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: In the Richard Donner version, after Superman reverses time so that the events of the movie never happened, why would he go back to the diner and get even with the guy who beat him up, when earlier he chose to remove his powers?

Answer: When Clark comes back for revenge, there are no references to the previous fight, nor of anyone knowing Clark from before. When the manager tells the bully, "I just had this joint fixed," it doesn't mean it was because of the previous fight.

Sacha

Question: When the Mentors were discussing with the Tributes on how to sell their performances for the audiences, why did the shackled Reaper fake lunge at Dovecote?

Answer: Because he didn't like her, he realized she was just a rich person who saw him as a means to an end, and really didn't care if he survived. He wanted to give her a scare.

Brian Katcher

Show generally

Question: The following puzzles me: 1. Why don't the survivors try leaving on a boat and finding an island? 2. Why wouldn't the zombies just eat each other? 3. Why do they seem surprised when the zombies show up when they can smell their decaying smell? 4. Why do the zombies need to eat since they still walk around anyway? 5. Why can't the zombies climb ladders? 6. How can they feel hunger with their brains and nerve system gone?

Rob245

Answer: Some of these questions address general zombie lore (or at least, post-Romero zombie lore) and are thus usually accepted that they just "are" a certain way. 1. That's easier said than done if you don't know how to operate a boat, which the average person does not. They're also in the middle of America, nowhere near the sea. 2. There is not a single example of zombie fiction in which the zombies consume one another; they always feed on living humans. No reason other than it wouldn't be scary if they just ate one another. 3. Can you tell the exact source/direction/distance of every smell, even a powerful one? 4. In all media, zombies are driven by primordial hunger for living flesh, which almost never serves any physiological purpose. 5. Lack of physical coordination. It's also why they can't run, swim, dance, etc. 6. Again, it's just how they "are" in the fictional world they inhabit.

I want to add that "finding an island" is not guaranteed anyway. They could end up getting lost at sea and dying of starvation or dehydration. And if they do find an island, they don't know what they will be dealing with: natives who became zombies, natives who don't want them there, unfamiliar plants that might be poisonous, etc. It makes more sense to "start over" where they are.

Question: McPherson broke the grandfather clock and nothing was in there. But then, the next time he opened it with Laura there, nothing was broken, and there was a gun in there. How did it get fixed? What did I miss?

Answer: It's a different clock. The first one is in Lydecker's flat, and there's an identical one in Laura's. McPherson finds the secret compartment in Lydecker's clock, and since Laura's is the same, he checks that one, too. The shotgun is in Laura's clock.

Question: The ending of Back to the Future, Marty says he's not going to the lake as the car is 'wrecked'. All the family react as if he's talking about the BMW. They rush out and see it is fine. But they know Marty has the Toyota truck - why would they not think he meant his car is wrecked'? I know he says car not "truck" but he's talking about going up to the lake - he wouldn't be going in his Dad's BMW. So is this a mistake or bad script writing? (01:49:00 - 01:51:00)

blueslipper@gmail.com

Answer: Why wouldn't he go in the BMW? Going to the lake doesn't mean off-road driving, it might be a nice paved road all the way to a touristy spot. I don't think it's a mistake or bad writing.

Actually, Biff comes up to him with the keys to his truck, saying it is ready for his trip. So he was going with his truck.

lionhead

Answer: It would've simply been down to the pure shock of what Marty was saying. The second he said "The car's wrecked", they dropped what they were doing and went to check. They didn't even care about the first part of Marty's sentence at this point, as all that was going through their heads would've been "Has something happened to the car?"

Answer: Marty didn't know about the truck at that point. He was surprised when Biff handed him the keys, so it's not wrong that the family thought he meant the BMW.

Correct, but the family all knew he had the Toyota.

Question: I know that Jeremy Bulloch played both Boba Fett and Sheckil, but I read that someone else was supposed to play Sheckil before Bulloch replaced him. Who was initially supposed to play Sheckil before Bulloch took his place?

Answer: There doesn't seem to be any info on who the actor was that was cast to play Sheckil. The only information I could find was that the original actor didn't show up on the day of shooting, and Bulloch replaced him at the last minute. He was probably a minor actor who mostly worked in bit parts and as an extra.

raywest

Question: Nick was supposed to be watching Fanny sing at Keany's, but I just don't see him in the audience shots. Error?

