Question: Why was this movie made-for-TV and never released theatrically?
Neil Jones
24th May 2021
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (2012)
Answer: Same reason why so-called "Home Alone 6" will appear on Disney+ as an original film - as explained previously. Although if Home Alone 4 was anything to go by, the bottom of the barrel was scraped to the point it had a hole in it. Patched I reckon by "Home Alone 5."
Answer: It's a separate movie set in the same universe, a sort of reboot. Introducing a new younger child to the franchise.
Answer: In addition to not being able to cast child star MacCulkin again (who drew earlier crowds but was now older and "not so cute"), the script was not of the same calibre. Without being able to surpass the previous highly successful HOME ALONE movies in quality and desirability (as well as meet fans' high expectations), it was a way to offer "something" (less satisfying but "cheaper" to produce) by going straight to TV or DVD (the next best thing).
This answer doesn't explain "Home Alone 3" though.
4th Apr 2006
Bedknobs And Broomsticks (1971)
Question: Several times near the end of the movie, the German soldiers speak in German without subtitles. Can anyone translate?
Answer: All I could catch was "VORAN,VORAN" which means "Go, go!"
Answer: I added some translations for this to the Trivia page for this movie here on moviemistakes.com a while back. https://www.moviemistakes.com/entry213396.
21st Sep 2020
Grease (1978)
Question: Why did they change the movie version when it went to VHS/DVD? There was a scene where Sandy was in the office and Kenicky came in and spoke to her... It's lost now?
Answer: It's not uncommon for films to be changed from the theatrical release to the version you can buy for your home collection. Normally the changes are slight and for some older releases were done to secure a more favourable rating - these edits tend to get restored in later releases though. Having said that another version often turns up on the telly one day with scenes that have never been seen before, then there's sometimes a "Director's Cut" on a DVD somewhere which is different still and often significantly longer. TL;DR - there can be multiple versions of a movie.
20th Aug 2020
The Thin Blue Line (1995)
The Queen's Birthday Present - S1-E1
Question: How did Inspector Fowler get robbed of his wallet? There was nobody near him at the station that could have done it. He did bump into Constable Goody to demonstrate pickpocketing but Kevin would never do such a thing.
Answer: Inspector Grim later told Inspector Fowler that "a credit card belonging to you has been used to hire a car which was subsequently deployed in a drug deal", which implies the cards were taken prior to the morning briefing. As Fowler had been out before work to buy a present for the Queen, it's plausible he lost his card (s) then.
Inspector Fowler stated that his wallet was stolen from him at the morning briefing.
8th Jun 2020
General questions
When did Warner Bros. stop making Looney Tunes shorts, and why did they stop making them?
Answer: They stopped production initially in 1969, then started again in the 1980s, and have continued off and on ever since. Some appeared in film (Who Framed Roger Rabbit for example features a few Looney Tunes characters). Warner Brothers shut the animation studio down in the 1960s (much like MGM shut their animation studios in the 1950s which signalled the end of the original batch of Tom and Jerry cartoons) and it'll be because, much like MGM, they noticed the "old" shorts bought in the same amount of money would have done, so much like repeats on TV if it pulls in the money, why make more?
18th Jul 2020
Secret Sunshine (2007)
Question: I have been trying to obtain a copy of this movie with English subtitles that is available to watch in my region. I live in the UK and I own a Region B Blu-Ray player. This means it can only play Region B Blu-Rays and also Region 2 DVDs. Are there are any versions available in a Region B Blu-Ray or a Region 2 DVD with English subtitles, or places to watch it online with English subtitles?
Answer: Google your player model, you may be able to make it region-free by pressing certain keys in a certain order. The home media of this film has what it says "New and improved English subtitle translation", but it's almost certainly going to be either Region A (Blu-Ray) or Region 1 (DVD). It is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #576. All of this being said this title is showing on CinemaParadiso.co.uk, the DVD rental company, with English subtitles and in Region 2.
