Answered questions about specific movies, TV shows and more

These are questions relating to specific titles. General questions for movies and TV shows are here. Members get e-mailed when any of their questions are answered.

Show generally

Question: If Gary can read tomorrow newspaper today since early 6:30am, why does it seems most of the rescues he does that he is running late? He should be there early enough.

Answer: He only runs late when the newspaper headline changes unexpectedly. If a headline reads, "Man hit by car," It could change to "Woman hit by car." He stopped the individual from getting hurt, but not the event itself.

Question: Couldn't Cage just have triggered the avalanche from the airplane instead of risking his own life doing it the way he did?

Answer: Two reasons. One, for the adrenaline, it's who he is. Second, once the avalanche hit, he couldn't be sure what would survive and what will be destroyed. If he could get into Anarchy 99 and rescue Yelena.

Assignment: Earth - S2-E26

Question: Did actor Robert Lansing ever make any comments on Star Trek in general or "Assignment: Earth" (TOS S2E26) in particular? His co-star in this episode/pilot, Teri Garr, had a sour, cynical and dismissive opinion of "Assignment: Earth" and Star Trek fandom (Starlog #173). But what was Robert Lansing's feeling about his experience on Star Trek? Did he like it, hate it, was he excited about the prospect of entering into the new "Gary Seven" series; or, like Teri Garr, was Lansing glad to put it behind him? I've never seen or heard anything about Lansing's personal views on the show.

Charles Austin Miller

Answer: Robert Lansing said, in an interview, he was reluctant to a television series. He was a Broadway actor and was snobbish about T.V. Especially science fiction shows, which were considered cheesy kiddie programs. But Gene was a friend of his and wrote the part specifically for him. So he did it and admitted to having fun with it.

Thank you, I've always wondered about that. Is there a link to the Robert Lansing interview? I'd be very interested to read it or view it (if it's a video).

Charles Austin Miller

Question: How could Daniel become skilled enough to beat black belts in a karate tournament after just two months of training?

Answer: The Karate Kid series as a whole, which includes the TV show Cobra Kai, implies that Miyagi's teachings are highly effective. Miyagi's unorthodox teaching methods can get a novice up to a high level in a short period of time.

BaconIsMyBFF

Answer: His opponents in the Valley tournament are not all black belts either. Johnny for example is not a black belt.

Question: When Ross Webster is talking to his accountant Simpson, he wonders how $85,000 disappeared. Wouldn't Simpson be able to see all the payroll checks to see that Gus had two of them if he dug deeper in his investigation vs. both him and Ross seeing Gus pull up in a shiny new Lamborghini and outing himself as the thief? I realise Simpson isn't a fan of computers as this scene has established, but all he would have had to do was talk to the payroll clerk about the two checks that were presented to Gus when they were handed out, assuming no-one else had two checks with two vastly different amounts in them. (00:28:39 - 00:30:42)

jm1138

Answer: It probably wasn't a check issued at the company. He could have transferred the money to a bank account.

Show generally

Question: This probably spans the whole Star Trek series, but I noticed it specifically on DS9. How does the computer locate an individual on the station without a com badge, but at the same time, can't locate an individual if his or her com badge is taken off (i.e. the computer only locates the com badge)? Is it ever revealed, in any Star Trek show, if individuals (such a guest) without com badges are given something else?

Bishop73

Answer: The Com badges are Starfleet issue and most likely programmed for each individual. Most visitor's individual physical measurements are taken when boarding a ship or station for security reasons. Height, weight, age gender and nationality.

Question: When the police show up to arrest Gustav, why did he say that he doesn't recognize their authority? He knows who they are and what they're going to do so why does he say he doesn't?

Answer: He's a rich man who believes he is above the law. They have no authority to arrest him.

Answer: Their mission is to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and civilizations. He knew they wouldn't just fly away. Besides any expedition would require a leader, a scientist and a medical doctor.

Question: Why is the mob using that type of TV in order to do their video conference with Lau? Where is the camera?

Answer: It was a one way conversation. They could see Lau, but he couldn't see the mob. They had use retro television which is below the radar. They couldn't take the chance the Dark Knight had sophisticated equipment to trace the signal.