Answer: If you mean their first meeting, most likely it was a deliberate decision by the filmmakers that Nick wasn't seen in the audience. The scene was constructed to introduce Nick and show Fanny's reaction as she opens the dressing room door, seeing him for the first time. Nick being seen earlier would also have lessened the audience's reaction as well.

raywest

Question: What caused the monorail track to collapse?

Answer: There doesn't appear to be an explanation. It seems to be done for dramatic effect.

raywest

Question: What is written on the toilet paper in Sarah's bathroom?

Answer: Artist from 1800. Right before the name is shown when the shower curtain is opened, and the line "If nulin was as pathetic as you are..." you can see part of one of his prints behind her in the bathroom.

Question: Had Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan been able to both survive and defeat Maul, would this mean Sidious would not be able to manipulate Anakin anymore? Or would the Sith Lord have simply tried a different plan, besides emotional manipulation, to try to trick an Anakin trained under Qui-Gon into the dark side?

Mlp1327

Answer: I don't think his plans would change. Qui-Gon is just another Jedi Master training Anakin, nothing much different because Obi-Wan was trained by him as well, after all. Plus, Qui-Gon much more believes Anakin is the chosen one, so he would probably allow Anakin a lot more than Obi-Wan would, including his relationships with Palpatine and Padme, which both are more important for Anakin's switch to the dark side.

lionhead

I (not who submitted the question) wonder if Palpatine actually wanted Darth Maul to be killed by Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, or both. It seems like he mostly trained Maul to fight. Maul seemed to know little about the plotting, scheming, and political dealings. Dooku was capable in those areas, and was skilled at fighting. He was probably more useful while Palpatine waited to turn Anakin.

Not sure about that. I think he genuinely thought Darth Maul was properly trained to defeat Jedi. I don't think Palpatine planned ahead in terms of apprentices, except Anakin. But Darth Maul was before he knew Anakin. I don't think Sith are easy to find either, so Palpatine needed Maul for a lot of things more than just kill Jedi. It is too convenient however that every apprentice he had served his plans perfectly. Because I don't see Maul lead the separatists.

lionhead

I was under the impression that Palpatine knew about Anakin ever since Shmi was chosen to be Anakin's mother. I might be wrong. This is an interesting discussion, though - I appreciate your response. Some think that Maul had limited use of the Force and was more of a trained assassin. But, if that were true, why call him a Sith apprentice? As you say, it's hard to imagine him being a Separatist leader.

I do not have any knowledge regarding any books written or other sources that might be considered canon, as have been mentioned in other comments here recently. My knowledge is purely the movies. As per the movies, Palpatine only learned of Anakin after the Battle of Naboo.

lionhead

Rage - S6-E17

Question: Would Elliot have even been allowed to be a cop considering how violent he is? He told Cragen how he slapped Maureen when she was little for spilling juice on a new carpet, has constantly beaten suspects and innocent people and even admitted to thinking about killing child molesters.

Answer: In theory, you would not want a person with his temper problems to be a cop, but just like in real life, the show has shown corruption in the force by having people work there who should not be several times throughout the series.

Question: I submitted a mistake about the road sign at the end of the film that shows how many miles to Chicago and that there would not be such a sign in Vegas. My question is what was the point of adding that into film? And also I think it is safe to assume that the Griswolds booked a flight back to Chicago (round trip). If they did it doesn't seem like they would've had time to cancel it since they didn't know until the end that Rusty won the 4 cars. So wouldn't they have lost more money that way as well?

Answer: Clark sold the plane tickets to continue gambling.

Answer: A sign saying how many miles home is a common film making technique. It's not meant to be realistic. Considering the Griswolds won enough at keno to recover their losses and at least $120,000 worth of cars, I can't see them getting too upset over the airfare which is likely less than a thousand dollars.

Grumpy Scot

So they did turn in the ticket and got the money? I know they drove off in the cars Russ won.

Answer: They live in Chicago. I think it was just a nod to the number of miles and who knows what could happen to them on the way home.

Answer: Don't forget that Clark gambled away their plane tickets. He needs to drive the 4 new cars Rusty won to Chicago.

Question: Is David Thewlis still banned from entering the China for his role in this movie? I know that Brad Pitt's ban was lifted in 2014, but was Thewlis' ban lifted too?

