22
votes
1answer
221 views
What Muppets were not played by their original puppeteers?
I can see on IMDB that many of the puppeteers who starred in The Muppets (2011) have been working with those characters for decades. Most, if not all, were involved in the original Muppet Show from ...
21
votes
6answers
3k views
Empire Strikes Back - Scene in Dagobah with Darth Vader
I have never understood why Vader appears in Dagobah in TESB, I understand that the cave Yoda takes Luke to is strong with the dark side of the force but don't understand why the rest of the scene at ...
21
votes
9answers
14k views
What was the motivation behind the Engineers actions in Prometheus?
After watching Prometheus I don't have a clear idea of why the Engineers created the human beings. Because, if they created humans so that they can test their bio-weapons on us, then it makes sense, ...
21
votes
2answers
3k views
What is the real reason for the Joker's clown makeup in The Dark Knight?
In The Dark Knight, The Joker told different reasons for his clown make-up. Initially he said that his father gave him the cuts on his cheek as a child after his father performed the same act on his ...
21
votes
3answers
4k views
Can someone explain the sequence of events in 'Primer'?
Primer is one crazy movie, as far as the complicated plot goes. Has anyone figured out the ACTUAL sequence of events?
21
votes
2answers
628 views
In Iron Man, why is Tony Stark fooled for so long?
In the first Iron Man film (2008), Tony Stark is betrayed by someone close to him and it takes him (a demonstrable genius) several months to realize it. Why does he not realize as soon as he gets back ...
21
votes
6answers
7k views
K-Pax ending explanation
In K-Pax, there are two possible explanations:
Prot is crazy.
He is truly an alien.
There are facts that indicate 1, but also 2.
Examples:
He seems to respond to hypnosis, has a sort of phobia ...
21
votes
3answers
3k views
Why wasn't the poltergeist Peeves in the Harry Potter movies?
In the Harry Potter book series, Peeves is a poltergeist that roams the hallways causing trouble. He never really adds anything essential to the plot line, but his scenes are amusing.
Obviously they ...
21
votes
1answer
281 views
Did Guy Ritchie pay homage to Charlie Chaplin in the first Sherlock Holmes movie?
Upon re-watching Charlie Chaplin's classic film, Modern Times (1936), I was struck by the similarities between the conclusions of the shipyard scenes in both Chaplin's film and the first Sherlock ...
21
votes
1answer
474 views
Which movie did top-to-bottom credits first?
One of the many notable things about modern film-noir Seven was its reverse credits (scrolling top to bottom, the opposite to the expected direction).
I recently rewatched the brilliant 1950's ...
20
votes
5answers
1k views
What was the first crossover movie like The Avengers, using only movie franchises?
The Avengers is taking 4 separate movie franchises (Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America) and combining them all into one huge movie with all the main characters from each movie.
Doing some ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
In “12 Monkeys”, what does the woman from the future mean when she says she's “in insurance”?
At the end of 12 Monkeys, the doctor spreading the virus gets on a plane and sits next to a woman we know (or can assume) is from the future. She tells the doctor that she's "in insurance." What does ...
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
3answers
589 views
Are X-Men called so because Professor Xavier's name?
I have always wondered how the X-Men got their name. Is it because of Prof. *X*aviers' starting letter? or maybe because they are *x*tremely cool ;). Any thoughts and/or proofs?
20
votes
5answers
1k views
2001 A Space Odyssey — Explanation of the ending lacking, yet popular?
It's a movie geek's film to watch and to enjoy. But when I reached the end, I had no idea what to take from it.
Some of the ideas are amazing, the visuals, and the lines (I'm sorry, Dave. I'm ...
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
4answers
25k views
What happened to Bruce Wayne/Batman's knee?
Early in The Dark Knight Rises, Bruce is seen limping with a cane. Some characters allude to an injury sustained from a fight, but we never see this in The Dark Knight. At the conclusion of that film, ...
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
7answers
8k views
How did Sherlock survive the fall?
In Sherlock, BBC Series, Season 2 Episode 3 - The Reichenbach Fall, how did Sherlock survive the fall? I've read some theories online regarding this, but in this interview, Steven Moffat says "There ...
20
votes
1answer
436 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, ...
20
votes
2answers
425 views
Are there different endings to Cloverfield?
In particular, I'm talking about the scene at the very end, where the camera is on the happy couple in the ferris wheel. The first time I watched it, my friend pointed out the faint streak that ...
20
votes
1answer
629 views
Why has no movie version of I Am Legend dared to keep the original ending?
The original book that led to the movies Last Man On Earth, The Omega Man and I Am Legend (and have I missed any?) has a somewhat pessimistic ending (Richard Matheson's great I Am Legend). I know that ...
20
votes
2answers
506 views
Is there an alternative cut of The Truman Show
When I saw The Truman Show at the cinema, it was edited more heavily to make it look like a documentary about how the show was made, by whom and the actors in it, etc.
Some things were mentioned ...
19
votes
8answers
11k views
In Prometheus, is Meredith Vickers a human or android?
While I was watching Prometheus this weekend, I initially thought that Meredith Vickers was an android, like David. They never made it perfectly clear that she was or wasn't human. They did hint at ...
19
votes
1answer
685 views
Use Force Lightning can Yoda?
In Star Wars Episode II, battling with Count Dooku Yoda was. Force Lightning against Yoda Dooku uses. The lightning from affecting him Yoda stops. Then Force Lightning back at Count Dooku he uses.
...
19
votes
2answers
2k views
Why are 3D films so dark?
Why are 3D films so dark?
