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: Why did all the bank patrons look annoyed when the bank robbers used the jingle that Harry and Skip used?

Answer: The robbers' performance was poorly done and unrehearsed as opposed to Skip and Harry's performance from earlier in the film, which was enjoyed and even applauded by the bank customers.

zendaddy621

Answer: Yep. https://thestacks.deadspin.com/inside-the-punishing-dictatorship-that-was-james-camero-1821382488. He has a famous reputation for being hyper-demanding on set. Not necessarily unreasonably so, more expecting the absolute best from everyone 24/7.

Answer: On Howard Stern's radio show, Bernard Fox who played Archibald Grace VI in Titanic (1997), appeared. Howard asked they same question. Bernard replied, "He was a bit of a strict tough director, but only because he wanted the scene just right." Howard: "So he wanted the film to be exactly the way he envisioned it and wouldn't settle for anything less." I'm paraphrasing those quotes.

Question: Would a fire even keep burning if the temperature was -150'f or lower?

Answer: Fire is a chemical reaction, so regardless of how cold it is as long as the fire has fuel and oxygen it will burn. The real question is how long would that fuel stay viable in that temperature.

NotBradPitt

Answer: When Barbara Minerva wished to be just like Diana, she was granted the same strength and powers as Wonder Woman. Barbara additionally became less humane and even more powerful and dangerous after morphing into "Cheetah." Diana needed the armor to outmatch and defeat Barbara. She was also expecting to fight a multitude of soldiers to get to Max. The armor was originally Asteria's, who needed the extra protection when she battled an army to save the other Amazons.

raywest

Answer: To start, oftentimes it's hard to establish a Green Lantern character without establishing a vast "universe." You have the Green Lantern Corp filled with thousands of aliens from across the galaxy, the Guardians, a power ring that creates virtually anything, etc. It's easier to do this in animation over live-action. Ryan Reynolds' "Green Lantern" film underperformed and future projects were scrapped, failing to set-up a Green Lantern universe. So when Warner Bros. Set up the DCEU, they went with Superman (from the "Man of Steel" film). After DC's "New 52", Cyborg became a founding member of the Justice League (along with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, and Green Lantern). So it's not that film makers replaced Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) with Cyborg, they simply left Green Lantern out.

Bishop73

Question: Can a lifeguard legally throw a kid out of the pool like Wendy did to Squints after he kissed her?

Answer: Absolutely. In addition to having to administer life-saving measures, the lifeguard on duty at a public pool is also responsible for maintaining order. A kid purposefully diving into the deep end of the pool and pretending to drown just so he could kiss the lifeguard puts himself and others at risk. Anyone who doesn't abide by the pool rules can be kicked out by the lifeguard with no warning needed at all.

BaconIsMyBFF

Answer: I would add to the other answer that inappropriately touching or kissing another person without their consent is an illegal act, giving the lifeguard the legal right to expel anyone.

raywest

I appreciate the answer, but the movie takes place in the 1960s. As much as I agree with you, that sadly wasn't the way things were then.

kayelbe

Even though it was the 1960s, it would still be illegal to touch, grope, or kiss someone without their permission. It would be considered a technical physical assault. Unfortunately, in that era, it was taken less seriously than it is now and the consequences were minor (i.e. a stern warning) to non-existent. The lifeguard was in the position of power at the pool, however, and she had the authority to eject anyone for that type of behavior.

raywest

Not in the 1960s. It was just a kiss from a little kid. It was embarrassing, not illegal.

Answer: It's never specified, but 40 actors were credited with being members.

raywest

Answer: It's hard to say for sure but I think it was just a dream to help him to overcome his fears.

Question: Would it really be possible to make water using the method Mark Watney uses in the movie?

Answer: According to Internet sources, yes, it's possible to do this. Here's one link with more information: https://www.vox.com/2015/10/7/9465463/the-martian-science-explained.

raywest

Question: I have always been curious about one thing in this movie - when Thornton was taking the oral examination, if he answered all of Dr. Barbay's questions right, why did he only get a D? How did Dean Martin not question that?

Answer: We don't know that he answered all the questions right, just that he answered the last one right. Based on Barbay's upset response to that correct answer, it is likely Thornton was at the edge between a wrong answer giving him an F and a correct answer giving him the D he got.

jimba

Answer: It should also be noted he got all D's and just 1 A. So it wasn't just Barbay that gave him a D.

