Questions tagged [cinema]
For questions about cinema or film, including terminology, role, related concepts, and dialogue analysis.
112
questions
2
votes
2
answers
197
views
Polish Hostage Etymology?
Have you heard the term Polish hostage? Where did this come from?
I created this account because for once in my life I could not find the answer to a question by researching it. I am truly curious. I'...
2
votes
2
answers
83
views
What was the reference to 'federal case' in the movie Air Force One
In the movie Air Force One, there is a scene where the President makes a call to the White House switchboard, Where the operator says
Okay, sir. You want to make a federal case out of this, fine by ...
- 137
1
vote
1
answer
43
views
The use of "would have + [participle verb]" in the narration of the movie Reprise (2006)
The narration starts like this:
Their manuscripts would have been accepted immediately.
They would’ve been published the next fall.
Finally, they would’ve been authors.
My first thought is, because &...
- 49
2
votes
4
answers
173
views
What's a word for ensuring certain categories play certain roles?
There is discussion sometimes about whether Jews, black people, gay people etc should be the only people allowed to play Jews, black people, gay people etc in film, TV or plays. What is a good word to ...
- 2,315
0
votes
1
answer
31
views
Meaning of an expression about a movie [closed]
I was reading an intro about the movie Sense and Sensibility on IMDB.
I am not getting this sentence mentioned below.
The two eldest daughters are the title opposites
What does title opposite is ...
- 5
-2
votes
1
answer
31
views
What is the proper meaning of this sentence? Please explain this briefly [closed]
In a Batman(2022) movie, in public memorial for mayor,there is a announcement that
"As a reminder, the family asked that those wishing to honor the
mayor's memory... consider a donation to the ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
76
views
"brothers in her bag"
in the film The Maltese Falcon (1941) the private detective Miles said
"They have brothers in her bag."
context: the client, beautiful women Wonderly gave him two Dollar bill and after she ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
94
views
Help me understand a stag joke in a movie [closed]
In the movie "Bachelor Mother" (1939), the hero, a wealthy socialite and the son of a big store owner, invites the heroine, a poor girl working at that store, to a New Year's party because ...
- 219
0
votes
0
answers
42
views
"Why wasn't ya"
In "Wrath of Man", a 2021 movie with Jason Statham as "H", he's being told "what you didn't hear, is that I was meant to be drivin' the truck that day" to which he ...
- 255
2
votes
1
answer
633
views
What's the meaning of "Ma" when a husband addresses his wife?
I know "Ma" is the shortened form of Mother.
Yesterday I saw a classic movie named "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Ford in 1940.
In the movie the father of the family calls his wife &...
- 181
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
The movie "Seven Pounds": what does "pounds" mean here?
In our language (Ukraine) - it translated as 7 lives, pound as I know is a unit of weight or monetary unit, how is it related? Does it have anything similar to life? Or it is just a translation of our ...
- 143
0
votes
4
answers
613
views
difference between "have for dinner" and "have at dinner" [closed]
Which is the difference between:
"I'm having an old friend for dinner"
"I'm having an old friend at dinner"
"Having anyone for dinner" means you're meeting someone, ...
- 113
-2
votes
1
answer
61
views
What does the woman say in the movie? [closed]
What does the woman say in the movie?
The link to the specified section of the movie:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XHAEckAKxeEGyF2hQ8juhA5ewshXEhCo/view?usp=sharing
- 119
0
votes
0
answers
42
views
Proper expression for end credits
I'm putting words on the end(closing) credits of my frag movie, and what I want to put is who made the animation, who sang the song and who composed them.
I'm not sure if below expressions are correct ...
- 101
-1
votes
1
answer
44
views
"Brick Mansions" Movie Dialog [closed]
In the script of the movie, it is written "your backing" but I cannot hear that! I hear this: "your back". What is that in fact?
The passage of dialog:
"Now, with your ...
- 119
0
votes
0
answers
52
views
Movie Subtitles
Whenever I watch movie with subtitles, I've a feeling of I'm hearing something and reading something else.
With the help of subtitles I can understand the context of the movie well.
But When my ...
-1
votes
1
answer
345
views
What does Chantor's Talon means?
