Questions about specific movies, TV shows and more

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Question: After watching Professor Quirrell die in this school year, shouldn't Harry have been able to see thestrals?

Answer: In the novel, Harry passes out before Quirrell dies, meaning that he did not truly see the death and therefore was unable to see the Thestrals. In the movie, Harry does see Quirell die and therefore should have been able to see the Thestrals before witnessing Cedric Diggory's death. This was a movie mistake.

kristenlouise3

I thought the reason Luna told Harry that only they could see the thestrals was because they lost a loved one. Not that that they saw someone die.

Question: When the transvestite is propositioning Calvin, he says "I'll even throw in some lawn furniture." Later, when Calvin tells his wife about the encounter, he says "they offer lawn furniture as a come on!" I have been puzzled by what they were referring to for years! Urban Dictionary has been no help at all! Does anyone know what s/he was referring to?

Captain Defenestrator

Chosen answer: I think this is a reference to two things: home shopping networks (which often offer free inducements such as lawn furniture or steak knives to shoppers who "call now" or "act now"; it's also probably a reference to Calvin's age - elderly people liking lawn furniture.

Sierra1

Years ago, there were TV commercials of used car salesman that would throw in lawn furniture or other desired household items when you buy a car from them. Pretty sure that is the reference here.

Answer: He is talking about what he thinks is the sub race of people created by the atomic blast. The "new human race" that he was telling his wife about.

Question: At the beginning of the movie, Peter asks Voldemort if they can perform the ritual without Harry. Why? Does he now feel bad for betraying Harry's parents?

Answer: There are several reasons here. Peter Pettigrew regretted betraying the Potters and knows he is a lowly coward for having done so and for obeying Voldemort out of fear. He also knows that Harry spared his life during the confrontation in the Shrieking Shack (in Prisoner of Azkaban) when Lupin and Sirius were about to kill him. Because of Harry's mercy, Pettigrew is now magically bound to Harry with a life debt. In the books, this will later cost Pettigrew his life when he hesitates to kill Harry (in Deathly Hallows) and his silver hand instead fatally strangles him for defying Lord Voldemort.

raywest

Question: When Danny presses the button, the red spaceship moves onto a white space. Later in the movie, after accepting the astronauts' help, all three discover that the red spaceship is now on a blue space. How could it have gotten there? Neither Danny or Walter kicked the board and Danny never actually moved it from its original position since they had to deal with getting rid of the Zorgons.

Answer: If you are talking about the part where Walter says that Danny cheated and Danny says "someone must have kicked the board", you're right, no one did kick the board. After again being asked if he moved the piece, Danny says "maybe I moved the piece by accident." I think this implies that Danny cheated and moved the piece himself, which is why it was on a different coloured space.

Except, it never showed Danny moving the piece at all. When Walter moved Danny's piece back to the space it was originally on, the game shot out a card accusing Walter of cheating and tried ejecting him out of the house. If Danny had moved the piece by accident and therefore technically cheated, it kind of raises the question as to why he never received a card accusing him of cheating and ejecting him from the house as well.

I think the answer to this is in the card's text - "Caught cheating" I believe this implies that since Walter was observed physically moving a piece by the other player, that is what triggered the cheating detection. Nobody saw Danny move his piece, so he was technically not caught cheating in the moment. So, ostensibly, one may be able to cheat as long as they are not caught by the other player.

Knever

Question: Why were the British singing the Russian national anthem during the Christmas party scene?

Jasinslayer

Answer: As this story was set during the Cold War era, this was a deliberate mockery of the Soviet Union and its policies against holiday celebration and religious freedom. The entire story revolves around the prospect of a Russian Mole among the British Secret Service and Intelligence Community-at that moment, complete with a mocking Stalin Santa Claus, they were letting off steam against their reviled rivals.

Erik M.

Time - S4-E20

Question: Why did this episode air here and not for the season finale? "Early Edition" was not cancelled until AFTER the season's last episode, episode 22, aired. However this episode is meant to be the season finale (which only ended up being the series finale when the show wasn't renewed). So why/how was it aired out of order? There's one claim, with no documented source, that it was done by accident. Is this true?

davidthehan

Question: What is the name of the song being played in the background when Raymond is destroying the 4x4?

The_Iceman

Chosen answer: It's "I Check My Bank" by Sir Mix-A-Lot.

Bishop73

Question: What is the name of the music being played when Clarence enters the club and kills Drexyl? And the name of the song being played when Drexyl kills Samuel L Jackson?

