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15th Feb 2024

Child's Play (2019)

Question: After removing the safety protocols from Chucky, why did the employee kill himself?

Answer: The employee's bosses overworked and abused him. He was depressed, had emotional issues, and probably felt his life was hopeless. Before committing suicide, he wanted retaliation against the company for making him so miserable, so he disabled the safety protocols on the "Buddi" doll's computer chip. Mostly, it's a convenient plot point to explain how Chucky came about.

5th Jan 2024

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)

Question: When Felix Ravenstill was declared dead, why did Dr. Gaul think that the way to get back at the Districts was to kill off the remaining tributes in the "rainbow of destruction"? If you were chosen as a Tribute, you basically were already dead before actually dying. That's pretty much the essential nature of the Hunger Games. Wouldn't the government announcing a retaliatory missile strike have made much more sense?

Answer: Doing something unexpected and even more violent during the Games sends a warning but also adds a "shock value" that "thrills" Capitol viewers, keeping them engaged and increasing TV ratings. Launching a missile strike would be an extreme and counterproductive move that only causes extensive and expensive damage, disrupts the districts' productivity and adversely affecting Panem's commerce, directly hurting the Capitol and its citizens.

5th Jan 2024

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)

Question: When Lucy Gray tells the peacekeepers to "give her a minute," why do they all back off and let her sing instead of carting her off to the train? The police basically take orders from her, and I'm pretty sure singing would have been classified as rebellious behavior. Was it because she had to have protection now that she was one of the chosen Tributes?

Answer: The Peacekeepers were likely a little subdued because a large crowd is watching and everything is being aired on live TV. They would not risk inciting a riot. The Peacekeepers are low-level Capitol servants, so they may be concerned about the repercussions to themselves if they are overly rough with a female tribute. Allowing her to sing also makes for better TV, and the Capitol is trying to increase viewership.

15th Feb 2024

The Uninvited (2009)

Question: Surely there's some violation of ethics of nurses when Rachel starts sleeping with her patient's husband while she's still alive, right? That, and how could she be considered nice, given what she did helping Anna's father cheat on his wife?

Answer: It is a serious ethical violation for a nurse to have a sexual relationship with a patient's spouse. It could lead to the nurse's license being revoked. The "nice" part is more subjective, but sometimes good people, driven by their passions and desires, have lapses in judgment.

15th Feb 2024

Payback (1999)

Question: Why doesn't Porter demand more money? Sure, his cut was $70,000, but since he's a crook, why not demand more?

Answer: Quote, "A work man is worthy of his hire." In the original version, the Mob Boss asked, "why are you doing all this?" He replied, "I want my money." It's as simple as that. He did a job and wants his payment.

Answer: Porter only wanted what he was owed and had been cheated out of, and nothing more. He is a former Marine, so probably still adheres to a certain code of honor.

15th Feb 2024

Jurassic Park (1993)

Question: Other than plot convenience, why did Gennaro speak to Rogastno?

Answer: No other reason, except to provide exposition for the plot. It gives the audience information they otherwise would not have.

15th Feb 2024

Oliver (1968)

Question: When Oliver crawls under the tables to escape from the workers, why were the other boys kicking Oliver?

Answer: Because they're cruel, ignorant bullies who were probably abused when they were younger, have an established pecking order, and pick on weaker victims to feel superior and for amusement.

15th Feb 2024

Inside Man (2006)

Question: Why did the FDNY respond to a hostage situation?

Answer: Firetrucks and firefighters are quite often dispatched to non-fire emergencies. They're typically well-trained in emergency and medical aid, and also very quick and efficient, so a lot of the time, they will arrive at emergency scenes before police and paramedics.

Answer: In a hostage scenario, there's always a high probability of injuries and other situations arising that police are unable to handle. Paramedics are part of the fire department and tend to medical needs. Firefighters respond to any possible fires, explosions, gas leaks, etc. They may also have to cut off water to a specific building, extract hostages, or carry out other rescue operations. Fire departments regularly work hand-in-hand with police.

15th Feb 2024

The Langoliers (1995)

Question: Would a toaster really knock someone unconscious if you hit someone with it, like yellow T-shirt guy did?

Answer: It's possible, if it hit a certain way and with enough force. However, movies tend to exaggerate physical altercations. For example, it's often shown how someone is repeatedly punched in the face with little effect, when in real life a person's jaw would have been broken with the first blow.

15th Feb 2024

Star Wars Rebels (2014)

Question: Why do the two-legged Imperial walkers in this movie look completely different than the ones in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return Of The Jedi"?

