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.

Chosen answer: It's not known how or in what way Obi Wan is powerful or if that power can be physically extended to the living world. Also, for various reasons, Luke, to fulfill his destiny to be a Jedi, must be the one to confront and defeat Vader, though Obi Wan can still guide him.

raywest

There seems to be a common theme (in movies, shows) that a dead person must "move on", and those who are still alive must forge their own path, complete their own journey, etc. This also happens when Dumbledore dies in the Harry Potter series.

Question: When Judy cooks carrots in the microwave, she stands too close to the microwave while it's active. Isn't it hazardous to stand too close to a microwave while it's cooking?

Answer: No, that's a complete myth. Paraphrased from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/health/10real.html: "Every microwave must limit the amount of radiation it can leak to five milliwatts per square centimeter at roughly two inches away from the oven. That is far below the levels of radiation that have been shown to harm humans. (By comparison, the most common cellphones operate at a peak power of about 1.6 watts or less, and most studies have found no evidence linking the phones to health problems.) Manufacturers of microwave ovens are also required to line the doors of the machines with metal mesh that prevents microwaves from escaping, and to use a type of door latch that stops the production of microwaves whenever the latch is released. Those features greatly limit exposure to levels of radiation that are already low. And since the radiation levels drop sharply with increasing distance, the levels two feet away are about one-hundredth the amount at two inches."

Jon Sandys

Question: Near the beginning, in the new house, when Disgust, Fear, Anger, and Sadness mess with the panel, it turns into their colors including Sadness' color, then orbs came out with the colors of Disgust, Fear, and Anger, but why not of Sadness because she touched the panel too?

Roman Curiel

Chosen answer: If you mean the bit where the dad says the moving van won't be there until Thursday and they start pressing buttons, you see Sadness kind of tentatively reach for one of the buttons but then it cuts to the shelf, so you don't actually see her touch it.

Sierra1

Question: Why did the "flecks" affect the owl's gizzards?

Answer: The flecks affect the owls gizzards because they come from owl pellets so the two sort of become whole.

Question: When Brutus and Nero return Penny to the riverboat after catching her while she tries to run away, what would have happened if Medusa was already at the riverboat by then instead searching the swamp in her swamp mobile?

Johman

Chosen answer: She may have been very upset with Penny for running away. But she may have also had a talk with her like she does much later in the movie about why she needs her for finding the diamond.

Question: After Vito kills the black hand he goes back up to the roof and smashes the gun into about 6 pieces. He puts the parts down spouts sticking out from the roof. What were these spouts and where did they go? He also put one piece down what looked like a chimney. Wouldn't that land in someones fireplace and be discovered?

The_Iceman

Chosen answer: They are vents from furnaces and ovens. They wouldn't fall into the tenements because of things like filters and flues blocking the way.

Greg Dwyer

Answer: It's because vampires are physically so much stronger than humans that any touch or action can inflict severe injury or even death. This physical characteristic was somewhat toned down in the movies, but in the books, even a simple hug or kiss from Edward could have harmed Bella.

raywest

Question: How did the demolition woman who is shown on a monitor shooting herself get the gun in the first place? After all, she isn't a security guard.

Answer: With all the monsters being kept in captivity, it would make sense for the facility to have an armory as well. Guns may have been handed out once the cages were opened.

Captain Defenestrator

The Naked Time - S1-E5

Question: Has it been overlooked that in this episode Spock seems to intuitively know that the sword Sulu is wielding is of the 16th (or 17th) century? It is made clear that Sulu is chasing crewmen with 'a sword' but the type of sword and the manner in which Sulu challenges the men, is not known. Later Spock gives an 'overview' of what is happening on the ship describing Sulu as a 16th (or 17th) century swashbuckler - but the bridge crew had no prior knowledge of what sword Sulu was using or how he was speaking... Was that just one of Spock's "best guesses"?

Answer: It is never revealed how Spock knew this. This is either an educated guess on his part, or else Spock, who is intellectually superior to most humans, has a particular interest in or knowledge of ancient Earth history and is familiar with different types of weapons.

raywest

Question: If the "cold drink" vending machine was unplugged and the buttons were unresponsive, WHY did the saboteurs deliberately illuminate the front of the machine? Wouldn't this ATTRACT people to the machine, only to subsequently arouse curiosity when it failed to function (as it did with Mulder)? The more logical approach would be to disable the vending machine (including the illumination) and tape an "out of order" sign on it. People would then just ignore the machine, arousing no suspicion. The illuminated vending machine gimmick looks like an illogical contrivance to advance the plot.