Not sure this answer is accurate. It is definitely a 2 way conversation, as Lau answers questions. Plus it looks like he is visually reacting to seeing the Joker walk in the room. None of which should be possible given that type of television that's being used, but that might be something for the mistakes section.

jshy7979

Question: I haven't read the novel, so I don't know if it's addressed there, but after Javert interrogates whom he later finds out to be Cosette in her own home, he goes back to find the house empty, and Cosette and Valjean are now living in another house. Is this an additional house that Valjean already owned as a safe house, or did he just rent it?

Phaneron

Answer: I'd say it was a house he rented.

Question: At the mountain top scene. Nick Memphis is shot in the front and it the steel plate. But aren't all the enemy snipers behind him overlooking the helicopters and people?

Chuck 123

Answer: Yes, they were placed there in case Swagger tried something. Everyone assumed Memphis was Swagger. When Meachum saw who it was, Swagger took out all the snipers before they were radioed instructions.

Correct. But he was shot in his chest as he's walking towards the senator. And the snipers and Swagger were behind them. So how did he get shot in the chest?

Answer: They are vacationing on a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean. How else are the supposed to dress. Daphne is all about style and fashion. Everyone else is dressed differently.

Zebras - S10-E22

Question: Detective Stabler accused Stuckey of being selfish. In what way was Stuckey being selfish? He made a mistake, apologized for it and promised to make things right.

Answer: He doesn't like Stuckey. He's an arrogant, loudmouthed nerd, who thinks crime scenes are a game. He thinks he's Gus Grissom from C.S.I.

Answer: With strength, determination and pure hatred for the society she lives in.

Question: Jack's past was left very vague and inconsistent, in the film. Like who was the "last" pirate Captain who died and gave the compass to Jack, and why did he give it to Jack, he wasn't anybody special at the time? Salazar said he killed all the pirates, and Jack's ship was the last, how would that leave the world to be as it is, in the future, with all the pirate lords, and amounts of pirates still existing?

Answer: Jack was with the Captain as he lay dying, plus he figured Jack showed promise as a pirate. Dead Men Tell No Tales takes place almost 15 to 20 years after the events of World's End. Elizabeth became pregnant at the end of the movie. The end credit scene showed her and 10 year old Henry walking to the coast to see Will arrive The last movie had Henry in his late teens.

Question: It was discovered that the only way for the demons to take possession of a living person is either through a kiss or a bite. How could Colin have been turned into a demon when he wasn't bitten or kissed?

Answer: It took Maddie several minutes to climb down to the basement after Colin fell through the floorboards. Those couple of minutes was all the time needed to infect him.

Again, he wasn't bitten or kissed, so he shouldn't have been infected.

That's why he states it took her a good amount of time, as the viewers don't know what may have happened... Plus, technically, he was humped.

Question: Since Neeson is no longer in the assassin corps at the end of the movie, how does he so ably secure fake passports?

Answer: Like all agents he has an emergency escape kit. It's filled with money, passports and documents to become someone else and start a new life. Bruce Willis had one in Red, Keanu Reeves in John Wick and Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity.

Answer: Nothing is mentioned of her afterwards. She has no comic book counterpart either. Since she did put Dustin in a coma because of her attack, it's possible she was sent to Belle Reve after being released from the hospital.

Bishop73

Question: Why can't Michael take Tommy with him at the racetrack with Gina and her dad instead of taking him to the Kiddie Zone?

Trainman

Answer: Because Michael's family hates Gina's. They see her as a spoiled brat and not a good influence on Michael. He knew if he took Tommy with him, he would tell the family about not going to Disneyland but to the racetrack.

Question: Why didn't they go back to the 3rd or 4th locomotive where they could access the brake hoses and disconnect one of those, instead of trying to get to the hoses between the 1st and 2nd engines?

Answer: That's what they were doing, going car to freight car break the hoses. They knew it would slow the train down but not stop it. Slow enough so they could jump off without getting injured. That's why they were desperate to get to the first engine not only to break the hose but disconnect from it.

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.