Question: When Rimmer is jailed for killing everyone on Red Dwarf, why did they go down the route of getting Rimmer a retrial? Wouldn't it be faster and easier to simply turn Rimmer off and then reboot him?
Brian Katcher
22nd Jan 2025
Red Dwarf (1988)
6th Nov 2024
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Question: After George gives away most of the honeymoon money, only two dollars are left. Would two dollars have really kept the Building and Loan open?
Answer: No. It's just that they didn't have to tell anyone that their funds were unavailable, which really would have made them go under.
29th Oct 2024
Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)
Question: Why was the CIA agent pleading not to be sent to Detroit?
Answer: Detroit has long been notorious for its high crime, high unemployment, and urban blight. It's just a joke about how it's not a very pleasant place to be. Heck, the city motto is 'We hope for better things' and 'It will rise from the ashes.'
27th Aug 2024
Married... with Children (1987)
Question: At the party, one of the "dumb" guests says that he teaches at a school in Los Angeles. Why is he apparently "dumb"?
Answer: At the time, American public schools, especially those in large cities, were under fire for underperforming, especially compared to those in Japan. It was just a dig on the public's perceived views on education and teachers at the time.
27th Aug 2024
Sleepers (1996)
Question: Can someone explain the whole thing with Henry Addison and the $8,000? I don't get the link between that and King Benny asking for 8 grand from Rizzo's brother.
Answer: King Benny "sold" Henry's debt to Rizzo's brother, Little Caesar. He then informs Caesar that Henry was the one who killed his brother, knowing that he'd kill Henry, and that he could use the debt as an excuse.
14th Aug 2024
Single White Female (1992)
Question: What exactly was wrong with Hedy? What made her so messed up?
Answer: Hedy's twin sister drowned when she was a child. She's trying to reform that bond with Allie.
14th Aug 2024
Jurassic Park (1993)
Question: What was BioSyn planning on doing with the dinosaur DNA if Nedry had been successful in getting it to them?
Answer: Cloning their own dinosaurs and opening a rival park.
Answer: Agree with the other answer, but it was revealed later that the dinosaurs were also valuable commodities to sell to private parties for personal zoos, big-game trophy hunting, as bio-weapons, cruel sport competitions similar to rooster fighting, etc. In Jurassic World Dominion, small ones were being cooked and served as a delicacy.
11th Jun 2024
Black Sheep (1996)
Question: What would have realistically happened to Mike at the very end, when his jacket got caught in the airplane door?
Answer: Chris Farley weighed over 300 pounds. His jacket would have torn long before the plane took off.
17th Apr 2024
General questions
When scenes take place in restaurants, a character will occasionally order something like "the chicken", "the salmon", or "the steak." In my experience, most restaurants have more than one option that involves chicken, steak, etc. Is there a reason for doing this on-camera, or have I just not found such a restaurant?
Answer: Someone ordering food isn't particularly interesting. "I'll have the t-bone steak, medium well, with a baked potato—hold the chives—and broccoli" would slow down the movie's pacing more than "I'll have the steak."
Answer: Totally agree with the other answer but would add that movie scenes are filmed multiple times over many hours or even several days to get the best result. In a restaurant scene, if an order is being served, it's easier with simpler food, like a T-bone steak, that won't make a mess, spill, smell, or wilt under hot lights. It also keeps the audience from being distracted by hearing some fancy menu item being ordered and then wondering what it is. Realistic-looking prop food may also be used, so simpler is better, easier, and more efficient.
12th Mar 2024
The Simpsons (1989)
Question: When Frank Grimes is shown on the news, where is he receiving his degree? He appears to be outside of a house, but he says later that he lives between two bowling alleys.
Answer: The news crew might have wanted to film him outside, on a nearby street, instead of going to his apartment. It looks more cheerful.
Answer: There's no telling. Possibly his parents' house. Possibly a house he sold when he moved to Springfield and he had to downgrade when his promised high-paying job went to a dog.
His parents abandoned him.
Good point. Then his own house, wherever he lived before Springfield.
15th Feb 2024
Daria (1997)
Question: Whenever Kevin talks to Mack, Kevin calls him "Mack Daddy." Mack always responds with "Don't call me that." What is the reason Mack doesn't like to be called "Mack Daddy"?
Answer: "Mack Daddy" was a 90s phrase meaning "Ladies man," and Mack simply doesn't like the stupid nickname.
3rd Jan 2014
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
Question: Why on earth does Bilbo remove the ring in front of Smaug? He has no real reason to believe that Smaug won't simply eat him or roast him. Smaug can hear and smell him but can't see him, so as long as he remains still, he is safe unless Smaug gets lucky. Seems like taking the ring off is a huge risk that was not necessary.
