Jon Sandys

14th Jan 2004

X-Men 2 (2003)

Trivia: Two random similarities to "Edward Scissorhands" in this movie. At the start, Nightcrawler looks almost identical to Edward when he's robbing the house - pale, marks on his face, blue baseball cap. Also when Edwards emerges from the house, he's holding his scissors out towards the police, who think they're weapons he's using to threaten them - exactly the same thing happens in this with Wolverine. Deliberate, or just coincidence?

Jon Sandys

14th Jan 2004

The Scorpion King (2002)

Question: In Roger Ebert's review, he says "...Mathayus intones, 'As long as one of us still breathes, the sorcerer will die.' See if you can spot the logical loophole." I can't - what's the problem with that line?

Jon Sandys

Chosen answer: By the way Mathayus is saying it, it sounds like he is saying as long as him or the sorcerer still breathes, either he or the sorcerer will die, but he is trying to say as long as one of the Akkadians are breathing, they will not stop trying to kill the sorcerer until he is dead.

T Poston

12th Jan 2004

Ed Wood (1994)

Chosen answer: According to Tim Burton in an interview at the time, they were "taking a little vacation from each other", - he also said that he was not sure what the situation between them was, which certainly implied a falling out. Danny Elfman is a bit more open, describing what happened as "a family feud" - he says that after working on six films together in ten years, they had a bit of a creative fallout, which led to Howard Shore doing the music for Ed Wood. Afterwards, according to Elfman, they realised that they missed working together and went back to collaborating happily.

Tailkinker

12th Jan 2004

Darkman (1990)

12th Jan 2004

Darkman (1990)

Trivia: Sam Raimi wanted Bruce Campbell to star, but was overruled. There are clear similarities between Liam Neeson's performance and Bruce Campbell's decomposed alter-ego in Army of Darkness (and as anyone with a brain knows NOW, Bruce Campbell is a genius who could have played the role perfectly).

Jon Sandys

12th Jan 2004

Darkman (1990)

Continuity mistake: Near the start, Julie sits on a sofa when discussing the bribe. In the wide shot, as she says "I wish it were that simple", she rests her left hand on her knee. It then cuts to a closeup for her next line, and her left arm is suddenly along the back of the sofa. (00:13:40)

Jon Sandys

Edward Scissorhands mistake picture

Continuity mistake: When Kim is watching Edward cut the roses, in closeups she's quite close to the curtain, and it's hanging straight down. In the wide shot she's slightly further away, and the curtain is angled outwards because she's holding it back with her hand.

Jon Sandys

6th Jan 2004

Serving Sara (2002)

Serving Sara mistake picture

Continuity mistake: When Joe is chasing Sara near the start, through a revolving door there's a man walking down the corridor from one angle who's not visible from the other side.

Jon Sandys

2nd Jan 2004

Frasier (1993)

Space Quest - S1-E2

Continuity mistake: Frasier (and later the others) come back to his apartment to avoid the rain - they shake off umbrellas, and we even hear the storm at the very start of the scene. However there's no rain on the balcony - can't be covered, as we see in "Call Me Irresponsible" during the obligatory sex scene that when it's raining the balcony gets soaked.

Jon Sandys

2nd Jan 2004

Dragnet (1987)

Continuity mistake: When their car blows up, look in the background and you can see Friday practically kneeling on the ground, and Streebeck falls over completely. Within two seconds (and a couple of cuts) they're both standing up, fully alert with their guns out - Friday might just have managed it at a push, but Streebeck went from face down on the pavement to upright far too quickly.

Jon Sandys

28th Dec 2003

Empire Records (1995)

Question: Does Renee Zelwegger sing her own part in the song at the end? If not, who does?

Jon Sandys

Chosen answer: Yes, she did all the singing for the film herself. She further demonstrates her singing abilities in the film 'Chicago'.

Padzter

23rd Dec 2003

Friends (1994)

12th Dec 2003

Friends (1994)

12th Dec 2003

The West Wing (1999)

Bartlet's Third State of the Union - S2-E13

Question: The music heard as the theme tune to the political TV show ("Capital Beat") CJ appears on - is that heard in other US shows? Because here in Britain it's the music for the ITN "News at 10" (or was a while ago, at least). Just curious as to whether it's recognisable in the US.

Jon Sandys

Chosen answer: As a frequent watcher of the show, I have never heard the tune and thought, "That sounds familiar," so I would guess that it is not a theme song to any other shows (political or otherwise) here in the States.

Macalou

9th Dec 2003

The West Wing (1999)

In Excelsis Deo - S1-E10

Question: This is as good a place to ask as any. In various US TV shows (including this one, and this episode), someone says "I could care less", when they always seem to mean "I couldn't care less", ie. they have no interest in what's going on. Surely if they COULD care less that means they actually care a reasonable amount? Is there any logic to this, or is it just a really annoying innate lack of sense?

Jon Sandys

Chosen answer: A really annoying innate lack of sense. My friends and family say the same thing all the time, and I'm endlessly trying to correct them. I think people just don't know any better and (ironically) couldn't care less that they're speaking incorrectly.

Answer: It's an endlessly annoying dropped negative, and it's been a common colloquialism for far too long. I believe it comes from an original (and now omitted and merely implied) "As if" preceding the statement. "As if I could care less." (Meaning "As if it were possible that I could care even less than I do.") But there's really no way to know.

8th Dec 2003

The West Wing (1999)

Pilot - S1-E1

Character mistake: During the face-off about religion/politics, they get into a shouting match about commandments, both groups being equally convinced that "honour your father and mother" is the 1st or 3rd commandment, respectively. In actual fact it's the 4th or 5th, depending on which version (Catholic or Protestant) of the 10 commandments you go by. See http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/whichcom.htm.

Jon Sandys

Trivia: In the romantic scene between Elizabeth and Will where she shows him the medallion, she pulls it from around her neck. The necklace was attached to the back of her neck with sellotape to make it easily removable, but the first few times she pulled it off the tape was too tightly attached and pulled bits of hair off too. Commentary, DVD.

Jon Sandys

30th Nov 2003

Friends (1994)

20th Nov 2003

Friends (1994)

Chosen answer: Fred Sanford was one of two main characters of "Sanford & Son", a TV show from back in the 70s. He was a junk dealer. Those who are British might be interested to know that it was the American version of 'Steptoe and Son'.

Sereenie

20th Nov 2003

Family Guy (1999)

Death Has a Shadow - S1-E1

Question: In the courtroom, after everyone goes "Oh no.", what looks like a teapot bursts through the wall going "Oh yeah.". I'm assuming it's a US advert, but I've got no idea for what - can someone let me know?

Jon Sandys

Chosen answer: It's the Kool Aid mascot (Kool Aid being a fruit flavoured powdered drink mix - FILLED with sugar). It has been bursting walls (while screaming "Oh, yeah!") for years, bringing what's needed to quench children's thirst.

Sereenie

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