Bishop73

Show generally

Question: I'm watching this show on an app called "Tubi TV" and none of the 1st season episodes have the opening narration from James Earl Jones. I remember watching this on TV, but it would have been reruns and I can't remember hearing the narration then either (granted, I may have forgotten hearing it, but it's so distinct and unique that I don't think I would have forgotten it). When the show was in rerun syndication, was the narration removed? Why? Just to ad 30-seconds of ad time? Why would the narration be removed on streaming services where ad time isn't an issue? Do they not have access to the originals? Has anyone seen the narration removed anywhere else?

Bishop73

Answer: I have the entire series on DVD, and season 1 doesn't have the narration on it either. Perhaps the studio cut it to avoid having to pay residuals to James Earl Jones. Some episodes on my DVDs also seem to be missing scenes or parts of scenes that appeared in original airings, but were removed in syndication, so it seems just as likely that all episodes that were supplied for DVD replication or for streaming services received versions that were the edited for syndication.

Phaneron

Thank you for this insight. Interesting the DVDs don't have it.

Bishop73

Question: How did Helen's keys and Mallory's medal get stolen and hidden in the dumbwaiter behind a wall?

Answer: Because while they were sleeping the bowgart stole it.

How? They only arrived at the house for a few hours before the dumbwaiter discovery?

Cody Fairless-Lee

Answer: In the original draft of the script, it was heavily implied that Paul was killed by Jason and Ginny was the only survivor. And in fact, an alternate ending was filmed showing he died. However, any direct references to him having died were removed from the final film during editing (in part because the special effects were deemed "too silly"), and his fate was instead left ambiguous. There is also some SLIGHT evidence he may have survived, as a radio broadcast in "Friday the 13th Part III" says eight bodies were found at the camp, only only eight people at the camp died on-screen. (Paul would have made nine). But ultimately, it's left up to the viewer to decide whether you believe he's alive or dead.

TedStixon

Answer: It's evident that more must have happened after the fade to white as we last see Jason grabbing Ginny, and then later she is found by authorities while Paul is not. One likely possibility is that Paul had intervened and succeeded in freeing Ginny from Jason, but in doing so became a victim himself.

TonyPH

Answer: When Krypton exploded, fragments of the planet went into space. Luthor said it's reasonable to assume some of those particles drifted to Earth. He also thinks the fragments would have a very high specific radioactivity that would be lethal to anyone from Krypton. However, to me everything he says about the effect of kryptonite is a guess and there doesn't seem to be anything in film to suggest the fragments from Krypton would be radioactive or the radioactivity would affect Superman.

Bishop73

Question: Katya has scars on her throat which would explain why she can't speak, but when John arrives while she's having sex with Simon, how is she able to scream?

Answer: It was never implied she couldn't speak, but merely she choose not to, or had difficulty speaking. Making sounds is easier then making vocal words.

Question: When Metro Man admits to Mega Mind and Roxanne what really happened at the observatory, he tells them that everybody had something he didn't have, which was a choice. What did Metro Man mean he didn't have a choice? He chose to become a superhero and use his powers to help people.

Answer: When it was discovered he had superpowers, everyone assumed he would become a superhero. What else would he be - a super delivery man, garbage man or a super plumber?

Question: Where did Kevin get swimming trunks? I assumed they were his dad's, but the backpack only seems to carry personal items like wallet and other travel stuff. Do nice hotels provide swim trunks in the rooms? They are too big, meaning he didn't buy them.

Answer: It's never explained. He likely found them in the men's changing room, borrowed them, stole them, or they were provided by the hotel.

raywest

Answer: The swim trunks had The Plaza crest logo on them. They must be complementary for use at the hotel (like a robe, etc).

Question: When Zeus is on the phone with Simon in the subway, Zeus says that McClane was on his way. Simon responds that they weren't playing by the rules, hangs up and a few moments later the bomb goes off. McClane states that Simon wanted the subway bomb to go off. Why would McClane think it was Simon's intention to have the bomb go off whether they both show up or not?

Answer: Because Simon basically gave them an impossible task. Given NYC traffic, getting 90 blocks in 30 minutes is a Sisyphean task.

LorgSkyegon

Answer: Because when McClane found the bomb, supposedly before Simon's deadline, the binary liquid began to mix, indicating it was about to go off.

Bishop73

Question: Why is the "shusher" a rock instead of a egg?

Answer: The in universe reason is that it is weird and alien. The story telling reason is so Smek can clobber other Boovians with it.

Answer: He's speaking gibberish, to poke fun at Kenny.

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