Breaking down a film to understand underlying concepts and character portrayals
3
votes
2answers
560 views
Why was Bruce Campbell in all three Spider-Man movies?
Bruce Campbell was in all three of the Sam Raimi movies, but as different bit characters in each one. Why was he used in all three movies?
13
votes
3answers
3k views
Why did the prisoners help Bruce?
When Bruce is left broken and suffering in the Prison Pit, Bane explains that this is where he suffered and where Bruce will fully realize his failure with Gotham, and then be killed.
During his time ...
8
votes
5answers
9k views
Is the pit in Dark Knight Rises a representation of Ra's Al Ghul's Lazarus pit?
Everyone familiar with Batman universe would be quite familiar with Ra's Al Ghul's Lazarus pit. Given the realism shown in the Batman movies by Nolan, for instance Bane's character and his mask. In ...
9
votes
2answers
3k views
What is the significance of the appearance of the wolf?
Near the end of Fantastic Mr. Fox, and just after the film's climax, Mr. Fox, Ash, Kristofferson and Kylie encounter a wolf. Like the scene, the wolf seemingly came randomly and out of nowhere (with ...
8
votes
2answers
7k views
Why does Bane want to destroy Gotham city?
In The Dark Knight Rises, at the end of the movie Talia said, it was her father's dream to destroy Gotham city, and I accept that any daughter who was in that situation will definitely think to ...
10
votes
4answers
960 views
Were parts of The Dark Knight Rises a commentary on the Occupy movement?
A fair amount of the second act of The Dark Knight Rises has a class warfare plotline. This is foreshadowed in the trailers with Selina Kyle's "there's a storm coming" monologue. Some of the ...
28
votes
6answers
4k views
Why does Bane protect the girl?
In the final twist of the movie, it is revealed that Talia is actually the one to have climbed out due to Bane helping her get up the hole.
However, Bane's pure motivation during the events of the ...
28
votes
1answer
1k views
Why was Being John Malkovich based around John Malkovich?
The film Being John Malkovich is replete with unique plot ideas, the most captivating being the portal discovered by Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) taking him into actor John Malkovich's head.
Why did ...
6
votes
1answer
205 views
Inception: Transferring a totem
In "Inception" it seems that Cobb takes over the user of Mal's totem (the spinning top).
If the totem is a personal item that helps you keep your hold on reality, can the totem really be transferred ...
6
votes
1answer
681 views
Rubbing dirt on hands scene in Gladiator
In Gladiator, every time before a war scene, Maximus picks up a small quantity of dirt from around his feet and rubs it on his hands. Sometimes he smells his hands after the battle. What was the ...
4
votes
1answer
386 views
Why did Kurt Connors save Spider-Man?
Towards the end of the movie, the big fight between Spider-Man and The Lizard (Kurt Connors) happens, and Spider-Man ends up defeating The Lizard, but gets thrown off the building. The issue with ...
7
votes
3answers
746 views
What is the point of the masturbation scene in Donnie Darko?
While reading this question What was Frank? it reminded me of one scene in Donnie Darko that I especially don't get how it ties into the story or why it's even there. He is under hypnosis with his ...
1
vote
1answer
145 views
Faucets in “Garden State”
Garden state is my favorite film of all time, and I watch it time after time enjoying the incredible subtleties that Zach Braff includes.
However, the one detail that I don't understand is when he is ...
7
votes
1answer
754 views
Does Hattori Hanzo commit suicide in Kill Bill?
Hattori Hanzo in Kill Bill says that despite he made a blood oath to never make another sword, he would make one for the Bride because of the goal she has.
When he later hands over the sword, he is ...
6
votes
1answer
237 views
Why is “Based on a True Story” used?
I have had little to no interest in a movie that claims it is "Based On a True Story" since Fargo. It's well known that it was a lie that Fargo was based on a true story. There are many movies though ...
9
votes
4answers
2k views
Why didn't Vincent and Jules kill Marvin in Pulp Fiction?
In Pulp Fiction, Vincent and Jules killed all the guys at Brett's apartment for stealing the briefcase from Marsellus Wallace but not Marvin.
Why didn't Vincent and Jules kill Marvin in Pulp Fiction?
...
14
votes
1answer
519 views
Was Alfred Hitchcock a feminist?
