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 Quaid shoot Dr. Edgemar when he sees sweat dripping from his head? What is it about the sweat that lets Quaid know something is wrong?

dan coakley..

Chosen answer: It was nervous sweat, which wouldn't happen if everything was only occurring in Quaid's mind.

zendaddy621

He was trying to convince Quaid that he was in a dream and taking the pill would wake him up back in reality. Seeing him sweat gave him away and Quaid knew he was really awake.

lartaker1975

Answer: The drip of sweat could have been a consequence of Quaid's imagination going into overdrive, and manifested as part of his delusion. For every argument against it being a dream, there is a counter argument for it, including that of the director whose intention was the latter and as stated in the extended director's commentary.

Question: Is it ever revealed what happened to Truman's real mother and father? Once he left the show, would it have been possible for him to have been able to find them?

Heather Benton

Chosen answer: No, we don't get any information about them in the movie. It's stated that Truman was legally adopted by the corporation that runs the show; that being the case, Truman would probably be able to learn his true mother's identity from the adoption papers and, with any luck, track her down. Truman was an unwanted pregnancy, hence being given up for adoption, which raises the possibility that his biological father may be unknown, or at least no longer in touch with his mother, but depending on the situation, locating his father cannot be ruled out as a possibility. Given Truman's enormous fame, it's quite probable that a number of people may well appear claiming to be his parents after his escape; DNA matches would allow them to weed out the liars, so it's not implausible that one of both of his biological parents might find him, rather than him finding them.

Tailkinker

Answer: During the interview as they were showing the babies, it was stated that they were "unwanted babies" which means their parents didn't want them. This includes Truman.

lartaker1975

Chosen answer: Since Lisa is called blonde and Bart "tow-headed, " I think we are meant to assume that their hair is simply bright yellow, the same color as their skins. And it is an accepted fact in Springfield that yellow is a normal skin color.

Actually, in the episode, "No Loan Again, Naturally", Bart says that while staying inside the house for days, his hair was reverting to its natural red. He was worried that the kids would call him 'Rusty'.

Answer: In one episode, Bart and Lisa get their hair cut at a salon, so we can assume it is normal hair, just identical to their skin color.

Chosen answer: In general, no. However, in the episode "Behind the Laughter," Lisa comments about how Homer fed her anti-growth hormones to prolong the run of the show. Chronological events do occur, such as birthdays (which all of the characters have had in various episodes), and several episodes include flashbacks and peeks into the future. However, for the most part, the characters remain in a chronological stasis.

kuffpah

Ling Bouvier is one character who has aged.

Dan23

Yes, I've noticed that, too. Also, Apu's nephew has aged quite a bit.

Screwed The Pooch - S3-E13

Question: At the trial, Carter's lawyer asks Brian the star of two films he rented - Brian replies "Pauly Shore" and everyone seems shocked. Is there supposed to be a joke behind this? If so, what does this joke mean?

Chosen answer: They were shocked that anyone would rent movies starring him - he is a bad actor.

Rydersriot87

And what's the connection of that making him a bad dad?

It's just a joke that someone who would make such a bad decision in renting movies couldn't be responsible for making good decisions in raising a kid.

Bishop73

Show generally

Question: So far as I can tell, there is progression of time in the series and there being a continuity and history, now stretching 23 years. So why do none of the characters ever age? Maggie has been a baby for 23 years now.

Quantom X

Chosen answer: No character has really aged. The show is on a sliding time line. Bart will forever be 10, and Lisa 8 for as long as the show is on the air.

MasterOfAll

Ling Bouvier is one that has aged.

Dan23

Chosen answer: No. On at least one occasion she admits her hair is not really blue.

MasterOfAll

Answer: Yes, however, her hair went grey years ago and she now dyes it.

Chosen answer: That is Homer's beard, or beard stubble. A similar effect was used for Fred Flintstone.

MasterOfAll

Question: Would it be possible to create dinosaurs in real life the way they create them in this film?

dan coakley..

Chosen answer: No. There are a number of reasons why this is not possible, including the fact that DNA simply doesn't remain preserved for that long. See http://www.iflscience.com/technology/could-jurassic-park-ever-come-true for more details.

Question: Why did Nicholas react very rudely when his assistant wished him a happy birthday?

dan coakley..

Chosen answer: Nicholas' father committed suicide on his 48th birthday, something that has haunted Nicholas ever since. Nicholas himself has now reached the same birthday, putting him in a very sour mood and in no place to receive birthday wishes cordially.

Tailkinker

Answer: No, he admits to his ex-wife after 11:40pm that day that he didn't even realise he was the same age as when his father committed suicide until she just brought it up. I'm guessing he was annoyed because he was just a grumpy man and was resentful of celebrating his birthday due to the painful memories associated with his father.

I always thought he was lying or being sarcastic when he said that.

Answer: The story parallels "A Christmas Carol" with Nicholas being a modern day mirror to Ebenezer Scrooge. When wished "Merry Christmas" Ebenezer famously would say "Humbug." When wished "Happy Birthday", Nicholas is equally as unhappy with the sentiment "I don't like her" he says to his assistant.

