Bishop73

22nd Nov 2005

Radio Flyer (1992)

Question: At the end of the movie, did Bobby really fly off in the Radio Flyer plane or did Mike make that story up?

Answer: The script's ending was ultimately changed by director Richard Donner from what writer David Evans had originally written. In the original ending, it was made clear that the Radio Flyer had actually worked and it was seen hanging (actually floating) next to the Wright Brother's plane in the Smithsonian. Donner instead wanted the ending to be a "Rorschach Test", meaning the viewer sees the ending as he or she wants. So if you perceive it as working and Bobby being free or you see it as Bobby committing suicide, etc, it's meant as a reflection on you. However, Evans has said that he never intended the ending to be, or allude to, suicide, but because of the script changes, he understands how people could make that conclusion.

Bishop73

I have watched this movie 3x in the last 2 days. It has emotionally exhausting and I have done more research on this film, the actors, the original intent for the films direction by David, I mean you would think I'm nuts! But after paying close attention, 28min into the movie, the boys discuss exploring the hill where Fisher jumped off one day. The look and sound of Bobby's voice when he said "he died, no-one can make that jump" is what leads me to believe he was telling us the viewers.

His fate. I think Mike tried to help him, and describes the idea as a "dangerous" one. In their attempt to fly, things of course go wrong and Bobby dies during the crash. However mike in his young mind, created the story of Bobby actually getting away. A grown up mike seems sad, depressed and a little off. He still struggles with his trauma.

Answer: He flew off alright - straight to heaven!

Myridon

Answer: Yes. He actually did fly off. Adult Mike even tells his two sons that sometime after Bobby flew off, he began receiving postcards from Bobby from every place he traveled to and still keeps sending postcards to him.

... and you don't think that the mother would have moved heaven and earth to track her son if he actually sent postcards saying he was doing fine? He was a little boy - it would be naive to believe that he just flew off and lived his best life on his own and continued flying from place to place.

Answer: According to Elijah Wood, in an even older script, Bobby did in fact die.

2nd Dec 2017

X-Men 2 (2003)

Question: I don't get why Rogue is defending Bobby from what his parents are saying, because doesn't she hate her powers?

THE GAMER NEXT DOOR

Answer: She may hate her powers, but she also hates being persecuted for being a mutant when it's not her fault. Plus, she truly does think Bobby is gifted and that his mutant powers are special (they were able to share a kiss because of his powers).

Bishop73

Answer: She does, but she also knows her situation is not everybody's (her power kills people, Bobby's makes nice ice flowers), and as a fellow mutant and Bobby's friend she comes to his defense.

Question: If Augustus Gloop had not fallen into the river, where would he and his mother sit on the boat? There appear to be no empty seats and everyone left gets on board.

Answer: This is a question that can only be answered with speculation since it's entirely fictitious and this is how it was written in the book (and shown in the movies). Either the theory holds that Willy Wonka had planned the entire thing, including which children would find the tickets, and he simply knew the ill-fate of each child based on their personalities (which also could explain how the Oompa Loompas had a specific song ready and only Charlie was left as the winner). Or each incident was random, in which case, Wonka would have some contingency plan, such as a bigger boat.

Bishop73

Answer: Willy Wonka would have expected something to go wrong with the children at some point. Otherwise, he would have trouble reaching his goal- to find the best child to take over for him (which could only be one). Not just the boat, but also how only four seats were available on the Wonka wash. He was ready most likely for child errors.

Answer: Willy Wonka would make a bigger boat. If he didn't fall and it wasn't a accident he would have redone that part.

Answer: Romanoff's mission was to get the real files on Project Insight. Nick Fury suspected he was being kept out of the loop about Insight's true agenda. Even though Project Insight was a S.H.I.E.L.D. project, HYDRA had secretly taken control of it.

Bishop73

19th Nov 2017

Robin Hood (1973)

Question: How did Trigger accidentally fire his crossbow simply by patting it?

Answer: It's called a hair trigger, when a weapon of any kind can go off with the wrong kind of knock, very sensitive to touch.

Answer: There are two possibilities. Roman crossbows from medieval times, used throughout Europe, used a rolling nut trigger system. This is different than a modern day crossbow with a pistol trigger. The trigger, which looks like a lever, sits in a notch on the nut. Through use, this notch could have been worn down so that the crossbow misfired when he hit it on the side; because the nut was allowed to spin, releasing the bowstring. The other possibility is when he hits the side of the crossbow, it almost looks like the trigger hits his belly, and since there's no trigger guard, it fires.

Bishop73

21st Nov 2017

Peter Pan (1953)

Question: What was Mr Darling's career?

Answer: In the original stage play by J.M. Barrie, he was a bank clerk. I don't think what he did for work was brought up in the 1953 film.

Bishop73

Question: At the beginning of the song, "I want it now", did Veruca say she wanted a "big feast" or a "bean feast"? If it's the latter, what exactly is it?

