Answered questions about specific movies, TV shows and more

These are questions relating to specific titles. General questions for movies and TV shows are here. Members get e-mailed when any of their questions are answered.

Question: I was just wondering why the Sorting Hat speaks out loud in the film, because in the book it was only heard in the pupil's head. Obviously it would need to shout out the house at the end, but everything else could be a bit personal, and shouldn't be shouted to the whole school.

Answer: This is a common movie tactic. Telepathic communication can be confusing in a movie, making it hard to really know where the voice is coming from. Being a kid's movie, they apparently opted to eliminate the telepathic element as it could easily confuse the target audience who may not be very familiar with the concept of telepathic voiceover.

Garlonuss

My Occurrence (1) - S1-E22

Question: In this episode, Brendan Fraser has his arm on fire for a good ten seconds. I've seen this effect before, and his arm has gotta be covered in some kind of fluid that protects his skin, or something. But it looks so good. Does anyone know exactly how it's achieved without him feeling the pain? I'm pretty sure it's not a prosthetic, could it be a false skin wrapped around his forearm?

Answer: It's coated in a fireproof gel under the flammable liquid. It can burn for 10-20 seconds without harming the actor. The bonus features in the Spawn DVD have a whole section on fire special effects if you want to see more.

Grumpy Scot

Show generally

Question: Who sings the theme tune? I know that it's called 'There Might be Giants' but that's all. Thanks.

Answer: Actually, the band is called They Might Be Giants; the song is called "Boss Of Me."

Xofer

Question: We see something going on between the corrupt skinhead and the Hispanic criminal inside the prison, and it makes Vinyard leave that gang. What exactly was the arrangement by the skinheads to 'protect' Vinyard?

Answer: It's quite simple: He was one of them, a fellow skinhead. In prison different groups stick together for mutual protection and comradeship, and as neo-nazis/skinheads would be fairly unpopular with the colored inmates, all the more reason for them to protect each other.

Twotall

Chosen answer: The show was recorded on Thanksgiving, 1976. The movie was released April 26, 1978, 17 months later closer to 1.5 years. The movie was not just the straight footage of the one concert, it includes various interviews, studio sessions, etc. filmed at different times. It had to be edited, produced, distribution had to be arranged. Then a release date was picked probably based on some marketing scheme - what other movies were being released around that time, etc. 17 months is not at all an unusual delay for this process.

Myridon

Question: What would have happened if Seth had successfully made the teleportation with Ronnie?

Answer: The deleted 'cat-monkey' scene (where Seth fuses the baboon he used for his experiments with a stray cat) sheds some rather unpleasant light on what would've happened. Essentially the telepods would've merged Ronnie, Seth, their child and the fly DNA together into some manner of chimera-like monstrosity that would most definitely not be what Seth had been hoping to accomplish. As if that wasn't bad enough, the film also implies using the telepods while clothed is a very bad idea (Seth strips naked before both of his attempts), so just imagine how Ronnie, being teleported with her skirt, sweater, stockings and shoes, would've further corrupted whatever resulted.

Answer: Actually, if the teleportation had followed through, then four bodies would have merged into one: Ronnie, Seth, Fly, Baby. Remember, Ronnie was pregnant.

William Bergquist

Question: Why make a whole adult just to give birth to a baby? Why not just make a baby in the first place? We know they can adjust the clones' age. Come to that, why was Lima killed right after she gave birth? Her body would still be fine for organs and parts should her sponsor need them.

Daria Sigma

Chosen answer: The company claims to have the ablity to create organs for their clients. They most likely claimed that they can create babies too. They did not want anyone to know that they are allowing the clones to "live" let alone one to carry a baby. Lima was killed becuase they wanted to conceal this secret. Besides, if their client wants new organs, I guess they'll make her pay for another insurance policy.

XIII

Chosen answer: Gotta get back, back to the past...

Rlvlk

Chosen answer: Going from memory: Stone gave a nice deal to the star witness against Masucci. He gave some deal to Beigel, the brother-in-law. The witness lied under oath: he was in the hospital and could have never heard the conversation he claimed he did. There was a mistrial declared, jeopardy had attached (Masucci could not be retried for the same crime) and Stone was bound by the deal he gave Biegel, and to the witness. Everyone won, except Stone. The testimony was planned.

Rlvlk

Answer: He was in a very small part of the movie and at the time he had already become quite a famous star. If his name were attatched to it without being uncredited, he would have had top billing. He probably decided to remove his name from the movie so the younger actors could receive more attention. The same type of thing happens in quite a few movies I can think of.

jennibee

Question: Does anybody know all the words to the rap Ghostface makes with Shorty and all his mates?

