I see a lot in movies, where people will be walking or going around in sewers with rats. Almost always these rats are shown to have no fear at all and almost ignore the people completely. Yet if you see a rat in your house, it's going to run from you like a mouse I believe. So is this really accurate to show rats having no fear of people when down in the sewers?
Quantom X
10th Apr 2020
General questions
26th Nov 2018
General questions
I just remembered seeing a trailer for a movie years ago that I was curious about but never got to see. I just can't remember the name of the movie or even who was in it now. I think it was either a late 90's film or an early 2000's film. And possibly Patrick Swayze was in it? I can't remember for sure. I may be getting it mixed up with Ghost. Anyways, I remember in trailer that this guy was able to see numbers on people's foreheads. And these numbers indicated when that person was going to die and who was next. Like the lower the number, the sooner they were going to die. I don't really remember much else about the trailer. Does anybody know what movie this was?
Answer: You may be thinking of the 1996 horror-comedy "The Frighteners," directed by Peter Jackson and starring Michael J. Fox, Jeffrey Combs, Dee Wallace, Jake Busey, and a host of others. Michael J. Fox plays a shady psychic medium (performing fake exorcisms for money) who starts seeing glowing numbers on people's foreheads shortly before they die under mysterious circumstances. Turns out it's the malevolent ghost of a mass-murderer (played by Jake Busey) who is still trying to get the "highest score" of victims, marking them with sequential numbers before he kills them. Michael J. Fox must engage in supernatural battle with Busey to stop the carnage. "The Frighteners" was a technically superior film that didn't do so well at the boxoffice but went on to become a cult classic.
Answer: There's an episode of "Medium", s06e09 "The Future so Bright", where Allison sees numbers on people's forehead that tells how long they have to live and all the dead people have "0" on their foreheads. It might not be what you're thinking, but maybe you can look into if "Medium" got the idea from the movie you're thinking of.
Answer: There is a 2012 short titled "Numbers" directed by Robert Hloz that premiered at Cannes Film Festival in which a young man sees numbers floating above people's heads and then meets a girl with the same ability (it's not in English and might not be what you're thinking of so I won't give away any spoilers). There is also a 2007 film, starring Nathan Fillion, called "White Noise: The Light" (sequel to "White Noise") where the main character has premonitions of when people are going to die and tries to save them. But he doesn't see numbers on their heads, as far as I know.
Unfortunately, "The Frighteners" is the only movie with that plot.
13th Nov 2018
General questions
There was a movie I rented a few years back. I don't remember exactly how long ago, but I know we got the film from RedBox. It was a space movie where this crew went to like a comet or something and landed on the surface. Some creature began messing with their minds I think and was living in the water beneath them. It pulled one of the crew below and ate him/her. I don't remember much else but at the end of the film there was one crew member left who was in the ship as it was sinking and the creature getting inside with them. I don't remember what happened after that. I'm wanting to know what the movie was called so I could find it again.
Chosen answer: You're describing the 2013 independent science-fantasy film "Europa Report," featuring Sharlto Copley (but mostly a cast of unknowns). Story of a manned space mission to one of Jupiter's moons, Europa, which theoretically contains vast oceans beneath its icy surface. The astronauts start seeing flashes of bio-luminescent light beneath the ice and realise that there is life on Europa; then, as you mentioned, everything goes disastrously sideways. This film was released to streaming services about two months before it was released in theatres in 2013. On a budget of less than $10 Million, the movie grossed a whopping $125 Million, with generally favorable reviews.
1st Oct 2018
General questions
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?
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 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.
14th Dec 2014
General questions
Why do so many shows, especially cartoons, end or get canceled after 13 episodes. Its like it really is the unlucky number for shows. More often than not, if a show is canceled early on, it's right after episode 13. Why is that?
Chosen answer: Generally, 13 episodes is, depending on the network, either a half-season or a whole one. If it's a half, by the time they finish the 13th episode, they have a decent enough sampling of the average ratings to determine if they want to buy more episodes or not.
21st Oct 2014
General questions
In terms of TV series, what exactly is a serial? Like old TV series including the 1943 Batman and the 1949 Batman and Robin TV serials. Both are 15 episodes. So what's the difference between a TV series and serial?
Chosen answer: Episodes of a series are more self-contained, and while they may have an over-arching continuity or arc, each episode is a fairly self-contained linear story (examples "Quantum Leap", "Doctor Who", "Star Trek"). In a serial, several parallel storylines flow from one episode to the next, such as in soap operas ("Days of Our Lives", "Neighbours", "EastEnders"). Also, in the UK/Commonwealth, the term series is often used to refer to US seasons (eg. "series 3 of Friends"), so serial may mean any kind of narrative TV series to distinguish it from a single season/series. Early serials were shown in theatres, sometimes in addition to films, but sometimes as the feature. When TV was introduced, the entertainment industry transferred this type of regular-viewer activity to TV, to keep the regular viewers interested in the new technology.
20th Sep 2014
General questions
I know why Green Screen and Blue Screen is used in movies, for computer special effects, especially for changing the background or environment around somebody. But what is the difference between blue screen and green screen other than obviously the color? what difference does it make which one they use and what are the purposes for either?
Chosen answer: There is not really a difference. The only time when one out benefits the other is when the wardrobe conflicts with either screen.
19th Aug 2013
General questions
In movies where a giant being is attacking smaller beings, why is it that the giants always seem to be moving so slowly? Happens in video games often as well.
