Question: Why is it that the Marines wore red in the first two films, but they wear blue in this one?
Bruce Minnick
29th Apr 2008
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
11th May 2006
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Question: Does Darth Maul know that Darth Sidious is Palpatine?
Answer: Yes, Darth Maul did know Palpatine's true nature. Palpatine/Darth Sidious was his master. Also, in the movie, they have a brief discussion on the balcony outside Palpatine's office.
15th Aug 2005
Coneheads (1993)
Question: Why does Mrs Conehead begin screaming when she sees the eggplant in the grocery store?
Answer: Because they resemble infant coneheads. To her, it would appear that they were selling babies.
13th Jun 2005
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Question: Is there a reason why Lucas chose the number 66 to be the "code" for the clones to kill the Jedi? According to an article on msn.com, it is something Biblical; however, as the article was nonspecific, I am still not sure if it is an actual textual reference, or if it's just referring to the fact that the Bible contains 66 books.
Answer: Here is a site that contains several of the 66 references in and about the Bible: http://www.greaterthings.com/Word-Number/66.htm. There's no confirmed reason for George Lucas' decision.
19th May 2005
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Question: This question applies to most of the Star Wars films: why do Light sabres turn themselves off when they are dropped, thrown etc?
Answer: Normally the on/off switch is pressure sensitive. So when someone lets go of the switch, the blade shuts off, for safety. However, most lightsabers also have a lockable switch, meaning the switch can be locked in the "on" position, so someone can thrown the saber to cut things (with the blade on). Of course, they are also Jedi, so they can use the on/off switch with the Force.
7th Mar 2005
Transformers: The Movie (1986)
Question: I know that two of Blaster's cassette robots are called Cubbie and Bolts, but what are the other two's names?
Answer: Actually, you are wrong about the first two. The cassettes are: Eject (robot), Grand Slam (tank), Raindance (jet), Ramhorn (rhino), Rewind (robot), and Steeljaw (lion).
7th Mar 2005
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
Question: Even though Worf keeps jumping from parallel universe to parallel universe, he never encounters his double (i.e., the Worf from the universe he jumped into). At the end, when the Enterprise from Worf's final alternate universe contacts the "real" Enterprise, there's a Worf on the bridge with the "real" crew. Does this mean that every time Worf moved into a different reality, all the other Worfs shifted around as well?
Answer: When Worf jumps to another dimension, whatever Worf is on that ship is immediately sent to the dimension that the original Worf comes from. As an example, when Prime Worf jumps to the dimension where he is married to Counselor Troi, the Worf from that dimension is immediately sent to Prime Worfs dimension. All of the other Worfs stay in their own dimension until Prime Worf is inadvertently sent to one of theirs. After Prime Worf leaves that dimension, the Worf that had been sent to Prime Enterprise would end up back in his own dimension. Not shunted to another one.
Chosen answer: Correct. When Worf jumps, the other Worfs jumped also. That is how the other Enterprise (the one with the same signature as the Worf the episode follows) knew what was going on.
3rd Feb 2005
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Question: At the beginning of his experiment, Dr. Octavius is wearing goggles. One lens is brightly colored from the reflection of the fusion, and the other is dark. Is this supposed to foreshadow that he will soon have a split personality between his good side and his evil side?
Answer: Maybe, but a better explanation would be that only one of the goggle lenses was at the right angle to reflect the light.
22nd Jan 2005
That Thing You Do (1996)
Question: Are the characters in this movie based on actual people? Is it a true story or a fictional story that was entirely possible?
Answer: The movie was written by Tom Hanks and some what reflects the music industry during that time period. It is not about a real band, but shows how a lot of bands were treated at the time and how quickly you can rise and how you can fall even faster.
11th Jan 2005
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
Question: Why couldn't the Emperor sense the presence of Luke Skywalker on Endor (per his conversation with Vader)?
Chosen answer: The Emperor did sense Luke. He just didn't tell Vader that, because he was planning on replacing Vader with Luke (kind of like replacing an old sedan with a new sportscar) and double crossing Vader.
Same thing what happened in Episode III, Palpatine deceived and betrayed Dooku by not knowing he was just a pawn to his plans.
Answer: You never know whether The Emperor is telling the truth or not, but either way what he's trying to convey to Vader here is that he's starting to get the tiniest bit of doubt over whether Vader has truly purged all compassion towards his son, and if not he'd better nip that in the bud, pronto.