I watched Brave yesterday and the film was so dark (light wise) in places that it was hard to make out what was happening.
Why are 3D films darker than 2D films and does it ...
19
votes
3answers
2k views
What techniqes are used by directors to make an actor cry?
I have always wondered what techniques directors use to get amateur actors, specially young ones to cry. How someone surrounded with so many film crew and cameras can concentrate enough and feel so ...
19
votes
4answers
8k views
Why Obi-Wan says: “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine”?
When Obi-Wan fights Darth Vader in the New Hope, he says:
You can't win, Vader. If you strike me down, I shall become more
powerful than you can possibly imagine.
What does he mean by that? Is ...
19
votes
1answer
589 views
How did Indy know not to look into the Ark?
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, at the Ark opening ceremony the nazi troops brings the Ark of the Convenant to the top of the mountain as Belloq said something before opening the Ark. Then they took the ...
19
votes
3answers
2k views
Did James Bond fail his mission in “Skyfall”?
If I understand Skyfall correctly, James Bond's primary mission is to protect M from being killed by Silva -- despite this, near the end of the movie, M dies from a wound inflicted by Silva's men.
...
19
votes
4answers
4k views
What's the purpose of the cube?
I've just watched a sci-fi horror movie called Cube. It was pretty awesome, as well as it left a lot of questions unanswered. However, the one that frustrated me a lot was, the Cube's purpose. I mean, ...
19
votes
3answers
589 views
Who framed Roger Rabbit?
I've watched the film some time ago and don't recall this eponymous question being explicitly answered. They uncover some conspiracies and plots within others but who did frame Roger Rabbit?
Was it ...
19
votes
1answer
373 views
Toy Story 3 in Spanish
What do they do on the Spanish version of Toy Story 3 when Buzz is set to Spanish mode?
Anyone out there who has seen the Spanish version?
19
votes
2answers
597 views
To what extent were the actors in Wedding Crashers improvising?
Some comedian/actors are given creative freedom and improvise at times when producing a new film. Is there any evidence that Vince Vaughn or Owen Wilson improvised in any scenes, diverging from the ...
19
votes
2answers
647 views
Do contemporary cinemas really project at 25fps?
In a conversation with a UK film professional, I was told that in order to simplify technical stuff associated with projection, all modern film are projected slightly sped up at 25fps - although they ...
19
votes
1answer
2k views
In opening credits for TV shows, why does it say 'with so and so' for some actors?
I am thinking of Ally McBeal in particular. For the entire run of the show the opening credits generally had clips of a character and the name of the actor that plays them. The final two actors (Peter ...
19
votes
1answer
1k views
Why does J. J. Abrams like to insert the number 47 into his movies?
In another question on this site I noticed that J. J. Abrams inserts the number 47 into several of his movies. I'm curious about it... Why is the number 47 significant?
18
votes
3answers
1k views
Why don't they align actor & actress names with their photos in film posters?
I've always wondered why they don't do this properly. It seems wrong to me to place a different name on top of an actor's/actress' photo.
Why don't they align actor & actress names with their ...
18
votes
3answers
4k views
What is the purpose behind “wax on, wax off” in Karate Kid?
In The Karate Kid, his first lesson is cleaning and waxing his masters car. His master tells him to "wax on, wax off". Is the purpose of this simply to teach him the value of hard work?
18
votes
3answers
1k views
What led to Firefly's cancellation?
Firefly is an awesome TV series, so much so that even after its cancellation it spawned a theatrical movie release. What was the ultimate cause of the cancellation of the TV series?
18
votes
5answers
11k views
in Skyfall opening scene on train, does Bond fake getting shot?
Skyfall opens with a chase scene that culminates in Bond's partner accidentally shooting Bond instead of shooting the bad guy. The bullet hits Bond hard enough to blow him off a train into the river ...
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
5answers
1k views
In Stargate, why does Dr. Daniel Jackson say you need 6 points to define a location in 3 dimensional space
Dr. Daniel Jackson
...seven points to outline a course to a position...to find a destination within any three dimensional space, you need six points to determine the exact location...but to chart ...
18
votes
1answer
9k views
Why does Jack Nicholson say “Here's Johnny!” in The Shining when his character is called Jack?
In The Shining, when Jack Torrance has clearly gone mad and is chopping down the bathroom door with an axe to get to his wife, why does Jack Nicholson say "Here's Johnny!" when his character's name is ...
18
votes
1answer
28k views
Explain the plane scene in The Dark Knight Rises?
In The Dark Knight Rises, at the beginning of the film Bane kidnapped a guy from the plane, then he drew blood from the guy he kidnapped. And then throughout the movie I didn't see any news regarding ...
18
votes
2answers
2k views
Why didn't Sherlock Holmes investigate the events surrounding Irene Adler?
In the 2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows:
Moriarty and Irene Adler have an brief conversation in a restaurant. After the exchange, she passes out before exiting. Later in the film, Moriarty ...
18
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the major reason for casting Heath Ledger as The Joker?
What could be the major factor that convinced the casting directors of The Dark Knight to decide that Heath Ledger will play The Joker's role?
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 ...
18
votes
6answers
8k views
How did Angier know not to appear in The Prestige?
In The Prestige, the secret to Angier's 'disappearing man' trick is that he is effectively cloned while teleporting, and the original Angier is drowned when disappearing under the stage.
When Alfred ...
18
votes
1answer
797 views
Identify film where eating and toilet taboos are reversed
Can anyone identify a (possibly French) film where the cultural taboos about going to the toilet and eating (not at the same time!) are reversed?
I remember seeing a scene with someone knocking on a ...
