The_Iceman

5th Nov 2018

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Question: At the end, why did Mr Orange confess he was a cop and apologise?

MikeH

Answer: Mr. White, despite being a criminal, has proven to have a certain degree of honor and integrity. He has also been defending Mr. Organge the entire film - to the point he took a bullet for him. Mr. Orange feels he deserves the truth, as there is a deep mutual respect between the two. I wouldn't necessarily call it a "friendship" as the other answer suggests, as it is based on a lie and therefore would be very one-sided.

TedStixon

Answer: He felt he and Mr. White were friends and that he deserved the truth. He apologised for misleading and lying to him and for causing him to shoot his long time friend Joe.

The_Iceman

Question: In the second Terminator movie, the Terminator says that he can't self-terminate. When the Terminator is trying to defeat T-X, he manages to destroy himself and her in the process. If the Terminator couldn't self-terminate in the second movie, how come the new one could?

Answer: The difference there would be suicide vs sacrifice. In T2, basically what he meant is he could not commit suicide as it was against his programming. They had beat the T-1000 and had won, but it was too dangerous for Terminator to stick around and knew he had to be destroyed. But he could not purposely do it to himself as it was an act of suicide. However in T3, it was a sacrificial move. The goal of his actions was not to destroy himself, it was to take out the TX and prevent her from reaching John. He had to do this by any means necessary and made a sacrifice play by shoving his core into her mouth and blowing them both up. It wasn't suicide this way, it wasn't self termination. He was taking her out but caused himself to be collateral damage.

Quantom X

Also, after watching that scene again, I'm adding this little tidbit. The Terminator didn't actually die from the thing he did to the TX in that move. If you notice towards the end after the nuclear bombs go off, the fall out ash is falling down around its head and its eyes are still on, slowly fading away. It was badly damaged by its move, but the bombs in the end finished him off.

Quantom X

Answer: For me, T2 was a lot about machines being able to learn so in T3 when he managed to shut himself down it was because he had learned compassion and not to be just a machine following orders as well as understanding how vital it was that John survived.

The_Iceman

Answer: If you listen in the second film, I don't remember if it was cut out of the theatrical film and put back in the extended version or not, John and Terminator are in the desert looking at the guns Terminator says "I have to stay functional until the missions is complete." Once the T1000 is dead Terminator had no other reason to function and thus sacrificed himself. In this film he knows the fuel cell would destroy the TX once that happened his mission was completed and no longer had any real reason to function anyone.

That can't be the case, because by the end of T2 his mission was complete, and he still couldn't self terminate.

26th Oct 2018

Rocky IV (1985)

Question: During the press conferences, Is there any reason why Drago remained quiet? My best guesses are a) He's shy during Q and A's, b) Just a pride thing, or c) he's simply been ordered by his superiors not to speak. Anyone know for sure?

Gavin Jackson

Chosen answer: Being Russian, English was not his first language and it may have been felt that he could not articulate himself well enough to where he wouldn't be misunderstood or misquoted.

raywest

Answer: To make him appear more menacing and machine like.

The_Iceman

Answer: There are many theories and claims, but there seem to be no definitive answer. My take is that Drago was shy and pretty much a puppet of his wife and nation, both obsessed with creating a "stone cold iron machine" in where a human personality is only in the way This theory is supported by the fact that when Rocky starts winning over Drago's respect, Drago (instead of his seemingly shy and yet cold demeanor) starts shouting something like "I AM NOT FIGHTING FOR ANY OF YOU ANYMORE! THIS FIGHT IS FOR ME! I AM FIGHTING FOR ME!" Ignoring the boos of the crowd and garnering a slight smile from Rocky Drago seemingly regains a bit of himself, his own identity during the fight of his life.

6th Aug 2018

Breaking Bad (2008)

Caballo sin Nombre - S3-E2

Question: When Saul buys Jesse's house from his parents, he said that he showed their lawyer, Mr. Gardner, "all the pertinent financials", meaning $875,000 in cash available to buy the house. Jesse only had $450,000 and that money was not in any account. How did Saul show Mr. Gardner that he had $875,000 in cash?

dweezel7

Answer: Saul is a criminal himself. It's not past his capabilities to forge some documents to show the 857k is available.

