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: Can someone explain to me what exactly was the explanation for the Superman logo projectile that he throws off his chest towards the end? that just seemed like an incredible plot hole and totally unexplainable as Superman's suit is never shown to have any powers in this film series.

Eyexpress333

Chosen answer: It's not a plot hole. It's just a power we've never seen before or since. However, in the history of Superman (like in the old TV show and such) it's a common thing for Superman to suddenly have a power we'd never been told about then never see again. It's weak story telling, but it's not a plot hole.

Garlonuss

Answer: The cellophane S is not a power of Superman's. It was created by the technology in the fortress of solitude. The same goes for the holograms.

Question: This just interests me, but when Harry's name comes out of the Goblet of Fire, and he has to go and join the champions, why is Dumbledore angry with him? There's no way Harry could have submitted his own name because he's not of age yet, and he is not educated enough to over-ride Dumbledore's Age-Line spell or fool the Goblet into accepting him, and there's no way Hermione would have helped him because she's too moral about using magic for the wrong reasons; Dumbledore should know both these things already if he is such an intelligent and knowledgeable wizard.

Answer: Quite simply, the first assumption anyone would have would be that, however the name got in there, it was because Harry wanted to circumvent the restriction. That's why, when Dumbledore comes back to see him a minute later, the first thing he did was grill Harry about how the name got in there. Harry hardly has a flawless record where school rules are concerned, and even Ron assumed he'd done it somehow.

Garlonuss

Question: In the bank, inside the lift, when John McClane is with the fake Detective Otto, what does he see in Detective Otto's badge that convinces him he is fake?

rorschach2992

Chosen answer: He sees the reflection of his friend's badge number that he remembered from their conversation about the lottery earlier, so knows the badge was taken from his dead friend.

Captain Defenestrator

Question: In the epilogue, whose trolley is Harrys daughter riding on before they go through the 9 3/4 passage?

boardwaxmax

Chosen answer: She is riding on her brother James Sirius' trolly. He is the eldest of Harry and Ginny's three children.

raywest

Show generally

Question: Can the vampires in BtVS have their picture taken? I know in some other stories they can be. We know they don't show up in mirrors but I'm not sure if cameras were ever directly addressed.

crazymars2u

Chosen answer: It was addressed on Angel, and they can be photographed, just not well.

Captain Defenestrator

Question: How did Draco Malfoy get the Elder Wand at the end of book 7?

Answer: Draco never physically possessed the Elder Wand, nor did he ever know he was briefly its master. Draco unintentionally won the Elder Wand's allegiance when he confronted and then disarmed Dumbledore when they were atop the Astronomy Tower in "The Half-Blood Prince. When the wand was forcefully removed from Dumbledore's hand, it sensed that its master (Dumbledore) had been defeated and switched its loyalty. Even if Dumbledore had lived and still retained custody of the wand, he would have no longer have been its true master. When Harry later disarmed Draco at Malfoy Manor, the Elder Wand then became Harry's property, even though the wand was still in Dumbledore's tomb at that time.

raywest

Chosen answer: A reckoning is like a judgment day, exacting retribution for one's actions. Doc was very well educated and had a very large vocabulary. He was correctly pointing out the subtle difference between revenge (to make Wyatt feel better about losing Morgan and about Virgil's crippling injury) and the fact that Wyatt was bringing about a judgment day (or reckoning) for each of the men who hurt his family.

MovieFan612

Answer: I've spent a lot of time thinking about this very question, and here's what I've come up with. I think there are at least two differences between revenge and a reckoning. First, I think it has to do with the scale of the response to an offending action. Revenge, in my mind, is an eye for an eye, i.e, "You killed my brother and wounded another, so I will inflict the same action on your family (or group, gang, whatever). " A reckoning is less a measured response to an offending action and more of a full-scale punishment, i.e, "You killed my brother and wounded another, so I will now slaughter your entire family-including those who were not directly responsible for the offending action." Second, I think there is also a difference in motivation. Revenge tends to be a very personal response to something, whereas a reckoning tends to be more of a response fueled by a need for justice. In Wyatt's case, it was both. He was enraged by what happened to his family, but was also a lawman.

Franklin Vaughn

Thank you for this response! I've only seen Tombstone a million times and asked the same question every time. It's hard to separate the difference between the two but I believe you nailed it. Well done.

I'm thinking the opposite in terms. Revenge is "Reflexive" and is generally any means necessary (out of an abundance of pain or rage) to hurt the other party. "Revenge is a dish best served cold." If one is exacting justice there's no need to be cold hearted. Therefore, Reckoning is (to me) a fair balancing of the "scales" hence "an eye for an eye." Not only consequences of actions as it were but a corrective action to an incorrect circumstance. Just my understanding.

The problem with that theory is there is no difference in the end because the end result was the same...the killing. True reckoning could have only been achieved though the apprehension and punishment by trial and jury, anything other than that is simply revenge.

Question: What is the purpose of the boots on the rafters in the scene where they find the first murdered priest?

Answer: A suspense point. Just to make the audience think that the predator is up there.

shortdanzr

Chosen answer: No. He's given his name, that's all. Nothing there that might lead to a paradox. If he's gone into detail about his time travelling, that might cause an issue or two, but simply stating his name does nothing.

