Question: Would any company in their right mind build a theme park (or any business for that matter) on a private island with a volcano? I know populated areas like Hawaii just assume the risk, but wouldn't a company that has the money to purchase their own island do their due diligence and make sure they won't be prone to a major catastrophe like that?
Phaneron
24th Sep 2018
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
31st Jul 2018
Logan (2017)
Question: Why does Logan cave in to Xavier's request to stop and stay with the Munsons when he knows they are being tracked by deadly mercenaries?
Answer: Logan likely assumed that they were in the clear. The mercenaries were able to keep finding them because they were forcing Caliban to track them, but Logan thought that they had killed him. He had no idea that Caliban was still alive and was tracking them, so he guessed that they were out of their reach.
How would that account for the Reavers finding them earlier at the casino hotel, though? Wouldn't Logan have been under the assumption at that time as well that Caliban was dead?
Logan may have questioned how the Reavers found them in the casino hotel, but probably not too much to think of which methods specifically were used to find them, since he was mainly focused on getting out of the Reavers' reach. As the casino hotel was a more populated location, he likely took a gamble and guessed that the Munson household was a far safer place to lay low since the house was in a secluded location.
9th Jun 2018
Hannibal (2001)
Question: How did Hannibal manage to make it onto a commercial airplane at the end of the movie? Even if he had a fake ID, wouldn't being on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list make it virtually impossible for him to get through a high security place like an airport, where the feds would likely instruct security staff to stop anyone that even remotely resembles him? The fact that he cut off his own hand at the end of the film would make him easier to spot, as the FBI would definitely share that new detail about him.
Answer: As seen in the first film and in this one, Lecter demonstrates an almost supernatural ability for eluding the law and seemingly being in two places at once. This film was made in the year 2000, before airport security became extremely tight in late 2001. At that time (before 9/11), it was still possible to enter an airport's main concourse through the baggage claim or even from the tarmac without passing through rigorous security. As ingenious as Lecter was, he could have accessed the airport in a number of ways back then. Relieving another passenger of his boarding pass and identification would be no problem for Lecter, either (simply leave the passenger's body in an airport toilet and assume his identity). For the most part, it was Lecter's calm, self-confident charm that allowed him to slither through society always ten steps ahead of the law.
Answer: Perhaps he bribed his way through security onto the plane. Or maybe he murdered anyone who even remotely challenged him. He was probably wearing a disguise. It's possible that he had been planning this whole thing for an unspecified amount of time. And don't forget: he is a genius. And determined. He wouldn't let a little thing like protocol get in the way of his escape.
Answer: There is an assumption that he cut his hand off in the end. Ask yourself this for a very graphic movie why did they not show the chopped of hand. You just hear the chop but no sound from Lecter and only an emotional reaction from Starling. It is only alluded to and even if he did happen to chop it off he would be in so much pain as he acknowledged this was going to hurt he would not have been able to escape without help from Starling.
On the plane, you only see him use his right hand, and his left arm is in a sling. Further explaining, he did cut his own hand off to be freed. If he cut Starling's hand off, she would have possibly bled to death, or at least enough that she couldn't have run for him.
5th Jun 2018
General questions
A few years ago I was scrolling through titles on Netflix and came across a horror movie (an anthology one if I remember correctly). The artwork depicted a man holding a knife in one hand and his own severed head in the other. The poster was evocative of movie posters from the 1980s, which leads me to believe the movie came out in that decade. Does anyone know what movie this is?
12th Apr 2018
General questions
I caught the tail end of a presumably made-for-television movie some time in the early to mid 90s. It featured a man who had himself altered to look exactly like another man whose life and family he wanted. The two ended up fighting with one of them falling to his death. We are led to believe the evil man died, but it is shortly thereafter revealed that he was the one who survived when he is shown shuffling a coin on his knuckles, which my brother told me is something he was shown doing earlier in the movie. Does anyone have any idea what the title of this movie is?
Chosen answer: I believe this is the 1994 TV movie 'Natural Selection' starring C. Thomas Howell.
20th Mar 2018
Hook (1991)
Question: Why didn't Tinkerbell grant Rufio the ability to fly? He was the de facto leader of the Lost Boys in Peter Pan's absence, and they looked up to him when he is first introduced.
Answer: It's possible Tinkerbell didn't feel Rufio deserved the ability to fly, especially with him being a bit of a jerk.
Answer: It's unknown why Tinkerbell didn't do this.
13th Mar 2018
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Question: Is there any official explanation on how the toons manifest into physical reality? If Judge Doom were to kill Roger, what's to stop another artist or animator from just creating and willing him into existence again?
Chosen answer: In the world of the film, toons aren't drawn, they actually exist and simply act out what is seen in their cartoons.
In the movie, Jessica Rabbit said she was not bad, she was just drawn that way.