Answer: According to the "Memorable Quotes" section at the IMDB, the words are "I'm gonna slash and gash, cut another hole in your ass. I spill blood on the walls, then play tennis with your balls. If the phone rings, don't answer the call. Gonna slit your throat, f**k you like a goat, peal your foreskin off and make a winter coat. Peace!"

Cubs Fan

Question: Why would Daryl Hannah not have used her cell phone to call for help in Bud's trailer after her eye was pulled out?

Answer: There is nothing to say this didn't happen. The last we see or hear from Hannah's character is when Uma Thurman leaves the trailer. At the time Thurman leaves Hannah's character she is obviously still in considerable pain and what she did after this is open to debate.

Lummie

Question: After the second task Harry has a reddish mark on his face and down his neck. Anyone have any idea what this could be?

Answer: They are from the attack by the grindylows just before Harry left the Black Lake. Fleur Delacour has the same type of marks on her neck and shoulders when she goes to help Gabrielle up onto the platform.

Addreamy

Question: Does anybody know why Sardo Numspa can't pronounce J's? Such as when he pronounces Chandler Jarell as Yarell. I've looked but can't seem to find any explanation.

Answer: A lot of non english speaking countries have trouble pronouncing the letter J as it does not appear in their alphabet. It is a fairly recent addition to the english language too. Previously words that now start with a J would have began with an "I" sound as in "Iarell".

dgemba dgemba

Question: What does the sequence with the fake Brill have to do with anything? I've watched this scene several times and can't find its significance in the film.

manthabeat

Chosen answer: The fake Brill is an undercover federal agent trying to find out what Will Smith knows about the video tape.

Mister Ed

Poor writing though as that character is never spoke of again.

Question: At one point, Melanie mentions that Jake got her pregnant several years ago. Was the baby stillborn or did she get an abortion?

Answer: She had a miscarriage.

raywest

Answer: She says something to the effect of "mother nature had other plans" leading audience to believe she had a miscarriage.

Answer: She had an abortion because she said it would have altered her future plans and admitted to feeling so ashamed.

Melanie did not have an abortion. When she's talking to Jake's mother, Stella Kay, at the bar, it's mentioned that Melanie had a miscarriage. Melanie felt ashamed because after losing the baby, she ran out on Jake and their marriage to pursue her own goals in New York.

raywest

Doesn't Melanie say she's ashamed for being relieved about losing the baby?

Saying "losing" a baby indicates it was unexpected event and not a deliberate action. Melanie only means she was relieved her pregnancy didn't naturally continue.

raywest

Show generally

Question: For the season five episode "Grave Danger". In the beginning of the show there is a plot-line about twins being shot to death. They make quite the point out of it. Why is this important, does it refer to a previous episode or set up for a following? I don't get it.

Answer: It doesn't refer to anything specific, just office chatter. Quentin Tarantino has a lot of pointless time-fillers in the episode, and this is one example.

CocoCami

Question: Why does the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall begin acting weird when Mad Eye Moody (Crouch) makes his entrance during the beginning-of-the-year feast?

raywest

Chosen answer: The ceiling does not really start acting weirdly when Moody enters. The ceiling is enchanted to portray whatever the outside sky is doing, and, as it is stormy outside, it is therefore stormy on the ceiling. It is just a coincidence that just as Moody enters, there is a lightning strike, and he thinks that it is a curse or some other magic spell.

mandy gasson

Addendum: in the book, there's a big storm going on (outside), and Mad-Eye does not interact with the ceiling as he does in the movie. The lightning at the same time he comes in is a coincidence.

It's more about foreshadowing for the terrible events caused by fake Moody later in the movie.

Chosen answer: It's making fun of "Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!" which is an often referenced 'quote' from "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (Actually, the real line is "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges!", but that's the way people say it.)

Myridon

Mel Brooks borrowed the line in "Blazing Saddles." In that film, the line actually was "We don't need no stinkin' badges."

Leicaman

Question: After Atreyu passes the first gate, soon then after is a scene with Falcor and [forgotten the little man's name] is stabbing Falcor with what looks like a cross between a jackhammer and a giant hypodermic needle. What's that all about?

Answer: That's actually Urgl, Engywwok's wife. She is giving Falcor a vitamin injection while she is nursing him back from his exhaustion.

Twotall

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