Question: In the beginning of the movie, when the Cullens walk into the school, it's sunny outside, but they don't sparkle. Why is that?
raywest
24th Mar 2011
Twilight (2008)
1st May 2022
Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (1994)
Question: Why was the first season of this cartoon received so negatively?
Answer: Gleaned from the Internet: Much of the negative reaction was due to the poor, simplistic, and outdated quality of the animation where the characters moved stiffly and clumsily through scenes. There were also some obvious animation compositing gaffs. The animation colors were also criticized as being overly bright and cheery and out of character to the established story's darker tone. The broad humor of the first season was replaced by a more mature narrative between the characters.
1st May 2022
Iron Man (1994)
Question: Why was the first season of this cartoon received so negatively?
Answer: Gleaned from the Internet: Some critics criticized the premise of so many one-off battles that were introduced and concluded within one or two episodes. Others felt the first-season plot lines were overly simplistic and never progressed or developed through the season. Also, the rivalry between Iron Man and the Mandarin also failed to capture viewer's attention.
1st May 2022
Silver Surfer (1998)
Question: Why was this series cancelled after one season?
29th Apr 2022
The Invisible Man (2020)
Question: If she thought Adrian was dead, why didn't she immediately go back for their dog? She seemed to care for it at the beginning of the movie. When she goes back to the house, the dog is there, obviously in good health, who did she assume was taking care of him?
Answer: It's unknown, but having been so traumatized and terrified by what happened, Cecelia wasn't thinking logically and it probably didn't immediately occur to her. Returning to where one was mistreated and was essentially a prison would be difficult. Considering Adrian's wealth, position, and his large estate, she would know if there were others there, particularly after his supposed death-Adrian's brother, company employees, lawyers, security personnel, servants, etc. that would care for the dog. Cecelia didn't seem particularly attached to dog and she was mostly keeping it calm and quiet while attempting to escape. Also, Cecilia believed Adrian faked his death and she wouldn't risk returning.
29th Apr 2022
Rocky IV (1985)
Question: How is it that Apollo is killed after just two rounds with Drago, but Rocky is able to survive fifteen whole rounds against him?
Answer: Rocky is well-known to have a very strong ability to take punches, which is how he is able to keep his hands in punching position rather than a defensive position. In addition to heavily training for this fight, he also hurts Drago, which reduces his ability to fight.
Answer: There would be multiple factors involved, not just how many rounds were fought. Drago may just have hit Apollo in an unexpected fatal way. Apollo could have had some unknown physical weakness or condition making him more susceptible to the constant, hard blows. Also, it wasn't expected that Drago was so vicious, sociopathic, and unconcerned whether an opponent was seriously hurt or killed, nor did he hold back on the force of the punches. Rocky, knowing what Drago was capable of, was able to strategize and fend off Drago. Apollo was unaware and unprepared. Rocky was also motivated by revenge and fury.
Answer: Apollo was much older and had retired as a boxer, despite his training (he was in good shape) he also had no fights in a long time, as a result his ability to shrug off blows were inferior to Rocky's Also if you focus well on the fight, he spends way too much time yelling for Rocky to NOT stop the fight, not only wasting lots of energy, neglecting to position himself well, focus or even block To me it seemed like Apollo wanted to die, his "Apollo Pride" simply wouldn't let him quit. I once had and wrote a "Creepypasta theory" in where the reader is believed that Apollo instead had been shouting "Help me Rocky! Throw the towel! Help me!" but Rocky was so sure his buddy would win that he heard what he wanted to hear (my theory was widely supported by the fact that the chance that Rocky would have heard anything at all during all the screaming and shouting is but impossible, also the fact that Rocky feels guilt and has signs of PTSD would support this).
29th Apr 2022
Midnight Express (1978)
Question: When they start exploring the catacombs under the prison, where did they get a flashlight?
Answer: I don't recall that it was explained, but it was probably stolen from a guard at some point and later traded from another prisoner.
I could assume that, sure, but I was looking for a more precise explanation. The more likely explanation is that they needed a light and the writers hoped no-one would notice. Seems like they could have used some sort of burning torches instead.
There is no precise explanation because it's not revealed in the plot how they got it. What they "could" have used is fan speculation, which opens dozens of possibilities, none of which are substantiated or relevant. They obviously obtained the flashlight, so that is what they used. How they got it, we don't know.
Answer: Exactly. How they got it, we don't know. Hence my question, to find out something I didn't know.
29th Apr 2022
The Village (2004)
Question: Why didn't Edward get the medication instead of letting Ivy go? I understand elders shouldn't be seen to go because they are trying to stop young people thinking it's safer to go now that an elder has. But this is his daughter! She is blind! And he knows the route, and it would have been much quicker for him, meaning less chance of the guy dying. Instead, he wants to put going through the woods, blind, onto his daughter when he could have done it in double time.