Ssiscool

Forged documents by Saul is most likely the correct answer.

The_Iceman

Answer: Saul has a stash of cash himself, hidden in his office. It's possible he used some of that instead as part of the scheme instead of having to go through the effort of falsifying documents.

Phaneron

Answer: In all likelihood, he sold some more meth.

Captain Defenestrator

At the time, they were not producing enough Meth to get that much money in the time frame of the events.

Ssiscool

26th Mar 2018

Breakdown (1997)

Question: When Kurt Russell gets pulled over by the sheriff, the sheriff gets shot and begins to radio dispatch. Dispatch then asks the sheriff what his 20 (location) is. Kurt Russell grabs the radio and also does not tell dispatch where they were, but dispatch says they are on the way. How can they be on the way if they don't know his location?

Answer: There's only one major road in and out of the town. They knew where the Sheriff was coming from (Red called in an accident out of town to get the Sheriff out of their hair). If they start driving along the road the Sheriff took to get back to town eventually they'll find him.

BaconIsMyBFF

Answer: Jeff (Russell) may have thought that the sheriff already called in a location explaining why he didn't include it. He was not by the sheriff at the time the sheriff made the radio call - he ran up to him shortly afterwards.

Answer: There would be a tracker in the radio to let dispatch know exactly where the officer is.

The_Iceman

GPS? RF frequency? No tracking on walkie-talkies in 1997.

Question: I know little of complicated politics so despite seeing it as a plot hole, I'm putting it in as a question. As Walker gives the missiles targets, there is talk of starting World War III if they are allowed to hit. The attack on the White House would be world wide news, on every major channel. Wouldn't these countries know it wasn't America who bombed them but was the work of terrorists?

The_Iceman

Answer: Knowing is not believing. They might know, but they wouldn't necessarily trust the media. After all it could have been a grand conspiracy to cover up the actual truth from the people.

Alan Keddie

I highly doubt world war 3 would start before these countries did their homework though. It wouldn't take long for them to suss out it was actually terrorists who detonated the bombs and not America.

The_Iceman

6th Aug 2018

The Jackal (1997)

Question: At the very end, Preston tells Declan "Thank you for everything." To which Declan responds "Oh, thank you, Da." The subtitles even say that he says Da and capitalize the D in it. Why exactly did he say "da"? is that an Irish thing? I don't think he was trying to call him Dad right? and Da is Russian for Yes. And where it being the Russian yes kinda makes sense in that contexts... it does't really. So why did he say "Da" after the thank you? (01:58:35)

Quantom X

Answer: He does say Da - it's an Irish way of saying Dad.

The_Iceman

So the English word "Dad" but then the last D swallowed in the Irish accent. I hear him say dad, the last D quiet but not silent.

lionhead

Answer: Actually, I think he does say "Dad", jokingly referring to Preston looking out for him, protecting him like a father.

lionhead

Answer: Are we sure he wasn't talking about a DA as in Deputy Assistant as a forseen promotion? As we know he is a Special Agent in the movie, but after stating he is quite the hero for saving the First Lady's life perhaps a promotion is also coming.

But that's always pronounced as the initials DA.

23rd Jul 2018

Final Destination (2000)

Question: Here's something I don't fully understand. At the end of the movie just before Carter dies, him, Clear and Alex are all drinking alcohol. They were just graduating from high school, or at least they were going to as Clear said that she and Alex went through four years of it, and only a few months had passed since then, so how are they drinking it at all? Did they have passports and if so, why? Are the rules different in France? Was it a special occasion? I just don't see it happening when you have to be twenty-one.

Answer: The legal drinking ages in Europe are much lower than some states in the USA. In many countries the legal drinking age is 18. In France and some other countries it is 16. In a large number of countries you are also permitted to drink alcohol from a younger age, provided it is with a meal and your parents have given consent. In France it is very common for younger people to drink wine with a meal.

Answer: The rules on drinking alcohol in France are much less stringent than the USA. 16 is the legal limit for drinking beer in France so all they need is their American passport to prove they are over 16.

