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: Why does Slevin make Goodcat break his nose?

Answer: When Slevin first tells Lindsey about his time in New York, he told her he was mugged and got his nose broken. We later find out this isn't true. To make his story seem valid, however, Goodcat breaks his nose.

Answer: I had one of those when I was a kid and it was called a Bumble Ball-not sure if that's the "official" name or just what we called it, though.

Question: In the very last scene (I have only seen the original version, not the Director's cut), a crowd is gathered outside the Darko house and Gretchen comes along on a bike and talks to this little blond kid. When she asks him "What happened?", if you listen closely you will realize that the kid's response is not exactly standard English. It sounds, in fact, like complete gibberish, or just possibly something meaningful in a non-English language. What exactly is that kid saying, and what is its significance?

Answer: It is, in fact, English. He says "Got smushed by a jet engine".

Question: In the scene where Bridget tries to purchase a pregnancy test, the lady behind the counter holds up a box, and then a box of condoms. I was just wondering what the first box actually was?

Answer: Tablets for digestion problems.

Christina

Question: Much of the cinematography of this movie looks computer generated, even close-ups of faces. How much of it is unreal, and is there anything else contributing to this surreal look?

Answer: The only time that Brandon Routh's face is computer-generated is whenever he flies straight toward the screen at the end. This was CGI because it was never filmed during production but they later decided to put this in to match the old Christopher Reeve films.

Question: I saw the theatrical release of The Court Jester in 1980. I remember a character being tortured to reveal information, but he refuses and dies. This scene was not in the VHS or DVD versions. No one else seems to remember it. Can anyone confirm it? I believe (but can't be certain) that the unfortunate character tortured was Fergus the Ostler.

Answer: Fergus was indeed the unfortunate one being tortured to death, although this is off-screen; the Captain mentions it to Ravenhurst and his compatriot right after Hawkins wins the tournament. However, as far as I can remember, that he had died was mentioned in all the versions I've seen up to date. And also, Fergus did reveal the critical information which caused the arrest of Hawkins and Maid Jean, and the revelation of the child's presence in the castle.

Question: What happened to Jack the dog? Last she was seen was when Jack showed up at Kate's boyfriend's work. The boyfriend said "I know you." and looked back at Alex walking away. I assume that's how Kate got the dog. But Jack isn't really seen in Kate's time much, after the chess game.

Answer: When Kate and her boyfriend broke up and Kate was living at the apartment (2510 N Racine), the dog is there with her. It is assumed that the dog remained with her from 2006 onward.

Question: What is the meaning behind the Morton salt and other groceries that Mort buys at the end of the movie?

Answer: Mort Rainey buys the salt, butter, and napkins for eating the corn he grew in the garden above Ted and Amy's graves. The "Morton" brand of salt uses the advertising slogan, "when it rains, it pours." Mort Rainey's name can be translated to "raining death." The "Vanity Fair" napkins could be a refernce to Mort's personality.

raywest

The term Vanity Fair was coined (I believe first) by John Bunyan in 1678, as a place in a story called ‘The Pilgrim's Progress'. Mort is referred to as ‘Pilgrim' by a few different characters in the film, including himself, without much explanation until the serviettes. Brilliant. Vanity Fair in John Bunyan's story is a never-ending fair of frivolity, which is similar to Mort's charade of denial. Found this info when I searched the meaning of Vanity Fair on vocabulary.com.

Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress was also the inspiration for William Thackeray's 1847 novel, "Vanity Fair."

raywest

Question: What is the story about Miho's victory-cross-shaped shuriken? Any relation to her later shooting the likewise-shaped tattoo out of the head of a henchman?

Answer: Miho's shuriken is an actual Japanese weapon, whereas the symbol on the henchman's head is a swastika. There is no relation between the two.

Question: In the newspaper clippings at Jill's house, it says something like "Jill Valentine suspended" so why did she get suspended?

Answer: If you zoom in on the newspapers on the wall, one article mentions the death of her partner, Leon S. Kennedy, in connection with her suspension.

Question: I got a few plot questions that I'm wondering if people other than the director can answer. 1) Why doesn't Ste want to turn around so Jamie can put the peppermint lotion on his front-side? Maybe because he has an erection and doesn't want Jamie to see? I think the reason he states is not the real one. 2) Why does Sandra look around outside so carefully after Ste went in to give Jamie the hat as a present? 3) Why does Sandra break up with Tony? 4) Rose sniffs and walks away during the dancing scene at the end of the movie. Does this mean she approves or disapproves? 5) What does the on-looking woman whisper during the dancing scene at the end? Any good lip-readers around who know?

