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.

Question: If Ender would destroy the planet in the simulation, why wouldn't he do it for real? The simulations are supposed to be practice.

MikeH

Answer: For the same reason when you are playing a video game you will run people over, or shoot them without figuring out who they are. He thought it was the equivalent of a video game, i.e. not real, so he would potentially do things he wouldn't do if he thought it was real. This is the very reason the power structure put them into a real operation while leading them to think it was a simulation, so they would be likely to act when faced with a moral dilemma.

jimba

Question: If the airport and a plane don't allow dogs, then why is a cat is allowed on a plane?

Answer: Maybe because cats are smaller than dogs and all felines are relatively the same size and fit into a small pet carrier. Dogs range in size from a few pounds to over a hundred, making crating them more difficult.

raywest

I should add that this being a movie, they make up their own rules about things to serve the plot. It's unlikely in real-life that an airline would ban dogs entirely, though there may be size limits.

raywest

Answer: Well before boarding Shaggy said they wouldn't allow large dogs on board. Implying smaller dogs would be OK.

Question: After they've defeated the villain Shaw says "you forced me to kill my own brother." Am I missing something? Last we saw in Fate of the Furious his brother was alive and well.

Answer: I believe he was referring to the villain being once like a brother to him.

Quantom X

Answer: SPOILER ALERT: Hook up, yes. Married, no. Children, maybe. The rumors that Mulder and Scully were married started when David Duchovny (Mulder) called Scully "Mulder's wife" when discussing the return of "The X-Files" show. However, series creator Chris Carter said "they were together but never married." In the 2nd X-Files film, "I Want to Believe", they are in a romantic relationship. But by Season 10, they are broken up as Scully has left Mulder. It is revealed that Scully's son, William, is the son of The Smoking Man, who is Mulder's father as well. In Season 11, Mulder and Scully hook up again and in the last episode of Season 11, Scully tells Mulder she's pregnant with his child. As of now, there are no plans for a Season 12 and Gillian Anderson (Scully) has no intention of returning to her role in "The X-Files."

Bishop73

I want to add, it's possible that they live together as partners and are legally common-law spouses. Or they consider each other to be "husband and wife" in a spiritual/sentimental way. I've known or heard of a few couples who did that. For whatever reasons, they did not want a legal marriage with documentation. But, for now, this is just fan speculation. Gillian Anderson and other cast members might change their minds someday.

Question: Within the movie itself, they introduce the fictitious ADAA instructional film reel which shows a closeup of the lead based paint Timmy is using. You can see the name 'Lead Shield' on the paint can, but does anyone know what phrase is written above the name? (00:22:22)

Answer: "You get better yield with"

Bishop73

Thank you! I had a feeling that's what it read, but since I figured it would be more humorous, I had to ask. Thanks again, I can now sleep at night :).

I looked to see if it was a reference to an old slogan or something, but couldn't find anything, so it seems to just be something to rhyme.

Bishop73

Question: What was it that Dolarhyde thought Reba had found at his house? He woke in bed to find her gone, then sort of panicked, going upstairs to his vault where he kept his journal. I never understood what he thought she had found - and how could she? She was blind and couldn't have read his journal, if that is what he thought she had found.

Answer: The fact that Will was at his workplace gives way to at least a general suspicion, so naturally the first thing you investigate is the woman who had been in your house. While it would be unreasonable to think Reba would discover his identity or intentionally give him away, he had to at least be sure she did not frivolously take a souvenir.

Answer: Dollarhyde was insane, so there was nothing rational about his thoughts or actions. In his alter-ego state, he is hallucinating that Reba may have found his journal, regardless of her being blind.

Thanks for your answer. I found it strange that his line of reasoning, even if insane, did not really inform the audience just what he was so specifically upset about. Good movie, but thoroughly disturbing.

Question: Why exactly did Ruth jump out of the boat into the acid lake water later on in the movie? Was it to make it easier for the boat to get to the dock? If so, this doesn't make sense as they were still pretty close. Did she just make a bad decision and not think on it?

Answer: It was a deliberate act on her part. She jumped out in shallow water to help propel the boat to shore before it sank. She sacrificed herself to save the family.

raywest

Answer: She was also very adamant that she did not want to leave her home, believing that the mountain would never hurt her. She eventually realised she was wrong. She also loved the home she and her late husband built, but it was destroyed. By sacrificing herself she got her wish to stay.

dewinela

Question: Just before Miss Collins dies she screams "Carrie!" I interpret this as she somehow knows what's happening, what do you guys think?

