Breaking down a film to understand underlying concepts and character portrayals and the different interpretations within a film.
47
votes
7answers
1k views
In Back to the Future, why don't Marty's parents ever mention how similar he looks to the Marty of 1955
Although Marty is only in 1955 for one week, he plays a pivotal role in getting his parents together. He even briefly dates his mother. So, considering he plays such a pivotal role, does it make sense ...
45
votes
5answers
3k views
In Shutter Island, is there any definitive evidence that Teddy was or was not crazy?
The ending of the film Shutter Island is purposely ambiguous, with two different interpretations:
Teddy was crazy, and the whole movie was part of a role-play therapy
There is a conspiracy to ...
43
votes
6answers
925 views
What has the greatest chance of being in Marcellus Wallace's briefcase in Pulp Fiction
In Pulp Fiction, there is a briefcase who's content is kept very secret. What item gathers the most evidence for being in the briefcase?
37
votes
6answers
9k views
Why is the bride's name bleeped in Kill Bill Vol 1
In the movie Kill Bill Vol.1, whenever someone mentions the bride by her name
Beatrix Kiddo
Her name is censored with a beep. Is this explained somewhere in the movie? Or is it just a signature ...
37
votes
6answers
3k views
What kind of company is Initech?
What kind of company is Initech in the movie Office Space?
There are a few important things we know about Initech that the movie plot hinged on. Are there any real-life companies that actually fit ...
35
votes
3answers
4k views
What significance does Mike Yanagita have in Fargo?
In the Coen brothers' movie "Fargo" the detective Marge Gunderson gets called by and meets an old schoolmate, Mike Yanagita. He tells her that he is widowed and tries to make a move on her.
Later ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
22
votes
3answers
816 views
What happened to the last of the sins in Se7en?
I have watched Se7en and followed Gluttony, Greed, Sloth and Lust. But I couldn't place the events of the other sins: Envy, Wrath and Pride.
Please provide some light on these. I am really ...
20
votes
7answers
30k views
What would be the equivalent of the carnivorous island?
Towards the end of the movie Life Of Pi, we are given a new vision of the events depicted in the story.
The writer that interviews the main character explains that the Zebra, Orang-Utan, Hyena, and ...
20
votes
4answers
674 views
Ending of Donnie Darko
I never understood the movie Donnie Darko. In order not to keep the question vague, what happens in the end ?
20
votes
1answer
756 views
What type of leader is Bane?
Bane appears to be an incredibly effective leader, commanding dozens or perhaps even hundreds of criminal underlings in a successful campaign to capture Gotham and hold the entire city hostage for ...
20
votes
1answer
435 views
Why cutting an 'X' into ammunition?
I have seen this in a lot of movies and noticed it again now in "Taxi Driver". There is a scene where Robert De Niro cuts an 'X' into his pistol rounds with a knife.
I don't know much about weapons, ...
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 ...
18
votes
3answers
411 views
How do the differences between the replicants and Deckard evolve in Blade Runner?
In Blade Runner, replicant detection occurs via the subject's ability/inability to show advanced emotion. But early in the movie Deckard starts off as emotionless as the replicants.
How do the ...
17
votes
2answers
408 views
Evaluating characters by means of description
In his Star Wars Episode 1 review/analysis, Mike Stoklasa used a certain challenge as a device to illustrate how poorly thought out the characters were: "Describe the following characters without ...
17
votes
3answers
5k views
Andy Kaufman / “Friday's” Incident: Why did Michael Richards refuse to portray himself?
In the 1999 film "Man on the Moon" starring Jim Carrey as the infamous comic Andy Kaufman, the movie takes great pains to recreate specific points in Kaufman's life. In a somewhat unorthodox fashion, ...
16
votes
4answers
1k views
In Sherlock: The hound of Baskervilles: Why does Watson call Sherlock, 'Spock'?
Sherlock describes his feelings about not being able to distance himself from his latest felt feeling, fear and he says
The grit on the lens, fly in the ointment
To which, Dr Watson replies
...
16
votes
1answer
408 views
Why is Donnie Darko set in the 80s?
The movie Donnie Darko is timed in the 80s (to be precise 1988), but the movie was released 2001. I can see no significance, to put it in the past. Yes, there was the presidential election, but that ...
15
votes
2answers
569 views
In the movie Inception, why does Cobb's passport not get stamped properly?
In the movie Inception, why does Cobb's passport not get stamped properly at the airport in the final scene i.e, the date was missing.
Was it really intended and is there any implicit reason for that ...
15
votes
1answer
545 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 ...
15
votes
4answers
722 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?
14
votes
3answers
784 views
Was the original Starship Troopers meant to be funny?
According to imdb Starship Troopers is an Action adventure sci-fi where "Humans of a fascistic, militaristic future do battle with giant alien bugs in a fight for survival."
I remember going to the ...
14
votes
5answers
2k views
How does Clarice know “Jack Gordon” was actually the real Buffalo Bill?
