# One sentence summaries that miss the point. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2003, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774 "2003-03-16T09:15:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/1 "2003-03-16T09:15:34Z")
The challenge is to summarize a book or movie in a single sentence or sentence fragment, managing to be right but still miss something important. Examples: (This one is stolen from the National Lampoon) The Diary of Anne Frank: a young girl hides in an attic, but is found. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Disposing of a family heirloom proves troublesome. The Vanishing: A couple seperate at a roadside rest stop, but he eventually finds out where she went. Psycho: A young man’s complicated relationship with his mother has repercussions for others. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/2 "2003-03-16T11:07:35Z")
_Star Wars_: A young man travels to a large space station to pick up his sister. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/3 "2003-03-16T11:32:34Z")
Alien- an encounter with an alien complicates a ship mission The Matrix- Humans enjoy video games a tad too much. The Karma Sutra- Indian ladies are quite bendy. JAWS- nightime swimming can be dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/4 "2003-03-16T11:45:09Z")
Not quite on topic but… Mostly harmless. _d&r_ ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/5 "2003-03-16T12:08:32Z")
1001 Arabian Nights: Shahrazad entertains the King at night over the course of several years. The Odyssey: A shipwrecker Greek’s quest to get home. Exodus: A quirk of fate leads Moses on a journey of self fulfillment both for himself and for his new found people. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/6 "2003-03-16T12:10:51Z")
The New Testament: In a traditionalist society where a man follows his father in his father’s footsteps Jesus must learn to cope with having two fathers. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/7 "2003-03-16T14:01:21Z")
The New Testament - Jeshua ben Joseph learns he is abopted. (sorry **Osiris** , I had to after I saw yours) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/8 "2003-03-16T14:31:31Z")
Homer Simpson on _Young Frankenstien_: “Scared the HELL out of me!” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/9 "2003-03-16T15:15:20Z")
I was thinking of starting a similar thread a few weeks ago. Here’s mine. Titanic - Two young people from different social classes develop a dommed romance on an ocean liner. ---
**Author:** ![Fiat\_Lux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@Fiat\_Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiat_Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/10 "2003-03-16T15:21:07Z")
_Eraserhead_: A young man has to look after the baby and deal with his wacky in-laws _The Ninth Gate_: A New York bookdealer takes a working holiday to Europe and finds love _A Clockwork Orange_: A young man learns that violence is wrong ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/11 "2003-03-16T15:53:05Z")
Casablanca: A man considers getting back together with an old girlfriend but decides not to. The Godfather: A son unexpectedly has to take over the family business but does so successfully. Saving Private Ryan: A group of men take a walking tour of France and talk about their lives. Toy Story: Two men from different backgrounds become rivals for the love of a younger man. Citizen Kane: A man is upset because he forgot his sled outside. ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/12 "2003-03-16T16:17:52Z")
_Fight Club_ - Two guys start underground boxing clubs. _Memento_ - A man searches for his wife’s killer. _The Crow_ - A man searches for his girlfiend’s killers. _Breaking Away_ - Teens enter a bike race. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/13 "2003-03-16T16:30:59Z")
Atlas Shrugged: Rich people visit a mountainside resort. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/14 "2003-03-16T16:38:48Z")
“Full Metal Jacket”- Young men do calisthenics under the guidance of an old military veteran. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/15 "2003-03-16T16:46:44Z")
_Forrest Gump_ - A mentally handicapped man manages to do OK in his life. _The Big Chill_ - A group of friends gather for the funeral of a former classmate. _The Breakfast Club_ - Six high school students spend Saturday in detention. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/16 "2003-03-16T16:51:54Z")
Les Miserables - Policeman pursuits a repeat offender. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/17 "2003-03-16T17:01:22Z")
Phantom of the Opera: A composer loses the love of his life to a member of the nobility. Guys and Dolls: A gambler wins a bet with another gambler. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind: A TV producer has fun hoodwinking the public. Chicago: A murderer is acquited. The Hours: People read a Virginia Woolf novel. Cabaret: A writer goes to a night club. The Gangs of New York: Two men try to one-up each other. Schindler’s List: A factory owner makes defective goods. Shakespeare In Love: An author has writer’s block. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/18 "2003-03-16T17:44:19Z")
**Jurassic Park** : Cloning dinosaurs for fun and profit is wrong. **if…** : A group of young men hate their school and classmates. **Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure** : A goofy man child searches for his lost bicycle. **Edward Scissorhands** : A man with scissors for hands doesn’t fit in. **The Omen** : A father learns his adopted son is evil. **A.I.** : A robot child wants to be a real boy. **Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?** : An alcoholic couple play mind games. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/19 "2003-03-16T17:46:51Z")
_Soylent Green_: Soylent Green is made of people. Wait a minute… ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/20 "2003-03-16T17:47:26Z")
I actually saw this one on the TV Guide channel: Half Baked : Drug-addicted slackers go on a pot-selling spree to earn bail money. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774.md?page=2)