5th Feb 2018
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Question: It's stated a couple times in the movie that Arnie could die at any moment. Pardon my ignorance, but why exactly is this? Is there something about his condition that makes him highly susceptible to dropping dead, or is it a matter of his behavioral impulses (such as climbing the water tower) that put him at a high risk of dying in an accident?
Chosen answer: It's because of his often reckless behavior; it's never implied within the film that his unique condition has anything to do the likelihood that he could "go at any time."
Answer: In the beginning, Gilbert explains that the doctors said Arnie will only live till 10 years old, and that he is well past that, so he "could go at any time."
27th Jan 2018
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Question: Have the filmmakers offered any explanation as to why they used CGI for Wolverine's claws in the bathroom scene? As has been pointed out numerous times, the CGI is very poor. Given that the previous three X-Men films used practical claws that looked just fine, this seemed like a very impractical thing to do, especially considering the extra time and money going with CGI would require.
Chosen answer: While it's not a definitive answer, the practical claws were still dangerous and several stunt people, and Hugh Jackman himself, have been injured during filming of the X-Men films. I don't know if they simply wanted to try to be safer or if there was a request made. Plus, the other films still used CGI claws for certain scenes, so perhaps they thought they could pull it off. It should be noted that Hugh Jackman went back to practical claws during filming of The Wolverine.
16th Jan 2018
Justice League (2017)
Question: The last shot in "Batman v Superman" showed the soil on top of Superman's casket beginning to levitate, inferring that Superman was still alive and on the verge of bursting out of his grave. Why then, in this movie, do the other heroes have to exhume his body and use the Motherbox to bring him back to life if the former movie made it clear he wasn't actually dead?
Chosen answer: It's sort-of a crappy answer, but the truth is... like many sequels, this movie simply ret-cons and "forgets" the last few seconds of the previous film. This happens more often than you'd think. The filmmakers decided that rather than go with the notion that Superman might still be alive as implied by the ending of BvS, they'd instead add in a sequence where he's brought back to life in this one. I'm sure if you really stretched, you could also say that the dirt rising was a hint that he might be able to be brought back or wasn't beyond being saved, and that some of his power still existed somewhere.
Answer: Zack Snyder said "It's always been symbolic of hope and lessons learned." Sounds like it was more of a fourth wall wink nod to the audience than the literal sense he was actually doing it.
14th Sep 2017
It (2017)
Question: Why does Pennywise kill Georgie and Patrick almost immediately, but then spend time tormenting the other kids instead of outright killing them?
Chosen answer: In order to install the fear of death in someone, to put them in your grasp, you must kill those closest to you. In doing so the fear is always inside them. Pennywise will always be in their thoughts and dreams. Which will constantly torture the kids, which what he wants.
Answer: Pennywise murders and eats children because to him frightened children taste the best. By killing George and Patrick then torturing the others, he's building up enough fear in them so when he does decide to eat them, to him they'll be delicious.
19th May 2017
The Great Race (1965)
Question: How exactly did Leslie initially intend on crossing the Bering or Chukchi Sea from Alaska into Russia? I know he and Professor Fate end up floating on a large mass of ice to do so, but that's not exactly something you can plan for.
Chosen answer: The cars and drivers were supposed to make the trip by ship from North America across the Bering Strait to a Russian port, where they would resume the race. As it happened, Leslie and Fate were stranded in a blizzard on the North American side before they reached the ship. The ice beneath their cars unexpectedly broke away and drifted across the Bering Strait, improbably arriving at the intended destination port in Russia. As they drift into port, we see Leslie's right-hand man, Hezekiah, waving at them from the Russian dock, which is only possible if Hezekiah made the journey by the very ship that Leslie and Fate missed.
4th May 2017
V for Vendetta (2005)
Question: How exactly, in the context of the film, did Dietrich manage to have Sutler appear on his show? Obviously John Hurt is playing the part and I get that it's not supposed to be the real Sutler, because Sutler was devoid of humor and would never agree to appear on the show, but did Dietrich just luck out by finding someone that looked and sounded exactly like Sutler?
Chosen answer: Sketch comedy shows do this all the time, and I'm sure even in the film's world, there are comedians who specialize in impressions. It wouldn't be impossible to find someone who looks and sounds like Sutler, or at least close enough that they can do so with a bit of make-up and rehearsal.
20th Feb 2017
Groundhog Day (1993)
Question: Phil is unable to leave Punxsutawney after his broadcast because of the blizzard. Has there ever been any explanation as to why he doesn't try to leave Punxsutawney as soon as he wakes up? I'm sure the time loop would have still been in effect, but unless I'm mistaken, the movie never addresses whether or not Phil ever tried to leave town before the roads were closed.
Chosen answer: As you stated, it's never addressed as to whether or not he attempted to leave town. Phil lived through many more days than is shown in the film, so it's possible he left at some point, though there's little reason for him to do so because he wouldn't get far, and, when he wakes up the next morning, he'll be right back in the town.
