Match the Taglines Trivia Quiz

Answer: 2001: A Space Odyssey

"2001: A Space Odyssey" was a 1968 science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick who was also responsible for such movies as "A Clockwork Orange" and "The Shining". It was adapted from a short story by sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke. The tagline, i.e., "The ultimate trip", referred to the outer space mission of five astronauts, originally in suspended animation, and the ship's computer, HAL.

At the time, the visuals in the film were groundbreaking, along with an unforgettable music score ("Also Sprach Zarathustra"), a monolith and an eerie battle between man and machine.

Answer: Memento

"Memento" is a 2000 movie directed by Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight" and "Inception"). It is a psychological drama where the protagonist had been involved in a trauma, resulting in his developing a rare form of amnesia which causes him to forget what has occurred beyond the past five minutes; however, he is able to remember events before the accident.

This is further complicated by the fact that he is trying to catch the man who raped and murdered his wife. "Some memories are best forgotten." He uses ingenious methods like tattoos and Polaroid pictures to help him achieve his goal.

Answer: Gattaca

"Gattaca" is a 1997 movie starring former couple Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. It is a science fiction story about a future society which has adopted eugenics, i.e., where genetic selection is used to ensure that the best traits are passed on. The protagonist was conceived outside the program and, because of genetic discrimination, his options are severely limited.

However, he attempts to find ways around the limitations in order to accomplish his goal of going into space. "There is no gene for the human spirit".

The film's title is based on the four nucleobases of DNA - G,A,T,C (guanine, adenine, thymine and cytocine).

Answer: Armageddon

"Armageddon" is a 1998 disaster film directed by Michael Bay ("Transformers"). It stars former TV star Bruce Willis as driller Harry Stamper. He is recruited by NASA to help save the Earth which is threatened by a collision with an asteroid. "Earth. It was fun while it lasted." They plan to dig a hole in the asteroid and destroy it by detonating a nuclear bomb. The movie had a star-studded crew and gigantic special effects, and was the highest-grossing film of 1998, despite the fact that the similarly themed "Deep Impact" came out the same year. My personal opinion: meh.

Answer: Chicago

The 2002 film "Chicago" crosses several genres, i.e., a comedic, crime musical. It also won the Academy Award for Best Picture, with Catherine Zeta-Jones winning for Best Supporting Actress in 2003. "Chicago" was the first film to win Best Picture since 1968 ("Oliver!").

It depicts two convicted murderesses, Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, who compete for fame in the Jazz Age of 1920s Chicago. They hire flamboyant attorney Billy Flynn, played by Richard Gere, who manages to get them acquitted. After all the machinations, Roxie and Velma wind up performing together. "With the right song and dance, you can get away with murder."

Answer: Transformers

In 2007, director Michael Bay gave us the first film in the "Transformers" franchise. The action movie is set in a future where Cybertrons come to Earth and bring their war with them. The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, fight the Decepticons, led by Megatron, for the Allspark (which has found its way to Earth) and ultimate power. "Their war. Our world." While Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox are the humans, the real stars are the Transformers and the toy company profiting from selling the products based on the movie. If you love explosions and mindless action, this franchise is for you!

Answer: Mars Attacks!

Yet another movie where our planet is threatened is the 1996 comedy thriller "Mars Attacks!" Directed by the inimitable Tim Burton, you know it will be quirky. The premise is that a fleet of Martian spaceships surround Earth, claiming to "come in peace" but they turn out to be disingenuous (surprise?!).

When they annihilate the Unite States' Congress, nuclear retaliation is called for. "Nice planet. We'll take it." Despite the stellar cast, which includes Jack Nicholson as President Dale and Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan and Danny DeVito, it never quite lives up to the hype.

Answer: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Director Steven Spielberg provides us with a science fiction movie about "first contact" in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977). "We are not alone." While French scientist Claude Lacombe (played by famous director Francois Truffaut) is studying artifacts and music as a form of communication, blue-collar worker Roy Neary (played by Richard Dreyfuss) is experiencing paranormal activity in Muncie, Indiana. Neary sees bright lights in the sky which he believes to be a UFO.

