Question: Why does Giovanni Sforza not prove he is not impotent? Was he in fact not able to perform in front of others or find the woman undesirable? I know historically he agreed to the annulment; but why? Was this scene historically accurate?
raywest
9th Apr 2014
The Borgias (2011)
24th Mar 2014
The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
Question: The star on the uniform patch (right sleeve) has five points and the star on the patrol car has five points but the actual badge has six points. Why the discrepancy?
Answer: There's probably no known reason for the discrepancy, and it's unlikely related to the story line. It may simply be that the show's props department were lax about small details like that. It could also be explained that Mayberry being such a small town with a limited budget may have acquired surplus badges and other second-hand equipment from some other town's police department.
1st Apr 2014
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Question: When Ginny was taken into the Chamber, how did Minerva and the other teachers know it was her? If anyone had seen it happening, wouldn't they have been attacked by the monster as well?
Answer: If any student was suddenly missing it would be noticed by the students and/or the teachers. The students are always closely monitored and it would simply be a matter of deduction after doing a head count or roll call. Most likely Fred and George Weasley noticed that their sister was gone.
1st Apr 2014
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Question: Did Harry simply get away with attacking Professor Snape? It happened before the moment that he and Hermione would time-travel back to, so it wasn't erased.
Answer: Harry was acting to save Sirius, who Snape was intending to turn over to the Dementors so his soul could be sucked out. Due to the unusual circumstances, Dumbledore would not have allowed Harry to be punished for protecting his godfather and uncovering the truth that proved his innocence. Dumbledore also knew Snape had acted inappropriately due to his personal hatred of Sirius. In the book, Snape was simultaneously jinxed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Snape later claimed they were not responsible for their own actions and were coerced.
28th Mar 2014
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Question: If Hagrid was blamed for killing Myrtle, why was he allowed to join the Hogwarts staff as Gamekeeper? Surely parents of students and other staff would object to him remaining at the school.
Answer: Hagrid wasn't accused of killing Myrtle. It was wrongly believed that Aragog, the giant spider, was the monster that killed her. Hagrid was found responsible for having brought the creature into Hogwarts and keeping it hidden there. That is why he was punished by not being allowed to use magic, though he was later exonerated of any wrongdoing.
Answer: Dumbledore trusted him and gave him the job as gamekeeper.
24th Mar 2014
The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
24th Mar 2014
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Question: When Doc and Marty go back to 1985, after going to 2015, they land and find out that it's an alternate 1985 wherein Biff is in charge. Someone said in a question that when they returned, shouldn't they have seen Biff's casino as they fly over Hill Valley - is them not seeing the casino there to mislead the audience into thinking nothing has changed or is it a mistake?
24th Mar 2014
Nebraska (2013)
Question: Did Woody really drive the truck his son traded in at the end of the movie, or was he dreaming?
28th Nov 2013
Appaloosa (2008)
Question: In the scene where they cross the bridge with the train, and Allison French is being held by those two guys with a rope around her neck, so that if they would shoot the guys, the horse would run off and break her neck, suffocate her or whatever... They were with 4 against 2, so why didn't one of 'em just shoot that horse?
Answer: There's no explanation. It could be that no one thought of this. Also, even if they shot the horse, the girl could still be injured or killed. If the horse was only wounded, it could have bolted, reared up, or fallen and then rolled on top of the girl. There's many different scenarios that could have played out.
20th Mar 2014
High Spirits (1988)
Question: What did Mary mean when she told Jack that Martin squished?
Answer: I think she was inferring he had "wet farts." We hear him passing gas, but if it was more... depository than that, it would definitely be more genteel to say he "squished..."
24th Feb 2014
Seven Pounds (2008)
Question: How can a woman with such a serious heart condition have such toned arms? Muscles like Emily's requires some serious weight lifting which I doubt a serious ill woman like Emily could do.
24th Feb 2014
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Question: How did Kate Hudson pay the cab fare after she left Mathew McConaughey's apartment, after she left her pocketbook in the apartment?
22nd Mar 2014
American Hustle (2013)
Question: In the film credits for American Hustle, I have rewound it several times and cannot find Robert De Niro listed, or the character that he plays, Mr. Tellegio. Is there a reason for this?
22nd Mar 2014
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Question: Was Doctor Zaius really aware of what happened to the human race? Many times during the film, he does things that indicate such a possibility, like crushing the paper airplane.
20th Mar 2014
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
Question: Why is it that the students at Hogwarts are only wearing wizarding hats in the first movie?
Answer: It is typical in a movie series for changes to be made from film-to-film, particularly concerning things like costumes, make-up, set designs, etc. It's a matter of trying something and later deciding it is not really working well. It may have been that the hats were just too cumbersome, were constantly falling off, and were affecting the actors' performances. Also, in the Harry Potter series, there were a number of different directors and each has their own artistic vision and often make subtle changes.
20th Mar 2014
Titanic (1997)
20th Mar 2014
General questions
I can't remember the title or stars of a movie, maybe 15 years ago or so, about a troubled young girl who goes to work for an older woman's restaurant in a small town. She comes up with idea to raffle off the restaurant to a best essay contest winner. The woman's son is presumed dead in war, but actually still lives, hiding out.
18th Mar 2014
Dances with Wolves (1990)
Question: Neither Dunbar nor the non-commissioned officer he talks to just before he makes his suicide run at the beginning of the film appear to have to trouser stripe common to officers and non-commissioned officers. Shouldn't they as part of the Union uniform of the era?
Answer: There were variations of the stripes depending on which branch of the Army a soldier was in. The trousers were sky blue and NCOs had a dark blue (infantry), red (artillery) or yellow (cavalry) stripe down the leg. Junior officers which included corporals, had a French blue stripe. Senior officers wore navy blue trousers with a black or gold stripe.
15th Mar 2014
The Village (2004)
Question: Why are the dates on the tombstone near the start of the film over 100 years in the past of the time the film was set? Presumably, due to the remote nature of the village, the young inhabitants would have no concept of time in relation to modern technology, so why bother making up a date at all?
Answer: There would have to be some sort of progressive timeline if the elders wished to continue fooling the younger villagers, who have no clue about the modern world. Most likely, the elders chose the time period that they wanted to replicate and kept the same dates. Also Edward Walker, being a history professor would be teaching the younger ones about the past and if there were history books, it would be difficult to explain why there was a time gap of over a century.
I like this answer. Just wish to add that by adding ground rules to the fantasy world, i.e., a specific year, the elders are more able to work toward a singular vision. In other words, using a specific year helps them to all keep their story straight.
15th Mar 2014
Chocolat (2000)
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Chosen answer: The Borgias arranged Lucrezia's marriage to Giovanni Sforza for their own political gain. When Giovanni was no longer considered useful to them politically, they sought to end the marriage. Eventually, Giovanni reluctantly agreed to admit to impotence in exchange for keeping Lucrezia's dowry, which normally would have reverted back to the family in the event of an annulment. Divorce was rare at that time, and being unable to consummate a marriage was one grounds for an annulment. In the series, when the Borgias convene the College of Cardinals to have Giovanni prove his potency by performing with two overweight and unattractive prostitutes, he refuses because he is humiliated. The historical facts are mostly accurate, though the part about the prostitutes is probably fiction.
raywest ★