Answered questions about specific movies, TV shows and more

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Question: During the first three seasons, all the main cast appeared in every episode (except one without Joyce Dewitt by season 3), but it seems once Suzanne Somers left the show, episodes had some cast members absent on a regular basis (mainly Richard Kline and Don Knotts who both only appeared in selected episodes in the later seasons). Was it a sudden budget cut or another reason for this?

Answer: Richard Kline and Don Knotts were supporting cast members, who could be replaced at anytime. It was John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers who were the star vehicles they relied on to carry the show.

Question: When Caparzo hands Melish the knife, why did he get upset?

Tony

Answer: The situation from before, an intense firefight, got to him, the stress and anxiety taking over for a moment. It's likely this is his first moment of rest and reflection since landing on the beach. Plus, it's a Hitler Youth knife, revealing they just killed a bunch of minors.

lionhead

Question: I know that in the book Harry strongly regretted that he almost killed Malfoy. But why didn't he regret it in the film? In the novel he even states that he regrets it but in the movie there is no mention that he feels remorse or regret for almost killing Draco.

Answer: It can only be speculated as to why Harry didn't verbalize his regret in the film. While it's implied that he regretted his actions, was confused, and unable to process how he felt, it was vague and neutral enough that it keeps the audience in doubt about how the two truly feel about each other and what their future interaction will be.

raywest

Question: I know that Sam Elliott, who played General Ross in 2003 Hulk, wanted to play him again in this movie. Why was he rejected and replaced with William Hurt?

Answer: Presumably because this movie was retooled into a reboot that wasn't meant to connect with the 2003 film. So bringing back main cast members might have been seen as being potentially too confusing at the time. (This was nearly 10 years prior to JK Simmons being cast again as J. Jonah Jameson, which proved audiences can go with the same actors being in reboots. But in 2008, it probably would have been viewed as being too risky).

TedStixon

I do think you're right, although it's worth pointing out that Judi Dench was recast as M in the rebooted 2006 Casino Royale after playing her in the Brosnan Bond films. Not sure if that was the first time that's happened.

That is true, although I'd consider it a slightly different circumstance because the Bond films are basically a singular linear film series following one main character, and it was made clear that "Casino Royale" was essentially a full-on reboot. Comparatively, the MCU is multiple different stand-alone "series" (Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, etc.) that all tie together via crossovers, cameos and team-up films. They were probably worried that people would assume the 2003 movie was retroactively part of the MCU. (Which you could probably argue is now true given the establishment of the multiverse, and the implication that previous non-MCU Marvel movies are all canonical as part of the multiverse... but that wasn't part of the plan at the time this movie was made).

TedStixon

Question: What was the connection between Frederick and Mrs Lippman?

Answer: Presumably you are referring to "Fredrica," who was one of Buffalo Bill's victims, and previously his girlfriend. Both Mrs. Lippman and Fredrica were seamstresses and knew each other from a sewing/fabric store they patronized.

raywest

Question: Do the events of the movie alter the timeline to where Adam is no longer suspended? I ask this because at the end of the movie, Adam and his mom have the same beat-for-beat conversation of his mom's files, but instead of Adam suggesting he should go to his room and think about what he's done, he says he's going to be late for school.

Cody Fairless-Lee

Answer: Maybe the father prepared him better knowing he's going to die.

Question: Did Ray set up the killing of Joey Randone because of what he saw them do, or was it just luck on Ray's part that he was attacked and left hanging from a TV aerial to then plunge to his death, and this is why he stalled for time with the door lock?

The_Iceman

Answer: I would think this would just have been random luck. There is no way you can just pay some random criminal to find and single out Joey and his partner to attack. With all the cops on patrol anyone of them could have responded to that call, so that was just pure luck that Joey and his partner encountered the criminal that threw him to his death on the roof.

Question: What about the huge debt he owes the bookies, the retirement home, the hospital? He has no money at all, but seems like everything is all good in the end. Bookies don't just walk away from a debt just because of a stroke.

Answer: They left ASSUMING he was dead, AND had been the CAUSE of it. The dumbest thing they could have done was return to the scene of the crime if he actually WAS dead Since you can't collect from a dead guy, the filmmakers wish you to assume they just chalked it up as a loss. He wasn't their only customer I am sure.

Question: Why does Shredder wants to poison the citizens of New York in order to take over?

musicman

Answer: Some would die by exposure and the city officials would immediately offer The Foot anything they wanted in hopes it would stop them from further using the biological weapon or any others they've got if possible.

Rob245

Question: Does the photo at the end with Sy and the family actually happen or is this just Sy imagining what life could have been like with them?

Tallicame

Chosen answer: This is mentioned on the DVD commentary - it's deilberately open ended so one can interpret it as either it's Sy imagining what he wants to happen OR it's what really happened.

Neil Jones

As Neil Jones said, the ending is open for interpretation. However, I think there is reason to believe that Sy imagined the photo. It shows him and the family outside of their house, all looking happy together. Would they want to take such a photo with Sy after the incident at the hotel? And before the incident, they were probably not close enough with Sy that he would be in a photo taken at their home. Him and no other guests/visitors.

Lisa's Substitute - S2-E19

Question: When Lisa guesses that Mr. Bergstrom is either Jewish or Italian, why does he quickly say that he is Jewish? As if he certainly doesn't want to be mistaken for Italian?

Answer: When I was a child, my classmate said I could be Jewish, Italian, or Middle Eastern, but I couldn't be what I truly was, Mexican.