12th Nov 2019
Good Boys (2019)
Question: I don't understand Max's punishment. In the ending, Max says "a month in the hole", but his father tells him that birthdays, holidays, and summers are cancelled. He also tells his son that "the devil lives inside him", to no longer call him "Dad", takes away his electronics, locks him in his room, and says that he will always love him, but no longer likes him. So, is Max grounded for life or is it "a month in the hole"? Are his birthdays, holidays, and summers really cancelled? And does anyone else find this ending to a comedy actually depressing because of the way Max's father treats him in the end?
Answer: Max's dad probably over-reacted out of anger/rage over the drone and destroyed room and might have made changes after he cooled off. Plus, it was meant to be humorous. A "month in the hole" was immediately imposed; no more birthdays, holidays, summer, etc. would refer to after the month in the hole. Max's dad did not say he couldn't attend school-related events, such as the "Rock of Ages" show. Parents are supposed to give their kids unconditional love. A father can continue to love his son while disliking his behavior. Max's dad may have been unduly harsh (again, out of anger), but he still loves Max - which shouldn't be depressing. I don't think Max's dad said he was grounded for life, just grounded. However, Lucas told his parents that Max was grounded for life - an exaggeration.
So, even after being grounded for a month, he can't celebrate his birthday or summer vacation?
Not necessarily. Max's dad said those things in the heat of the moment. Although it is possible that Max's dad meant what he said (at least at the time), it isn't probable. The severity of the punishment given to Max was a reflection of how angry Mr. Newman was. A proud and loving father who tells his son "I will always love you..." is more likely to forgive Max so that they can return to their good father/son relationship.
Answer: He is grounded for a month, although he cannot have birthday parties or summers or anything.
So, even after being grounded for a month, he can't celebrate his birthday or summer vacation?
It's entirely understandable that Max's dad is totally peed off with Max for what happened with the drone and accidentally thrashing the house and probably said a lot of what he did in the heat of the moment. To totally deny the kid a vacation is one thing (and makes sense considering the grounding is for a month as the time frame is around that time of year) but a birthday as well? What the dad probably meant was no birthday party (and no fun) for that year, its not like four years later and "we're not going on vacation this year because you did something stupid when you were 12."
And Mr. Newman saying, "No more summers" is probably meant to be an exaggeration to get across to Max the authority he has over him and ability to stop him from engaging in fun activities. Similarly, Mrs. Newman said, "Winter is coming!" The restrictions they put on Max might make him feel as though there are no fun, sunny, carefree days. The parents obviously cannot CHANGE what season it is, but they can impose restrictions that will make him feel as though it is a different season.
18th Apr 2016
General questions
There's a film that's very similar to 2005's The Pacifier and I cannot remember what it was called. The premise was nearly the same as The Pacifier, but the kids were a bit older and one of them was asthmatic - there was a scene in it where somebody threw his inhaler away either off a bridge or next to a river and the asthmatic kid broke down into tears. I think it may be newer than The Pacifier.
Chosen answer: I think it might be "The Spy Next Door (2010) " with Jackie Chan and Billy Ray Cyrus. CIA superspy Bob Ho is retiring from the business and plans to settle down with his girlfriend Gillian and her three children. His final espionage assignment - a last-ditch attempt to take down his longtime nemesis, Russian terrorist Poldark - is seriously hampered when one of Gillian's children mistakenly downloads a top-secret file on Bob's computer. Bob must now juggle his new role as stepfather to three wayward children with dodging the bullets of Russian mobsters.
Answer: Found it, the film in question was The Sitter (from 2011) and I misremembered the details: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1366344/, but thanks to Arris for your response, I saw that one as well :).
13th Jul 2017
General questions
When did purely percussive movie and television soundtracks become popular? What landmark movie or TV soundtrack set this percussive precedent?
Answer: Probably in the late 1990s or around the turn of the century and it was probably gradual as these things go. Sometimes its easier to use a specific song to set a specific mood (this started probably more so in the 1980s) as opposed to creating a new one but that being said, its generally up to a composer and the style of the film in question as to whether they use a percussion style soundtrack or a more traditional sounding one and there are relatively recent films that sound like they could be old school.
