raywest

22nd Sep 2007

Titanic (1997)

Question: Before dinner, when Rose is telling Jack the name of people who are gathered downstairs, she points out a man who has a wife who is Rose's age, and says that his wife is in "delicate condition", that she's trying to hide it, and it's "quite the scandal." If the couple is married, why does the woman want to hide her pregnancy?

Answer: At this time, and particularly in higher society, most personal matters concerning women, and particularly a pregnancy, was considered something extremely private. This would be never be discussed openly with strangers. The man in question is John Jacob Astor IV, and the woman is his second wife, Madeleine, who was 29 years his junior, hence the possible source of the "scandal."

raywest

Madeleine actually survived the disaster and went on to have the child.

Ssiscool

Answer: At the time, it was a big scandal surrounding John Jacob Astor's divorce then marriage to Madeline, even his grown sons were in opposition. It wasn't until after the sinking that the sons met with her in support.

28th Sep 2016

Bewitched (1964)

Show generally

Question: Is there some reason why Samantha wears the same exact "Heart Pendant Necklace" in every single episode? It seems odd that she only has one necklace all the time.

Answer: The original diamond and white gold heart necklace was given to Elizabeth Montgomery by her then real-life husband, William Asher, who also directed the show. She wore it in nearly every early episode. When the necklace was lost or stolen about mid-way through the series, Montgomery had two replicas made from rhinestones. She wore either one of those for the rest of the show's run.

raywest

Question: If I am correct, this movie takes place about one year after Luke left Yoda's training in "Empire Strikes Back." Why does Yoda think that he requires no further training? In the prequels and the "Clone Wars" TV show, Jedi apprentices went through several years of difficult situations and trials before finally being named as Knights or Masters.

Answer: Luke was not being trained under normal circumstances, and the Jedi order no longer existed. Darth Vader is on the verge of defeating the rebel alliance and controlling the galaxy. Luke is the alliance's best hope and there is no time left for years of extensive instruction. He is literally getting a "crash course." Yoda likely also knows he has little time left to live and can no longer teach him. Luke will have to rely on himself from here on.

raywest

5th Sep 2016

Inside Man (2006)

Question: Why would Arthur Case keep incriminating documents? Why didn't he destroy them after the war?

Answer: Possibly out of the guilt he always carried with him. After WWII, Arthur worked to secretly redeem himself by using his wealth for charitable acts. The documents, which he never intended for anyone to see, may have been to remind him of his past war crimes.

raywest

Answer: Illogical...he only kept them because the writer of the movie needed him to do so...anyone with half a brain would've burned any incriminating evidence linking himself to the holocaust.

People don't always act logically. Some people do keep incriminating evidence.

Peter Harrison

Question: When they are in the hospital wing why did Madame Pomfrey take off Ron's sock? it was his leg that was broken, not his foot. Besides why did Ron need a cast on his leg if Hermione cleaned up all the blood on Ron's leg?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Chosen answer: It was never stated that Ron's leg was broken. Sirius, in his dog form, grabbed him by the lower part and pulled him into the Shrieking Shack, injuring him. Hermione did only minor treatment on Ron's leg until they could get him to the infirmary. Madam Promfrey would naturally remove a dirty sock to more thoroughly treat and clean his wounds.

raywest

Question: When freeing Sirius Black, then flying around the School, why did they whoop and holler and make so much noise if they were trying to be secretive?

Beau Peterson

Chosen answer: They were still high enough in the air where there was little chance of being heard or if they were, it would be muffled. Also, they're kids. They are not always capable of restraining their emotions or enthusiasm when they should. It is also a means to heighten the scene's mood (enthusiasm and success) and show the audience what emotions the characters are feeling at the time.

raywest

16th Aug 2016

Licence to Kill (1989)

Chosen answer: No, they were not having an affair. He just liked her.

raywest

10th Aug 2016

Taxi Driver (1976)

Question: When Travis first entered the porn theater, why was it blurred? Was that Martin Scorcese blurring the picture to avoid an NC-17 rating, or was the porn movie supposed to be blurry?

MikeH

Chosen answer: It could be for several reasons. As you pointed out, it could be to avoid an NC-17 rating, though Scorcese could easily have used scenes that were not specifically pornographic. It may also be to keep the audience's attention focused on Travis and what was is going on in the scene and not be distracted by any pornographic material. Also, if you are referring to when the movie was being aired on TV, then any pornographic materials would have been blurred out to comply with FCC standards. Nudity and pornography cannot be shown on general TV stations.

raywest

Question: I'm just wondering from the way how Hermione says she has non magic parents, is she ashamed of her parents?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Chosen answer: She was not ashamed of her parents. Because she was raised a Muggle, she was never exposed to the magical world. She feels awkward and out-of-place and at a disadvantage compared to those who were born into magical families. Hermione does not like feeling inferior to others.

raywest

Also, due to her parents being non-magical she is considered by many pure bloods to be a mud blood meaning dirty blood. Its something she is ridiculed for throughout her education and so simply doesn't want to, as Ray said, feel inferior.

Ssiscool

Question: A few questions about Snape's death: How did Voldemort slice Snape's throat with his wand without saying anything? Where exactly did Nagini bite Snape? Did he die from wounds or from venom?

MikeH

Answer: Nagini kills Snape by biting him in the neck, it was in the movie.

Chosen answer: More magically advanced wizards do not need to speak the name of the spell to cast it. In the books, Harry and other students spend time learning how to cast spells silently. It is not specifically explained how Nagini kills Snape, but most likely it is a combination of various bites over his body and the venom.

raywest

Question: Why did Willi Cicci testify against Michael in court? Michael didn't do anything to Willi. In fact he even took part in the assassination of the other 4 families on behalf of Michael.