Chosen answer: Firstly, giants are heavy, really heavy. If you double the height of an individual, simple maths indicates that their volume, and thus their mass, multiplies by a factor of eight. So anything huge is going to have a hell of a lot of mass to move around. Secondly, in order for a giant to appear to move at what we would consider normal human speeds, they would actually have to move their body at a much higher velocity than normal. Say, for example, that a human, walking fast, takes two paces every second. A giant ten times the size, in order to appear to be moving at human-normal speeds, would also have to be taking the same two paces per second. Given the ten-times-longer stride length, this would translate to the giant's limbs moving at ten times the velocity of the humans, with a correspondingly much higher acceleration and deceleration. Given the increase in mass (a giant ten times the height of a human would possess a thousand times the mass) and the need for much higher acceleration, basic physics (Force = Mass x Acceleration) dictates that the amount of force required to move at what would appear to be a normal speed is staggeringly higher than that required for a normal-sized human; ten times the acceleration and a thousand times the mass requires ten thousand times the force. While our theoretical ten-times-larger giant would have a thousand times the muscle volume, in order to apply the necessary force, those muscles would still have to operate at ten times the capacity of normal muscles to give the appearance of normal movement. Obviously in the case of fictional giants, that sort of muscular efficiency isn't out of the question (they are fictional, after all), but most creators recognise on some level that there's a certain implausibility there, and thus the image of the slow-moving giant has become an indication of something really big. And while their movements may appear slow, their increased size means that their actual movement speed is still likely to be considerably higher than human norms, so the slowness is somewhat misleading anyway.
7th Aug 2013
General questions
A few years back me and my dad were in a motel flipping through the channels. We came across a movie staring Bruce Willis. For whatever reason, we didn't watch much of it and went to something else, but it has always stuck out in my mind and I'd like to find it. The scene shown had Bruce Willis and Jack Black in it. To sight his gun, Bruce had Jack hold out a cigarette pack so he could shoot it. He shot off Jack Black's arm, and then killed him. What movie is this?
Chosen answer: The Jackal (1997).
4th Aug 2013
General questions
In all the Superman movies, animated movies, and shows, how is it that his suit never seems to rip or tear or take much damage at all, if any, despite all the beatings he takes?
Chosen answer: The official answer is that Superman's invulnerability extends a few millimeters out from his skin. Which explains both why he chooses to wear tights in the first place and why they don't get obliterated, but does not explain why his cape comes away mostly unscathed as well. Although given his suit is often portrayed as being alien in origin too, that would explain its durability.
20th Jul 2013
General questions
Did John Wayne and Clint Eastwood ever do a movie together?
Chosen answer: No. Wayne disliked High Plains Drifter enough that he said he wouldn't want to work with Eastwood.
17th Jul 2013
General questions
How does Blu-ray conversion better the quality of old movies? The "Film Foundation" or whatever they are called is going back and restoring countless old movies like The Red Shoes to DVD and Blu-Ray. And they keep saying that the Blu-Ray makes it better than ever and clearer. How is that? The original film was the original format. So how can changing the format better something that was in a lesser form originally?
Chosen answer: Any movie shot on film, as all older movies obviously were, has to be scanned into a digital format in order to be placed on a DVD or BluRay disc. Generally speaking, for DVD releases, films were scanned at the minimum resolution necessary for that format, and thus using the same scan for the high-definition BluRay release wouldn't result in any improvement to the picture quality. What companies are doing now is returning to the original film negatives, if available, or original film reels if not and rescanning them as a much higher resolution, generally after going through them painstakingly frame-by-frame to remove imperfections in the original images. Thus the versions of those movies now being released on BluRay are not only cleaned up versions of the original, resulting in a better image, but are taken from new high-definition scans, allowing the full resolution of the BluRay disc and the high-definition television it's being played on to be utilised, making for exceptional quality.
14th Jul 2013
General questions
This is a movie that I got from Red Box a couple years ago or so. But for the life of me I can not remember what it was called. From what I remember, the basic jist of it was this swordsman wanted to become the greatest swordsman in the world and is Japanese. He challenges the current best and beats him in seconds right at the beginning of the movie. And it is his mission to beat that guy's full clan, which he does, killing them all except a small baby that he can't bring himself to kill. He takes it to raise, but this goes against his own clan's rules and so now he is hunted for dead. He leaves Japan and goes to America in the old west. He meats up with a dysfunctional circus group and mixes with them. This group has their own problems with local cowboys. And by the end of the movie, it becomes a three way battle between this guy with the Circus guys on his side, the cowboys, and Ninjas out to get the main guy. All fighting each other. This was the plot to the best of my memory. I can not remember the name and would love to watch it again. Does anybody know what movie this is?
Chosen answer: Sounds like "The Warrior's Way".
25th Apr 2013
General questions
It's been bugging me a while now. There was a movie I saw only a few years ago, that I can not remember the title to, or even what it was about. I just have memory of one particularly funny scene and it's been driving me crazy trying to figure out what movie it was. All I remember from the movie is this scene where a guy and his family come home. They did something to piss someone off in the Navy, so they found their car in their living room. Impossible to fit through the doors, the Navy men had disassembled it piece by piece and put it back together right in his living room as a way of getting back at him for something. I can not remember what, or who plays in it. Anybody know what movie this is?
Chosen answer: Sounds like Youth in Revolt (2009) starring Michael Cera.
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Answer: Rats, being much larger than house mice, have less fear. Given that they likely go to the surface to scavenge for food, they are likely used to being around people.
LorgSkyegon