Answer: A "bean-feast", which is typically a British word, was a large, annual dinner given by employers to the workers. It later became a term for any lively celebration or outing with a big meal. The term may have come from the Feast of the Twelfth Night where a bean was baked into a cake and whoever got the bean became the "bean king."

Bishop73

Answer: She does indeed say "bean feast," and it isn't really a thing. It's just her making an exaggerated demand for something, and expecting it immediately. She says "bean feast" just to see if her father will object in any way, or agree as he always does.

Answer: Most likely soliciting a prostitute. Will took Phil to a massage parlor to help with Phil's back pain, but instead of being a reputable business, it was run by prostitutes and the police raided it during a sting operation.

Bishop73

15th Nov 2017

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Question: Why does Krall believe that the Federation abandoned him and his crew? The Federation wouldn't know where to look when The Franklin was declared MIA.

Darth Crucible

Answer: To start, Edison (who became Krall) was part of maco (Military Assault Command Operations). When the Federation was created, maco was disbanded and Edison became a Starfleet officer. When he was put in command of the Franklin, he had already begun to resent the Federation for being "put out to pasture" and felt obsolete as a soldier in an organization that promoted diplomacy, peace, and tolerance. When the Franklin crashed, he sent out a distress signal that was suppose to tell the Federation where they were at. He had no way of knowing they didn't get his distress call. Already resenting the Federation, Edison's anger grew and he simply felt they abandoned him and saw it as the Federation trying to get rid of former soldiers.

Bishop73

Question: How did they clone David's mother by using a hair sample? Hair doesn't contain DNA. Secondly, if they wanted to make David happy by bringing his mother back, why not recreate her in a simulation instead of creating a clone of her? Then David would be able to spend as much time with her as he wants.

Answer: This is a 2 part question and the second part may be speculation since the film doesn't really discuss why she couldn't be a simulation nor do I have a viable theory. Regarding DNA though. Cut hair can contain DNA. Without getting too much into it, it's not that hair inherently does not contain DNA, the formation of hair destroys cells, and thus nuclear DNA is destroyed. But nucleated corneocytes are intact cells that for some reason aren't damaged and they do contain DNA. The less available DNA there is in a sample, the more advanced and expensive techniques are required to extract it. With 2,000 years of technological advancements, it would be easy to extract the needed DNA.

Bishop73

14th Nov 2017

Gettysburg (1993)

Question: How did the north manage to defeat the south in the battle of Gettysburg despite a spy providing the south with information about the north during that battle?

Answer: In short, the Federal forces (who fought for the North) outlasted the Confederate army. Since it was a 3 day battle, a full explanation can not really be given here, but Lee did not actually have an accurate understanding of the Union's strength and position. While successful on Day 1, by the start of Day 2 more Federal forces arrived and the Union army had taken defensive position on the high ground. On Day 3, there was mixed communications with Confederate commanders and they did not attack as Lee had planned. The Union army was supplied with fresh forces that allowed them to hold the line. On Day 4, Lee did not attack and formed a defensive line, waiting for Meade to attack, so the Confederates could do what the Union had just done to them. But Meade never attacked and that night Lee and the Confederate troops left.

Bishop73

14th Nov 2017

Gettysburg (1993)

Question: Was Josh Chamberlain really given mutineers like in the movie?

Answer: Yes. After the 2nd Maine Infantry was disbanded, there were 120 men with 1-year of service left. They mutinied because they said they only agreed to fight under the 2nd Maine flag and the Army disagreed. So they were marched under guard to the 20th Maine, led by Chamberlain. Chamberlain was able to convince most of them to fight, even though he was ordered to shoot any who did not fight.

Bishop73

Is there a reason why a few of them refused to fight?

Yes. The same reason why they mutinied.

13th Nov 2017

Monk (2002)

Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum - S1-E6

Question: Why did Dr. Lancaster have to dress up as Santa when retrieving the gun he used in the murder four years ago? And what was the purpose of Manny being given the room considering if he told people that he saw Santa everybody would just shrug off his claim?

Answer: Dr. Lancaster gave Manny the room because Manny believed Santa was real. Thus, by dressing as Santa, Manny thinks he's seeing the real Santa and not someone in a costume. If any other patients were given the room, then they would have simply said they saw a man dressed as Santa on the roof. Additionally, Dr. Lancaster had to retrieve the gun from the chimney and dressed as Santa, Manny would naturally think Santa was climbing down their chimney to deliver presents. And then when Manny says he saw Santa climbing down the chimney, everyone would think he's making up a story and that there was nobody on the roof.

Bishop73

13th Nov 2017

Iron Man (2008)

Question: What are the Mark 1 armor plates made of? Would they really provide any protection against bullets? I mean they're just one or two millimeters thick.

Answer: The mark-1 appears to be made of repurposed military armor. This would provide enough protection from the AKs as the armor is layered, but not indefinitely.

