Poorly describe movies and guess what they are

[Jimmy Snyder]

Okay, I’m going to try a much more difficult one. I dare say many will say that they have never even heard of this film. It is not only not a Hollywood film, it is not even an English language film. However, it did get a great deal of attention when it was released, not least from the censors.

A very troubled young woman is in thrall to a successful businessman. Slowly but surely, she comes to dominate their relationship. But in her final victory, in her final taking possession of him, she also loses him, and her sanity.

Mary Poppins?

 

[Ken Natton]

Mary Poppins?

Hmmm. Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the lead roles in this film. Don't know what to make of that thought...

 

[Jimmy]

Okay, I’m going to try a much more difficult one. I dare say many will say that they have never even heard of this film. It is not only not a Hollywood film, it is not even an English language film. However, it did get a great deal of attention when it was released, not least from the censors.

A very troubled young woman is in thrall to a successful businessman. Slowly but surely, she comes to dominate their relationship. But in her final victory, in her final taking possession of him, she also loses him, and her sanity.

Audition?

 

[Ken Natton]

Audition?

Wow! I had not heard of that film but checking up on it, I can see why you might think it was the one I was talking about. You are actually in the right language, but the film I am thinking of is quite a bit older. The most remarkable thing about the film I am talking about is that it is a true story. It is set against the backdrop of growing militarism in Japan in the build up to the Second World War.

 

[Jimmy]

Wow! I had not heard of that film but checking up on it, I can see why you might think it was the one I was talking about. You are actually in the right language, but the film I am thinking of is quite a bit older. The most remarkable thing about the film I am talking about is that it is a true story. It is set against the backdrop of growing militarism in Japan in the build up to the Second World War.

Picturing Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in that film was quite disturbing.

I should have know it would be an older film. ;)

 

[Ken Natton]

Spooky, spooky, spooky. If no-one knows what I am on about with this latest film I have mentioned then they won't spot the spooky coincidence. But there is a very strong connection between the film I am talking about and another new thread in General Discussion. I feel the need to point out that I made post #250 on this thread about 2 hours before that thread was started. Spooky, spooky, spooky.

 

[Jimmy]

Spooky, spooky, spooky. If no-one knows what I am on about with this latest film I have mentioned then they won't spot the spooky coincidence. But there is a very strong connection between the film I am talking about and another new thread in General Discussion. I feel the need to point out that I made post #250 on this thread about 2 hours before that thread was started. Spooky, spooky, spooky.

After searching a bit, I think I have identified the film in question. The above seems to confirm it- if you're are indeed referring to https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=513826".

In the Realm of the Senses - A 1976 Franco-Japanese film

That is a little spooky.

 

[Ken Natton]

After searching a bit, I think I have identified the film in question. The above seems to confirm it- if you're are indeed referring to https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=513826".

In the Realm of the Senses - A 1976 Franco-Japanese film

That is a little spooky.

Ai No Corrida - In The Realm of the Senses - is indeed the film I was thinking of. I always thought that the controversy that surrounded this film was a pity because it always seemed to me to fail to spot the key point, which is that it is actually a very melancholy story. It might seem a strange thing to pick-up on but I always liked the music from that film. It was specially written for the film by Minoru Miki, and he clearly got it. The French only became involved because of the Japanese censors. Apparently the film was taken from Japan undeveloped and then developed in France. It was indeed the French who marketed and distributed it. Anyway, well done Jimmy.

 

[Jimmy]

Ai No Corrida - In The Realm of the Senses - is indeed the film I was thinking of. I always thought that the controversy that surrounded this film was a pity because it always seemed to me to fail to spot the key point, which is that it is actually a very melancholy story. It might seem a strange thing to pick-up on but I always liked the music from that film. It was specially written for the film by Minoru Miki, and he clearly got it. The French only became involved because of the Japenses censors. Apparently the film was taken from Japan undeveloped and then developed in France. It was indeed the French who marketed and distributed it.

I may have to keep this one in mind for future viewing. Netscape has it on DVD. No instant streaming though.

Anyway, well done Jimmy.

Well, I can't take too much credit for that one. I had to search vigorously through lists of Japanese films. I did find it just before your last hint though. That just proves I can perform a decent web search. I'm not much of a film aficionado.

Here's one that isn't quite as obscure:
A homicidal humpback attempts to cease power in this adaptation of a play.

