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 was Captain America unable to hold Thor's hammer? He fought to protect his country. He saved the lives of innocent people and wasn't afraid to back away from any kind of danger so he should have been able to lift it. Ultron said that the reason none of them could lift it is because they were all killers but that's really just speculation.

Answer: He can pick up the hammer, he didn't want to upset Thor.

brianjr0412

Answer: He's able to move it just barely, enough to impress Thor. It's an enchantment on the hammer that requires a combination of strength and righteousness. He might not be there yet, but he's on the way. Thus the hammer moves more than anyone else could.

Captain Defenestrator

Question: It is 1968, and in the trailer it says "42 B.G" which 42 years later would be 2010, which is the first film. But the ending of this movie implies that the minions have been working for Gru since he was a child. So why is "42 years Before Gru"?

JaxxJaxx

Chosen answer: The writers wanted to keep Gru's cameo at the end of the film a secret for the fans of the franchise. So, saying "42 Years B.G" (before Gru) in the trailer doesn't give the surprise away.

Question: In the scene just before Ashley and Ashlyn die, Ashlyn, the brunette, (I think), asks Ashley why she's wearing underwear and Ashley says it's because Simon gets off on tan lines. Now I know who Simon is but, what does she mean by "he gets off on tan lines"? Is this a turn on or something?

Answer: For some guys yes, it is a powerful turn on. Tan lines appear when the sun hits the legs, etc. but not the bits covered by clothing, hence "tan lines" appear where the skin goes from bronze to white.

The_Iceman

Question: In the scene just before Erin dies, they are talking about if anyone else was on the ride and Ian makes a comment about a guy in a black cloak and how the ride attendant took his sickle, (or whatever), before the ride started. I know it's supposed to be a joke but what's a "sickle" and what did he mean by his comment?

Answer: A sickle is a harvesting tool with a crescent-shaped blade (with the sharp edge on the inside) as seen on the old USSR flag (along with a hammer). It's a reference to Death, who is most often seen dressed in black cloak with a scythe. On rare occasions Death has a sickle, but more often it's people confusing the two tools or thinking the words are synonymous. Plus, it's easier for some people to say "sickle" than "scythe." Ian is saying Death is on the ride.

Bishop73

Answer: Denny.

Chosen answer: He says "That's a pretty suit, chérie", chérie being French for dear. The film is set in Louisiana where French and Creole are spoken.

Sierra1

Answer: This question makes no sense. The Lone Survivor doesn't get killed. That's why he's the Lone "Survivor".

wizard_of_gore

Question: What is the title of the black-and-white movie that Michael Barris was watching at his home before he takes part in the experiment?

Bunch

Question: A glass casket with a key inside it is shown in John's warehouse. What does that mean?

Answer: It plays an important role in the next few movies.

Answer: This was revealed by director Darren Bousman to have originally been used in a now-deleted (and not released as of Oct. 2020) scene in the movie. The glass box is used for what is (most likely) a different purpose in Saw V.

Question: When Mav meets Charlie in the bar, she makes a joke about his name and then he informs her it's his call sign. And she says "Oh, you're a pilot!" Considering the fact that she is an "important" civilian adviser at Top Gun and Mav is wearing his wings, wouldn't that have been obvious?

Answer: Charlie is playing dumb because she knows Maverick is trying to chat her up - he has no idea who she is and as she says later she sees a lot of pilots in there come and go.

Chosen answer: No one is mean to Clopin in the movie. But he is a gypsy and the people in Paris don't like the gypsies.

Question: Why did Stuart continue trusting the Canary when she lied to him and the whole family?

Answer: Probably because he could see that she was hurt at what she did and also because earlier in the movie, he said "When you're friends with Stuart Little, you're friends for life". Also if you wanna look at it another way, him helping her could be payback for her saving him from the sink. It's just a long term friendship they have.

Answer: Because she wanted to be safe from the evil Falcon.

Question: What is the make/model of the airplane used in the skydiving scenes?

Answer: The plane is a Beech 65-A90 King Air.