Rob245

Answer: I believe she does know. Carrie is the only one in the room who remains calm and is standing still during the chaos. Based on that, Miss Collins seems to surmise that it is Carrie who is somehow manipulating the carnage.

raywest

Question: Why is Angelique so obsessed with Barnabas?

Answer: She was obsessively and eternally in love with Barnabas, though he had spurned her.

raywest

Along with the answer by RayWest: She is in love with him. How does anyone fall in love? People usually don't choose or plan to fall in love with a certain person. Of course, as RayWest wrote, her love is obsessive in nature. Sane, rational people will try to accept rejection and move on.

Question: Why did Christopher Reeves drive up to the Grand Hotel if cars weren't allowed on the island?

Answer: For environmental reasons, cars are not allowed on the island. The filmmakers received special permission to use autos for the movie. This was likely done for logistical reasons to simplify filming the scene. It is easier for Christopher Reeve to drive a car up to the hotel rather than using an alternative transportation mode available on the island. For example, using a horse-drawn carriage would be more complicated. It would also make little sense to most of the audience and would require plot exposition to explain the island's auto ban.

raywest

Question: Loki was very edgy when Thor returned to Asgard and while I know why, why didn't Thor see through his disguise when he went to Asgard at the end of Age of Ultron?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Answer: Loki, in the guise of Odin, might have instructed Thor to go to another world when he returned to Asgard. What tipped Thor off that Loki was impersonating Odin in this movie was Surtur previously telling him that Odin was not on Asgard, and then Thor returning to Asgard to see Odin with a carefree and hedonistic attitude despite the Nine Realms having plunged into chaos, all the while watching a play that was glorifying Loki.

Phaneron

Question: Did it actually have to be Tony that had to snap Thanos and his army? What difference would it have made if somebody like Clint or even Peter Quill snapped them? As long as Thanos and his army were destroyed the world was safe.

Answer: Yes. It HAD to be Tony. Strange said there was only ONE timeline where they succeeded. Also, Tony's armor provided some level of protection, letting him live long enough to snap. Most others, besides Hulk, would've died just by putting the gauntlet on. But, Strange foresaw this. He SAW this one reality where our heroes win. He SAW Tony die. It's also why he pointed and nodded at Tony. There were probably other timelines where someone else got the gauntlet but couldn't survive long enough to perform a snap. Clint would've died without armor, and Peter no longer had his Celestial powers after Ego died, so Peter would've died too.

JokerInTheBronx

Answer: It was whoever was able to get to it first. It was a frantic tussle trying to get the stones and the gauntlet. Tony happened to be in the right spot to snag them, and he had to act quickly before losing them again.

Quantom X

Answer: After Lou was hit in the head by the trumpet player, it's unclear what happened to him. Moses is supposed to kill Lieberman, so presumably he was eventually murdered.

raywest

Question: This question might be more for the book, but Mad Eye said they would have to transport in ways the trace can't detect. But the trace would only detect magic used near an underage person. Harry is the only one who is underage. So they could have used a portkey. I understand that they need to cast a spell to make a portkey but they could have cast the spell before they were near Harry and then transported to the burrow. Or have I made a mistake?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Answer: The trace detects when an underaged wizard casts a magic spell whenever they are away from Hogwarts. It doesn't detect adult wizards using magic near a minor. If a portkey was used to transport Harry, it could have been detected when he touched it because he would be using magic. The safest and least detectable way to move him from point A to B, was to fly him there.

raywest

Answer: Two things. 1. You are not allowed to create an unauthorized portkey. The ministry must be aware of it. I think the incantation (portus) is traced. 2. Using a portkey is magical use, so the moment Harry touches it, the ministry would be alerted and possibly know where the portkey transported to.

lionhead

Then how did Dumbledore get away with it in Order of the Phoenix when he made a portkey to get the children to Grimmauld Place?

Well he is an extremely powerful wizard and the headmaster of Hogwarts. I think he made it at Hogwarts yes? He could have had a trick up his sleeve to do it. Might be a bit more tricky for Mad-Eye and the rest whilst the Ministry is under control of deatheaters. Just too risky.

lionhead

Also, using magic near an underage wizard isn't traced. Just when it is used by an underage wizard.

