Question: Nicolas Cage was originally cast in the role of the film's villain, Chudnofsky. But he left the film just days before shooting. I have searched around on the net trying to find why, but I keep finding unclear and conflicting reports. So why did Cage leave the film?
raywest
27th Oct 2013
The Green Hornet (2011)
6th Oct 2013
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012)
Question: Why does the baby's face look so weird?
Chosen answer: It's because it's a computer generated image. Renesmee, Edward and Bella's daughter, grows almost three times as fast as a normal human child would, maturing in about seven years. To achieve the effect, a young actress was used for the motion capture and the as the framework for what Renesmee would look like at various stages of her development. CGI effects have come a long way, but it's still imperfect and can look unnatural.
27th Sep 2013
Final Destination 3 (2006)
22nd Jul 2013
Splash (1984)
Question: In the special features on the DVD, there was a deleted scene in which Madison met a sea hag. Had this scene been in the movie, what would have transpired between the two?
Answer: The sea hag gives Madison a set of instructions she has to carry out, and tells her that she can only survive out of the ocean for six days. She also tells her she has to wet her tail every day, which is why Madison is seen in the bathtub.
That's why she took a bath that night and got her legs wet turning them into fins.
20th Sep 2013
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
Question: Why is it that Nearly-Headless Nick and some other ghosts can visit the Hogwarts students, but other deceased people - such as Harry's parents - can't?
Answer: Nearly-Headless Nick explains this to Harry in the book, Order of the Phoenix. After Sirius has died, Harry thinks he might come back as a ghost, but Sir Nicholas tells Harry that a person becomes a ghost because they were afraid to move on to the next world after dying and now are trapped on Earth. That is why Sir Nicholas and the other ghosts are at Hogwarts. He tells Harry that Sirius was not a man who feared death and that he has crossed over to the other side.
11th Sep 2013
General questions
I remember watching a movie about 4 teenagers who gain powers. Two of them are siblings and the sister becomes evil. I think the movie is from the late 1990s or the early 2000s. Other than that, I don't remember much. If you could tell me the possible name of the movie, I would appreciate it.
Answer: This sounds like the 1996 movie titled The Craft, starring Neve Campbell.
9th Sep 2013
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Question: If Dumbledore knew who Tom Riddle/Voldemort really was, then why take him to Hogwarts to teach him magic, since he would eventually grow up to be evil?
Answer: Dumbledore did not know when he first met the young Tom Riddle that he would one day become the evil wizard, Lord Voldemort. He even tells Harry this when they are discussing him. Riddle took the name of Voldemort when he began his rise to power some time after he left Hogwarts. Dumbledore always had suspicions about his behavior while he was a student and kept a close watch on him, but at that time he was unaware of who and what he would become.
Not to mention, Hogwarts is not the only school of magic. Dumbledore didn't know exactly how dangerous he would become, but he knew this kid had the potential to become dark. He'd be better off at Hogwarts than at a place like Durmstrang, where he'd learn much more dark magic and be more likely to grow up as a dark wizard.
3rd Sep 2013
Oliver (1968)
Question: Fagin and the gang want Oliver back out of fear that he might tell about them. But there are some things I don't understand. 1. How long Oliver had been with Brownlow is unknown (Bill says it had been three days since he saw him during the "Who Will Buy" song), but since no police had arrived at the hideout during that time, surely they'd think Oliver hadn't said anything by now. 2. And even if they did think the above, why would they still think Oliver might say something later on? (01:34:50 - 01:37:00)
Chosen answer: They're probably concerned because he's a child. He might unintentionally say something without meaning to, or after some time has passed and more is learned about Oliver's past life at Fagin's hideout, it's conceivable he might be questioned more intensely. A child would likely give more information under pressure.
2nd Sep 2013
Batman Forever (1995)
2nd Sep 2013
Batman Forever (1995)
16th Aug 2013
Prometheus (2012)
Question: Is the story in this movie suppose to be leading up to the first Alien movie?
Chosen answer: Not really. Ridley Scott wanted to explore a different story line set apart from the original Alien series. There are connections between the two, and they share the same universe but they are in different time periods, and the prequel is following its own mythology. There could be a link by the end of the new series, but that remains to be seen.
11th Aug 2013
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Question: When Moody is demonstrating the Cruciatus curse in front of Neville, does he know who Neville is and that it'll cause a reaction? I'm only asking since Moody is Barty Crouch Jr (who tortured Neville's parents) at this point and surely he would have realised that the demonstration could have jeopardised his whole plan by causing conflict amongst the student body, which would have led to him being found out earlier by the teachers.
Chosen answer: Moody (Crouch) knew who Neville was and who his parents were because he was one of the wizards who tortured Frank and Alice Longbottom into insanity. The demonstration was geared more toward Harry than it was Neville, however, though Moody knew it could affect Neville the way it did. It probably wouldn't create conflict among most students, as most were dismissive and unconcerned about Neville. Most students would probably welcome being taught something they knew went against school policy. Only Hermione was really concerned about Neville.
Answer: Moody's demonstration was geared at Neville Longbottom. He needed Neville to get upset so that he could invite Neville back to his class for a cup of tea and give him the herbology book that describes gillyweed in it.
8th Aug 2013
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Question: If every former Hogwarts student who goes bad was in Slytherin, why has Hogwarts kept the house over the years? Why not disband it?
Answer: Because it is too firmly entrenched in wizard society and it wouldn't be allowed. One-fourth of the wizard population would probably revolt if there was any attempt to disband it. Ron's comment that every bad witch or wizard was from Slytherin was a child's over-generalization and actually untrue. For example, Peter Pettigrew was a Gryffindor and Prof. Quirrel was a Ravenclaw. Slytherin House itself is not evil, but those who are drawn to the dark side possess Slytherin traits in abundance, including resourcefulness, intelligence, cunning, ambition, self-preservation, exclusivity, and so on. These are not evil qualities, but they do help drive evil wizards. It is pointed out in the books that not all Slytherins are evil or support dark magic. Those following a dark path would likely do so regardless of what House they were sorted into.