The_Iceman

Chosen answer: When Clarence kills Drexel: "I want your body" by Nymphomania. When Drexel kills Samuel L Jackson: "Skinny (They can't get enough) " by The Skinny Boys.

Question: Why do all the SEALS have scruffy beards? Usually they are clean shaved, right? I was just wondering if it's maybe for the mission that they are on, but I see all the SEALS there have a bunch of facial hair. Can someone confirm this?

Answer: SEALs are allowed to have 'modified grooming standards'. They are often undercover in other countries and it helps them to blend in, as beards are far more common in the Middle East.

Grumpy Scot

Question: Why does Freddy come back in the end? I thought he was dead? Why is he killing now the adults?

Answer: It's a nod to the original Nightmare on Elm Street where the same thing happened at the end of the movie to Nancy's mother. Also you have to remember that Gwen, whom he killed at the end, was part of the mob who burned him alive. Can we say revenge?

lartaker1975

Question: If Professor X transferred only his consciousness into his twin brother, why is he not able to walk? His brother did not suffer a spinal injury, he only suffered from basically being brain dead. So why can't the new Professor X walk around? He can speak, move his head, and arms but not walk.

Answer: If his brother was bedridden his entire life then his leg muscles never would have developed enough to allow him to walk. That's why babies can't walk as soon as they are born. They have to build the muscles first. A lot of time also passes between the movies - we have no idea what's happened.

Phaneron

Question: When the moon is made small and the waves disappear there are two surfers who fall. Is that a mermaid to the right of the surfer in the water?

Answer: No, it's his surfboard.

Sierra1

Question: What's the song playing at the beginning of the DVD main menu, when you hear ghostface say "slice you up"?

Den Mitchell

Answer: According to Al Jean, the producers haven't decided yet but they have some ideas.

Phaneron

There was an episode in which Ned went to Springfield elementary as a substitute but left. Bart convinced him to come back. Then in S30s finale, "crystal blue haired persuasion", Flanders show Marge a test that Bart got in "his" class, suggesting he is the new teacher. However, Simpsons wiki fandom shows that it a is a temporary job.

Answer: I always assumed one of the gods told him how to get there after they won the battle. The underworld in Greek mythology could be traveled to by mortals, albeit extremely ill-advised.

Jordan Oxendine

Question: Ed Exley recommends that the LAPD shift the blame for Bloody Christmas to men whose pensions are secured, and he names Bud White and Richard Stensland as two such men. But when Dudley Smith later tells Bud White that Stensland has been forced to retire, White says "A year from his pension!" So was Stensland entitled to a pension or not?

Answer: Exley is suggesting two things: to shift some blame to three officers with secured pensions and forcing them to retire; when he refers to White and Stensland though, he is saying "someone has to swing" and that they should be charged, tried and imprisoned - so Stensland is not entitled to a pension.

Sierra1

Chosen answer: There are a number of reasons actors are sometimes unlisted in the credits. If it's a surprise cameo appearance, then the name is withheld to keep that information from leaking out before the movie is released. Also, some actors appear in another actor's movie as a favor because they are friends. They may receive only a scale wage or even nothing at all. Being listed in the credits would involve more contractual negotiations, different salary, affect the film's marketing, etc. Being unlisted simplifies everything.

raywest

Question: After the pie tin toss, why does Tannen call Marty Mr. Parsley after he say "mighty strong words, runt"?

Answer: You misheard the line: Buford Tannen says "You man enough to back 'em up with more than just a pie plate?" - "just a pie plate", not "Mr Parsley".

Sierra1

Answer: For time. For American TV, a film needs to have a run-time in increments of 45 minutes (An hour with 4 commercial breaks.) Casino Royale runs 144 minutes, so 9 minutes have to be trimmed somewhere, and this scene IS a bit drawn-out. We know Bond's going to survive because the game isn't over.

Captain Defenestrator

Question: At the Ewok village, Luke tells Leia that she is the only hope for the Alliance if he doesn't return from his meeting with Darth Vader. However, if he had died, how could she have become a Jedi? Would the ghosts of Luke, Yoda, or Obi-wan have trained her?

Answer: It is quite possible their spirits could have contacted her, and while she may not be able to be trained as a Jedi, they could certainly guide her into developing her powers to use the Force that would help her lead the rebellion. There may even be other Jedi still alive that she would find out about.

raywest

Answer: That Leia is the rebellion's last hope is a separate point from her being able to use the force. Luke doesn't necessarily suggest that Leia can become a trained Jedi without anyone to train her; simply that she is already a formidable warrior who is intelligent and resourceful, and now he can confirm that the force is with her, so she can indeed put her absolute trust in her own instincts.

TonyPH

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