raywest

1st May 2020

Biggles (1986)

Question: How was Biggles able to land the helicopter on a moving train despite only just learning to fly it?

Darth Crucible

Answer: It would be virtually impossible for a novice pilot to be able to do this.

raywest

Answer: It's similar, but not the same, particularly the neck and sleeves are quite different.

raywest

1st May 2020

Alien 3 (1992)

Question: After Ripley discovered that an alien queen was inside of her, why didn't she just kill herself immediately?

Answer: She didn't have the nerve to do it herself, especially since she doesn't have something like a gun where it can be done instantly. Even when backed into a corner by the Company, she still hesitates, she doesn't jump to her death immediately. The survival instinct is very powerful.

TonyPH

Answer: Early on, Ripley wanted Dillon to kill her after she learned she was carrying an alien embryo. He agreed he would, but only if she helped the inmates kill the other alien.

raywest

But the question is why didn't she kill herself as soon as she found out. As in on the spot? As soon as she discovered that an alien queen was growing inside of her, she went to find the xenomorph in hopes it would kill her but it didn't. It would have made more sense for her to take her life immediately as soon as she discovered a xenomorph queen was growing inside of her rather then wanting the xenomorph on the loose to do it or asking Dillon to.

I agree. It would have made more sense for her to just end her life right there rather going to Dillon after the fact and ask him to do it.

28th Apr 2020

General questions

I'm looking for the name of a film from my youth. Might be black and white. All I remember is that the leading lady 'popped' her leg when she kissed the 'right man'. And the uncle/grandfather hid cigars all over the drawing room as he wasn't allowed to smoke.

Answer: It's the 1964 film, "I'd Rather Be Rich," starring Sandra Dee, Robert Goulet, Andy Williams, and Maurice Chevalier (as Dee's cigar-smoking grandfather).

raywest

There was also a 1941 film titled, "It Happened With Eve," starring Deanna Durbin, Charles Laughton, and Robert Cummings that had a similar plot and on which the 1964 movie was based.

raywest

29th Apr 2020

Cats (2019)

Question: Much is said about the infamous first released version with Judy Dench's real hand instead of a CGI paw, but I'm watching that same version now and ALL of the cats have real human hands. How is this not also a mistake? Or is it that the mistake is Dench's ring on her finger? Do the actors' human hands change to paws in the CGI-fixed second version?

Sacha

Answer: The issue wasn't about her hand looking human but, as you mentioned, that she was wearing her own ring, which was digitally removed in the revised version.

raywest

28th Apr 2020

Divergent (2014)

Question: Why did they remove Christina and Will's romance? This takes away some of the emotion Tris has from shooting him later and the agony of telling Christina the truth in Insurgent.

Rob245

Answer: It's typical for movies to delete or dilute various plot elements from a book source. The movie's running time is a factor, and eliminating characters, side stories, combining plot points, etc. streamlines the plot. The movie chose to keep the focus on Tris and Four.

raywest

28th Apr 2020

The Fugitive (1993)

Question: Could Kimball really survive that fall at the dam? It looks impossible.

Answer: From the height shown, it would be virtually impossible to survive the fall. Even if someone managed to survive, their body would be horribly damaged.

raywest

28th Apr 2020

Miracle (2004)

Question: What is the outcome of the game in Oslo, Norway?

Answer: The Americans beat the Soviets. Two days later, the team defeated Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal.

raywest

3-3.

Question: Why would Brad go to jail for refusing to rat Donnie out? Doesn't he have the right to remain silent?

MikeH

Answer: If you are referring to a person's Miranda Rights, it does not give someone the right to remain silent indefinitely or to conceal a crime. It is a notification police give to criminal suspects who are in custody, advising them of their right to refuse to answer questions or provide information to law enforcement or other officials during an interrogation. A person can also invoke their Fifth Amendment right while on trial, but that also does not protect them from being convicted of a crime.

raywest

28th Apr 2020

The Shaggy Dog (1959)

Question: Why does Chiffon keep disappearing every time Wilbur turns into a dog?