I was watching the movie Onward (2020), at 48:07, then Ian hear the cops' siren, he exclaims:
Chantor's Talon! Cops!
What does "Chantor's Talon" mean?
- 353
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Who originally said "A film is made/written three times"?
A movie is made three times: it’s made when it’s written, it’s made in production, and it’s made again in post.
This is a very well known saying within the film industry, essentially explaining how ...
- 31
0
votes
0
answers
54
views
Sound 'r' in English
Below you see a clip from the movie "Clockwork Orange". Starting from 2:00 we hear how an officer speaks: he pronounced sound 'r' in an unusual way: vary close to russian sound 'р' ( e.g. 'rings' ).
...
0
votes
2
answers
66
views
Meaning of a expression in the movie ad astra
There is one sentence in the movie ad astra confusing me about its meaning.
"Some times I see myself from outside. Smile. Present a side"
What does present a side mean?
I thank so much if anybody ...
- 33
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What are the individual rooms at a cinema called in British English?
In the US, we call the place we go to watch movies a "movie theater" and then if I were walking into one of the large rooms with the movie, I'd call it either the screen or the theater. For example, ...
- 1
0
votes
3
answers
352
views
One word for visiting places shown in movies or tv series? [closed]
Is there a word for travelling to film locations where popular scenes were shot. Like Globetrotter for a person visiting different countries.
- 143
0
votes
1
answer
47
views
What is 'the game' mean here? From "Chicago , 2002"
The script is from "Chicago, 2002". I have a few questions. Thank you.
Q1. In the last paragraph, I don't understand the sentence grammatically.
Is the sentence same as: the assistant D.A. ...
- 31
-1
votes
1
answer
486
views
Word to describe "not very old" movie
The other day when we are talking about movies, I was kind of struggling to find the proper word to describe a movie that is not very old, but also not quite new.
For example, movies from around ...
- 131
1
vote
2
answers
99
views
No "are" in movies sometimes?
I often hear sentences in movies like "Fight back, you coward!", "You filthy, dirty hippy", etc. And I had thought it sounded like this only to me but when I found the subtitles for those movies, I ...
- 21
-1
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is meant by "Prince in Exile"? [closed]
I saw the tag Prince In Exile in a movie poster. But I still don't get its meaning.
- 107
0
votes
2
answers
165
views
What is the origin of the term EPK or Electronic Press Kit on movie productions? Any history welcome!
EPK stands for Electronic Press Kit, which I am defining as "recorded cast and crew interviews and other clips that capture the making of the movie to be used for publicity." Is that right? Next, ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
403
views
What is the meaning of 'plain' dangerous?
I watched a movie and found a line saying:
It's just plain dangerous. They carry different diseases than we do.
I am wondering what the meaning of 'plain' dangerous is?
I checked Cambridge ...
- 323
-1
votes
2
answers
310
views
What do these words and sentences mean?
I'm translating an episode of a TV series called "Sons of Anarchy". In a scene (where business partners have a meeting):
A: "Quinn showed us some Red Woody rough cuts. Business is good."
B: ...
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
109
views
Proper word for non-sequitur asides in TV and Film
The TV show Family Guy very often, usually multiple times per episode, will cut away from the main plot to show a weird flashback or just a miniature story that is completely unrelated to the main ...
- 217
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What is the name of the occupation of the person in charge of lighting effects on stage?
On a drama or stage show, there's always a person takes care of the lighting effects, but I don't know how to express that occupation. Does anyone know what it's called?
- 139
4
votes
1
answer
678
views
What does "two-meal" mean in "There's nothing that could get him away from that two-meal town."?
It's a quote from the movie "The Godfather II", Tom and Frankie's scene:
Frankie: Did my brother go back?
Tom: Yeah, don't worry.
Frankie: He's ten time tougher than me-- my brother. He's ...
- 43
5
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Meaning and etymology of the "Rhodesia Solution" [closed]
An example of the term "Rhodesia solution" being used is in The whisky Priest, an episode from the BBC comedy series Yes Minister, which follows a government minister and some of his closest staff ...
- 7,128
0
votes
0
answers
48
views
Is there any specific meaning of 'export' in this context?
