David Mercier

10th Nov 2004

Red Dragon (2002)

Question: In the brief scene where Hannibal is having a fancy meal served to him in his cell as a reward for helping Will, what classical piano music is playing in the background? This is just before we see Will and his co-workers watching a home video of the Jacobis.

Answer: I think it's part of Bach's Goldberg Variations. Incidentally, it is part of this piece that is playing when he kills the 2 guards in his cage in The Silence of the Lambs. He is also seen playing part of it himself in Hannibal.

David Mercier

12th Nov 2004

The Last Samurai (2003)

Question: In the final battle scene, the samurai army is shown as having several dozen footmen who were not casualties. Additionally, the archers did not appear to have taken more than light casualties. Yet the final charge was made by by a small group (30-50) samurai. Why would Watanabe have used only a small portion of his army with so many support troops left?

Answer: Because they were the only ones with horses. Foot soldiers running across the field would be easily picked off, but charging horses are more difficult.

David Mercier

12th Nov 2004

The Goonies (1985)

Question: What happened to the deformed guy that made him the way he is?

Answer: It is mentioned by his other two brothers, he was dropped as a baby which clearly had physical and mental effects on him.

David Mercier

18th Oct 2004

Super Size Me (2004)

Question: UK screenings of this film begin with a 'UK Film Council' credit. Why would this appear when it's an American film?

Moose

Chosen answer: Because it probably got some funding from the UK Film Council.

David Mercier

Question: Why does Thomas Reynolds want the telecommunications security and privacy act to be passed into law so bad that he has a congressman killed? To advance his career?

Answer: Yes, and to increase the importance of his agency.

David Mercier

25th Oct 2004

The West Wing (1999)

Shibboleth - S2-E8

Question: Right before Toby asks CJ if she wants to come over for Thanksgiving, he calls her Toscanini. What does Toscanini mean?

Answer: Arturo Toscanini (1867 - 1957) was an Italian born conductor who was well known for being authoritarian and a bully. Perhaps this is a reference to CJ's commanding nature?

David Mercier

Question: In Star Wars: A New Hope, Obi-Wan tells Luke that he and Anakin Skywalker were very good friends, as well as teacher and student. Now, lack of actor chemistry aside, in this movie, Obi-Wan and Anakin are still very firmly in the role of Master-Padawan, as it should be, and therefore rather formal with each other. My question is, are they speeding up the timeline of how things happen in this movie? It doesn't seem like they're allowing enough time for things to occur as we supposed they ought by the time the first movie begins. It's hard to believe this Obi Wan and Anakin became good friends- it seems they barely tolerate each other.

Answer: Quite often when you lose someone who you spent so much time with, you often remember the relationship as being better than it was. Having said that, we didn't see their relationship for the previous 10 years, and we don't know what will be happening in the next few.

David Mercier

29th Aug 2004

The Truman Show (1998)

Question: While Truman is performing the closing act in the film, we see him being watched all over the world by various people. Two security guys in a car park are watching when a guy taps on the window. The guard says something like "Just leave it in the car." What's he referring to?

Answer: Money to pay the fare for parking. They work in a car park.

David Mercier

Question: Someone mentioned in the Trivia section that 'The Temple of Doom' is set before 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. Could someone explain how and why that is, and possibly where there is evidence of that?

Answer: For one thing, it says right at the start of Temple that it's 1935. At the beginning of Raiders it says 1936. What more evidence do you need?

David Mercier

Question: How did Doc power the Flux Capacitor on his new time-traveling train?

Answer: Steam, the whole thing is steam powered. He has just modified the train itself, probably making it much more efficient.

David Mercier

2nd May 2004

Splash (1984)

Question: When Dr. Cornbluth first sees the mermaid under water and unsuccessfully tries to take her picture, how come he has an oxygen tank AND an air hose coming from the boat topside? I thought it may be a mistake but I am not a scuba diver so I though I would ask.

William Bergquist

Chosen answer: Whilst it may be a tad unusual, each system serves as a back-up for the other.

David Mercier

30th Apr 2004

Dune (1984)

Question: Why exactly did David Lynch have his name removed from the TV version?

Answer: Because it was edited in a way he didn't approve of. The film was actually over 3 hours long, and it was trimmed by about an hour for the cinema version, and then a certain amount of pick and mix went on to come up with the video version.

David Mercier

29th Apr 2004

Jurassic Park (1993)

Question: I thought that there were only 2 raptors, and one got trapped in the freezer. How were there then two attacking the characters near the entry of the visitor center at the end of the movie?

Coconut

Chosen answer: There were three raptors. Remember Muldoon saying "When she came in she took over and killed all but two of the others," in reference to the largest one. Doctor Sattler locked one in the underground power room before making it back to the visitor center; Doctor Grant later asked her if she was sure there were only two left and she made the comment "Yes, unless they somehow learn to open doors." Which in the next scene with Lex and Tim we find out is possible since another raptor did in fact open a door. Tim and Lex locked one in the freezer, and still had one after them; the second one that appeared in the visitor center was the one Sattler faced before, that's why she was so surprised when seeing it.

David Mercier

29th Apr 2004

Titanic (1997)

Question: Does anyone know the name of the hymn played by the 4 string players at the end of the film, just before they say, "It's been a pleasure playing with you all tonight"?

Answer: It's "Nearer my God to thee."

David Mercier

Question: Is there any truth in the rumors that there is a subliminal message in the movie for American Express?

Jackie Menechino

Chosen answer: Well if there is it's too subliminal to notice - so no.

David Mercier

Question: Did Sean Connery wear makeup to make him look older for this movie? Because he made his last James Bond movie only a couple of years before The Last Crusade so it doesn't seem like he should look that old.

Answer: Actually he wore makeup and a wig to make him look younger in the James Bond film, not the other way around.

David Mercier

18th Apr 2004

The Mummy (1999)

Question: Evie constantly refers to the 'Bembrige Scholars' - do they actually exist?

Kara

Chosen answer: No, but it sounds a bit like Cambridge or some other old institution. Bembridge actually exists as a village in England, but there is no mention anywhere of any institution or society named "Bembridge Scholars", so it's most likely something that was invented for the sake of the franchise, as they are mentioned in the second movie as well.

David Mercier

15th Apr 2004

Star Wars (1977)

Question: How can hyperspace work without hitting or going through stars? The Spacecrafts don't turn, so how does it work? This is a problem with most movies with a hyper drive scene.

Answer: Because a computer calculates a path where the ship will not collide with anything. Han Solo even says this to Luke about "ending his trip real quick." This is why it's possible.

David Mercier

Question: We see the band in jail with the Blues Brothers at the end. Why did the band get arrested?

rabid anarchist

Chosen answer: Forgetting any "conspiracy to" offences that they would commit by just being around the brothers, don't forget they also pretended to be the Good Ol' Boys and drove away without paying, more than enough to send them down for a while.

David Mercier

Technically they could plead ignorance, only Jake and Elwood have committed crimes,.

Question: What is the translation of what Wonka says before getting on the boat?

Answer: "Ladies and Gentlemen, now we are going for a great little trip by boat."

David Mercier

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