Answered questions about specific movies, TV shows and more

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Question: Is Goldeneye a reboot? From what I remember, there's no clear evidence that it is a reboot like Casino Royale, but there's also no evidence that it's in the same universe as the previous movies. Licence to Kill is, because Tracy's death is mentioned, and it's clear that Bond and Felix have been close friends for decades.

MikeH

Answer: It's definitely not meant as a reboot. While there may not be any explicit references to earlier Bond films, plenty of them lack those. It may feel like a reboot because, as the first Bond film made after the end of the USSR, it had to establish Bond's place in a post-Cold War world; hence his terse exchange with the new M (Judi Dench) early in the film about how he is a "relic", and the fact that this story has its origins in the Cold War and many of its villains are ex-Soviet officials and such. It's more a transitional film in the series than a reboot.

Answer: In season 5, episode 17 (Polly in the Middle), Malcolm complains to Stevie about Dewey believing he is having a 'lucky shirt', to which Stevie replies "you're asking me about luck?"

Question: A couple of times, Luke mentions Vader not being able to kill/destroy him "before." What is he talking about? At Cloud City, Vader wanted to freeze him in carbonite, not kill him. He even tested the process on Han Solo first.

Answer: The emperor wanted Vader to kill Luke outright, but Vader suggested instead to turn him and only kill him if necessary. He promises the Emperor that "He will join us, or die." Luke is saying that during their fight on Cloud City, especially near the end, he could sense Vader's hesitation to kill him. Vader even says to Luke at two points "Don't make me destroy you" and "Don't let yourself be destroyed as Obi-Wan did."

BaconIsMyBFF

Question: Are there any ways Clark could have saved his father from the tornado without the need for superspeed and thus risk his secret getting out before the time was right?

Answer: Here's how I've always visualised it. Johnathan lets Clark help. While both are running to the truck, Johnathan tells Clark that when they get there, Clark would pretend to struggle with opening the door. After "pulling" three or four times, Clark finally gets the door open, they grab the dog and run back to the shelter. By doing this, Johnathan would have survived.

Question: What does Luke think happened to his mother before he meets Obi-Wan and learns that his father was a Jedi? Has this been mentioned anywhere?

Answer: It's never revealed in the original movies what Luke thought about his mother's demise. His foster aunt and uncle probably never knew her identity, and Obi-Wan likely gave little information other than Luke's name. They apparently learned at some point that Vader was the father. Lars and Beru probably told Luke that his mother died from natural causes shortly after his birth.

raywest

According to the recent series about Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan didn't even know, right away, that Anakin became Darth Vader. He thinks that he left Anakin to die after their fight on Mustafar, and Vader is literally a separate person. Only ten years later does he find out that Anakin became Vader. If you think this change is weird and unnecessary, you're not the only one.

It is rather weird, though it kind of explains why Obi-Wan, believing Anakin was dead, would reveal Luke's real name to Lars and Beru. Even so, it would have been wiser to use a false surname. Of course, it also makes little sense that Obi-Wan, after learning about Vader, wouldn't tell Lars and Beru to change Luke's last name to protect him and themselves. It sounds like a typical plot point revision after people notice inconsistencies in the storyline.

raywest

Good point. But I thought Force users could sense when someone close to them dies. Anakin could feel his mother's pain, and later, Vader says he felt that Padme was still alive.

Just more plot inconsistencies, though Obi-Wan, the one who inflicted the pain, would have been sensing as well as witnessing Anakin's agony, leading to him assume Anakin would die. He probably dismissed any Force disturbances he felt later regarding Anakin.

raywest

Question: When Stanley first met up with Charlie and their dates at the Coco Bongo, why did the admission guy refuse to let him inside? The guy knows Charlie (they greet each other), and he allowed the two women to follow Charlie inside, so why not Stanley?

Answer: Because Stanley didn't appear to be part of the group, as Stanley doesn't immediately follow them. The bouncer, at least, didn't see it that way. Charlie also doesn't say anything to the bouncer about Stanley before he himself goes through.

lionhead

Question: When Seth teleports a plate with a piece of steak on it, why doesn't the steak merge with the plate?

Answer: Short answer, because the plate doesn't have DNA. Initially the pod was making synthetic versions of what was being teleported, which is why it turned the baboon inside out and made the steak taste funny but inanimate objects appeared OK. It was only later, after reprogramming, that the pods could basically identify tissue to teleport living organisms. However, with the fly present, the pod's programming couldn't distinguish there were two separate living organisms and ended up combining them. It didn't happen with the plate because the pod recognized it as a separate object.

Bishop73

Answer: Something non-biological can't merge with something biological.

lionhead

Except that later on, a portion of the telepod merges with the Brundlefly.

Jukka Nurmi

Question: Why did the Princess not have money with her at the market? She could easily disguise herself as a lower-class person who has some amount of money with her, like the other shoppers.

Answer: Despite being a princess, Jasmine likely did not have access to money. Royals are known to never carry cash on their persons. Everything in Jasmine's life is controlled, and whatever she needs or wants is provided. She is young, naive, and has been so pampered and sheltered from the real world that she'd probably never consider how currency works.

raywest

Question: Sidious/Palpatine killed three of the Jedi who came to confront him in his office, fought Mace Windu until Anakin arrived, and later, Yoda could not defeat him. Considering this, why is Luke such a big threat to him years later?