Answer: As his wife says, "You have made an oath, Edward, as all have, never to go back." In other words, when they founded the Village, the adults all swore never to go back to our world, and this is a promise they take very seriously. So Edward can't go, and neither can any other founding adult. Ivy, however, never took such an oath (she was born in the village and doesn't know anything about the outside world), so she can go.
Answer: In addition to the other answer that I agree with, Edward never intended for Ivy to go alone. She was supposed to be escorted through the woods by the two boys. They became scared and ran off. Ivy, knowing the truth, was determined to continue on to get the medicine to save Lucius, who she loved.
28th Apr 2022
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
Question: Has it ever been explained what would have happened if the Sorting Hat couldn't decide what students should be placed into what house?
Answer: If the Sorting Hat experienced a "Hatstall" where, after a certain amount of time passes, it was unable to decide where to place a student based on their being suited to more than one House, then the student's personal preference would be considered. There were a handful of "hatstalls" over the centuries, but the Sorting Hat eventually placed the students.
Where are you getting this?
From the Harry Potter "Wizarding World" web site. The supplemental material was written by J.K. Rowling and originally published on "Pottermore." According to Rowling, Minerva McGonagall was a Hatstall student. The Sorting Hat had difficulty placing her between either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, finally settling on Gryffindor.
The term Hatstall was created by JK Rowling. It can be found here: https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/hatstall.
5th Apr 2004
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Question: At Jack Jr's birthday party, you don't see Shelby's head at all... It was her 'body' because later that day she is wearing the same shirt when she gets her hair cut. Was there a sit in for Julia Roberts in that scene?
Answer: I believe it is because the child playing Jack Jr. was basically crying through this whole scene, as you can see. It's most likely his (actually her, as the real baby was a girl) real mother holding him to calm him down. Also, when the family is saying "Blow, blow," you can hear a female voice that is neither Julia Roberts or Sally Field.
When she is sitting with Jack Jr, it is before she goes to get her hair cut. When she tells M'Lynn she wants to cut her hair, she is wearing it in a banana clip and you can see the hair past her shoulders. When "she's" sitting with Jack Jr, there's no hair to be seen. Total stand in.
Daniel Camp is the actor who played Jack Jr.
Along with Daniel two other children played Jack Jr, C. Houser and Clara Gabrielle.
Answer: Yes, there was a sit-in. My mom was Julia's double for this movie. Jack Jr. was played by two babies, my brother being one of them. My brother was upset during this scene and was being held by our mom.
Answer: I believe that Jack Jr is being held by a man. When you freeze the scene, you can see facial hair on the chin and when the person says "blow, blow" it sounds to be a man trying to sound like a woman.
I actually think it's a man, too. The person's hands seem to be deliberately hidden.
Answer: I agree with the other answers that this was probably the child's real mother and not Julia Roberts. It was probably because the boy was upset, but major movies do use second and third-unit directors and often shoot scenes using a body-double as a stand-ins so that other scenes can be filmed simultaneously with the principal actors. It shortens the film's production time and is more economical. It's possible that Roberts was shooting another scene elsewhere. Also, it's definitely not Jack's father (Dylan McDermott) holding him as he is sitting next to Shelby and is saying "blow." It was also not Shelby's father (Tom Skerrit) holding Jack, as he is videotaping the party at the opposite end of the table.
Answer: It was said that the child actor was crying, so they had his real mother sit with him in that scene instead of Julia.
Answer: No. It wasn't a man. It was the child's real mother holding her kid during the scene. The kid wouldn't shut up with the crying and only would calm itself sitting on the mother's lap.
Answer: It's Shelby's father that is holding him.
Shelby's father is across the table taking pictures.
11th Apr 2022
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Question: Vernon and Petunia take Dudley to the hospital after the Dementor incident. And in the first book, they took him to the hospital after Hagrid gave him a pig tail. Shouldn't people from the Ministry of Magic be dispatched? As they were after the incident with Marge, in the third book. Dudley would not need to have the memories erased, as Marge did, because he already knows about the wizard world. But what about the Muggle hospital staff?
Answer: There is a department in the ministry that dispatches a specialized team called the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad. Likely this team was sent to correct the issues caused by those people. It may just not have ever been specifically cited to those events.
Answer: It was never explained about what happened at the hospital, so any answer is speculation. With the first incident, it may have been considered an unexplainable anomaly. Hagrid was barred from using magic at that time and he may have cast a temporary spell that had mostly worn off before the Dursleys reached the hospital. There's a lot of magical things that are witnessed by the Muggle world (like the flying car) that just seem to get overlooked or are left unexplained.
8th Apr 2022
Twilight (2008)
Question: If vampires don't have a sense of smell, then how do they smell blood and how to they know Bella has a floral scent?