Answer: Brad Pitt's ban was lifted in 2014, but David Thewlis is still banned from entering China to this day.

Question: During the yacht rescue, Superman is stepping on the door and getting a grip to fly. How is he flying/lifting if he has technically landed?

Answer: Superman doesn't fly through blasters on his feet. He simply levitates. In this instance, however, he also happens to be holding onto the object that he has his feet on (the boat), which means that as he moves up, the boat he has his feet on is moving up at the same rate.

Garlonuss

The Die is Cast (2) - S3-E21

Question: Two questions: 1. When Odo is being tortured, he tells Garak that he wants to return to the Great Link. Did Odo really want to return or did he just say that to get the torture to stop? 2. If Odo did want to return, why? Considering the atrocities the Founders committed, wouldn't he want nothing to do with them?

Answer: Part of the answer is found in "The Search: Part II" (season 3 episode 2). The female changeling told Odo that "the urge to return home was implanted in your genetic makeup. So he hardly has a choice in that. But being a sentient, thinking being, he recognizes the atrocities that his people are behind and he can't condone their actions. So it's a matter of his conscious mind warring with his instinctual gestalt. But on a more general level, we all instinctually wish to be among people who are like us. No matter how much he may like and love those around him and feel that emotion returned, there are numerous aspects of his life and existence that absolutely nobody on DS9 can empathize with or understand. And that's not even to address the pure joy and acceptance that is brought by the Great Link.

Garlonuss

Question: Two questions in the opening montage: 1. Why did Mitch seem somewhat ungrateful when Phil handed him some money as a sole act of consideration and respect for him, and what was he inferring when he told Slim "he really loves you"? He didn't even seem all that interested in Phil's compassion towards him even though he accepted it. 2. Why was Mitch upset on the beach? Why not just join Slim and his daughter, talking with them and ask how they are?

Movielover1996

Answer: 1. Mitch was being "polite" - putting on a good image - by accepting the money, despite not needing it. Abusive people can seem nice, charming, and respectable outside their homes. He told Slim that Phil really loves her because he has observed the bond between them. 2. I viewed his behavior at the beach as distant rather than upset. He might have been thinking about work, his affairs, or whatever. Also, it was just one moment. Maybe he joined them off-screen. Remember, Slim thinks her life is overall great until she finds out that Mitch has affairs. So he was probably acting like an ideal husband and father most of the time.

Question: How was Blackwood's plan to reclaim America back into British control supposed to have played out, as laid out to Standish? If they got control of the armed forces, would they have attempted an invasion of the United States?

Answer: After killing off England's entire Parliament, gaining control of the government and military, Blackwood would then wage war against the United States, believing the U.S. military was in a weakened and chaotic state following the Civil War. The details were sketchy, but if he actually did intend to reconquer the US, an army would have to invade it.

raywest

Answer: The group, including Carlene, were invited to attend Bill Clinton's inauguration in D.C. Julia was apparently bothered that Carlene is attending a Democratic victory event after she had voted against Clinton and for Perot, an Independent candidate. Julia probably considers it hypocritical and something of a betrayal.

raywest

Behind Us, A Cliff - S1-E2

Question: How come, as mentioned in episode two, James was unwilling to acknowledge his involvement in the Civil War with others, even lying about not having served when asked and turning away from fellow veterans who recognized him?

Answer: Tim McGraw (the actor of James) put it best. McGraw has explained that James has PTSD from serving in the war. It doesn't help that, per McGraw, James was forced to serve and did not actually want to participate in it. This would make the war not only a shameful memory for him, but a painful one at that. Especially during a time when therapy was not a thing and people, particularly the male head of the households, were taught to hold feelings like that back. In his suffering brain, he thought it was best to try to put that memory aside rather than openly talk about it.

Question: When Sheriff Teasle drops Rambo off at the bridge, and then when he pulls his car to the side to question and then arrest him, both times he turns on his red and blue lights. Why does he do this?

Answer: Because even though there wasn't traffic, he was still stopping in the middle of the road. He wanted to make sure to be seen. When he's arresting Rambo, he's actually blocking the road and not pulled off to the side, so he wants to make sure traffic stops. When he initially picked Rambo up, he was coming from the gas station and on a side road, so he wasn't stopped in the middle of the road like he did later, so he doesn't bother turning his lights on.

Bishop73

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.