2nd Jan 2005
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Question: Why, when Betty and Ralph drive off on honeymoon at the start does the car say 'Wait till tonight - she got hers now he'll get his'? Am I missing something or am I just being naive and innocent?
Chosen answer: It means they are going to have sex. The bride got her groom and the groom is going to get laid.
She got her ring, he'll get his ring... I'll leave the rest to your imagination.
16th Nov 2004
Caddyshack (1980)
Question: What does the judge say when the ref asks him if there are an odd or even number of tees in his hand? "Bald"? What am I missing here?
Chosen answer: The judge says "odd". He was quessing at whether the ref had an even number of tees in his hand or an odd number of tees. This is a common and fair way of determining who will go first.
16th Nov 2004
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Question: When talking to Ramius via Morse code, why does Jack tell Ramius to turn south to the Laurentian Abyssal?
Answer: The trench is too deep to recover anything from the bottom of the trench. They were going to fake destroying the Red October, so they need some way to explain the lack of evidence of its destruction (because the remains were on the bottom of this deep trench).
8th Nov 2004
Transformers: The Movie (1986)
Question: Maybe I'm misunderstanding something here but how can the transformers be deemed unique to Cybertron (according to the opening prologue) when every other planet seen in this movie has transformers on it?
Answer: I believe the story goes that after being created on Cybertron, ancient transformers migrated to other various planets, where they then "evolved" over time to different forms of transformers (just like ancient peoples of this planet migrating and "evolving").
8th Nov 2004
Star Wars (1977)
Question: Han Solo is famous for his Kessel Run, but can anyone explain to me what it is?
Answer: Near the planet of Kessel (the prison planet), there is a cluster of black holes (called the Maw). Smugglers will skirt by the black holes as an escape route, this route is called the Kessel Run. For further details (including an explination of parsecs), view this page: http://www.starwars.com/community/askjc/jocasta/askjc20020221.html.
If you watch the movie, Solo, you will see the Kessel run, as it is an important moment in the film.
1st Sep 2004
Practical Magic (1998)
Question: Near the end when Sally is in the circle with Gilly, there is a series of flashbacks. There is a shot of a woman with curly shoulder length hair surrounded by white. Who is she? She's not their mother as she has long straight hair.
Answer: She is the one from the opening sequence, their "great, great, great" grandmother who started the whole "curse" thing.
14th Apr 2004
Shrek (2001)
Question: In the scene where Lord Farquaad and the gingerbread man are talking, they start talking about the 'Muffin Man'. What is this all about?
Answer: It is an old children's fairy tale (just like almost everything else in the movie). For further information, check this website: http://www.kididdles.com/mouseum/m027.html.
Question: What's with the East Indian Trading Company? Norrington and Elizabeth mention it. I'm also figuring that the scars and the "P" brand Jack showed Elizabeth have something to do with it?
Answer: Basically, they were "THE" trading company in the 17th century. Most of the shipping of the world was either through them or one of their other holdings. For more information about the East Indian Trading Company, try this link: http://india_resource.tripod.com/eastindia.html. The story behind the "P" scar is that if a pirate was caught by a the EITC, they would put a "P" brand on their forehead, to let everyone know that they person was a pirate.
22nd Mar 2004
Anger Management (2003)
Question: When Dr. Buddy is in the control booth at Yankee Stadium, he's talking to a very old man who he's about to tell what message to put on the scoreboard. The way the film is cut, hanging on the old man for a few extra seconds makes me believe he's someone special in real life, but I saw the movie on a special movie channel promo weekend, and the end credits were squashed up to make room for cast interviews. Anyone know who this elderly gentleman might be?
Chosen answer: That would be the famous Bob Sheppard. He is the long time Yankee announcer. For more info: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/comment/sbcol15.htm.
6th Feb 2004
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Question: When Obi-Wan is being given a tour of the cloning facility, the creature says to him, "They're completely obedient" (or something akin). Right when she says that, we see a closeup of one clone holding a knife and fork. This clone, instead of eating politely like all the others, looks left and right and has a mean look on his face. Is there any significance to this shot? Why would they show a closeup of one clone appearing to contradict what the female is saying about the clones?
Answer: Just because he had a mean look on his face, does not mean he was not obedient. The Kaminos would have genetically altered the clones so they would be obedient, but not lose their aggressiveness.
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Answer: It was done to show how much influence and control the East India Trading company had over the Britsh Navy/Marines in the series. To demonstrate how the East India Trading company "owned" the British naval forces.
Bruce Minnick