I don't mean to be rude, but how does this answer the question?

It doesn't. Some people are extremely proud of their heritage, and to be considered something else can be insulting. For example. English people who live near the Wales border hate to be considered Welsh and vice versa.

Ssiscool

Answer: He knew she was Laurie's friend.

But he didn't spare Lynda, and she was also Laurie's friend.

Rob245

Lynda was vulgar towards him in the beginning, and they also broke into what used to be his home to have sex. Honestly, not surprised he ended up killing her and her boyfriend (who are another representation of his sister and her boyfriend whom he killed).

Annie was either bait or he just had not finished yet.

Question: Wasn't there an "original" scene (edited out in favor of the existing scene) where everyone is below the church, and Ian is leaving Ben, Abigail, Riley, and Patrick behind to go to Boston, and Ian not only threatens to shoot Riley if he speaks again, but he also does shoot Ben's dad Patrick? I can recall that scene - shot in the upper front shoulder area, and he collapses, etc. I don't recall what happens to Patrick after that, since they find the treasure room after that. Do you recall?

Answer: Perhaps you are confusing it with Indiana Jones' father being shot at the end of Last Crusade?

lionhead

Answer: I saw it in the theater twice and that scene did not happen.

Bowling255

Answer: I've seen that movie a dozen times. I don't believe that scene exists.

Answer: After reading your question, I had a vague flashback about the scene as you described it, maybe from when I saw the theatrical version. I searched, but I can't find any online reference to it, but I think you are right and the film may have since been re-edited. I hope someone else can verify this.

raywest

Question: Was it the colony's idea to turn Bill into a werewolf or did Marsha choose to do it of her own free will? I think it's the former because nobody seems to be angry at Marsha for doing it.

Answer: I think they were purposely brought there to both join the colony. Marsha, who desired Bill, was impatient and bit him. As for not being mad at her, the Colony was slowly turning to her leadership, instead of the Doctor's compassion treatment.

Question: Since this is a movie solely based on Kung Fu (and not karate), why wasn't this film titled "The Kung Fu Kid"? It seems it would also help separate confusion between this film and the 1984 Karate Kid film.

Answer: While there was discussion to name the film "The Kung Fu Kid", it was ultimately decided to keep the original, and more familiar, title since the film is considered a reboot. Not only is the story line the same, there are many elements from the original film seen in the reboot. And, had Ralph Macchio not turned it down, he would have had a cameo. It should be noted that the title in China is "The Kung Fu Dream" (功夫梦).

Bishop73

Answer: There was a comic book titled, "The Kung-Fu Kid," so there were copyright issues.

Titles, names, slogans, and short phrases cannot be copyrighted. In some instances, they can be trademarked.

raywest

The original answer does seem suspect without a source, but it should be noted that there was a DC Comics series before the original film called "The Karate Kid" and Columbia Pictures had to get special permission from DC Comics to use the name. All the films even acknowledges the name is used with consent. There definitely could have been a lawsuit if DC Comics didn't want to give permission.

Bishop73

Answer: Even though it's incorrect, "Karate Kid" is the catchier and familiar title, indicating it is a reboot of the popular original series, making it more marketable. It also uses an alliteration that rolls off the tongue easier. "Jurassic Park" is another example of a deliberate misnomer in a movie title. The dinosaurs depicted in that film were from the Late Cretaceous period, millions of years after the Jurassic. "Cretaceous Park" just didn't sound as good.

raywest

Question: What exactly is the dessert that Coleman tosses in the garbage after Louis tells him that he can have it?

Answer: It was Crêpes Suzette.

raywest

Question: Why doesn't Peter take the symbiote suit off normally instead of ripping it off?

Answer: If you'll notice, he seems very stressed out and immediately struggles taking off the suit. Before he starts to rip it off, he holds up his hands, and they're sort of constricted, and you can hear a sort-of plasticy "tightening" sound. And then he starts to moan like he's in pain. Then he starts to rip at it. It seems like the suit senses that he wants to remove it and is trying to hold on by squeezing him. So trying to pull if off normally wouldn't work.

TedStixon

Question: Cochrane, the first terrorist that McClane killed, went through a machine that crushed his head. What was this machine, and what's its conventional function?

Answer: While it doesn't crush his head, if you look closely the chest doesn't go through, so it's also probable that the rolling press crushed the chest / upper abdomen.

Answer: I don't think it actually crushes his head (especially since you see his uncrushed head screaming), so much as he just gets electrocuted by the equipment, as you see flashing and sparks. I've seen it referred to in articles as a "baggage press," but I can't find anything about such a machine online. If I had to guess, it seems like it's being used to lightly compress baggage/luggage that are in thin or flexible containers, like duffle bags. (Probably to create more space for storage and transportation). Otherwise, it just seems to be some sort-of general part of the storage/sorting machinery.

TedStixon

Question: Why can't David and his friends go into Max's store?

Answer: Spoilers ahead: As I recall, it was part of Max's cover as the head vampire. He did not want David and his cohorts hanging around the shop and looking like they had any connection or association with him. He has to look as if he disapproves of them. Mostly it's a plot device so the audience does not suspect Max is also a vampire.

raywest

Answer: Not quite. She and DiCaprio got overwhelmed by a wave of water hitting them while inside the ship. While submerged underwater, Winslet was running out of air as she held her breath when her coat caught on iron bars as she tried to surface. Safety divers were nearby and freed her.

raywest

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