The_Iceman

Answer: Maybe they had fake IDs.

Question: Did Chigurh shoot the accountant in Stehpen Root's office? The IMDB FAQ claims that he didn't, thinking that the accountant didn't look at Chigurh's face - However, the accountant DID look at Chigurh's face. Right after Chigurh says, "That depends - do you see me?", he turns around and looks at the accountant in the eyes. They both stare at each other. So my question is, after my explanation - Did Chigurh shoot the accountant?

Answer: That's intentionally left ambiguous - it's open to your own interpretation.

Twotall

Answer: Of course he killed the accountant. When the accountant asked Chigurh if he was going to kill him and Chigurh replied by asking "Do you see me?", Chigurh might have been saying, "Of course I'm going to kill you, you're a witness," but I think he was telling the accountant that the question was as dumb as if he asked the accountant if the accountant saw him when the accountant was looking right at him.

The first answer is actually correct. It's left ambiguous. He could mean "do you see me?" meaning yes I'm going to kill you because you've seen my face. Or he could mean "do you see me?" meaning if you say no and keep your mouth shut I'll leave you alive.

The_Iceman

He did not. Every death has a clue...blood on his feet...he checked the bottom of his shoes after he left the wife's house. The feathers in the back of the truck he took. For every death he caused they either showed the victim or showed an immediate indicator he liked them.

I can also hear some sarcasm in his question. He asks with a smile (he doesn't smile that much, does he?) and a sarcastic tone, as if he wants to emphasize that now that you have seen me, you are very dead.

Answer: Did he see him? Yes. Did he kill him because of it? Yes.

Answer: Nothing is for certain, in Anton's own words. He might have killed the accountant. He might have spared him. The answer is the toss of a coin.

Answer: I see the question "That depends - do you see me?" as one of Chigurh's proverbial coin tosses. I actually believe that if the accountant would have answered "no" then Anton would have killed him.

Question: How did Anton find Llewellyn's home?

Answer: When Llewellyn returns to the site of the showdown for the second time, he leaves his truck parked in an obvious spot. Coming across the truck later, Anton prizes off a plate from Llewellyn's truck that has the VIN on it. This is likely how Anton later tracked Llewellyn down.

When Llewellyn is telling his wife she needs to go to Odessa, he says "tomorrow morning at 9am a man is going to call the courthouse about the registration of my truck. At 0930, he's going to come here looking for me" (or words to that effect).

The_Iceman

Question: There is an entry stating that military members can't just choose which orders to obey. Is that actually true?

Answer: Article 90, 91, and 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice makes it a crime to willfully disobey a superior commissioned officer, superior non-commissioned office, warrant officer's legal order or fail to obey any general lawful order. Punishment for not following lawful orders during wartime can include death. The keyword being "lawful" orders. Military personnel do not have to obey unlawful orders. Military courts still hold individuals responsible for their actions, even if following orders. Thus, following unlawful orders can result in court discipline and the phrase "I was just following orders" has never worked. An unlawful order is the only time a military personnel can choose not to follow an order. Of course, just like in civilian life, they can always choose what orders to follow and not to follow and simply risk the consequences of a court martial.

Bishop73

Answer: Unless the order contravenes a standing order issued by the higher ups, or violates a treaty the government signed (the Geneva Convention, for example) then it has to be followed. Sometimes soldiers will disobey an illogical order and it turns out OK - but they will have to justify it at tribunal at some point if necessary.

Answer: Of course it is. When you join the military you get given orders and you follow them. You don't get to pick and choose to follow only the ones you like or the ones you agree with. The military is basically "do as you are told"

The_Iceman

2nd Jul 2018

Unstoppable (2010)

Question: Would the kind of field trip the kids were going on in the movie ever be allowed in real life?

Answer: Absolutely. I went on a similar one when I was at school. They are planned in advance to avoid service lines etc and schedules may need to be adjusted but it is possible. It's just unfortunate for movie purposes this one almost ended in disaster.