The earliest percussive soundtrack that I recall debuted in James Cameron's first "Terminator" film. While it did have a mournful and melodic synthesized musical theme, the soundtrack was punctuated in several places with industrial banging and thumping (typically when the Terminator was onscreen). This percussive presence was amplified and expanded in the second Terminator film; and, by "Salvation," almost the entire soundtrack was industrial noise. But I'm not sure that Terminator alone ushered in the percussive soundtrack.
14th Nov 2017
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Question: They say David's mom is dead because 2000 years have passed. Does David not understand that humans can't live that long?
Answer: Yes, he knew humans die. He asked mom if she would die, she said yes, but not for a long time...50 years. David asks Teddy "is 50 years a long time?" and Teddy says "I don't think so." He denies she is dead/can't be brought back for more than a day b/c that is not the answer he wanted.
Answer: Being robotic in the first place and ending up at the exhibition where old robots are destroyed probably told David that things die, through the actions of others. It's plausible he may not know any different, still functioning 2000 years later when found under water with his bear. It does come as a shock to him to learn everybody he knew has gone, so I'd say no, he didn't know humans (and his mum) will die. It's shown David can learn and retain information, and to be honest it's not really the sort of conversation you have with a child until it's strictly necessary anyway.
22nd Dec 2017
Parental Guidance (2012)
Question: I don't understand why Barker couldn't get unbuckled in the car. Why couldn't Artie just remove his hand from the seat belt?
Answer: It's demonstrated throughout the film that Artie struggles with the modern way of doing things. This may extend to modern car seat belts with their five point harness systems. That and the fact they're already late for school and holding up the traffic makes it a stressful situation for Artie and it was probably easier (and to add comedy) for Artie just to rip the seat out with the boy still in it.
28th Sep 2016
Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
Question: At a certain point there is a cut to a studio scene of a supposed current affairs programme called, (title super on screen), "PROBE AROUND" on crime. There is a stirring piece of classical music used as an intro to the supposed programme, what is it? I know it, but I simply cannot remember the composer or the work. Could you possibly tell me what it is?
Answer: It is the second short-lived theme to the BBC's Panorama programme, itself taken from Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1.
26th Apr 2016
Hugo (2011)
Question: Why does the Station Inspector chase children who are on their own and threaten to send them to an Orphanage? Is that what it was like in the 1930s?
Answer: He's not making it a point to chase down random children - he's like a security officer at an airport. It's his job to apprehend thieves and troublemakers and keep the station safe, and he only threatens to send children to the orphanage if they don't have parents for him to return them to. Also, it's implied once he finally apprehends Hugo that his particular harshness toward orphans (and most of his character flaws in general) is due to apparently having been one himself. He spells out the kinds of lessons he was forced to learn by growing up without a family, explaining how he became so cold, bitter, and antisocial.
Chosen answer: It is more than likely an early form of our modern day child protection. Just as today if children are found to be at risk, they can be and are taken away by social services and put into foster care. In the film, orphans may have been seen as a plague in an area that attracts posh looking people in stark contrast to urchins in rags eating out of bins. Most European orphanages/care homes/hospices/whatever you want to call them at that time were no better than anything depicted in Charles Dickens 50 years previously.
10th Feb 2015
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015)
Question: Slash filmed his role as a live-action character named Jerry Vadergeld and is even seen in the film's first trailer, but not in the actual movie. IMDb also says that Frankie Muniz has an uncredited role as a cop, but no police officers are found anywhere in the film. Other background characters (ex. The ice cream bikini girl, the two girls talking about the animated characters as superheroes), scenes (ex. Patrick and the bikini girl's three-scoop ice cream cone, Burger-Beard throwing a pair of plastic rings on Squidward's nose), and dialogue (ex. SpongeBob saying saying "This is uncomfortable!" and "Come on, team. Let's get that book back!") from the trailers were also not in the actual movie. Can anybody explain to me why all that is not in the actual movie?