No, the trace is meant to detect magic used near an underaged wizard.

lionhead

No, the trace is to detect if any underage wizard is using magic outside of school.

raywest

The wiki specifically says it's a trace of magic in the vicinity of an underage wizard, not the underage wizard him/herself. It's mentioned working like that by Alastair Moody in the books too.

lionhead

When Harry used magic to repel the dementors that attacked him and Dudley in Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry of Magic instantly detected that he cast a patronus spell. He was immediately "charged" for using underage magic. What would happen when a young wizard was at home for the summer and holidays and is around adult wizards using magic all the time? The trace would be going off continually for every underaged magic person. It was mentioned in the books that if an underaged wizard did use magic at home, it could be confused with the adults who were casting spells.

raywest

Harry once got a warning from the "improper use of magic office" for casting a hover charm, even though it was Dobby who did it. I don't know where you get your information from, but it is wrong. The trace can only detect magic has been used, not who used it. This is explained by Alastair Moody in Deathly Hallows Chapter 4.

lionhead

Question: Was there an explanation in-film, or perhaps in the comics, why Thanos (and even Hulk and Iron Man) had to physically snap his finger to get rid of half the population? He seemed to be powerful enough to be able to wield the power of the stones with just his mind. I don't remember him having to snap any fingers to instantly change reality, etc. Shouldn't he have just been able to think about wiping out half the population?

Bishop73

Answer: The gems are so powerful together nobody could wield all of them directly, not even Thanos. The glove is especially made that they can be worked in unison. But there are limitations, since they are being operated indirectly. It's like the staff Loki was using with the mind gem inside. He had to physically touch people with the staff to take control of them. Same goes with Ronin using the Power gem to destroy Xandar, he had to physically touch the ground with his hammer to use it. Same goes for the glove, you have to physically use it to use the gems inside it. He has to do this to to use any of the powers of the gems, he closes his hand into a fist to use one of the powers. The snap is for using all of them at once.

lionhead

Answer: In the comics, the Infinity Stones (where they are known as the Infinity Gems) do not require gestures such as snapping to carry out of the desires of the wielder. They simply respond to that person's will. In the comics, Thanos does indeed snap his fingers in order to wipe out half of all life in the universe, but that was more of a visual gesture for the readers. The Stones in the films are significantly less powerful, as it would no doubt make Thanos virtually unstoppable if all he had to do to use the power of the Stones was think about what he wanted them to do. In the comics, Thanos is defeated by his own notion of being unworthy of omnipotence. The Gems in the comics also do not kill their wielder from an overwhelming amount of power.

Phaneron

Question: I know the real world reason Bruno Kirby wasn't in this one (horse allergy that had to be kept at bay with daily medicine shots in dosage size and delivery needle fit for a horse), but is there any in-movie explanation for his absence here?

Answer: No in-movie explanation has been given but, at the end of the first movie, Ed said that he was going to get Kim pregnant so, it can be assumed that Ed decided to become a dad and spend time with his family.

Question: Is the song "The French Mistake" a real song or was it made up for the movie?

Answer: It was made up just for the movie, and I believe we only hear the chorus. Mel Brooks wanted to do an homage to Busby Berkeley's style of choreographed dance number.

Bishop73

Question: Grocer contacts the G-men to tell them that Blank is arriving by plane. Is that his own car he is driving around town, or are we to assume that he rented a car exactly like his own? If it is his car, how did it get there if he flew?

Answer: Given that Blank and Grocer both drive identical black Lincoln Town Cars throughout the film for some reason, that would be a reasonable assumption that they would also hire the same car model wherever they go.

Sierra1

Question: Is there any reason why Nebula told Mantis over all of the other Guardians to meet her on Titan?

Answer: In a deleted scene, Mantis was sitting in front of the coded message channel for five hours, mesmerized by the flashing light. Perhaps the system told Nebula that Mantis was the closest, or she actually heard her voice.

Sierra1

Answer: In real life, that might happen, but this is a fictional TV show that revolves around the characters and the dynamic interaction between them. Getting rid of JR, a main character that much of the story line revolves around, would make the show far less interesting, less melodramatic, and less intriguing. It's just an entertaining, over-the-top exaggerated soap opera.

raywest

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