The_Iceman

6th May 2018

The Truman Show (1998)

Question: I've always wondered why the actors (and Truman) wear 1950's style clothing even though the movie was filmed in 1998. Does Truman believe he's living in the fifties?

Answer: He wouldn't have known he was driving a modern car since his world consisted of whatever was brought in for him.

Well 50's looks includes 50's technology. If he really thought he lived in the 50's a 90's car would seem out of place. He doesn't get shown much from the real world but surely they have car magazines, kitchen appliances, gardening tools. Can't keep it all 50's. Plus, they want to sell stuff they have in the show, but 50's cars aren't made anymore and wouldn't be made specifically for the show, so they have modern technology. Therefor, he knows its the 90's. I'm sure he was taught proper history at school as well.

lionhead

Everything in his world is fabricated to what the shows producers want him to believe. If they are able to build a set that is visible from space, surely having magazines from the 50s or having him taught in 50s format is not impossible.

Ssiscool

Might be possible. But do you think Truman believes he is in the 50's? What kind of history did they teach him? Surely they can't censor domestic and world politics (like elections) and natural disaster events, which requires images to see. Sure they censor the studio, but they can't keep all images from the outside world away from him. Besides, I just put in a movie mistake myself that shows they at last have taught him world history the proper way.

lionhead

I didn't put the mistake in as the Truman show can take place in the future. What I found out that there is a scene of Truman as a kid in school and the teacher pulls down a map of the world, a 90's map. So they do teach him proper history. And since its a 90's map the Truman show takes place in the future and its the 2010's or something. But it shows Truman knows in what era he lives.

lionhead

Answer: It's all part of the set of the fictional show that Truman is unwittingly a part of. The '50s were viewed (by some) as a wholesome, uncomplicated time, so it makes sense that the show's producers would choose it for their wholesome, uncomplicated show. And if Truman did believe it was the 1950s, well, why not? He has no outside frame of reference.

Well, he did drive a modern car.

lionhead

Which is irrelevant. Truman wouldn't know the difference. A modern car was likely one of the many product-placement deals the show had.

Again though, during the segment where they look back at Truman's ambitions to become an explorer they show a world map which is accurate for the time. Also, it would be impossible to convince him anything in the world is different even if they would control the news and TV shows (history books), what about elections for example?

lionhead

Answer: You need to think outside the box. you know 50s stuff is different and modern appliances would stand out but for Truman, it doesn't. Magazines, TV broadcasts etc would all be controlled by the director so he has no reference to question that anything is out of place or "not of that era." To him, its not different.

The_Iceman

Answer: Dude how are you not getting this? They can tell him anything they want. He doesn't have any form of reference to say it's out of place. His entire world is what they've told him since he was a baby. They can tell him it's 2020 but still have 1950s equipment. To Truman, that's 2020 equipment. He doesn't know about all the advances since them. You, me and all the viewers know its out of era but Truman doesn't since he's grown up with it being relevant to whatever year theyve told him it is.

Are you talking to me? if you are, what are you rambling about? The question was if Truman believed he was in the 50's. I argued he didn't. That's all. According to you that's true even. Relax.

Answer: They created his world: the clothing, cars, electronics, everything around him is conceived by the producers of the show. You see some people dresses like the 50's and some like the 80's, and then his TV is 50's but the cars are 90's. He doesn't have a frame of reference so it seems normal to him.

3rd Feb 2016

Space Cowboys (2000)

Question: What are the chances of four guys of their age ACTUALLY passing the physical to the required standards? I know they all kept reasonably fit but they struggled with running etc. so it seems unlikely they would pass all the tests. I know movie rules dictate suspense of disbelief to a certain degree, I'm just wondering what their chances would be in reality.

The_Iceman

Answer: Eastwood would be out on height alone and the rest probably have high blood pressure. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/606877main_FS-2011-11-057-JSC-astro_trng.pdf.

Chosen answer: It wasn't a matter of how physically fit they were, but that their particular combination of knowledge, skills, and past experiences were needed for this specific mission. The physical criteria would be amended in order to recruit them for that mission.

raywest

They were specifically told they wouldn't be given an easier ride and would need to pass the exact same tests as the younger astronauts. The physical criteria wouldn't have been amended to suit them so is it possible for 4 guys of this age to pass?