When I saw Shape of Water, the movie, I heard the following dialogue:
Now, that's one thing.
That's real decent of him.
But the other kind of decency...
it doesn't really matter.
We sell it,...
1
vote
1
answer
56
views
Cinematic term for: A known symbol confirms the location of the scene
What is the term for when a scene in a film shows e.g. the Eiffel tower so that the viewer knows that the scene takes place in Paris. I know the term exists but I cannot recall it.
- 113
0
votes
2
answers
828
views
Should I say 'in 3D' or 'on 3D'? [closed]
Should I say "I've watched the film in 3D" or "I've watched the film on 3D"?
1
vote
3
answers
18k
views
Asgard is not a place, it's a people
In the movie Thor Ragnarok the sentence
Asgard is not a place, it's a people.
is used by multiple characters multiple times but shouldn't it be
" Asgard is not a place, it's the people"
Am I ...
- 37
0
votes
2
answers
62
views
Have you never loved again [closed]
I am trying to understanding the lyrics of Django Unchained 2012 soundtrack and in one line there is a phrase.
"Django, have you never loved again?"
Unfortunately, I cannot make sense of it. ...
- 303
2
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Where did the term "movie house" come from?
Where did the term movie house come from? Is it a regional term? I am from the Midwest with also Texas influences from military service. I now live in New England and was called on using the term ...
- 29
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
What is the meaning of phrase "Why on earth" [closed]
I was watching a movie "Tangland" and one character says to another:
"Why on earth I would do that."
Could anyone please tell what is the meaning of this phrase and how I can use it in different ...
- 13
-1
votes
1
answer
55
views
Search for the meaning 'Even better than the free stash I got off him' [closed]
I heard the sentence 'Even better than the free stash I got off him' in a TV show I watch. I can't grasp the real meaning of it. Can someone help me here?
Dexter s02e06 Episode Script
1
vote
1
answer
69
views
Third conditional from 'Sweet Home Alabama'
I heard this 'You ever wonder what would have happened if we hadn't have gotten pregnant?'
Is this right?
Why not just '...if we hadn't gotten pregnant?'
- 29
3
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Meaning? "One of a kind. Top of the line. A real doggone keeper"
One of a kind. Top of the line. A real doggone keeper
This a phrase spoken by Walter to Chris in the movie "Get Out". YouTube link
I think I can understand the first two phrases...
"One of a kind, ...
- 151
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is meant by "Are you even up there?" [closed]
I have seen "The edge of seventeen" movie last Friday.
In that film, Nadine used to say this sentence (See image)
Can any one tell me what it means?
- 111
2
votes
2
answers
9k
views
What does the phrase "laying pipe" mean? [closed]
In the movie Dead Poets Society, there is a line by Robin Williams:"We are not laying pipe, we are talking about poetry."
I have checked it up on Urban Dictionary and according to the top scoring post ...
- 175
2
votes
1
answer
94
views
Opposite of "trick film"
What's the term for the opposite of a "trick film" (animated or computer-generated film), i.e. a "real" film shot on a real location with real objects and people?
2
votes
4
answers
168
views
word for unused part of a story
I believe there is an expression to refer to a part or an act of a story/movie that is not used for anything later, that does only exist and not used to built anything else on it. It's something like "...
- 31
12
votes
2
answers
5k
views
What does "I'm catching a 4:00 at Logan" mean?
What does this phrase mean?
I'm catching a 4:00 at Logan
Does it mean "I'm taking off a 4 o'clock"?
This is coming from the movie "Scent of Woman". Al Pacino says:
"…but I'...
- 139
1
vote
4
answers
860
views
Advanced English: What can be "rather than a subtle ______ " in movies?
I have this book, donkey's years old—1991—called Cambridge Advanced English, written by Leo Jones. The topic of films, shows, and concerts is dealt with in chapter 3 but there's a problem, it's a ...
- 89.9k
4
votes
1
answer
512
views
Question about the phrase "fought fire with oil" as used in the film "Spartacus"
In the film "Spartacus," the character Crassus remarks that he "fought fire with oil" in regards to him buying the Senate behind his rival's back to appoint his friend to a position of prominence.
...
- 191