# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 321
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6407 "2025-07-02T12:17:36Z")
The short version of the Irish name Uilliam. I think that the Irish probably got it from the French saint Guillaume ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6408 "2025-07-12T20:16:09Z")
I have no idea how many times I have seen Young Frankenstein. Yesterday I noticed that, just before the scene where the monster is elevated into the storm Gene Wilder has a sewing thimble on his left ring finger. I guess he had just finished the last stitches before trying to shock his creation into life. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6409 "2025-07-13T12:27:48Z")
The Mellennium Falcon - “The fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” “You’re braver than I thought.” I remember seeing it and noticing the odd, lumpy shapes and open places and thinking “how interesting”. It took the Han Solo movie and Lando showing up in the pristine 'Falcon with all the closeout panels installed to realize what it was supposed to look like. Suddenly all those “hunk of junk” contents make more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6410 "2025-07-13T13:10:34Z")
I watched _Full Metal Jacket_ last night. According to his PT sweats, Joker’s real name is JT Davis. First time I ever noticed that. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6411 "2025-07-13T14:04:11Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I watched _Full Metal Jacket_ last night. According to his PT sweats, Joker’s real name is JT Davis. First time I ever noticed that. That’s his name in the book. James T. Davis. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6412 "2025-07-13T14:23:27Z")
Batman: “At last!” Wait a minute, You’re name is Jack **Bat** ty. Looks at you suspiciously ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6413 "2025-07-13T21:06:25Z")
Wait a tic. James T Davis. Jim Davis. Did Joker exit the war and start drawing Garfield? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6414 "2025-07-13T21:21:57Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > The Mellennium Falcon - “The fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” “You’re braver than I thought.” > > I remember seeing it and noticing the odd, lumpy shapes and open places and thinking “how interesting”. It took the Han Solo movie and Lando showing up in the pristine 'Falcon with all the closeout panels installed to realize what it was supposed to look like. Suddenly all those “hunk of junk” contents make more sense. I generally assume that there’s supposed to be something like a standard shipping container that’s supposed to fit in between those two front protrusions, making the Falcon as we know it the equivalent of a semi tractor without a trailer. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6415 "2025-07-13T22:12:45Z")
Wasn’t it an emergency escape pod or something like that? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6416 "2025-07-13T23:41:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I generally assume that there’s supposed to be something like a standard shipping container that’s supposed to fit in between those two front protrusions, making the Falcon as we know it the equivalent of a semi tractor without a trailer. Yeah, take a semi tractor with a hugely powerful engine, then modify the transmission for gearing up the output for high speed rather than down for high torque, reinforce the drive shaft, suspension, etc. > **[The Fastest Semi Truck In the World](https://owneroperatorland.com/blog/fastest-semi-truck/)** > > Can a semi truck break speed limits of a sports car? Check out our review of the fastest semi truck in our new blog. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6417 "2025-07-14T01:55:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I generally assume that there’s supposed to be something like a standard shipping container that’s supposed to fit in between those two front protrusions, making the Falcon as we know it the equivalent of a semi tractor without a trailer. Naw, the proportions are all wrong. That would be like a semi pulling a 5 ft long yard trailer. > [@Wheelz](#): > > Wasn’t it an emergency escape pod or something like that? The Solo movie had Lando with a custom yacht fitted into the notch. The original SW movie had a line about the Falcon having previously ejecting escape pods, which somehow got projected by fandom to come from the slot. I vaguely recall a schematic somewhere in an art book. As an adult I can see how that wouldn’t be a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6418 "2025-07-14T02:14:10Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Naw, the proportions are all wrong. That would be like a semi pulling a 5 ft long yard trailer. Well, the protrusions aren’t necessarily the full length of the container, just long enough to get a good grip on it. We don’t know how large a Star Wars standard container is. Also, we don’t know how much vehicle space a hyperdrive needs to take up. Maybe, for a full container, you need something the size of the Falcon. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6419 "2025-07-14T02:54:28Z")
FWIW, here is how some people imagine a YT-1300 light freighter/tug working with cargo pods: [![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SDq__3ogZzY/Vz7mlqvlovI/AAAAAAABLJo/fnQk-jZuFK8KCRBBup17dsrni6QtqZJVACKgB/s1600/MELrr4h.jpg) ](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SDq__3ogZzY/Vz7mlqvlovI/AAAAAAABLJo/fnQk-jZuFK8KCRBBup17dsrni6QtqZJVACKgB/s1600/MELrr4h.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6420 "2025-07-14T22:53:18Z")
Interesting. Seems poor design to push a cargo container. Even without friction/ drag, inertia is going to play hell trying to steer that thing. But hey, these are magical space vehicles that can survive multiple high speed impacts with a planet’s surface so what do I know? I just imagine them as light freighters that do planetary landings to load and unload the interior. Good for small expensive goods and fast transport runs, not bulk cargo transport. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6421 "2025-07-15T13:26:51Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Interesting. Seems poor design to push a cargo container. Even without friction/ drag, inertia is going to play hell trying to steer that thing. Plus it interferes with visibility. The entire port side is blocked from view. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6422 "2025-07-15T13:52:10Z")
I’m not sure I agree that it is a poor cargo design. Current rocket technology is cargo front, propulsion rear. Current container ship technology is cargo front, propulsion rear. Can’t put cargo in the back, engine is there. Put cargo on the sides, you now have to rely on the shear strength of your connection points. Put cargo in front, you are directly pushing the cargo containers with the frame of the ship. I like this for relatively short cargo trains. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6423 "2025-07-15T14:02:04Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Plus it interferes with visibility. The entire port side is blocked from view. Any place you put the cargo will interfere with visibility somewhere. This arrangement also explains why the Falcon has that off-center cockpit to begin with. Why isn’t the cockpit right in the middle of the front? Because that’s where the cargo would go. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6424 "2025-07-15T14:05:24Z")
I think it’s an overall design flaw with the YT-1300. It would make more sense to have the cockpit in the center, and have the cargo attach to the bottom. The ship can hover after all. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6425 "2025-07-15T15:23:58Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Even without friction/ drag, inertia is going to play hell trying to steer that thing. > > But hey, these are magical space vehicles that can survive multiple high speed impacts with a planet’s surface so what do I know? The Star Wars Universe has gravity manipulation technology, so inertia is probably much less of an issue for them. They’re not just pushing on it like we would with a tugboat, they’re deploying a field effect around the whole combination. Probably. That’s the way I’d do it. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6426 "2025-07-15T16:33:21Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > They’re not just pushing on it like we would with a tugboat,… Tugboats do more than tug, I guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=320) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=322)