MasterOfAll

Answer: It's made from a iron-copper-magnesium alloy. Magnesium alloys are lightweight like aluminum, but strong like titanium. His suit may be bullet resistant to small caliber rounds, but unlikely to stop larger caliber rounds from piercing it at its thickness, unless he layered the inside with something else. Most metal armor (like on tanks) work by deflecting bullets because of the slant of the armor, which Tony may have incorporated into his suit.

Bishop73

I doubt it would offer protection against black tip bullets since black tip bullets are armor piercing rounds.

Answer: Tony Stark mentions in the movie the armor is made of a titanium-gold alloy. Its a very strong alloy that can stop a bullet.

lionhead

Titanium-gold alloy was first used on the Mark lll, not the Mark l.

Bishop73

True, I read it wrong. The mark I is the one build in the cave, with a box of scraps. So MasterOfAll is probably right.

lionhead

11th Nov 2017

General questions

Answer: This is done because according to animators, it's easier to draw hands with three fingers instead of four. This is a practice that dates back to the early days of animation; characters such as Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny. And Popeye were usually drawn with three fingers, thus setting the precedent still in use today.

zendaddy621

Answer: The answer is pretty complex and there's YouTube videos delving into the many reasons. It started in the 1920's and the idea behind Mickey Mouse, in 1928, having 4 fingers is the style he was drawn in, with rounded shapes, making 5 fingers too crowded. Walt Disney allegedly said with 5 fingers Mickey's hands would look like a "bunch of bananas." Additionally, there's a theory called the "uncanny valley", which basically states that humanoid objects that look almost, but not exactly, human tend to make people have uncanny feelings of eeriness (think of life-like dolls or why some CGI looks strange to us). For some reason, 4 finger characters make us recognize they're human-like, without that eerie feeling. There are several other theories and ideas behind the 4 fingers (such as many characters being anthropomorphized animals.) Although Japanese anime often have 5-fingered characters for cultural reasons (in fact some 4-fingered characters have been edited with 5 fingers when released in Japan), so it's not always based on saving time or money, but tradition. With the aid of computer generated animation and people breaking from tradition, the future of cartoons may include more and more 5-fingered characters being the norm.

Bishop73

6th Nov 2017

The Ring (2002)

Question: The holiday cabin that's built over the well looks 50 years old, but Samara's dad hasn't aged that much since her death, and we're shown her mom pushing her down the well. This makes no sense at all time wise - if she was pushed down the well and the cabin was built on top shouldn't the cabin look almost new?

Jimmy Mulholland

Answer: A poorly maintained cabin, especially with extensive weather damaged would be difficult to age. The only real clues to its age would be subtle clues, like outdated electrical sockets and their placement, that changed over time. Additionally, a poorly constructed cabin wouldn't age as well. You can find 50+ year old homes that look new and newer homes that look 50+ years old.

Bishop73

6th Nov 2017

Iron Man (2008)

Question: How did the ten rings the make the two vehicles explode in the scene where the attack Tony and the military? I didn't see any missiles hit them.

Answer: The Ten Rings terrorists probably had C4 explosive buried under the road and exploded them remotely when the vehicles went over them. The terrorists had planned this assault far ahead.

lionhead

Answer: It's important to remember that Obediah Stane was secretly supplying the terrorists with cutting-edge military technology produced by Stark Industries (much of it invented by Tony Stark himself). The terrorists didn't need "improvised" explosive devices, because they were using state-of-the-art Stark Industries equipment and ordnance. In fact, just a moment before he is mortally wounded by the anti-personnel explosive, Tony is horrified to see "Stark Industries" printed on the bomb casing.

Charles Austin Miller

Answer: The lead vehicle most likely ran over an IED (improvised explosive device) that would have been buried in the road like a landmine. It's also possible the IED was remotely triggered by the terrorist waiting to ambush the group.

Bishop73

5th Nov 2017

South Park (1997)

Answer: S12e06 "The Computer Wore Menace Shoes." Homer creates his own webpage using the name "Mister X" and eventually begins posting rumors he overhears about others on his webpage (which turned out to be actual secrets, getting the townspeople into trouble). Incidentally, this Simpson's episode parodied "The Prisoner" in the 3rd act, which goes along with what Chef says that the Simpsons also reuse other people's ideas.

Bishop73

5th Nov 2017

Flightplan (2005)

Question: Why would the airport not x-ray a casket? Did the morgue director order them not to?

Answer: Often times cargo, such as the casket, are sent by "known shippers" and it's the known shippers that were responsible for screening. So the airport would not x-ray cargo that was already deemed secured (i.e. safe).

Bishop73

5th Nov 2017

House, M.D. (2004)

Answer: A teaching hospital is a type of hospital, but it would be somewhat similar to a general hospital since they're not specialized in one area. Besides the ER, surgery, and ICU, the hospital contains various other departments, including a psychiatry department.

Bishop73

Answer: It would be considered a non-profit hospital run as a charity. It's also affiliated with a medical school and is a teaching hospital, although which college it is affiliated was never mentioned.

Bishop73

I meant does he work in mental hospital, or a general hospital.

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