Quiz and Crossword Combo #1: Movies

Answer: AA

It seems incongruous that the "Batman" franchise of movies (This was the first of four) then followed by Christopher Nolan's trilogy became some of the most commercially successful movies of the era when the first movie had so much trouble getting off the ground.

At the time Batman was suffering from the campy portrayal of the character by Adam West in the TV series. Add Tim Burton (hired because of the success of " Pee-wee's Big Adventure" (1985), a lightweight comedy, and the casting of Michael Keaton (previously typecast as a comedic actor), and there were serious doubts this movie would be a success (Warner Brothers received 50 000 protest letters about Mr Keaton's casting. Jack Nicholson was cast as the Joker with the proviso that he received top billing, a high up-front fee, a percentage the box office profits and even his own shooting schedule.

The studio agreed and the rest was history. "Batman" was a brooding, dark movie that set the tone and bar for sequels. It made $US400 million at the box office making it fifth-highest-grossing film in history at the time of its release.

Answer: IAI

"Titanic" was a clever movie. It told the story of enormous loss and hopelessness through the entire wealth spectrum on a doomed ship told through a single story of a young couple in love. The production cost was huge. By far the most expensive movie ever made at the time with a $200+ million bill.

The movie executives need not have worried. This movie was the first to surpass $US1 billion in receipts.

Answer: AAAA

"Casablanca (1942) starred Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Peter Lorre and Paul Henreid. It was set during contemporary World War II, and was rushed into movie theatres weeks after the North African invasion in WWII. It tells the story of an American expatriate who had to make a decision between his love for a woman and helping her (Bergman) and her husband, a escape from the enemy controlled Casablanca.

Expected to be another wartime movie generated prolifically by Hollywood at the time, the movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Contemporaneously it ranks near the top the greatest films in history.

Answer: EAE

"Beaches" is a retrospective story of the lives of two women (Ms Midler and Barbara Hershey) from opposite sides of the tracks that remained lifelong friends. When one is diagnosed with a terminal illness it brings the two closer together. The movie received poor critics' reviews but the movie-going public loved it and it made over $50 million.

The song "Wind Beneath My Wings" has endured longer, still featuring on "Best of" albums well into the 21st century.

Answer: OOO

"Robocop" was a 1989 movie about a Detroit cop (Weller) who was killed in action but rebuilt as a half-robot and employed to clean up crime in the city which he does, but mayhem ensues. Despite implausibility, the movie was a critical and commercial success earning over $75 Million in receipts. A 2014 remake starred Gary Oldman.

Answer: AAA

To this author, "Gattaca" is one of the scariest science fiction movies ever made, where the premise is that your genes govern your destiny in life. Ethan Hawke (Vincent) is an "invalid" who wants a career in space travel but his genes forbid this. He gains the trust of a "valid" a genetically engineered champion swimmer (Jude Law) who donates blood to Vincent to prove he is a "valid". Of course this goes awry.

The movie is totally convincing and is only one step removed from "ethnic cleansing" and is entirely plausible.

The title is made up of base pairs (A, T, C, and G) found in DNA.

Answer: AIA

"Arrival" (2016) was an American science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve. The film followed an interpreter employed by the U.S. Army to communicate with aliens who arrived on Earth with unusual communication methods. The army feared war would ensue unless a communication strategy can be developed.

"Arrival" was considered one of the year's best movies and was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of their ten "Movies of the Year".It received eight nominations at the Academy Awards, winning one for Best Sound Editing.

Answer: OO

"Moon" (2009) was one of those eerie science fiction movies that left you thinking days after you saw it. The plot centred around Sam Rockwell single-handedly running a Lithium-3 fuel mining plant on the moon, nearing the end of a three year contract and looking forward to returning to his family. He realises, things are not what they seem...
Despite excellent reviews the movie raised a modest $US10 million. Highly recommended.

Answer: AAA

"Avatar" was supposed to released in 1999 after James Cameron's previous monster "Titanic"(1997). However the technology was not available to produce the film which eventually found its way into theatres is 2009. Praised and awarded for its visual effects it was the first movie to surpass $2 million in receipts, beating the previous highest grossing movie "Titanic".

Answer: AEUEA

"Adventureland" was a 2009 American comedy-drama movie written and directed by Greg Mottola on the back of his previous hit "Superbad" (2007). It was about the tumultuous relationship between the two protagonists on a backdrop of Pittsburgh particularly the dilapidated amusement park of Adventureland. Despite good reviews the movie made a modest $US10 million.