Many of Alfred Hitchcock's films contain a strong female lead. From Grace Kelly's Lisa in Rear Window to Ingrid Bergman's Alicia Huberman in Notorious, these actresses were characteristically ...
4
votes
0answers
62 views
When did Margaret Ford know she was going to kill Mike?
In House of Games, the Lindsay Crouse character (psychiatrist Margaret Ford) seems to be unaware of her being the mark until the red convertible shows up unexpectantly. She then performs a rudimentary ...
4
votes
1answer
390 views
How did the package save his life?
In the climax of Castaway, Chuck (Tom Hanks) writes a note on the Fedex box which states that this package has saved his life. How exactly did that package save his life?
If I am correct, he never ...
10
votes
1answer
150 views
What was Frank?
During the film Donnie Darko, Donnie occasionally talks with Frank, who we end up finding out at the end of the film is a guy that Donnie shot because he accidentally ran over his girlfriend. Is ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
Which audience was targeted by “Scarecrow and Mrs. King”?
"Scarecrow and Mrs. King" told the story of a divorced mom who accidentally meets a hunky secret agent and -- unbeknownst to her family and friends -- joins the secret agent on many spy adventures.
...
10
votes
2answers
525 views
Why does Buzz Lightyear act like a toy around people in Toy Story?
Early in the first Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear believes he truly is a Space Ranger. His struggle to accept that he is not actually Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger is a key part of the first movie in the ...
6
votes
1answer
222 views
Where do the historical accuracies end and fiction begin in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter?
There are innumerable fictions in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (based on Seth Graeme Smith's 2010 novel). From the existence of vampires, to the mass collection of silver to combat the ...
8
votes
1answer
241 views
The 'same landscape shot' conundrum
During the first scene of the film we're shown a montage of landscape shots (actually Iceland) as establishment for the section when the CGI 'guy' drinks, disintegrates and drops into the waterfall.
...
5
votes
2answers
861 views
Why were the parents in The Poltergeist shown smoking pot and drinking?
Early in the movie, director Steven Spielberg shows both parents smoking pot in their bedroom while their son Robbie is spooked by a menacing tree outside his window.
Later, after the incidents start ...
15
votes
4answers
708 views
In Inception, why do the kicks have to occur simultaneously?
In Inception, why do the kicks on different levels have to all occur simultaneously, rather than one after another?
6
votes
1answer
180 views
Why did Ricky's dad kick him out?
In the movie American Beauty, towards the end of the movie a scene happens which leads Ricky's father to believe that he was gay. He confronts Ricky and Ricky lies to him, telling him that he is gay. ...
6
votes
1answer
739 views
Was Rear Window making a statement about 1950s gender roles?
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of mise-en-scène, whereby in film just about every inch of every frame of a film was intentional. Rear Window is one of his greatest and most influential films. ...
8
votes
1answer
270 views
Was this a representation of Batman’s fall?
During the end of The Dark Knight, Batman knocks Dent off the building, barely managing to catch himself and the kid. After Gordon gets the kid Batman falls. After his fall from the building the ...
18
votes
4answers
3k views
Did Batman break his one rule?
In the final scene of The Dark Knight, we see Batman go on a final mental barrage with the corrupted Dent. Dent, hell bent on making Batman and Gordon pay for Rachel's death, flips his trademark coin ...
22
votes
5answers
6k views
What was David's motivation in Prometheus?
For me, perhaps the most interesting person aboard the Prometheus was the android, David. I'm still confused by his seeming fascination with the movie, Lawrence of Arabia. Although I couldn't make ...
8
votes
1answer
379 views
What is the significance of exchanging names at the end of 12 Angry Men?
Throughout the film 12 Angry Men (1957) (as well as the other plays and films, I assume) the jurors do not know each other by name, only number. That is until the final scene when jurors 8 (the ...
9
votes
4answers
545 views
Why did Roy let Deckard live?
Near the end of Blade Runner, Deckard enters Sebastian’s apartment, gets ambushed and kills the girl. He then gets chased around the apartment by Roy, who leads Deckard to believe that he is going to ...
15
votes
1answer
543 views
What does the origami represent in Blade Runner?