Answer: 1) I think it would cross the line into sexual, and at that point they are still friends, nothing more. 2) Because she realizes what's going on, and she doesn't wan't people to gossip. 3) I think it hits a point where her son is more important. Plus Tony becomes a bit obsessive. 4) Rose is holding her head high. It means she is not ashamed. I wouldn't say she approves or disapproves.

Question: In the scene where Sydney and Tatum are shopping, when they go off screen Ghostface is seen in the reflection of the freezer glass. Why is Billy or Stu following them in the costume while in public during the day?

Answer: It wasn't either one of them. All the kids were having a party to celebrate school being cancelled. Someone bought one of the costumes to "make fun" of the situation. It was also something to throw us off, kind of like when the camera goes to the cops boots after he is talking to Duey.

Answer: I read somewhere it wasn't Billy or Stu. It was Roman!

Question: Is the taxi driver the cosmonaut from Alex's youth? First he states that he's always mistaken for the cosmonaut, but then he tells Alex what's it like to be in space.

Answer: According to IMDb, Sigmund Jähn gave permission to be featured in the movie, but refused to play himself. It was very difficult to find an actor who looked like Jähn and spoke his typical dialect but after filming had begun, 'Wolfgang Becker' chose a Swiss actor. He was given complex make-up and was dubbed by another actor who came from Jähn's home region, the Vogtland.

Answer: On the soundtrack, the song is called "The Uruk-hai". Track 5 on the soundtrack.

Question: What is the name of the song playing during the very last scene with Lana driving and who sings it?

Answer: Bluest Eyes in Texas, remade by Sheryl Crow, originally by Little Texas.

Show generally

Question: Does anyone know why Janet Hubert-Witten was replaced? I've heard rumours that she didn't get along with the rest of the cast, is this true?

Answer: Yes. It's very true. Janet quit at the end of the third season because she claims that Will acted horribly, bullied cast and crew on the set and got her fired for no reason. Alfonso Ribeiro however has called her "cuckoo" and stated that her claims were baseless. He also stated that she was very difficult to work with on set. Even James Avery agreed and often had to remind her that the show was called "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and not "Philip and Vivian of Bel-Air."

Answer: To avoid the confusion, I mentioned "Good Times" only in response to a former submission on here that she was on Good Times at one point (that submission was deleted shortly afterwards, but my Good Times response somehow stayed on here causing the confusion.

Answer: She was never on Good Times. She didn't start acting until the early 80s. Good Times ended in 1979.

This question isn't about Janet being on Good Times. It's about her being replaced.

To avoid the confusion, I mentioned about "Good Times" only in response to a former submission on here that she was on Good Times at one point (that submission was deleted shortly afterwards, but my Good Times response somehow stayed on here causing the confusion).

Answer: She became pregnant in real life, which would have messed up the story line. They would have had to add a fifth kid.

They did add a fifth kid.

Question: Are all the characters in the crowd at the Basketball game from the TV shows or were some made just for the movie?

Answer: These were all actual characters from Looney Tunes.

Question: Is there any significance to the code '1288' Sydney uses at her mountain hideaway?

Answer: Not expressly, though it could have been the date of some significant event (December of 1988) but someone as security-conscious as Sydney now is wouldn't be stupid enough to have her code be something that could be guessed.

Question: How was Cloud able to survive being shot in the head in the opening chase sequence? Did the bullet just graze his forhead, or did it bounce off of his protective goggles?

Answer: The bullet bounced off and thereby did not directly hit him. As Kadaj's gang were after their "mother", you can be sure Yazoo did not intend to kill Cloud yet, so he must have aimed for the goggles. It's impossible for the bullet to graze his forehead in that angle, even though Yazoo could have calculated that, too.

Question: At the carnival, Viola sees her mom and her mom ask her where her brother is. Viola runs away and changes into "Sebastian" in the ride. Why does she do this? And why does she change right back?

Answer: Both Sebastian and Viola are supposed to be at this carnival so she has to keep changing to make "appearances" so it would appear they are both there.

edelian

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