In The Silence of the Lambs, Mr. Crawford told Agent Starling the subject's name is Jamie Gumb, also known as John Grant and traced out the place of the subject. But she went to Jack Gordon's house. ...
14
votes
1answer
547 views
Is Dr.Crane/Scarecrow part of the League of Shadows?
He originally works for Ra's al Ghul in Batman Begins poisoning patients with his neuro-toxin.
And in the Dark Knight Rises he is appointed judge of the court trying the rich and powerful.
Is he part ...
14
votes
1answer
533 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 ...
14
votes
2answers
2k views
What does the quote from Sgt. Apone in Aliens “Look into my eye” mean?
When the Marines are waking up you get this dialogue between Hudson and Apone:
Hudson: Man, this floor is freezing.
Apone: What do you want me to do, fetch your slippers for you?
Hudson: Gee, ...
14
votes
2answers
348 views
Is John Keating to blame for Neil's suicide?
At the end of the movie John Keating is accused of making Neil come up against his father and outing his own dreams ("Carpe diem!") which ultimately leads to him commiting suicide.
Was Keating really ...
14
votes
3answers
717 views
What is the significance of the hat in Miller's crossing?
Miller's crossing pays a lot of attention to Gabriel Byrne's hat.
Does it symbolize anything in the movie or have any significance to the plot or is this a bit of a red herring?
14
votes
3answers
741 views
What is the significance of a man sitting on the train engine in the last scene of “Live and Let Die”?
In "Live and Let Die", after Bond throws Tee Hee Johnson from the train window at the very end of the movie, and returns to Solitair, we see an image of smiling Baron Samedi sitting on the train ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views
Why does the Driver not have a name?
Something just occurred to me, for the life of me, I cannot remember the Driver's name. I am sure this guy does not have a name for the whole movie. Someone had to call out to him.
I have heard him ...
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 ...
13
votes
2answers
295 views
What was the alternative world in Sucker Punch?
In the movie Sucker Punch, while the girl Baby Doll dances the movie cuts over to scenes of her and the other girls in a different world. Is this world supposed to be Baby Doll's imagination, or what ...
13
votes
1answer
239 views
Who hired Malcolm Crowe?
In The Sixth Sense, several months(?) after an "incident", child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) takes up a new case: 8-year old Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment).
[Source]
But how did Crowe ...
12
votes
3answers
943 views
What does 'How you doing?' by Joey mean?
The 'How you doing?' line of Joey in Friends is very famous. English is my third language. I seem it's general conversation dialogue. What's so special about it?
12
votes
1answer
335 views
Why did Terry Gilliam include Jeffrey as a character in Twelve Monkeys?
The movie La jetée has already the story of 12 Monkeys, including also key-settings like the airport and the mall. But there is one big difference in 12 Monkeys to the older movie: Terry Gilliams ...
12
votes
3answers
348 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 ...
12
votes
1answer
299 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
325 views
Does each season of Dexter have an overarching theme?
This thought recently occurred to me while reading up on theories for the finale.
Season 7 had an overwhelming theme of love and what one would do in the name of love with all the storylines:
...
12
votes
1answer
290 views
Which film was the first to show us the face of God?
There have been a lot of greek myth Gods depicted in film. Which film was the first to show us the face of the Christian God Jehovah?
12
votes
1answer
336 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, ...
12
votes
1answer
188 views
In 'Synecdoche, New York' , what is the significance of choosing the play 'Death of a Salesman'?
The protagonist, Philip Hoffman, is directing the play 'Death of a Salesman' with a twist. He is casting young actors as the characters of Willy and his wife. From my understanding, he is doing this ...
11
votes
5answers
24k views
What's the significance of Cobb's ring in Inception?
In Inception,Cobb was wearing his wedding ring in some scenes and in some scenes he doesn't. After watching the movie so many times,according to me, in every scene of a dream he was wearing his ...
11
votes
2answers
703 views
What is the meaning of Teddy's last dialogue in Shutter Island?
In Shutter Island, at the end of the movie Teddy had a chat with Chuck, in that scene Teddy told to Chuck as,
Which would be worse: To live as a monster, or to die as a good man?
What's the ...
11
votes
3answers
232 views
Evolution/existence of television police proceduals in non-English speaking countries?
I'm interested in the evolution and/or existence of the police procedural genre on television. Wikipedia outlines the time-line and summarizes representative shows through history for a few ...
11
votes
5answers
3k views
Goodfellas: Did Karen almost die?
Let's go over exactly what happens in this scene again:
Karen brings something to Jimmy and Jimmy asks how Henry's doing. He gives kind of a flippant response to her answer, then looks down and is ...
11
votes
1answer
6k views
Why is the ending of Forrest Gump different from the novel?
I have read the book Forrest Gump and also watched the Forrest Gump movie version. In the movie version at the end of movie,
Jenny told to Gump that she was suffering from HIV/AIDS virus then she ...
11
votes
1answer
224 views
Diction in original vs remake of True Grit
The diction in the 2010 production of True Grit is much different than that of the 1969 True Grit.
Why did the Coen brothers decide to follow the diction of the original novel so closely? Did folks ...