Answer: The point of a trailer for a movie is to get bums on seats in cinemas so the film-makers have to make a film look really good and generate a "I really have to see this" vibe. Because virtually all professional films shoot far more material than they need, some of it will end up in the trailer as exclusive content and some will end up in the special features section of the DVD (bloopers, deleted scenes etc).
26th Dec 2013
General questions
Looking for the title of a 2013 low budget horror/slasher movie about a preteen boy whose older brother is a serial killer. The boy is a horror movie fan and I think the setting may be the 1980's. It sounded interesting and got a decent review.Thanks!
Chosen answer: Most likely "Found" from 2012: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2149360/.
20th Mar 2014
General questions
There was a movie about a man who woke up to discover that the roles of grown-ups and children have been reversed. All of the adults are treated like children and have to go to school while all of the children behave like adults and even have adult jobs. When he went to tell some cops that his car had been stolen, he is shocked to discover that the cops he is talking to are a couple of kids. He eventually believes that he's in some sort of parallel dimension and tries to escape by jumping through a mirror, but ends up in the hospital. I saw this movie either some time in the late 80's or early 90's.
Answer: The only film I can find that matches this description is Opposite Day from 2009 - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090674/ - and as far as I can see it's an original movie, not a remake or reboot of something earlier.
This not the movie. I saw this movie sometime in the mid '80s and the protagonist was a middle-aged man with sandy colored hair.
27th Oct 2013
Radio Flyer (1992)
Question: Why is the King's face hardly ever shown?
Answer: Deliberate production choice, and to show him from the younger child's point of view - also remember The King, when in his drunken state, is a child abuser, so the younger boy will see him as a large and terrifying presence - that is, so big he won't fit in the frame of the shot.
30th May 2011
General questions
I am looking for the name of an old film, the only thing I know is an scene in which a clown tries really hard to make a little kid laugh but it doesn't matter how hard he tries the kid doesn't laugh, at then end the clown gives up and began crying at that same moment the kid begins laughing because he has never seen a clown crying., My father has talked about this movie since I was a kid but he does not remember the title or anything else, and through the years I have been looking for it, but I have never been able to find it. He claims that the main character was Jerry Lewis, but I an not sure about that, so if anyone can help me it will be great, I really want to give him that movie as a present. Thanks.
Answer: This sounds like it's the 1972 Movie, The Day the Clown Cried. Never been released in any form at all due to contract issues. The only other thing Jerry Lewis has done that was clown related was 3 Ring Circus, from 1954. Can't say whether that's what you're after though. Good luck.
23rd Jul 2008
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody (2005)
Question: Okay, I'm pretty sure I see Estaban in every episode, so why isn't he introduced in the title song? And his name (Adrian R'Mante) sounds like he's Spanish and so does his accent. Is this true?
Answer: Esteban isn't in every episode of Suite Life. According to the episode count, he's only appeared in 39 episodes out of 88 whereas the twins and Moseby are the only characters to have appeared in all 88 episodes. With regards to Adrian R'Mante, the actor is American and the accent is part of the acting.
12th Sep 2007
The Shining (1980)
Question: Why is the supposed foreign version of the Shining with the deleted ending impossible to find? Does anybody have this version or know how to get it? I have a feeling it's an elaborate Internet rumor and does not actually exist.
Chosen answer: Stanley Kubrick changed the ending of The Shining after it had been in theatres for about three days. About ten minutes of footage was removed. The full US theatrical version runs 145mins, everywhere else 115mins after Kubrick trimmed the movie to remove what he considered "unnecessary" scenes. There is no specific "foreign version" save for cuts any TV networks may make for transmission.
Answer: In addition, the footage is impossible to find because Kubrick had all of the unused footage destroyed. You can read about it here https://ew.com/movies/2017/03/30/shining-ending-explained/.
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Answer: Simple answer is because ABC Family along with Fox TV Studios produced the movie specifically for their television audience. Which is what they did for "Home Alone 4" as well. Airing original movies on a channel is a way for networks to increase ad revenue as it draws an audience to watch their movies. They wouldn't have a need (and probably not a budget) to release it in theaters.
Bishop73