The_Iceman

Remember that at some point in the process it became a political issue - the old cowboys were wanted for their PR value, so physical test results would have been "fudged", if not ignored altogether.

ReRyRo

Agree that the physical requirements were a major plot point and part of the 'deal' for the team to go, but there was some relaxing of requirements and politics. In general, the answer is YES, old folks can go to space without major fudging of the requirements as was demonstrated by lots of astronauts in their late 50s, a few in their 60s, and John Genn at 77. Just recently an 82-year-old woman flew on Jeff Bezos' tourist rocket.

18th Jun 2018

The Green Mile (1999)

Question: Why is Paul on active prison guard duty with a debilitating medical condition, as opposed to some form of sick leave, or at the very least a desk job? On several occasions we see him either made vulnerable or even out-and-out helpless.

dizzyd

Answer: He's one of those people who is dedicated to his job and will say he is OK even when he isn't, and keep working. He will power through and not let anyone know how sick he really is.

The_Iceman

They are in the midst of the Great Depression. No one wants to give their employer the opportunity to fire them. They are all fighting to keep their jobs.

MovieFan612

20th Apr 2017

Hannibal (2001)

Question: Why would Clarice take the blame for the botched drug raid instead of telling her superiors that another agent was actually responsible by disobeying her orders to stand down and wait to apprehend Drumgo another day?

Answer: She was the officer in charge and as such, fairly or unfairly, the responsibility for all agents and their actions rests with her so she felt it was still her fault even though she didn't want the action that took place.

The_Iceman

1st Jan 2017

Goodfellas (1990)

Chosen answer: Most probably due to mass corruption within the prison. Guards on the mafia payroll would let them wear their own clothes in the same way they didn't eat the prison food but got to have their own superior food brought in.

The_Iceman

30th Nov 2016

The Cable Guy (1996)

Question: At the end, Chip gets airlifted to hospital because of the fall he sustained jumping from the top of the dish. But after he's discharged, would he be arrested by the police and convicted after everything he did throughout the whole movie? eg. Stalking, harassment, stealing, breaking and entering, making a false call to the police, spying, beating up Robin's new boyfriend, etc.

Answer: More than likely yes. And most probably sent to a phyciatric hospital.

The_Iceman

Answer: Could be very likely a no. I live in Alaska where someone attacked two women, was found "incompetent to stand trial" and released, and then he stabbed a woman in the back. She's now paralyzed from the waist down and he has again been deemed incompetent. He was released to psychiatric care, but if they deem him not a danger at any point, he can be released and nobody he's attacked would be notified about it. There's a really upsetting article about it on the anchorage daily news website, actually.

3rd Oct 2016

Dexter (2006)

Show generally

Question: Since Harry knew about Dexter's homicidal tendencies, why would he train Dexter on how to kill people who got away with their crimes instead of taking him to a psychologist?

Answer: Two reasons. First, as a cop he knows that there are lots of murderers walking around free due to flaws in the system so he uses Dexter's "urges" to right the wrongs in the system by taking out people who have no right to walk around free. Secondly, by taking him to a psychologist he runs the risk of having him committed and he doesn't want that for obvious reasons, so he figures it is best to channel his urges to what he considers a greater good.

The_Iceman

In addition to the earlier answer, in the last season (8th) of the show, we are introduced to Dr. Vogel, whom Harry had been discussing the situation with Dexter as well, and it is shown on-camera that Harry describes what Dexter has done (killing)... So, technically he did consult a psychologist/psychiatrist, just not having Dexter and her actually meet. But Dr. Vogel was aware of whom it was and how to intercede.

9th Sep 2016

Thinner (1996)

Question: When Richie wakes up Frank, he tells him about the gypsies that are camping in a specific area and to give him a call the moment he sees them. Since Richie already knew where the gypsies were at, why use Frank at all?

Answer: Because the Gypsies were not there, they were away. He wanted Frank to sit and watch for their return and let him know they were back so he didn't need to sit and do it himself.

The_Iceman

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