Answer: In the "Twilight" series, all the vampires had a supernatural sense of smell, along with superior eyesight, hearing, and taste (for blood). They use smell to hunt prey. General vampire lore varies about what characteristics they possess. Contemporary authors have always adapted or modified these traits to suit their stories.
8th Apr 2022
General questions
Anyone recognize this comedy Western, which had a real 1960s feel about it? All I can remember was that it was narrated by two cowboys, one black and one white, who would pop up regularly and sing and play the guitar to the viewer. I shouldn't have to say this, but it was not 'Blazing Saddles'.
Answer: It's the 1965 film "Cat Ballou" starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin. Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye play the two banjo-strumming "shouters" (as they're credited) who musically narrate the tale. Marvin won the Best Actor Oscar for his dual performance of Tim Strawn and Kid Shelleen.
6th Apr 2022
Back to the Future (1985)
Question: When Marty and Jennifer are sitting in front of the clock tower in the park and Jennifer asks Marty if his mother knows he is taking her up to the lake, during Marty's response, he seems to put something in the inside pocket of his jeans jacket with his left hand. What was he doing or what did he put into his jacket pocket? (00:10:00 - 00:11:00)
Answer: There's a mistake entry about the scene where Marty is holding the tape in his left hand and then disappears in the next shot, so Marty's hand is empty at the point in question. To me, it honestly looks like Michael J. Fox rehearsed the scene so many times when he was putting the tape into his jacket that he did the same movement without the tape to stay consistent.
26th Mar 2022
Copland (1997)
Question: Harvey Keitel was supposed to have been a highly respected veteran officer with the NYPD with connections within the department and other agencies as stated in the movie. With all that power and connections, it puzzles me why his character is still a patrol officer working beat shifts as shown in the scene when he intentionally let Joey fall to his death on the roof. He shows up in uniform in a patrol car with his other crooked partner responding to the call.
Answer: Being a higher-up not only means more responsibility, but also closer scrutiny. As a low-level beat cop, it allows Donlan a lesser profile, greater mobility out on the street, to be at crime scenes without suspicion, and he can more easily and covertly interact with his criminal accomplices and contacts. Being tied to an office would be a hindrance; he can wield his corrupt power more effectively this way.
Actually, Donlan is a Lieutenant, which is a pretty high rank.
Answer: Yes that's correct but in actuality it's highly unlikely a veteran officer would stay in patrol their entire career, crooked cop or not, unless they work for a very small department and there are no opportunities to move up.
Yes, in the real world, it is indeed highly unlikely he would spend his entire career on patrol. For the purpose of the movie, it serves the plot to have the Donlan character written as a mobile beat cop for the reasons stated. It also allows for more action and sets up the final confrontation between Stallone and the crooked cops. Movies just do not reflect reality.
23rd Mar 2022
Frozen II (2019)
Question: Minutes after Elsa freezes, Olaf flurries away, and turns into a pile of ordinary snow. Why? Is it because he can't exist without Elsa?
26th Mar 2022
The Great Outdoors (1988)
28th Mar 2022
Blue Bloods (2010)
Question: What pier are Frank and Jamie fishing off? They've done several fishing scenes there I believe.
Answer: In this specific episode "Mercy" S2xE1, the final scene was filmed at Brooklyn's Valentino Pier (also known as Coffey Street Pier), in Red Hook. This area's full name is Louis Valentino Jr Park and Pier. The unusual structure and layout of Valentino Pier make it quite unique (and it's a lovely place to just hang out). Different local piers have been used to film fishing scenes in other episodes, note their distinctive structures and skyline views.
26th Mar 2022
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Question: If Frederick wanted to distance himself from his grandfathers "legacy", then why travel to Transylvania? Why not just tell Herr Falkstein that he has no interest in going to Transylvania? That he doesn't want to be associated with the Frankenstein name at all?
Answer: He would go because he inherited the property, would want to inspect it, assess the value, determine what possessions there are, attend to the legal and personal matters regarding an inheritance, liquidate the assets, and so on. Most people would want and/or be required to have some interaction regarding such a large estate.
23rd Mar 2022
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Question: Why did Professor Quirrell really have the garlic in his classroom? I know that some people thought he was afraid of a vampire who wanted revenge. Since he was serving Voldemort, however, it seems that a vampire would not be a serious concern for him.
Answer: At that point, Voldemort had little to no power and was reliant on Quirrell to protect him, not the other way around. No one knew Voldemort still existed, and Quirrell wanted to ensure his safety until he was restored to corporeal form. He may have believed garlic would be an added protection but more likely it was just for show and to create a sense of drama to enhance his phony persona.
This is purely speculation but could it also be considered that the garlic and story about having had an argument with a vampire are all a ruse to cover his quirky behaviour following his meeting with Voldemort? As in, people started the rumour, so he plays on it to make it more believable and give him a better cover story?
Chosen answer: In order to sparkle, the vampires need to be in direct sunlight.