Question: Does anyone know for sure if Harrison Ford wears the same hat in each movie or are there multiple copies. I'd like to know for sure, not speculation or guesses.
Grumpy Scot
Answer: There were not only multiple Indy hats used in each movie, but multiple styles and sizes of Indy hats used for various scenes. In "Raiders," for example, Herbert Johnson hatters in London produced 45 copies of the hat for use in that movie alone. Those hats were used by Harrison Ford himself, his stand-ins and stuntmen. In dark scenes, where lighting was critical, Ford wore a version of the hat with a modified brim to accommodate facial lighting; and, in the daylight "Basket Chase" scene in Cairo, the style of hat is noticeably different with a slightly wider brim. The hats vary greatly from movie-to-movie, as well, with variations in brim, crown and felt color. By the last movie, "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," the hat is distinctly different from the original used in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
2nd May 2008
Star Trek (1966)
Question: If Uhura can be re-educated in a few days, (after Nomad wipes her memory) why is there a Starfleet Academy? Couldn't you train an ensign in a week and then send him off on a ship to get practical experience?
Chosen answer: I'd say the difference is re-educated versus educated. The total of an education at any institution is more than what is taught in classes.
2nd May 2008
Star Trek (1966)
Question: Why don't any of the Treks to come use any of the useful things that Enterprise discovers? A psychotricorder can record your memories! Scalosian water speeds up humanoids to the point they can dodge energy beams! A veinful of kironide makes you a powerful telekinetic a few minutes after injection! If Picard, Sisko and Janeway had just read Kirk's logs, the Borg and Dominion wouldn't have had a chance.
Chosen answer: They do use much of the technology, just not the particular items you mention. There are many reasons: perhaps the technology was deemed too dangerous and outlawed (as with the planet Talos), or found impossible to reproduce. The Prime Directive would prohibit them from stealing the technology too, no matter how valuable.
26th Apr 2008
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007)
Trivia: In Celtic folklore, a Water Horse is another name for a Kelpie, a rather nasty water spirit that would drown curious passersby. An odd name for a friendly gentle creature as depicted in the film.
26th Feb 2008
Lost (2004)
Revealing mistake: Episode 4-4 "Eggtown": When Locke is in the basement hallway, he slams Ben's breakfast tray against the wall. The wall moves like it's thin plywood. Odd since basements are either thick wood or concrete over packed earth. (00:02:30)
26th Feb 2008
Memphis Belle (1990)
Factual error: Bomber crews in WWII were constantly shuffled around to fill losses and train new members or allow repairs on a plane. Contrary to what the film tells us, Captain Robert Morgan's crew only flew 21 missions in Memphis Belle, though bomber and crew both completed 25 total missions.
13th Feb 2008
Stargate: Atlantis (2004)
Plot hole: Why do Dr. Beckett and Dr. Keller use so much Earth medicine? While the Ancients may have evolved past disease and genetic defects, they would still need treatments for physical injuries. And we know such advanced medical machines exist, scanners have been shown on screen and the Go'auld reverse-engineered their sarcophagi from an Ancient device. While they may be reluctant to use unknown machines for surgery or disease, surely bruises and broken bones should be healed instantly!
13th Feb 2008
Stargate: Atlantis (2004)
Plot hole: In early episodes, when Sheppard and his team are attempting to capture a Wraith, they ambush him and his soldiers with tasers. The taser just irritates the Wraith. Why don't they have Zat guns? (The real reason, of course, is that Wraith stunners will be introduced in 2 or 3 episodes.) But it makes no sense to not bring such a useful non-lethal weapon along into unknown territory.
Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.
Suggested correction: Production-wise, Zats are a part of SG-1 and Atlantis should have its own "look and feel." In universe, it's probable that the SGC doesn't have that many Zats (they can't make them so every own they have has to have been captured at some point) and therefore wouldn't want to send a load off on what was thought of as a one way trip when the Atlantis Expedition first left. Plus there would be no guarantee that the Expedition would find any way of recharging or maintaining them once they got where they were going.
9th Feb 2008
Stargate: Atlantis (2004)
Factual error: When Sam breaks her leg, Dr. Keller discusses with McKay the possibility of internal bleeding, then returns to splint her leg and offer her some ibuprofen for pain. A doctor concerned about internal bleeding would never offer a patient ibuprofen, as it inhibits blood clotting.