Tailkinker

Answer: No more so than Sisko posing for a photo in the 21st century while pretending to be Gabriel Bell.

Answer: His last name is something Kirk will forget, since he was on temporary assignment and essentially passing through.

Question: In this movie and HP7 part one, the Weasley family are called "blood traitors." What is that? This also occurs in the books too. Can someone tell me what that remark refers to?

Answer: Blood traitors are pure-blood families who consort with half-bloods, Muggle-borns and Muggles.

Guy

Question: Is there any particular reason as to why Lisbeth is dressed like a punk in the courtroom?

Gavin Jackson

Chosen answer: That is how Lisbeth prefers to dress, and she refuses to change for anyone or anything.

Phixius

Question: Did Narcissa Malfoy know that Harry was still alive when she goes to check the body after Voldemort "killed" Harry? The Malfoys all seem a bit nervous and afraid afterwards when Voldemort has Hagrid carry Harry's body to show everyone that he "defeated" Harry.

Answer: Yes, she could feel his heart beating. If Harry had answered no, to her question of whether or not Draco still lived, Narcissa likely would have told Voldemort Harry was still alive. But as Draco survived long enough to have a chance to be saved from Voldemort, and Harry was the only one who could defeat him, Narcissa lied to aid Harry, ultimately for her son's benefit.

Phixius

Question: Just regarding the entrance to the great hall. In Deathly Hallows Part II it is shown that the double doors of the dining hall lead out straight to the courtyard area (where Harry's final battle with Voldemort takes place in case it needed clarifying). This is all on the same level (i.e. no stairs going up or down a storey). However, in earlier films, e.g. Philosopher's Stone, when the new students arrive they are all shown walking up some stairs and then waiting outside the hall entrance (the same place where young Voldemort and Dumbledore talk over the future of the school in The Chamber of Secrets). Having also visited Christ Church college at Oxford (filmed at this location) I know that there are stairs, so basically (and finally!), my question is whether anyone can explain why Hogwarts seems to have changed. I can't work it out, either decision by the producers/directors/etc. or I've failed to recognise/remember some detail. Either way, any help would be very much appreciated! P.S. (Sorry for the essay).

Answer: Hogwarts has changed because it's been torn apart by the battle! That entrance hall (and the stairs) is still there, but now it's missing walls and a ceiling.

Phixius

Question: Isn't it revealed in the book that Dumbledore is gay? If so, why did they leave this out?

Answer: No, it is not stated in any of the books that Dumbledore is gay. When asked about his romantic history, Rowling stated that she "always thought" Dumbledore was gay. But that's as specific as it gets.

Phixius

Question: At almost the end of the Titanic, they show pictures of Rose doing the things that she had talked about doing with Jack. EX. riding a horse with one leg on each side. Then they show "Old Rose." Is she asleep dreaming about Jack or is she dead and has gone to "be with Jack." I was wondering because they show Jack and Rose kissing by the clock, on the boat, at the very end. Then the screen goes white. So I figured that she had died. Am I correct?

belmontpark08

Chosen answer: I believe you are correct: Rose has died.

Phixius

Answer: The ending can be interpreted in two ways. 1. Rose is still alive and is having one more dream about Jack. 2. She has finally died and is being reunited with Jack.

Question: When Roger is explaining the escape plan, he says that Tom will run under the vorlager, the cooler, and the wire. The cooler and the wire are obvious, but what's the vorlager?

Cubs Fan

Chosen answer: Vorlage is German for "forward position," so this likely refers to either the main gate, or a machine gun nest.

Captain Defenestrator

Question: How could Harry have known what floor the terrorist leader was going to get off on during the hotel chase sequence?

jbrbbt

Chosen answer: He didn't really. Harry just knew he was heading up. He pressed the top floor to get the elevator moving and kept an eye on him on the way up. If the terrorist's elevator suddenly stops, Harry can press the button for that floor to stop his elevator.

XIII

Question: When Adam Sandler is shooting with the nail gun, he hits Mr. Larson's head with the nail gun with the construction hat on. But in the tournament when he sees him again, the hat off but the nail is still in his head? How did he take it off without damage?

Answer: Although the premise of having the nail still in his head after so long is a little far fetched. But the hat would have been 'cut apart' to expose the nail by itself. Probably in a hospital ER.

XIII

Question: When Peter pauses the world, the dwarf is easily seen making an expression. How come?

bk123456

Chosen answer: This is nothing more than a lame "breaking the fourth wall" gag. Basically, by making the expression the dwarf is showing that all of the actors are just standing still, as opposed to being really frozen.

Manky

Question: During the second movie we see many Autobots, Tex Two Idiot Robotwins and some Motorcyclebots. But now it are only nine Autobots again in the movie. Where did the other Autobots went? Did they got killed or went in hiding?

Answer: Mudflap and Skids (the two idiot robots I believe you are talking about) were removed from the film due to negative fan reaction. While we don't hear what happened to them in the context of the plot, no reason not to assume they were killed in fighting between the movies. Arcee and Chromia (2 of the motocycles) were killed in the last film.

Answer: No, Sentinel killed both of them in the comics.