Answer: I assume this is merely a movie plot device so that the audience does not get confused when Wilbur is in his dog form or that the other characters are wondering why there are suddenly two identical dogs.

raywest

28th Apr 2020

Panic Room (2002)

Answer: They wouldn't in real life. This was a plot contrivance.

raywest

It does happen in real life, and it is sadly a common occurrence in big cities. Living in Los Angeles, I've had to dial 911 a few times. I was on hold for 5 minutes once, and I've read articles about people who have been on hold for way longer. With this film being set in New York city, this did not surprise me. Even Meg and Sarah don't seem too surprised by it, and they opt to call Sarah's father instead.

jshy7979

Answer: There could be a serious major event happening nearby where all the resources needed to be sent ASAP. The 911 operator had to prioritize and assumed the current caller's emergency - whatever it was - was less urgent. There could have been a shortage of operators for whatever reason.

KeyZOid

28th Apr 2020

The Village (2004)

Question: Where and how did the elders meet?

Answer: They met in the modern world at a grief support group. Each had lost a loved one to an act of violence.

raywest

Question: Why did Dottie want to be traded to another team, and why was Kit traded?

Answer: Dottie wanted to be traded to alleviate the sibling rivalry between her and her kid sister, Kit. Instead, Kit was the who was traded because Dottie was the more talented player.

raywest

Question: How did Frank know Carl wouldn't open his wallet?

MikeH

Answer: He didn't. He took a desperate gamble that he could distract and then emotionally disarm Carl's normal defenses.

raywest

Answer: It's a little shorter and curlier. The bangs are also a little different. It's hardly surprising since a few months have passed from the end of the school year in HP2 and the start of HP3, just before the new school year begins. All the younger characters have changing hairstyles throughout the series.

raywest

23rd Sep 2018

Cast Away (2000)

Question: What is that green thing that Chuck tries to break open by throwing it against a rock wall, and then by hitting it with a rock? Is it really that difficult to break open?

Answer: They were coconuts. Coconuts come in a green shell which is their husk and they are hard to open up, especially when they get older. Most people use a machete or pick ax to get the husk off.

Bishop73

Is the shell as difficult to break open as shown in the movie?

The film does seem to accurately depict how hard it would be for someone who has never opened one before to get into a green coconut. I've never tried throwing one against a rock wall before though.

Bishop73

I was asking if the shell is as difficult to break open by hitting it with a rock as shown in the movie.

For someone who has never tried opening a green coconut, yes it would be.

Bishop73

The inner shell itself is not that difficult to open. Using a pointed rock, you can break through the round-shaped holes at the end to pour out of the liquid. By hitting the coconut's seam running lengthwise down the shell hard against a rock, it will completely split the shell in two around the circumference.

raywest

I'm talking about opening the outer shell, not the inner shell.

Answer: It sure is. You have to be gentle when you break it so all the water doesn't just go everywhere, like it would if you pounded it with say, a large rock.

stiiggy

10th Apr 2020

King of the Hill (1997)

Answer: Texas Railroad Commission. They're the agency that regulate the oil and natural gas industry, natural gas utilities, pipeline safety, and safety of the liquefied petroleum gas industry.

Bishop73

Wouldn't that be TRC?

raywest

The official name is Railroad Commission of Texas, so the "T" isn't used in the abbreviation anyways. People tend to say Texas first since most other agencies already start with Texas.

Bishop73

Question: What was special about the Congressional meeting where Elle speaks about Bruiser's Bill?

Answer: Not sure if this specifically answers your question, but Elle sponsored Bruiser's Bill to end animal testing by cosmetic companies. She was subverted by Congresswoman Rudd, who was protecting the interests of a wealthy campaign donor for whom the bill did not favor. Rudd's assistant, Grace, finds out that Rudd had lied to Elle, so she helps her get the bill brought before the House floor to be voted on.

raywest

Answer: Considering how badly Jacob was injured during the battle with Victoria's vampire army in which his ribs were crushed, it is unlikely that the shape-shifting wolves are bullet proof.

raywest

Question: What if the Volturi died? Vampires would end up killing all humans, right?

MikeH

Answer: It would be rather difficult for the small number of vampires that exist to kill six billion humans. Even if they could, they would be eliminating their food supply. As to the Volturi, it's unlikely all three would die and at the same time. It's probable that a line of succession is in place to replace them. There are other vampires working within the Volturi organization that we don't happen to see.

raywest

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