There have been several film adaptations but they are all titled the same.

 

[zoobyshoe]

There have been several film adaptations but they are all titled the same.

I believe you may be referring to that "bunch-backed toad" otherwise known as Richard the Third.

 

[Jimmy]

I believe you may be referring to that "bunch-backed toad" otherwise known as Richard the Third.

Just so.

 

[Math Is Hard]

OK, here are some tough ones...

1) It's a story about snakes on board an airplane.

2) It's a story about the interaction between some cowboys and some aliens.

 

[Ken Natton]

OK, here are some tough ones...

1) It's a story about snakes on board an airplane.

2) It's a story about the interaction between some cowboys and some aliens.

Interesting, Math Is Hard. You don’t seem to be taking it too seriously, but I am not sure whether you mean to extract the Michael. I confess that I had never heard of either film before and with titles like Snakes on a Plane and Cowboys and Aliens I might not have set my expectations too high. But when I then see that the star of one is Samuel L Jackson, among the stars of the other is Harrison Ford and the executive producer of the other is Steven Spielberg I’m forced to take them a little more seriously. Not that I think I’ll be watching either any time soon – unless you can persuade me that I should. Somehow I don’t think you intended to recommend them. Not sure what you did intend though.

 

[DaveC426913]

Not sure what you did intend though.

She intended me to laugh. Which I did. That was funny.

It's riff on the themes of obscure descriptions of movies: utterly unobscure descriptions.



But since we're talking about this thread: my opinion is that people have pretty much missed the point. It wasn't simply 'describe a movie briefly', it was 'describe a movie badly'.

Vanadium50 and Evo had some good ones:

'Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first person she meets and then teams up with three strangers to kill again.'

'Jogger gets hit by car'


They are technically correct, but emphasize so utterly the wrong parts of the movie, that it makes for a hilarious description once you get it.

IMO, the other 95% of the submissions in this thread miss this key point of comedic delivery.

 

[DaveC426913]

Apropos: examining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You learn how it works, but the frog dies.

 

[lisab]

Interesting, Math Is Hard. You don’t seem to be taking it too seriously...

Yeah, MiH, you aren't taking this seriously at all!

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I'm taking it seriously.

 

[Ken Natton]

Okay, message read load and clear. I perceived a problem that when the clue was too obscure, everyone ignored it and it sunk without being answered. I sought to ensure that answers were reached before the original reference disappeared. I also saw it as an opportunity to discuss, briefly, the films thus mentioned as well. That seemed worthwhile and entertaining to me. My apologies for the intrusion.

 

[Jimmy]

my opinion is that people have pretty much missed the point. It wasn't simply 'describe a movie briefly', it was 'describe a movie badly'.

I think an overly brief or vague description can be considered a poor description as well. If a description is funny too, that's a bonus!
</metadiscussion>

1. Man talks into tape recorder and watches himself.

[STRIKE]2. A small, white animal causes a man to soil himself.[/STRIKE] (Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Janus)

3. An average man and a woman who "paints people and fruit and..." end up in the future.

Hints:
1. An independent film involving time travel.
2. Average man becomes president.

 

[DaveC426913]

Okay, message read load and clear. I perceived a problem that when the clue was too obscure, everyone ignored it and it sunk without being answered. I sought to ensure that answers were reached before the original reference disappeared. I also saw it as an opportunity to discuss, briefly, the films thus mentioned as well. That seemed worthwhile and entertaining to me. My apologies for the intrusion.

Not sure how you're 'intruding'. Isn't this thread 'your baby'?

 

[DaveC426913]

I think an overly brief or vague description can be considered a poor description as well. If a description is funny too, that's a bonus!
</metadiscussion>

But the humour only comes in the payoff - when you go 'murderous little girl? Oh! Dorothy! Haha yeah.'

To me, this is more like regular trivia. Which is OK too. And I wouldn't have reaised it except for Ken's meta comment about the thread.

 

[Jimmy]

I hear ya, brother.

 

[Math Is Hard]

OK, here are some tough ones...

1) It's a story about snakes on board an airplane.

2) It's a story about the interaction between some cowboys and some aliens.

The answer to #1 is Knight and Day.

 

[Ken Natton]

Isn't this thread 'your baby'?