Answer: Not every military vehicle looks or is built exactly the same, even if they perform similar functions. Different defense contractors would have their own particular designs. Newer vehicles often have improvements or additional capabilities added.

Answer: Are you referring to the AT-DP? Those are similar to the AT-ST, but have an entirely different mission use.

15th Feb 2024

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Question: Why are all the men dressed in their best clothes for the physically demanding, dirty job of a barn raising? The "Town Men" in particular are in suits and ties.

Answer: No realistic reason. It's a movie artistic choice to contrast the more genteel townsmen with the rugged, outdoorsy Pontipee brothers. The active dance sequence emphasizes the rivalry between the two groups, and the different costumes make it easier for the audience to identify the men who are vying for the girls' affections.

12th Feb 2024

No Time to Die (2021)

Question: Bond doesn't have actual proof that Matilde is his daughter, even though she has blonde hair and blue eyes like him. It could just be a coincidence. So why does Madeline tell him at the end that "she does have his eyes"? Did she tell him that simply to try to give him some peace in his final moments before his death?

Answer: Madeleine was being truthful that Matilde was his daughter, and Bond believes her. It was just a more poetic (and slightly corny) movie dialogue way to tell him that before he died.

12th Feb 2024

No Time to Die (2021)

Question: How was Bond able to get Madeleine pregnant after the sadistic torture he endured at the hands of Le Chiffre in Casino Royale, where that was supposed to disable his ability to procreate? Also, why did Madeleine insist that her child was not Bond's?

Answer: There's no explanation, but there is much Internet speculation that, without being too graphic, believes Bond's injuries were probably treatable and less extensive than was shown, leaving him fertile. Also, movies often change, minimize, or ignore previous plot points in order to fit the current narrative.

12th Feb 2024

No Time to Die (2021)

Question: What is the significance of the Roman/Greek soldier statue in the opening credit sequence?

Answer: Most likely symbolic foreshadowing of James Bond becoming a "fallen warrior" at the end.

12th Feb 2024

No Time to Die (2021)

Question: In the opening credit sequence, were the vines growing inside the statue of the woman supposed to hint at the fact that Bond's child was growing inside of Madeleine?

Answer: While it's open to individual interpretation, vines symbolically represent connections, strength, growth, and continuation. It could very well represent Bond's progeny. There was also some DNA symbolism/imagery in the opening sequence that further hints at that.

10th Jan 2024

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Question: Colonel Dolarhyde mentions about having participated in the Battle of Antietam and losing men in the Cornfield. Did he fight for the Union or the Confederacy?

Answer: I was unable to find any reference about which side Dollarhyde fought for in the Civil War. It may have been deliberately left ambiguous to make his political alliances more neutral, and instead, focus on his personal character and how it evolves during the film.

23rd Jan 2024

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Question: Why didn't Wayne Pygram, who played Tarkin in Revenge of the Sith, play Tarkin in this movie?

Answer: Wayne Pygram appeared briefly in "Revenge", and with no dialogue. It was a cameo role, and he was cast because he resembled the late Peter Cushing, who played Tarkin in the original Star Wars trilogy. For the character's expanded role in "Rogue One", an actor was needed who not only had a similar physical appearance to Cushing but could emulate his voice, vocal inflections, facial expressions, mannerisms, etc. This was achieved by using a live actor combined with CGI. Actor Guy Henry was cast, presumably because he was best suited to recreate Cushing's role.

5th Jan 2024

General questions

Do networks only make money by selling commercial/ad time? A relative of mine has long insisted that they need to create "hype" and "shock value", because companies will race to pay more for an ad slot during a certain show or news coverage. No content/subject matter will be in a TV show, or on the news, if it "doesn't sell advertising." I know that networks look at ratings, but does everything really revolve around selling the ad spaces?

Answer: Selling advertising space is a major revenue source for networks but they also profit from cable and satellite fees, syndication and licensing fees, product placement, home entertainment sales, streaming services, event sponsorship, etc.

16th Jan 2024

Titanic (1997)

Question: I know that scenes in this movie weren't filmed in chronological order. Which scene was the first one to be shot and which scene was the last one to be shot?

Answer: I only found general info, but the first scenes filmed were of the Titanic passengers boarding the ship. Also, early on was the scene of Jack sketching Rose in the nude. I'd guess the Titanic sinking was filmed at the end of the shoot.

16th Jan 2024

Us (2019)

Question: Why did the government want to control the populace by creating millions of clones of them?

Answer: The government's intent was to create completely controllable and compliant clones to do whatever they wanted them to do. Their plan did not work out, however.

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