, "I'll tell you what...you pull a stunt like that again, I'll break both your arms." I don't see the reference to anything?

Answer: She means stealing a museum painting, leading the police on a wild goose chase and reveling it was hidden in the museum all the time. All wasting police time and money. In other words, the plot of the movie.

Answer: Russo is referring to the painting The Son of Man, in which the subject appears to be suffering from a broken left arm.

Question: Near the end a cop rigs his car up ahead of the racers with a baton holding down the accelerator. As the racers came by he put his car into drive, launching it into them. It's this an actual legit police technique? Wouldn't it be just as effective, if not more, had he simply parked it across the road? (Small road with trees on both side).

Answer: I agree with Ssiscool though I am not a cop either. This method is way too drastic and risky, I doubt that any police would use such uncontrollable and destructive force to simply stop a suspect while they could just install spike strips or - as suggested by the aforementioned - place a proper road block, giving a chance to the offenders to stop in time and surrender.

Dangar

Answer: I'm not a law enforcer but I would suggest this is not a legitimate tactic used by the police for a the main reason, The police car is not under any control and can easily go off course and cause a significant risk to life.

Ssiscool

Question: Why would Sam's life be threatened by the Mafia bosses if they find out that Ginger and Nicky are having an affair? I know it's mentioned that they hold marriage in high regard but isn't Sam the victim of being cheated on by his wife and betrayed by his friend? I can only come to the conclusion that they wouldn't approve of a man letting his wife sleep around but still, that seems presumptuous and excessive even for the mob. (02:22:10)

Answer: It's also possible that the "bosses" would be concerned that a rift between Nicky and Sam could bring public (police) attention to the criminal activities going on behind the scenes. These are, after all, two very egotistical individuals.

Answer: Concern about their affair probably has nothing to do with "mob morality" but with the possible complications and unwanted attention that Nick and Ginger, who is a volatile and unpredictable alcoholic and drug addict, could cause for the casino operators, who are being investigated by the F.B.I.

raywest

Question: Is Palpatine's identity a spoiler? The Episode IV-VI movies never mention the Emperor's name. In Episodes I-III, we can guess that Darth Sidious will be the emperor, but what about Chancellor Palpatine? If the audience didn't know that he was Sidious, the impact of the reveal would be far different than if they did.

DFirst1

Answer: This can vary from viewer to viewer. Before "The Phantom Menace" came out, I already knew Emperor Palpatine's name because I had the Kenner action figure of him, plus I knew the same actor was playing both characters. Someone else who may not be an astute viewer might not have known, though I find it hard to believe they wouldn't put all the pieces together by the time "Revenge of the Sith" came out.

Phaneron

Question: In the beginning of the movie Alice says the virus didn't just affect humans, that eventually the rivers dried up. Why would the rivers dry up? The virus doesn't affect the weather.

brianjr0412

Answer: The implication is that the virus has began to effect the environment as well. (Presumably by adapting and mutating).

TedStixon

Question: Whenever Medusa looks at somebody, they are immediately turned to stone. How come she couldn't turn the Djinn to stone?

Answer: It may be because they were non-human sorcerers, and it gave them protection from her.

raywest

Question: Regarding the making of this movie and Matthew McConaughey's appearance. Was that just makeup he was wearing or did they digitally make him look different somehow? I want to say they digitally tried to make him look younger for some reason. he just looks very...odd, and in some scenes, his eyes don't seem to be making proper eye contact with Leo's, even when he is staring right at him.

oldbaldyone

Answer: Matthew was in the process of making Dallas Buyers Club where he played a man dying of AIDS when he was asked to do this film. That's why he looks significantly different.

Answer: It could be make-up, CGI, lighting, or a combination of all that. Regarding the lack of eye contact, considering he's supposed to be high on cocaine, his focus and reflexes would likely be affected.

raywest

Question: Is Mr. Wu's grandson an alien like him? When Helen asks him if he's one of them, his response seems to suggest that he's dodging the question.

Answer: It's unknown if his grandson is like him or not as he does not answer the question, but he seems to imply that he might be.

raywest

Question: It's made clear at the beginning of the film that a demonic force is something that has never walked the earth in human form. Yet The Witch did walk the Earth in human form, but still has all the powers of a demon and Lorraine even calls it a "demonic presence." So can humans become demons when they die or did I miss something?

