Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2010 August 24

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August 24

Forgotten were-wolf themed movie

hi there.

when i was a kid i watched this movie [not that popular] about a guy who turns into a were-wolf. i forgot the title and has been searching the internet for it.

all i remember was that the guy was invited by this mysterious circus master in his group. and one of the circus freaks have an small extra arm in the chest [the scene showing him holding extra cards with that arm, for cheating]. the were-wolf guy is also protecting a girl, which he left in a barn yard before the climax of the movie.

thanks for any help, i appreciate it. 210.1.67.147 (talk) 03:34, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Try searching though Category:Werewolves in film and television and see what turns up. --Jayron32 03:38, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

My guess is Howling VI: The Freaks. ---Sluzzelin talk 03:43, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

---i read the page about "howling VI", and i think this is it. thanks people! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 210.1.67.147 (talk) 06:34, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

LA INK Episode of Kat von D tatooing the Landeberg Triplets

Does anyone know which episode of LA INK the Landeberg triplets (Calle-Kelii, Pelle-Rock, Nisse-Izzy) from the band The Wildflowers (ex Snake of Eden) are getting tattooed by Kat von D. All three got "Carpre Diem" tattooed on their stomaches and I think it might have been done in 2008. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wideeyed10001 (talk • contribs) 05:59, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Chinese Musical Instrument

Does anyone know what the musical instrument being played at the 3 minute mark in this video is? It looks like a violin with a much-reduced soundbox. Thanks, Rojomoke (talk) 07:05, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Unfortunately, Sony has blocked the clip in "my country" (according to youtube), but based on your description it could be an Erhu, Gaohu, Banhu, Jinghu, Zhonghu ... see also traditional Chinese bowed string instruments. ---Sluzzelin talk 07:58, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

It's an Erhu. Oda Mari (talk) 08:23, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Thanks Rojomoke (talk) 11:06, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Green bug in The Road

In The Road (film), there's a scene near the end where the Boy finds a big green bug under some trash, which flies away. I don't remember that from the book, and I don't have a copy here. It changes the story significantly, with the bug showing that Earth can produce new life able to cope with the changed conditions, so there is still a future for the biosphere even if humans are not part of it. So does anyone else remember if the bug was in the book? 86.149.220.210 (talk) 13:58, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure it isn't, it's a while since I read it but it's seared into my memory as you might expect with such a powerful novel. Sounds like a typical Hollywood addition as well, compared with McCarthy's savage pessimism. --Viennese Waltz ^talk 14:14, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

LOTR Question

Why didn't the eagles simply fly the One Ring into Mordor and drop it into Mount Doom? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Prize Winning Tomato (talk • contribs) 18:26, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

I think Tolkien does mention this somewhere although I forget exactly what the answer is...it's something like "the eagles just didn't feel like it", basically (I mean, they don't really help anyone at all, do they, aside from Gandalf). But there are other reasons. Maybe Sauron would have expected that. The flying Nazgul could have stopped them. Maybe the eagles would have just flown off with the ring instead of destroying it. They would have been affected by it as much as anyone else, right? In the end the ring is destroyed only by accident anyway, Frodo wasn't going to just walk up there and drop it, so why would the eagles? Adam Bishop (talk) 18:37, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

In fact, I recall at least two instances where the book emphasizes how dangerous it would be to entrust the ring to someone powerful. The more powerful, the more dangerous. I'm referring to the scenes where Gandalf and Galadriel each are offered the ring or asked to take it and become scarily defiant in face of that test of temptation. The eagles seem to be quite powerful too, even those lesser than Gwaihir, certainly more powerful than a tough little Hobbit and potentially less trustworthy. ---Sluzzelin talk 18:43, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Also consider that it was vitally important that the ring arrive in Mordor unnoticed. Even with Sauron distracted by war it was dificult for the hobbits to sneak in unnoticed.

Mordor was considered impenetrable, so presumably it had defenses that could take care of gigantic eagles.

After the destruction of the ring, none of these restrictions applied. Whatever defenses Mordor had against armies and flying threats were pretty much neutralized, and there was no need for secrecy. When no one is trying to kill you, you can take the easy way home. APL (talk) 18:59, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

They were too busy touring. Oh wait, they're not that old. Clarityfiend (talk) 20:58, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

I second Sluzzelin's speculation. I choose to avoid any discussion of the technical aspects of fitting the One Ring upon a large talon. Comet Tuttle (talk) 22:00, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Doesn't it change size to fit whoever is wearing it? It fits Sauron and Smeagol and Frodo just fine. (Or is that a movie thing?) Adam Bishop (talk) 22:21, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

One Ring#Appearance - you're right. Vimescarrot (talk) 22:51, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

This has often been asked in the Usenet groups devoted to Tolkien. One summary can be seen here. Deor (talk) 23:18, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Because there would have been no story otherwise. The eagles are faster and more powerful fliers than the Nazgul (who only got their winged mounts after getting unhorsed anyway). There's no need to give the Ring to Gwaihir directly; he could easily have carried Frodo, who would have been less consumed by the Ring if he hadn't had to drag it all over creation for months before facing throwing it into the fire. Hell, send three eagles and have Glorfindel and Gandalf running interference; Glorfindel had no trouble dismaying five Nazgul in FOTR by himself. I love reading LOTR and there's no denying Tolkien had a rare gift, but he was terrible at writing himself into corners and falling in love with some of his characters. Just enjoy the journey and read it as it was intended - as a myth - and don't worry overmuch about the stuff that doesn't make sense. Matt Deres (talk) 03:18, 25 August 2010 (UTC)

Much was made of Mordor's impenetrability. It's difficult to imagine that Sauron and his minions would just shrug their shoulders and say "There's Frodo with The Ring, but he's flying above our soldiers. Nothing we can do about that.", not in a land where dangerous flying beasts are not entirely uncommon. APL (talk) 14:34, 25 August 2010 (UTC)

This is how it might have gone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yqVD0swvWU Staecker (talk) 13:57, 25 August 2010 (UTC)

Episode

The Moomin_(1990_TV_series) article states that episode 50, "The Imp", was banned in Norway and Finland. It doesn't say why, and it doesn't give a reference. What was the reason? 82.44.54.25 (talk) 21:39, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

I couldn't find a reliable source, but it would appear to be because they were considered too scary for children. Looks like "The Imp" has a voice of a 'demon', and "The Pirate" was also not shown, as it featured someone threatened with a knife, and possibly "The Birthday Present" too.

Those looking for more might find it useful if I note that (I think) "The Imp" is apparently "Ääni kelon sisällä" ("Voice inside a dead red pine"), "The Pirate" is "Muumit ja taistelu merirosvoa vastaan" ("Moomins and the battle against pirates") and "The Birthday Present" is "Syntymäpäiväyllätys" ("Birthday Surprise").

Sorry I couldn't find more exact info; possibly a Finnish or Norwegian-speaker could.  Chzz  ►  03:02, 26 August 2010 (UTC)

• Hi, I can't find reliable sources regarding this matter, but based on the Finnish Wikipedia article and blog/forum posts, I see no mention of these being banned or censored. Rather, it seems that the broadcaster just chose not to air these episodes because they considered them to be too scary for little children. --KFP (contact | edits) 01:27, 27 August 2010 (UTC)