Sierra1

Question: During the number "I've Got A Dream," the thugs ask Flynn to share his dream, but Flynn refuses to tell them with the excuse "I don't sing." Is that line a reference to Flynn's voice actor or is that just an excuse Flynn is making?

John Ohman

Chosen answer: It's just Flynn.

Phixius

Question: Did the first lady compliment Gerard Butler's earring suggestion to wear the small classy ones for a classy lady but then wear the long dangling earrings as shown in the car scene?

Answer: Mike suggested the small classy ones, but the first lady opted for the long ones instead.

Answer: He's suppose to be the same age as in the novels, so about 16. "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" takes place 3 years after "Prince Caspian", so 2306 (Narnia year). He was born 2290 (NY). However, since Caspian is around Peter's age, they chose an older actor to play Caspian to match William Moseley's age.

Bishop73

Question: Why is Professor McGonagall so shocked that Harry would accuse Draco of cursing the necklace? She knows that Draco's father is a Death Eater, as well as some of his friends' fathers. Professor Snape is there, but they are both in the Order of the Phoenix (and she has no reason to not trust Snape yet).

Answer: She's likely incredulous at the idea that Draco could perform a curse that well.

Captain Defenestrator

Question: What I cannot understand about this movie, having watched it 3 times, is why there is no response to Crouch senior's death by anyone. Having read the book, I assumed it would be made clear at some point that he had been killed by his son, but in fact it's left hanging as a huge loose end. Is it conceivable that the tournament would just continue when the referee and judge has been found dead close to the castle?

Answer: You're right, and there is no real answer to this. The way Crouch Sr.'s death was handled did not make much sense and it is yet another example of how the movies glossed over many plot details that were explained in the books. It would be completely unrealistic that an important official's murder during the event would be overlooked. It's unfortunate that the overall story arc of the series has so many gaping holes in it and the filmmakers expected the audience to "fill in the blanks." That is why there are so many questions about the HP films on this site.

raywest

Actually it wasn't overlooked. In the next scene, just after Crouch's body was discovered, Dumbledore, Fudge and fake Moody are discussing the matter and are unsure what they should do about it. Moreover, in one of deleted scenes Harry, Ron and Hermione talk about Crouch's death.

Answer: But his death is explained in the book. Barty Crouch Jr. explains having killed him, transfiguring him into a bone and burying him in Hagrid's garden. As for why there was no announcement, Barty Crouch Sr. Was believed to be ill and had been out of sight for some time now. Percy Weasley, his assistant still had continuous messages from him via owl. At the end of the Tournament however and upon revelation, Fudge might've been acting out of fear and kept the entire incident low. Not to mention how he had limited proof considering he had Barty Crouch Jr. immediately kissed by a dementor. The movie plot for this is definitely flawed but the book, admittedly, allows proper assumption of the aftermath of his death.

Not quite flawed. After Crouch's body is discovered in the forest by Harry, there is a scene where Dumbledore, Fudge and fake Moody debate what actions should be taken due to this incident. Fudge, being afraid of losing his position of Minister Of Magic, refuses to cancel the Tournament because he doesn't want to be perceived as a coward.

Answer: It actually makes some sense. Fudge refused to cancel the Tournament because he was afraid of losing his position of Minister Of Magic.

Question: Why did Troy shoot Archer's kid again? I just watched the movie for the first time from start to finish so I really didn't get that part.

Answer: Michael wasn't the target. Caster was trying to shoot Sean, but the bullet went through him into Michel. It was collateral damage.

Quantom X

Question: After reading what really happened, I am still not understanding why they killed her husband. Did he know something that he should not have known? I do understand the need for his coffin to hide the bombs...now why did they need to take her daughter as a 'hostage' for the sake of the $50 million dollars?

Answer: If there's no dead husband, there's no coffin to hide a bomb in. Without the daughter's disappearance, Kyle won't have reason to unlock the coffin (only she knew the code; the terrorists didn't). When the captain initially refuses to have the hold searched, the marshal suggests it would be a good idea for him to take Kyle down there and look. This would be for the purpose of having her open the coffin, and allowing him to access the bomb.

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