Question: When Truman's father shows up for the first time, was it set up by Christoph? if so, why was he dragged away by people that work there? can someone please explain what's going on there? Also, is Truman's father his real biological father?

dan coakley..

Chosen answer: No. Christoph did not plan his return, that is why he is dragged off, the others are trying to protect the project. No, he is not.

MasterOfAll

Question: Are there 2 different endings to this film? When I saw it for the second time I'm sure it was different from the first time I saw it.

dan coakley..

Chosen answer: Yes. The alternate ending has become the default ending in most areas, and is the default ending on the Blu-Ray.

MasterOfAll

Question: In the part where all the fish are brainwashed, how come Sandy got brainwashed when she is wearing a helmet? (01:33:05 - 02:13:10)

LIKEme

Chosen answer: The buckets don't brainwash through skin contact. They brainwash through Plankton's signal. All you need to do is wear it close to your brain.

MikeH

Chosen answer: No such book exists. The closest thing would be Sweet Savage Love written by Rosemary Rodgers.

Quantom X

Question: This movie was given a 12 rating by the BBFC in cinemas in the United Kingdom, but the DVD is given a 15 rating. Why is this?

Chosen answer: Previously edited content put back in for the DVD release.

Phixius

Answer: Twentieth Century Fox desperately wanted a box office destroying, record breaking haul and quite rightly, or not so in this case, thought that a 12A (the certificate it was awarded in cinemas) would garner them a gigantic amount of dough. In the U.K. you can only have a certain amount of the F word if you want your film to be a 12A. (It used to be one F word for a 12).

Alan Keddie

Question: What was the real plan to begin with? Did Carl want Willy to murder Sam and take his wallet, or was Willy supposed to just mug him and let him go?

dan coakley..

Chosen answer: Mug him and let him go. There's a whole scene where Carl is very distraught to find out Sam was killed.

Phixius

Season 1 generally

Question: Why is Khal Drogo willing to give Viserys an army in exchange for Daenerys? Until she is almost poisoned, he seems to have no real interest in The Iron Throne or the Targaryen dynasty, considering how she has to beg him to cross the Narrow Sea. Why didn't he just marry a native Dothraki woman?

Answer: This is explained more in the book. Khal Drogo and his bloodriders do intend to help Viserys take the throne, however they do things in their own time. This is what causes Viserys's frustration. In the book, Illyrio Mopatis tells Viserys that he has already waited his entire life to claim The Iron Throne and that waiting a few more years isn't that big of a deal. The Dothraki are a nomadic tribe, which is largely why they have no interest in invading and sacking King's Landing. However, since Khal Drogo eventually grows to love Dany, her assassination attempt by the Westerosi compels him to seek revenge.

Phaneron

Season 1 generally

Question: After watching the show and reading the first book, I can't figure out why people hate Jaime for killing King Aerys. Aerys is referred to as the "Mad King" and more than one person talks about his sick deeds. Even Ned doesn't seem to approve of Jaime's actions, yet Aerys killed his father and brother. Even if Jaime did have a duty to guard the king, didn't he actually do everyone a favor by killing Aerys?

Answer: Basically it's because he broke his vow. A member of the Kingsguard is sworn to protect the king at all costs. Jaime elaborates more on the deed to both Catelyn Stark and Brienne of Tarth, telling Catelyn that no matter what course of action he took, he would be breaking one vow or another (i.e. if he obeyed the king, he would conversely be disobeying his own father), and telling Brienne that the Mad King was planning on burning all of King's Landing, but he did not bother to tell Ned Stark that. Ned Stark felt that killing Aerys was dishonorable and excessive. Robert Baratheon still could have usurped the throne without Aerys being killed.

Phaneron

The Scorn of the Star Sapphire! - S3-E5

Question: It was said in another answer that the ring Star Sapphire has uses the power of love, which makes sense in this episode as her human from, Carrol, is in love with Hal Jordan. However, when Star Sapphire takes over and replaces Carrol's mind, she demonstrates nothing but hate and anger towards Hal Jordan/Green Lantern. So how can she use her powers with the opposite emotions?

Quantom X

Chosen answer: The Star Sapphires are agents of the Zamarons, the female species of the Guardians of the Universe, they are enemies of the Green Lanterns, which is why Carol has anger toward Hal. It should also be mentioned that the further a ring is from the center of the "The Emotional Spectrum", the more control the ring has over the user.

MasterOfAll

Show generally

Question: In several series/movies, Cyborg is shown as part of the Justice League. He is part of it when it Justice League is first formed as shown in the upcoming movie, Justice League: War. though in that one he is made only a day or so before. Usually he is a grown man in he Justice League. Yet here he is in the Teen Titans. Is it supposed to be that Cyborg joins the Justice League after he leaves the Teen Titans?

Quantom X

Chosen answer: In recent years, the comics introduced Cyborg as a member of the Justice League. This was after his many years as a Teen Titan. In the rebooted DC Universe (known as the New 52) Cyborg is a founding member of the Justice League, and was never a part of the Teen Titans.

MasterOfAll

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