Charles Miller

Chosen answer: If they had put an "Out of Order" sign, or left it unilluminated, someone in charge might try to have it fixed or replaced, or could have checked to see if it's plugged in, etc. By leaving it illuminated, it doesn't look out of place and simply not taking money wouldn't arouse too much suspicion. In my own life, when I've come across a seemingly working vending machine that won't take my money or dispense drinks (but gives my money back), I just find another one instead of calling someone or reporting it. But yes, it is very convenient to the plot that Mulder just happens to try and use this particular machine.

Question: Maybe its my maths or I misheard something but the figures don't seem to add up for me. In Godfather 2, Vito Corleone is about 7 yrs old in 1901 and moves to New York after his family is killed. In Godfather 1, it is said the year was "almost 1942" (I think). So that makes Don Corleone about 50 ish when he died of a heart attack. Is this correct? He looked a lot older, plus head of a crime family in his early 40s doesn't seem right to me either. Am I missing something? I'm not listing this as a mistake as I'm unsure of the timings etc. so if anyone can shed any light on this for me it would be appreciated.

The_Iceman

Chosen answer: Vito was born December 7, 1891, so he was 9 when he moved (Godfather II states: "In 1901, the family of nine-year-old Vito Andolini is killed"). However, it was by the early 1930's that Vito had established his criminal organization as the Corleone crime family, with him at the head. He died in July of 1955, making him 63 when he died. In real life, Marlon Brando, who played Don Corleone, was 47 at the time of filming.

Bishop73

Question: Why does anybody (including Sam Raimi) claim that Evil Dead 2 is a sequel with flashbacks to the first film? As a sequel, there is virtually zero continuity to the first film. This was an obvious remake.

Charles Miller

Chosen answer: Evil Dead II starts out with a recap of The Evil Dead where Ash cuts off the head of his girlfriend Linda with a shovel and then is attacked by the entity, which is how the first film ended. While Linda is played by a different actress, it's still meant to be the same events as The Evil Dead. The cabin windows are still barricaded from the end of the first Evil Dead, and Ash's pant leg is still torn from Deadite Scott attacking Ash. Additionally, the end credits say: "Evil Dead II", the sequel to the ultimate experience in grueling horror, was filmed in Wadesboro, North Carolina and Detroit, U.S.A.

Bishop73

Question: What is the van that Harry and Lloyd drive? It's jokingly called an '84 sheepdog but, I'd like to know what make and model it really is.

Answer: 1984 Ford Econoline.

Bishop73

Question: When Katniss asks Johanna about Annie why does Johanna kind of stutter when answering?

Answer: Joanna hesitates a bit when she's recalling how many years ago it was when Annie was in the games - she tells Katniss it was "four" then corrects herself and says "five." She then seems a bit somber when Katniss indicates that Annie had some kind of mental breakdown, implying that Annie is Joanna's friend. Joanna is being shown as having a softer side than the harder image she tries to project.

raywest

Answer: Joanna won her games the year after Annie. It's possible she stuttered and corrected herself when recalling how many years ago Annie won was because she was shocked by how long ago it seems her own games were.

Question: How long exactly has Belle been imprisoned in the Beast's castle? Asking because the first movie didn't look like Christmas was being celebrated by anyone.

Answer: It's unknown how long Belle was at the castle. This sequel, The Enchanted Christmas, was made as an afterthought to the original Beauty and the Beast film, and there was no consideration or explanation about how this would fit into the original timeline. This is a stand-alone film, and it is typical of how the more popular Disney animated films, such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, etc. have added-on stories that are usually released straight-to-video.

raywest

Question: I recently watched this movie again and realised I don't know why the Percy family was in grief counseling. Is it said in the movie? I remember the rest: the father was killed by his partner, the husband was murdered and left naked, the sister was raped and killed, the brother was killed trying to help in the emergency room, but I don't know why the Percy family was there.

Answer: Not every elders' story was told. Towards the end, the montage of voices explaining what tragedy had befallen their loved ones was only meant to reveal to the audience the reason why the village came into existence. It is unnecessary for us to know each person's personal history but only that they wanted to escape societal violence. As they all belonged to the same grief support group, it is assumed the Percys also lost a loved one through an act of violence.

raywest

Answer: I would say she is roughly around for a year as the first scenes of the movie during the song Belle show a scenary of France in Spring. They they then spend winter in the castle and it is Spring again when the curse breaks.

Answer: It wasn't specified how long she was there.

raywest

Chosen answer: Hermione did not cry that often during the series. When she did, it was minimal. Actors can become so immersed in the scene that they feel the emotions they are portraying and produce real tears. Actors also use eye drops to simulate crying.

raywest

Answer: He appears to be about 5 years old.

BaconIsMyBFF

Chosen answer: It is hinted that he died off screen.

MasterOfAll

How though, because he seemed to be in perfect condition in the first movie.

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