5th Feb 2008
Stargate SG-1 (1997)
Factual error: Before SG-1 switched to P90 PDW's, they carried MP5 submachine guns. They were often shown with a full magazine taped upside down to the one in the weapon, so that to reload, all they have to do is remove the magazine, turn it over and insert the full one. Team members were also shown doing just that in several fight scenes. Problem is, real special ops troops are specifically taught in training never to do this. It's far too easy to damage the lips on the spare magazine, rendering it useless. There are clips that will hold magazines upright side by side, but its easy to see on screen they weren't using them.
31st Jan 2008
The Day After (1983)
Factual error: SAC's airborne command post is shown in several scenes. Problem is, while there is such an aircraft, it is not a KC-135 Stratotanker, which is what is shown.
30th Jan 2008
White Noise 2: The Light (2007)
Plot hole: After Abe is shot, an ambulance shows up, throws Sherry in the back and leaves. There is no way that the paramedics would leave without first speaking to the police on site, making sure that no one else there needed medical help and confirming Abe was dead. I've ridden with an ambulance 4 or 5 times and they never stay at a scene less than 15-20 minutes.
27th Jan 2008
General questions
I'm looking for the title of a movie from the 80's or maybe 90's. It seems to be set in the late 1800's or early 1900's and is about a unusually smart boy named Wendell. The only scene I'm certain about is when the boy gets off a train and is greeted by two older people. The man introduces himself and the lady as "Cornelia" and tells her Wendell's name. She says "Hello, Wendy." He replies, "Hello, Corny." She says (angrily) "Cornelia", he replies (exasperated) "Wendell." Thanks.
Chosen answer: The film was called "The Wizard of Loneliness". Lucas Haas played Wendall.
19th Jan 2008
Ghostbusters (1984)
Trivia: Venkman mentions the time Egon "tried to drill a hole in his head". This is a reference to Trepanation, a procedure alleged to increase psychic abilities among other things.
24th Dec 2007
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Revealing mistake: When Ardeth Bay is waiting for the warriors of Anubis to attack, his close up shows that he is sweating off his forehead tattoos.
15th Nov 2007
The X-Files (1993)
One Breath - S2-E8
Deliberate mistake: When Scully is shown on her hospital bed, it's obvious she's wearing a bra under her hospital gown. It's doubtful that a patient in a coma would be wearing a bra as it could restrict her circulation.
11th Sep 2007
The Fairly OddParents (2001)
6th Sep 2007
The Final Countdown (1980)
Trivia: The USS Nimitz was based in the Atlantic during filming of this movie. When the ship pulls into Pearl Harbor past the USS Arizona Memorial, it is actually the USS Kitty Hawk not the Nimitz.
6th Sep 2007
The Final Countdown (1980)
Revealing mistake: When the Marines shoot the Japanese pilot, you can see the wire used to set off the blood bags coming out of his pants leg as he falls. (01:11:30)
11th Jul 2007
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Factual error: According to "The Doomsday Machine", full impulse drive is one-quarter the speed of light. In the first two movies, Enterprise used thrusters as opposed to impulse drive to leave Spacedock, confirming the notion that impulse drive is far too fast to leave such a (comparatively) small structure. Styles, however, orders Excelsior to one-quarter impulse, which is 18,750 km/s. In one second, she will travel half again Earth's diameter. From the time he gives the order to the time we see Excelsior clear spacedock's doors is approximately 40 seconds. Even allowing 30 seconds to go from rest to one quarter impulse, spacedock must be 13-15 times bigger than Earth! That's some serious engineering. (00:23:45)
Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.
Suggested correction: I reckon the writers always refer to levels of "impulse power" precisely so they don't have to worry too much about particular speeds (personally I always thought of it as roughly analogous to gears on a vehicle, but your mileage may vary). They use impulse to leave dock in both Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (it's implied to be unusual in both cases, for what it's worth). If all of that contradicts an earlier episode, I think we're looking at more of a retcon situation than a mistake.
Suggested correction: The warp scale has been adjusted several times, so it is impossible to say precisely how fast this fictional technology is, and by extension, how fast impulse is.
Impulse drive speed on starships have been consistent. Although sometimes quarter impulse on a shuttle refers to quarter power and not speed. Even if the speed of quarter impulse is 10 times slower than suggested (and used in the series), spacedock would still be 1.3-1.5 times bigger than Earth, which it wasn't. "It's fictional technology" is usually only a valid correction if the technology isn't explained in-universe. However, when certain parameters regarding fictional technology are established (even if they set wide parameters such as warp speed velocities) violations or contradictions (through bad script writing or whatnot) are valid mistakes.
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Chosen answer: Not only does he wear a different hat in each movie, he wears several different hats within the same movie. After Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harrison Ford was given the original hat, which he personally helped the costume designer give its old and worn but well-loved appearance, to keep for his own.
Phixius ★