Throughout Blade Runner we see Gaff (Edward James Olmos) making origami figures at various points in the movie. He makes a chicken, matchstick men and at the end of the film there is a unicorn waiting ...
9
votes
3answers
229 views
Why did Blade Runner deviate from the source novel so significantly
In Philip K. Dick's novel 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' there are key aspects of the plot of the novel that are completely excluded from Blade Runner, including:
That animals have almost ...
1
vote
2answers
65 views
Why did Joshua go to Murtaugh's house instead of fleeing?
During Lethal Weapon, after Riggs and Murtaugh escape their captives after being tortured, Riggs chases down Joshua, the mercenary, but he gets away. Joshua then proceeds to go to Murtaugh's house, ...
12
votes
3answers
344 views
Why does Banner finally allow the Hulk to come out?
During the course of the Avengers, you see Mr Banner talk about his alter ego as just another entity inside of himself. Afraid, reluctant and very much un-willing to let him out, even if it means his ...
6
votes
1answer
144 views
What is Scott Pilgrim's motivation for fighting Gideon the second time?
After his demise to Gideon towards the end of the movie. Scott is trapped in the deserted sub-space world, left to contemplate his mistakes for, seemingly, eternity.
However, he suddenly remembers ...
35
votes
5answers
1k views
Did Tyler Durden forget his name?
Ed Norton plays the Narrator or Jack ( due to reading a book that described someone called Jack's body parts from a 1st person perspective). Meanwhile Brad Pitt is introduced as Tyler Durden. Later ...
9
votes
2answers
685 views
Is Tony in love with Gina?
Throughout Brian DiPalma's 1983 classic, Scarface, Tony Montana has an odd relationship with his sister Gina. His attitude toward her ranges from overprotective to jealous to generous, and just about ...
11
votes
1answer
412 views
In “Synecdoche, New York” what is the meaning of the character name Sammy Barnathan?
Sammy Barnathan is a key character in "Synecdoche, New York," which was written and directed by Charlie Kaufman. In the interview excerpt below, Kaufman suggests that there is meaning behind the name: ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Moonrise Kingdom: What is the significance of Benjamin Britten's “The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra”?
In the beginning of Moonrise Kingdom the children are listening to Benjamin Britten's "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra".
Basically the structure of this musical piece is:
All musical ...
2
votes
2answers
169 views
Why did Hendricks jump from the parking structure at the end of the fight scene in MI4?
In Mission:Impossible-Ghost Protocol, at the last fight scene, Ethan and Hendricks were in a parking structure and Ethan was trying to get that brief case which contains the Satellite launch terminal.
...
7
votes
4answers
473 views
What is the purpose or meaning behind the Hot Rod in the Iron Man series?
In several scenes in both Iron Man 1 & 2, we see several references and scenes to Hot Rods throughout both movies.
Whether it be the screen savers on the computers, Tony constantly working on ...
12
votes
1answer
286 views
Why is Walt special?
In Lost, there are countless mysteries, but one that started in the beginning of the series has struck my mind recently and my research cannot bring anything up.
Walt Lloyd, Michael's son who he ...
12
votes
1answer
331 views
Are Teletubbies prisoners?
Even though they seem happy during the show, at many times they are following commands from the voice-over ("show Tinky Winky the bowl"). They also seem to obey the wind mill when it starts spinning, ...
8
votes
2answers
378 views
Did Captain Jack Sparrow eat people?
In the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
we saw Captain Jack Sparrow was the cannibal tribes chieftain. Is there a backstory that clarifies whether or not Jack is a people eater?
10
votes
1answer
232 views
Is Ferris Beuller's Day Off intentionally inspired by Blues Brothers?
I saw Blues Brothers for the first time last night and I couldn't help but see many parallels between in and Ferris Beuller's Day Off. Both plots feature an adventure in the city of Chicago. There are ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
Why did Nolan choose “Non, je ne regrette rien” as a kick song in Inception?
Can someone explain to me the reason behind Christopher Nolan choosing Edith Piaf's Non, je ne regrette rien as a kick song in Inception?
4
votes
1answer
161 views
Why is Drunken Angel considered to be a masterpiece?
I watched Drunken Angel by Akira Kurosawa last night.
Though I really enjoyed the film and found it entertaining - even though it is made 60+ years ago, I could not understand why so many people ...