However, those in authority refuse to accept the possibility of this, fearful of being thought insane.

Answer: The 40-Year-Old Virgin

Here we have a 2005 comedy, "The 40-Year-Old Virgin", with Steve Carell (from "The Office") playing the title role and noting "The longer you wait, the harder it gets". The film explores romance, buddies and the stigma of being forty and never having had sex. Andy Stitzer is a pleasant, single guy with a blue collar job. One night, while playing poker with his friends, it is revealed that he is still a virgin.

He seems content to play with his video games and action-figure collection until his friends step in to try to change his status.

When he finally meets single mother Trish...there will be no sequel.

Answer: Deliverance

"Deliverance" is a shocking, unforgettable 1972 film directed by John Boorman, from the screenplay by James Dickey. It tells the story of four urban friends who decide to get away and travel to rural Georgia for some canoeing. "This is the weekend they didn't play golf." They are met by some backwoods residents who don't take kindly to the quartet (played by Burt Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty). What happens next threatens their very survival, and something from which they will never recover. With the strains of "Dueling Banjos" in the background, this frightening film was years ahead of its time.

Answer: Natural Born Killers

Anyone still remember sweet, lovable Woody Boyd from "Cheers"? Well, "Natural Born Killers", from 1994, has Woody Harrelson cast in quite a different role. With a story from Quentin Tarantino and directed by Oliver Stone ("JFK" and "Platoon"), this is a tale of two childhood sweethearts who become psychopathic serial murderers, spurred on by notoriety which seemed to glorify their crimes. "The Media Made Them Superstars". Mickey and Mallory (played by Juliette Lewis) begin by killing her abusive father, and go on a spree which leaves almost everyone dead except the witnesses they leave alive to report their story.

Answer: Quiz Show

If you're old enough to remember the television shows of the 1950s, the 1994 film "Quiz Show", directed by Robert Redford, will bring back some bad memories. TV was still in its infancy and was filled with quiz shows like "The 64,000 Question", "I've Got a Secret" and "What's My Line?". Most people who had TV sets were glued to these programs which tested knowledge and often featured celebrities of the day, e.g., Dr. Joyce Brothers.

Then came "Twenty One", hosted by Jack Barry, with Charles Van Doren's allegation that the show was "fixed". "50 million people watched, but no one saw a thing."

Answer: Tommy Boy

If you enjoy dim-witted characters with snarky buddies, 1995's "Tommy Boy" may be for you. This comedy stars Chris Farley (Matt Foley from "SNL") and the always sarcastic David Spade ("Joe Dirt"). It is the story of a clumsy underachiever and his accountant trying to save his deceased father's auto parts factory in Sandusky, Ohio. "If at first you don't succeed, lower your standards." Tommy and Richard are forced to go on the road to get some new clients, sell their auto parts and save the family business. Will they save the factory, the town and the inheritance?

Answer: A Fish Called Wanda

The tagline for the 1988 comedy "A Fish Called Wanda", i.e., "A tale of murder, greed, lust, revenge and seafood", may have given away the answer. This movie is a convoluted, comical crime drama with brilliant acting and clever dialogue. Set in London, it is about four disparate people, two Brits and two Americans, who team up to commit a diamond robbery. John Cleese is wonderful as the lawyer/solicitor Archie Leach (the real life name of Cary Grant), with Jamie Lee Curtis as Wanda and Kevin Kline as Otto. Of course they intend to double-cross and triple-cross each other and the results are hilarious.

Answer: There's Something About Mary

The Farelly Brothers directed the 1998 comedy "There's Something About Mary", starring Cameron Diaz as the eponymous Mary. If you've never seen the film, the tagline "Love is in the hair" will have no meaning to you and trying to explain it would be difficult.

It seems geeky Ted (Ben Stiller) has had a crush on Mary since childhood, but was unable to go to the prom with her due to an unfortunate accident (involving the tagline). Years later he hires the duplicitous private investigator Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to find her, but Pat wants her for himself so he misleads Ted. Does Ted get his dream girl? I'll never tell!