Answer: Probably because Luke is Vader's son. Palpatine knows it creates complications and a conflict of conscience and loyalty with Vader, who becomes torn between serving the Emperor and his underlying feelings for Luke, despite Vader assuring Palpatine that Luke will join them or die.

raywest

Question: I once read something about a chimpanzee being in this movie somewhere. No joke. Has anyone else read or heard this?

Answer: This is likely what you are referring to: When the Emperor first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, he was portrayed by Marjorie Eaton under heavy makeup. Chimpanzee eyes were superimposed into darkened eye sockets during post-production. Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palpatine#:~:text=over%20military%20force.-, Portrayal, was%20voiced%20by%20Clive%20Revill.

ctown28

Question: Why does Director Jacobs authorize Secret Service protection for Speaker Trumbull when he becomes Acting President when the Speaker of the House already has a protection detail? Or, does the Speaker of the House normally not have any? Was that just for a dramatic moment in the film to show that, even in a crisis, things still happen by arrangement?

Answer: Tip O'Neill didn't have a security detail.

Question: Do Presidents make last-minute trips to other locations in the world? Or would that not be possible due to a safety concern? In reality, would somebody else attend the funeral in the President's place?

Answer: I worked security in the 1990s, in Houston, Tx, when Clinton was in office. I was working the George R. Brown convention center. One day I went to get my paycheck, when I spotted several men surrounding the building. I asked if there was an event inside the building, they said they were Secret Service agents and there was a possibility that the President may make a visit. I asked, really. They said it was a possibility, he might stop by but could change his mind at the drop of a hat. Those men waited for nearly ten hours all day and in the end, Clinton didn't come.

Answer: I believe that, because ensuring the president's safety is so logistically difficult, it would be the Secretary of State, our highest-ranking diplomat, attending in his place.

Cubs Fan

Question: Why did Paul insist on taking the van rather than getting in the Humvees with everyone else? When Harry stops by the motel later to pick up ELF, we see that most if not all the equipment got left behind. We also see behind Paul a number of times whilst he's driving, and the van looks empty so it's not like it had all their gear in it.

Answer: Maybe he liked his van very much. Maybe he purchased it for his own money and it was expensive.

Answer: Several reasons. Hawthorne was reluctant to accept the role, but thought the story had some merits and hoped the movie would help him professionally. The script was constantly being revised during filming, and he found the overall production unpleasant. Hawthorne didn't directly clash with Stallone or Snipes but their enormous egos and being constantly late, often keeping cast and crew waiting, was irritating. Stallone and Snipes were self-involved and showed little interest in Hawthorne, offending him. He also found Stallone's acting style annoying. Hawthorne also thought director Joel Silver was quirky.

raywest

Answer: He installed asbestos in schools. It's not said what he did after that, but he complained about all his work being undone.

Captain Defenestrator

Question: Who was the werewolf that chased and killed the guy in the beginning?

Answer: It was Serafine and the guy she attacked was her stepdad Thierry. Thierry believed that he had found a cure for Serafine's lycanthropy and injected her with it. However, instead of curing her, it caused her to transform into a werewolf and attack him. Serafine, however, didn't kill Thierry. Claude did.

Question: Whenever Freddy emerges from Jesse in the real world, why doesn't he have his glove on? Why are his blades coming out of his fingers?

Answer: He's a dream demon and uses his powers to torment Jesse in any way he could, including having claws or even Freddy himself burst out of Jesse.

Erik M.

Question: Ron's wand gets broken, and for the rest of the year, he has to use it even though it doesn't cast spells properly. Why doesn't the school just get Ron a new wand? His parents can't afford one because of how expensive they must be, but surely one of the teachers could take him to Ollivander's and help him get another one.

Answer: I agree with what RayWest said. Another possible factor is that Ron damaged his wand when the flying car crashed into the Whomping Willow, which upsets the Hogwarts staff and Ron's parents. I can imagine Mrs. Weasley wanting him to deal with the consequences of his actions for the rest of the school year.

Good point, and Ron, in addition to being in trouble with the school, also got his father into hot water with the Ministry of Magic over the flying car. I can't imagine, after all that, Ron asking for a new wand. I doubt he even told his parents that he broke it, which would further anger them.

raywest

Answer: It's not the school's responsibility to provide equipment for students. It can be humiliating for a student and the family to receive charity. It also sets a precedent for Hogwarts having to supply any number of things for students, and creates a situation where they could be taken advantage of. Realistically, this is a book plot point. It may not be logical, but the story would not play out and end as it does if Ron had a proper wand.

raywest

Question: Before contacting the Emperor, Vader tells Admiral Piett to move the ship out of the asteroid field for the transmission. But if the Emperor was able to contact Piett, why not just contact Vader directly? Despite the asteroid field.

Answer: We don't know that the Emperor spoke to Piett directly. He might be relaying a message that the Emperor gave to another ship/location.

Justice - S4-E3

Question: Rimmer says he's been hiking through the diesel decks. Given they've been flying for 3 million years, wouldn't they have run out of diesel absolutely ages ago?

Answer: It depends what the diesel is needed for. Holly would likely have switched off anything unnecessary during that time.

Andy Benham

Answer: According to Rob Grant, Red Dwarf gets propulsion power from the giant rock in her underside and power for the lights comes from the solar panels (which are referenced in the episode 'Confidence and Paranoia'). The diesel engines are likely there for backup purposes.

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