No, I wouldn’t have said so. It was started by blade123 who seems to have vanished from it. But clearly he / she started a great thread – it has generated a great deal of interest. My feeling was that part of that was because it was such a fast changing and evolving thread. Initially, I saw myself only as introducing some films of a different style than those that dominated the early pages. But I certainly don’t seek to proscribe where it goes from here, I’m as interested as anyone else to see that and to ride the surf. I was just defending my contribution which seemed to be under criticism, that’s all. Really it’s not important. Let the clues, obscure or otherwise continue.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I got Moonstruck from the county library. It was OK, but I wouldn't say I loved it awful.

 

[wisvuze]

1) policeman finds a big treasure. his partner dies and fur coats can destroy druglords

2) man walking around in desert plays instrument and shoots people really quickly

 

[S_Happens]

1) policeman finds a big treasure. his partner dies and fur coats can destroy druglords

2) man walking around in desert plays instrument and shoots people really quickly

1) American Gangster

 

[TurtleMeister]

1) policeman finds a big treasure. his partner dies and fur coats can destroy druglords

2) man walking around in desert plays instrument and shoots people really quickly

2) Once Upon A Time In The West (has awesome soundtrack)

 

[wisvuze]

Both correct, you guys are good aha

 

[Andy]

Evil Machine kills people.

 

[nucleargirl]

Evil Machine kills people.

Terminator!

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Terminator!

He probably means Terminator II.

 

[Stephen Tashi]

Evil Machine kills people.

Christine

 

[SpringCreek]

Evil Machine kills people.

Killdozer

 

[Andy]

I was thinking of the origional terminator

 

[nucleargirl]

yay! :)

does that mean its my go next?!

ok: super funny interracial... that you'd walk a thousand miles to see.

too easy?!

another one? : cat gets soaking wet, film ends happily.

and another? over-hyped, long-winded black and white that has no plot and no-body gets it so they all say its amazingly funny.

 

[DaveC426913]

Evil Machine kills people.

50% of the science fiction films made since the late 60's.

 

[Andy]

I have no idea nukey girl.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

over-hyped, long-winded black and white that has no plot and no-body gets it so they all say its amazingly funny.

City Lights?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot1-O7nEvmk

 

[nucleargirl]

I have no idea nukey girl.

lol, guess I'm good at this game :p

hm hints...

1st film: inter-racial AND inter-sexual! shown literally on the DVD cover.

2nd film: Title: eating where they sell best friends.

3rd film: ok, maybe it was just me who didn't get it. it also had a long-winded title! and if I understood correctly, the main characters were Nazis.

 

[nucleargirl]

sorry Jimmy, not City Lights, though I haven't seen it so wouldn't know if it fits my description.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

2nd film: Title: eating where they sell best friends.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

 

[nucleargirl]

Breakfast at Tiffany's

yes!

 

[nucleargirl]

City Lights?

:) I like that clip. Its smart! and has great accompanying music!

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

yes!

I've never seen the movie, but I'll probably get it from the Library now. Here's the opening credits. I was in Savannah, Georgia a few years back. The tour takes you past Forest Gump's bus stop bench, the theater where Lady Chablis sings, and everything Johnny Mercer. Then, just to dot our i's and cross our rivers, we loaded up the family jalopy and while arguing about which road to take, crossed Moon River. That's a style too I suppose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDddAKtELZ8

 

[nucleargirl]

:) lol. funny expression you used!
Yeah you should get it! I like it, its one of my favourites!

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I just saw it but didn't like it that much. While it was not a horrible movie, Holly Golightly is no Eliza Doolittle. I have mixed feelings about Mickey Rooney playing a Japanese with the stereotypical jutting teeth. He's a great actor of course, and he did what he could with the part, but since the character never did anything Japanese, he may as well have played a white. Japanese don't take soap into the tub. They wash and rinse outside the tub and enter it clean.

 

[Andy]

You may be good, or i may be rubbish.

 

[nucleargirl]

I just saw it but didn't like it that much. While it was not a horrible movie, Holly Golightly is no Eliza Doolittle. I have mixed feelings about Mickey Rooney playing a Japanese with the stereotypical jutting teeth. He's a great actor of course, and he did what he could with the part, but since the character never did anything Japanese, he may as well have played a white. Japanese don't take soap into the tub. They wash and rinse outside the tub and enter it clean.

yeah, that bit is quite racist. that's the only bad bit for me. I like it cos she's so pretty and charming! and its so heartwarming!

 

[Andy]

Have we given up on the last one?