14th Jul 2013
Midnight Express (1978)
Question: When Billy is walking down the steps towards the door he escapes through, the prison guard throws him the keys for the door. What would Billy have done if the prison guard didn't throw him the keys? What was his plan, or did he even have one?
Chosen answer: Billy's plan was to bribe a guard to help him escape, using the money his girlfriend had smuggled to him. That plan failed, and he was almost raped by a sadistic guard. When Billy accidentally killed him, he used that as an unexpected opportunity to disguise himself in a guard uniform and walked out the front door. If he had been caught, he did not have an alternate plan and would have been severely punished, probably even executed.
Answer: Wasn't there a shelf near the door with keys on it?
Answer: He had a gun on him.
He also had most of the money in his shoe - he only offered one $100 bill to the guard and he hadn't undressed him yet.
Answer: In the book Billy escapes in a completely different way. If memory serves me he was on a work detail and escaped using heavy rain as a cover.
Actually, there was an episode of "Locked Up Abroad" where the real William Hayes told his story, and what he really did was swim off the island prison. He got to a boat, then snuck into the boat and sailed about 17 miles to shore. Then he took his shoes off to throw off any scent that the dogs would have picked up and made it across another river to Greece, and it was within a few hundred feet of the guards on the bridge separating the two countries.
13th Dec 2012
Heathers (1988)
24th Aug 2012
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Question: Even though it's meant as a comedic moment, I've never really understood why Kirk would be so nervous about Saavik piloting the ship out of space dock. She's not actually flying the ship, so it's not like she's going to crash it into the wall or something. Plus, Sulu is an experienced pilot, so even if she said something stupid like "Warp speed!", he's unlikely to follow the order. Just something odd that I have always wondered about.
Answer: Saavik destroyed a simulated Enterprise during her Kobayashi Maru test, with Admiral Kirk chiding her afterwards. When Spock invites Saavik to take the real Enterprise out of space dock, Kirk is obviously nervous because he thinks Saavik is unready for command, as she destroyed the Enterprise earlier.
To my original point though, she is not actually touching any controls, only giving orders. The Enterprise was destroyed in the simulation during a Klingon attack, which is very different than guiding a ship out of spacedock. Not to mention the fact that the simulation is designed to make the cadet fail.
The whole scene is about Spock taking a dig at Kirk's ego. Being the only cadet in Starfleet history to ever actually beat the Kobayashi Maru test (albeit by trickery), Kirk has an inflated standard for what constitutes "readiness for command," and it shows in his reaction. Knowing full well that it will raise Kirk's hackles, Spock deliberately invites Saavik to handle the simple space dock maneuver. McCoy also knows that Kirk will over-react, which is why he offers Kirk a tranquilizer.
Chosen answer: He's nervous because she's a trainee and had never done this maneuver before. Even if Sulu is there, she could still possibly make one small error that he would be unable to react to in time. As you point out, the scene is meant to be comedic, and it's being a little over-played strictly for that.
Again though, she is not actually piloting the ship, only giving orders.
Even though Sulu is an experienced pilot, taking the ship out of space dock under power is still prohibited for a reason. If something were to go wrong and a quick decision had to be made, Savick would be the one giving orders to correct the problem. That's what makes Kirk nervous, not the piloting skill involved but the decision making required in an emergency.
Answer: Normally a ship is piloted out of spacedock using thrusters (see ST:TMP). Saavik ordered impulse power.
16th Jul 2013
The Goonies (1985)
Question: Is there any reason why we never saw Data fall out of the water tubes? We saw everyone except him.
11th Jul 2013
Star Trek (2009)
Question: Kirk has an allergic reaction to whatever it was that McCoy gave him. Is this connected and or a nod to in Star Trek II: Wrath of Kahn, where McCoy gives Kirk reading glasses for his birthday, saying he knows he's allergic to Retnox?
Chosen answer: It could be, though it's never stated. It's logical though, if he has an allergic reaction to one type of medication, he could be sensitive to another. It was probably something the reboot version thought would be interesting and humorous to include, and it makes Kirk seem a little less invincible.
21st May 2012
Titanic (1997)
Question: I have two questions about this film. Firstly who was the guy who tries to drown Rose after the Titanic sinks? I couldn't see his face properly and wondered if anyone knew who it was. Secondly, given how possessive Cal was of Rose, why didn't it seem to bother him when Jack leads her arm in arm into the dining room. It's almost like he just doesn't care in that scene.
Chosen answer: The guy who nearly drowned Rose was just a random panicked passenger who needed something to hold on to, like a life ring. As for dinner, at this time, it was actually customary in higher society for a man to escort someone other than his own wife or fiance to the table at a dinner party, and always arm-in-arm. Husbands and wives (and fiances) were also not seated next to each other at the dining table, primarily to mix up the group dynamics and stimulate conversation. Being as Jack is the invited guest for having saved Rose, it would be acceptable that he should have the honor of escorting her into the dining room. At this point, Cal would hardly consider Jack a serious threat to his relationship with Rose, and would have no reason to object.
3rd Jul 2013
Superman (1978)
Question: Jonathan Kent dies of a heart attack. So why does he look at his arm in shock before he collapses? What does that tell him?
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Chosen answer: There were creative differences between Cage and the film's director, Michael Goundry. For one, Cage, who wanted an unconventional character, suggested the villain have a Jamaican accent. The director rejected that idea and there were others conflicts between the two about how the character should be played. Cage decided to turn down the role.
raywest ★