Swan90EFC

Answer: The demon takes control of the witch. The witch likely opened a portal for the demon who attached to the witch. As such, the demon still hasn't walked the earth itself.

Ssiscool

Question: How are locomotives able to pull such long trains? Triple 777 pulls a 39 car train, which can weigh thousands of tons when the cars are loaded.

Answer: In the same way locomotives pull long trains in real life. Diesel engines are built to pull the weight. When it gets to a certain point you might need 2 engines.

Ssiscool

OK but what is the physics behind how locomotives are able to pull so much weight?

I'm not sure on the physics but a quick Google search comes up with: Trains are really heavy, but to move a train, you only have to overcome the friction between the wheels and the [axles]*. But since there are wheels, it's even easier to move it. Imagine a really heavy box. You'd have a very hard time lifting it, but you could shove it a few millimeters horizontally. [But instead of shoving it, you can make it roll!]* The same thing applies to a train. Now, since the train is so heavy, it takes a long time to get it moving, and to slow it down, due to [inertia].

Ssiscool

I'm not sure of the physics, either, but it is my (basic) understanding that having the wheels as well as the rails made of steel minimizes? the friction. [Living in the suburbs of the "Steel City" helped to know this!] I'd clarify your answer above by pointing out a train is comprised of numerous small cars - as opposed to being one very long car - so is somewhat easier to "get moving."

KeyZOid

Question: In one of the last scenes, when the students go into the room with Professor X, there was a moment when he stopped and looked back, then smiled. Why did he do this? (02:04:25)

Answer: It's implied that he sensed Jean was still alive, though the sequel doesn't really follow this up in the same manner, as Jean is discovered after awakening and killing Cyclops. One would think that Charles would immediately send for Jean if he thought she survived.

Phaneron

Question: When Kevin was Lost In New York, why didn't he ever just talk to a police officer or go to a hospital so he could get back safe?

Answer: As he stated to himself when escaping the hotel, "I committed credit card fraud." He may have thought going to the police would result in him getting into a lot of trouble.

Phaneron

Answer: He told his mom he would go on his own vacation without any of them the night before they flew out, and since he had his dad's credit card, he saw this as an opportunity to have fun without any of them.

Turangaa_Maxx

Answer: Kevin may have developed a negative impression of and attitude toward the police from his encounter with Harry the previous Christmas when he was "home alone." Harry impersonated a police office in Kevin's home town. Kevin may have questioned police trustworthiness, or lack thereof, in NYC. Besides, Kevin knew his family was still on a plane destined to France or, once they reached their destination, they were too far away (i.e, not readily available) to collect him.

KeyZOid

Question: There are spells that can put injuries completely right, so why didn't Hermione or madam Pomfrey try that on Ron's leg?

Answer: Hermione wouldn't have wanted to try as she is still a young witch and having seen the results a bad spell can have on in their second year, she will have decided it's best for madam Pomfery to deal with it. As to why madam Pomfery didn't use a spell, that's not explained.

Ssiscool

Answer: Students would not be permitted to perform such an advanced spell on another student, and Hermione always followed the rules. This would also be very advanced magic, and is something Hermione, only a third-year student, probably would not have learned yet. As seen with Harry's arm in the Chamber of Secrets, more serious medical conditions cannot always be instantaneously healed with a spell. It can sometimes take hours, even days, to mend. This may be the case with Ron's leg.

raywest

Question: In one scene where Lou is talking to Ivy about Butch she says that someone really hurt him once. What did she mean by that? Did Butch have an owner who was mean to him or abandoned him?

Answer: Butch was abandoned. It's never stated but it's implied.

Ssiscool

"Okay, well, here's lesson number two: we help them. We work for them. We tolerate that stupid boochy-boochy baby talk. And for WHAT? So that when they go off to college, they can dump you off with some old lady who can't throw a ball without so much as breaking her HIP!" Pretty sure this counts as being abandoned.

As I said, it's never stated outright but it is implied.

Ssiscool

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.