Chosen answer: Bilbo is actually quite clever, I think he was trying to talk his way out by buttering Smaug up. If he tried to run, Smaug, who was on high alert, would have caught him and swallowed him without a second thought. By playing with words he was able to both interest and distract Smaug, and get away.
Answer: Smaug started talking about the ring, which started drawing the attention of the Necromancer (Sauron), causing Bilbo pain. Remember, wearing the ring made one noticeable to dark forces.
Question: Why did one of the Nazgûl stab Frodo at weathertop?
Answer: Because they were trying to kill him and take the One Ring for Sauron.
Why didn't the nazgûl simply take ring from Frodo?
How was one of the nazgûl able to stab Frodo when he put the ring on at weathertop? Considering that people who put the ring on are usually invisible.
To mortal people, yes. But the Nazgûl can sense when someone is using it. Note how they immediately changed directions when Frodo put it on at the Prancing Pony.
5th Jan 2024
General questions
What is the name of this possibly Japanese cartoon I saw in the 80s? Futuristic soldiers are converted into cyborgs to work in space. It follows an elite team before and after the conversion. One was an alien from the planet 'Mime' who never spoke. Another were a twin brother and sister who had the code names 'Iron Heart' and 'Iron Will.' During conversion, they realized Iron Heart had a defective heart, so they replaced it with machinery, making his name more appropriate.
Answer: "SilverHawks" (1986). The twins were called "Steelheart" and "Steelwill," who had artificial hearts put in during their transformation. Steelheart was the sister, though; Emily Hart, and her brother was Will Hart.
Thank you! Me confusing iron and steel made it impossible to Google.
5th Jan 2024
General questions
What TV character approached two people and said "Good morning" to one, then "Good afternoon" to the other, pointing out that the time had changed to noon in between? I know it's a trivial moment, but I suddenly remembered it and now I'm curious.
Answer: In the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror VIII, Professor Frink points this out to the family in a parody of "The Fly".
Thanks.
Question: When the Mentors were discussing with the Tributes on how to sell their performances for the audiences, why did the shackled Reaper fake lunge at Dovecote?
Answer: Because he didn't like her, he realized she was just a rich person who saw him as a means to an end, and really didn't care if he survived. He wanted to give her a scare.
21st Dec 2023
The Simpsons (1989)
Question: Marge mentions a guy named Anthony Michael Hall, like the actor, who stole Homer's car stereo. She is pointing out how the names are a coincidence. Why does Bart say "Riiight, coincidence", as if he doesn't believe this?
Answer: Bart's implying it really was the actor, who hadn't been in movies for years and had apparently turned to a life of crime.
20th Dec 2023
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Question: Why is Harry Bailey wearing a uniform at the end of the movie?
Answer: He left in the middle of the banquet they were giving him for winning the Medal of Honor and immediately flew to Bedford Falls when he heard his brother was in trouble.
Answer: Agree with the other answer but would add that, from a moviemaking perspective, the film was released shortly after the end of WWII when American patriotism was extremely high. The filmmakers emphasized Harry's status as a military hero and George's role in having saved him when they were boys. It visually reminds the audience of who Harry is and what he did.
19th Dec 2023
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Question: Did Christmas Eve used to be a regular work day? The bank is open, the bank examiner is at the building and loan, and Zuzu had school.
Answer: Did they used to have school on Christmas Eve day?
Answer: Agree with the other answer, but would add that Christmas Eve was never a Federal holiday. It really depends on the individual company or organization on whether to give employees the day off. When I worked for the state, we used to get Christmas Eve off, but that was eliminated when MLK Day became a Federal holiday. Employees then had to use a vacation day if they wanted Christmas Eve off.
Answer: Yes, and it still is. The standard work day was 9:00 - 5:00, and Christmas Eve (not a "holiday") starts at 6:00 PM - after work. Christmas "breaks" may have been extended over the years, though.
18th Dec 2023
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Question: In the restaurant scene with Mentalino, after the boys eat peppers, Mental goes out and calls in, then comes back and asks the boys why they travel so light - only saw a briefcase and some other stuff. So... Why didn't Mental just take the briefcase and leave? That's what he was along for - to find.
Answer: At this point, Mental still believes the boys are highly trained professionals. He wants to find out who hired them, and then eliminate them.
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Answer: They could do that after they left the planet, sure. But if they tried it while they were there, the Justice Zones would punish them for it. Best to play along until you can get away.
Captain Defenestrator