Answer: Willi had mistakenly believed that Michael had betrayed him and was behind the attack that almost killed him.

raywest

Question: In a deleted scene Lockhart gives a quiz in his first class, and after it he mentions Hermione knowing his greatest ambition, Susan Bones smiles at Hermione. Why?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Chosen answer: There is not a particular reason. All the girls had huge crushes on Gilderoy Lockhart. Susan Bones also is taken with Lockhart and she is just enjoying the attention that Hermione is receiving.

raywest

Question: I have 3 questions. 1) Did Sirius really care about Harry or was he just using Harry as a chance to have his best friend back? 2) When did Sirius ever treat Harry like Harry's dad if he ever did treat Harry like James? 3) Why did Sirius say Harry only might be able to live with him if Harry was expelled from Hogwarts and then not talk to Harry when he found out he could go back to Hogwarts?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Chosen answer: Sirius truly loved his godson. Sirius didn't specifically treat Harry like he was James but he did see him as something of a substitute. This is better explained in the novels. Sirius was incarcerated in Azkaban as a very young man, resulting in his emotional maturity being stunted and his judgment impaired. He sometimes acted recklessly and treated Harry more like his friend and equal rather than his ward who he should be mentoring and setting good examples. He sometimes unwisely supported or encouraged Harry's acting inappropriately as he and James had done at that age. Sirius never would have shirked his responsibility as godfather and would have made sure Harry always had a home. Harry believed that Sirius, who was lonely and isolated from being in hiding, may have been hoping Harry was expelled so he could live with him and keep him company. Because Sirius was a hunted fugitive, he could not openly talk or visit with Harry once he returned to Hogwarts. That would risk Sirius being captured and also implicate Harry as abetting a convicted criminal (although Sirius was innocent).

raywest

Question: Two questions. First, why is Hagrid sent to tell Harry about the wizarding world and escort him to Diagon Alley? Being a half-giant, he would attract attention from a lot of Muggles. Second, have no Muggles noticed that several children arrive at King's Cross Station with owls every year? The owls would be seen before the wizarding families approach Platform 9 3/4.

Answer: I would guess Dumbledore sent Hagrid to fetch Harry solely because he knew the half-giant would frighten the Dursleys, who wanted to stop Harry from going to Hogwarts. Hagrid was also on a mission to fetch the Philosopher's Stone from Gringott's Bank at the same time. Magic was apparently used to mask the comings and goings of wizards whenever they were out and about in the Muggle world. Sometimes people noticed odd things happening, but then tended to shrug it off.

raywest

Question: If Dumbledore wanted to take the Philosopher's Stone and hide it at Hogwarts in order to lure Voldemort out (as answered in another question), isn't that taking a huge risk in regards to Harry's safety? Dumbledore knows Harry is starting that year and also that Voldemort wants to eliminate Harry, so isn't he potentially putting Harry at risk by attempting to lure Voldemort to Hogwarts (to get the stone). I mean after Harry defeats Quirrell/ Voldemort in the chamber and Dumbledore visits him in the hospital wing, he doesn't even apologise for risking Harry's life by moving the stone from Gringotts to Hogwarts.

Answer: Dumbledore did not bring the Philosopher's Stone to Hogwarts to lure Voldemort there. He brought it to the castle to protect it after hearing that one of Voldemort's servants may attempt to steal it. No one knew then that Professor Quirrell was that agent. Dumbledore did not know for certain that Voldemort had returned, only that it was probable.

raywest

28th Jun 2016

Star Trek (1966)

The Corbomite Maneuver - S1-E11

Question: In this episode, the navigator, Mr. Bailey, has an earpiece only for the length of time it takes to notify the crew of the message coming in over the navigation beam. Why is it that no time before, or since, that anyone at the conn or navigation positions never had one?

Movie Nut

Chosen answer: This was an early episode and TV shows often make small changes to set design, props, equipment, and so on as the program progresses. Most likely it was felt that this particular prop was not effective and the producers decided to eliminate it.

raywest

28th Jun 2016

The Edge (1997)

Question: To find south why not look at the sun. East to West?

Answer: That would only work when the sun is visible. In Alaska there are frequent rainy and overcast days where the sun is completely blocked by heavy clouds, making a precise directional determination difficult, if not impossible.

raywest

Answer: Cooper's CIA superior, Ross, learns that Cooper is attempting to oust him by making false accusations so he can become the CIA director. Ross devises his own plan to fool Cooper into believing that someone who can exonerate him is arriving at the airport. Ross sends one of his agents to the airport to randomly chose a man to appear to be the person that Ross is expecting. The agent selects Richard Drew because he is wearing mismatched shoes, the result of a trick a friend played on him. Cooper, who had bugged Ross' house, overheard the fake conversation and fell for the bait. He sends his own agent to the airport, who spots Ross' man with Richard and begins trailing him. Of course, Richard has no idea what is happening.

raywest

Question: When the lady knocks on the door and says "House keeping" which causes some monster wind thing, If you look on the right side of the screen, what's inside the room?

Cloude2

Chosen answer: It's not known what it is. It is left to the audience's imagination of what exactly is in the room or what some witch or wizard was doing in there. This is only meant to be a humorous bit and is unrelated to the plot. It didn't happen in the book.

raywest

14th Jun 2016

Roseanne (1988)

Halloween - The Final Chapter - S8-E5

Question: Who is in the picture at the end of this episode? Roseanne is holding a baby, and there is a blonde guy in the picture. It's right after the dedication to Jerry Garcia, the 3 of them are wearing tie died shirts.

Answer: That was Roseanne and her then real-life husband, Ben Thomas, with their baby son, Buck. Barr's pregnancy during Season 8 was written into the show.

raywest

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