11th Oct 2016
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Question: It's stated in "The Return of the King" that the Witch-king of Angmar is Sauron's greatest servant. Given this, why is he portrayed as somewhat bumbling in this film? A scene in the extended edition of "The Return of the King" shows him confronting Gandalf and even destroying his staff and he also has the reputation of being unkillable, but in this film he is chased off by Aragorn swinging a sword and a torch at him, and is also defeated by Arwen using a river to wash him away.
Chosen answer: The Witch-King of Angmar, as well as the other 8 Nazgûl were severely weakened since the defeat of Sauron, when they were send out to find the ring they had been dormant for decades, that's why they were so easily defeated by fire and waves. In the later movies their powers had increased significantly, especially the witch king's.
20th Jun 2016
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Question: After Alex translates the hieroglyphs as "This way to Scorpion King," Jonathan quietly responds by saying "It's just my work." What exactly did he mean by that? He's not a translator of ancient Egyptian like his sister Evie, so I don't think he literally meant "work" as his profession.
Chosen answer: He says, "this just might work" meaning he and Alex trying to bring Evie back using the book of the dead.
11th May 2016
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Question: Why does Liv Tyler receive third billing for this movie and its sequels? Her character hardly does anything compared to other characters in the trilogy like Aragorn, Sam or Saruman, and she wasn't exactly an A-lister at the time the movies came out.
Chosen answer: Getting a high billing is always part of an actor's negotiations. She would have been offered it as part of the deal to join the film.
6th Apr 2016
Beetlejuice (1988)
Question: When Adam first steps out of the house and ends up on Saturn, he's only there for a few seconds in real time, but Barbara tells him he was gone for two hours. Yet towards the end of the movie when Beetlejuice banishes Barbara to Saturn, she's there for a considerably longer time (at least long enough to wrangle a sandworm and co-opt it) but ends up only being gone for a few minutes and manages to return to the house in time to stop Beetlejuice from marrying. Why is this? Since she was on Saturn longer than Adam's first time there, shouldn't she have been gone for longer than two Earth hours?
Chosen answer: Time flows differently on Saturn and in the afterlife than it does in the house. Not faster or slower, just differently. Ten minutes on Saturn could be hours, or months, or just seconds in the house. There is no connection or relationship between the passage of time in one place and the passage of time in another.
29th Mar 2016
Blade (1998)
Question: How is Blade able to catch his glaive (his bladed throwing-weapon, not his sword) without slicing his own hand and/or fingers in the process? As in this film and its sequels, the blades are still spinning rapidly just before he catches it.
Chosen answer: While all of the nocturnal vampires in the movies are far stronger and have incredible reflexes compared to humans, Blade is supposed to be an even stronger and faster vampire with special powers (he can travel in daylight, and his reflexes are super-fast even compared to other vampires). In short, Blade is so fast that he can safely snatch a whirling glaive out of the air as easily as catching a slow-pitch softball.
21st Nov 2015
The Relic (1997)
Question: Why was the relic being shipped to the Field Museum in Chicago via boat? What would be the point of sending the relic to the United States and then placing it on a boat and shipping it to Chicago by way of the Illinois River? In the book, the museum is instead located in New York, so it makes sense for the shipment to arrive by boat from South America, but there would be no possible way to get to Chicago straight from South America by boat, so the relic had to have been on land at one point. Placing it on a boat just seems like a contrived way to have the monster kill the crew members and create a mystery for the police as to how it happened.
Chosen answer: Cost of shipping would be much cheaper. However, the Mississippi River System is connected to the Illinois Waterway, which continues to the Great Lakes Waterway. This means Chicago is connected to the Gulf of Mexico (which is accessible to South America). There would be no need to ever be on the road.
Join the mailing list
Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.
Answer: As it was stated in the film, the volcano had been dormant for many many years. Presumably even since well before the events of the first Jurassic Park movie in the early 90's. It was only recently, between the events of this film and the prior Jurassic World that the volcano had its surprise re-awakening.
Quantom X ★
For sure, but dormant simply means that the volcano could one day erupt again, so wouldn't it be pretty foolish to gamble on building a multi-billion dollar theme park with the hope that the volcano will never again erupt?
Phaneron ★
One would think. But just look at our world's history. Like Pompeii, an entire civilization wiped out cause they lived at the base of a dormant volcano. And then even in more recent history. Mount Saint Helens, which I've actually been to and seen the exhibits and footage of it's destruction. Foolish, yeah. But that doesn't stop us from still doing it repeatedly.
Quantom X ★
I think it's been made pretty clear over the course of all the films that the people building these parks did not exactly think everything through properly. They took a gamble on the volcano, and they lost.
wizard_of_gore ★