# 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:** 11
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/201 "2003-04-24T14:59:42Z")
Grapes of Wrath: A family, relocating to California, is repeatedly put down by the man. Holes: Juvenile delinquents dig holes without knowing why. Lonesome Dove: A group of Texans drive a herd of cattle to Montana; several die in various ways. Observatory Mansions: Weird, reclusive people live in an old apartment building. ---
**Author:** ![wierdo203](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wierdo203](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdo203)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/202 "2003-04-24T17:29:02Z")
**The adventures of Milo in the phantom tollbooth** Just because a movie is based on a good book doesn’t mean it can’t be certifiable torture. Wait a sec… **The adventures of Milo in the phantom tollbooth** A boy gets a package and hallucinates. ---
**Author:** ![wierdo203](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wierdo203](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdo203)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/203 "2003-04-24T17:58:48Z")
Arrg, that’s not right either… :smack: **The adventures of Milo in the phantom tollbooth** Bored kids experience school in a high-speed blur that does nothing to the sound of voices. At last! **Spiderman** Colored RNA replaces an evidently identical section, causing stuff to happen. **Big Trouble** Nothing happens to the environment if a nuke detonates underwater. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/204 "2009-02-27T05:10:34Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/205 "2009-03-01T10:28:02Z")
The Charge of the Light Brigade…A lot of men are asked to ride down a valley and then some of them then ride back up or walk back. Any Bond movie…A British Civil Servant smooths the way for international negotiations. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/206 "2009-03-01T11:31:48Z")
_Lost_: People struggle to survive on a deserted island. _The Bible_: A history and statement of beliefs of the Jewish and Christian people. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/207 "2009-03-01T11:53:27Z")
**The Four Feathers** : British Empire Army Officer travels to North Africa to return items delivered to him in error. **Apocalypse Now** : American soldiers go for a cruise on a South-East Asian river during the Vietnam War. **Mad Max II: The Road Warrior** : Man living in the petrol-starved Australian Desert after the Apocalypse decides the best way to spend his time is driving around a in a petrol-guzzling supercharged V8 Muscle Car. **Raiders Of The Lost Ark:** Renowned Archaeologist fails to recover priceless antiquities for a museum and inadvertently ensures the Second World War will happen in the process. **Lord Of War:** Russian immigrant discovers International Arms Dealing is a very lucrative career. **The Day Of The Jackal:** Someone tries to assassinate Charles de Gaulle. **A Bridge Too Far:** British Paratroopers visit Holland in 1944. **The Big Lebowski:** A Los Angeles man attempts to obtain a replacement for his soiled rug. **Battle of Britain:** The RAF beat the Luftwaffe. **Quills:** A French nobleman writes pornographic literature. **Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels:** Gunrunning is a viable way to pay off gambling debts. **The Shawshank Redemtpion:** A man escapes after being in prison for a long time. **Downfall:** Hitler loses World War II. **The Brotherhood Of The Wolf:** A Frenchman and an Indian go hunting in Southern France. **Kill Bill** : Expert martial artist/swordfighter goes after the people who ruined her wedding. **2001: A Space Odyssey:** Mankind sends a spaceship to Jupiter. **Flying High!** : Everyone on an aeroplane gets sick and a war veteran with PTSD has to fly the plane. **Jurassic Park:** A Theme park suffers some technical glitches during pre-opening tests. **Citizen Kane:** Orson Welles didn’t like William Randolph Hearst very much. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/208 "2009-03-01T14:22:31Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > _1984_: Profoundly alienated individual is given therapy and becomes well adjusted to society. Wow, that’s really missing the point, not what I got from the book at all. No, 1984 was about a low-level government employee who became disenchanted with his work, until a supervisor offered him a more prominent position in the government. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/209 "2009-03-01T19:16:52Z")
Since we’ve received quite a few reported posts for this thread, I just want to pop in to remind folks that the usual zombie thread rules don’t usually apply to a Cafe Society thread. As long as the ressurrecting post is on-topic and isn’t a “me, too!” post, it’s okay to reanimate the thread. We do, however, appreciate the reports. They really do help us out a lot, so for those of you who sent them in, mucho thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/210 "2009-03-01T20:07:10Z")
I didn’t realize this was zombified when I started to read this, and I got halfway down the page thinking, “Haven’t I read all these before?” 😛 **Harry Potter** : A young man troubled by abuse is sent to an alternative school where he overcomes his challenges. **Twilight** : A teenaged couple fall in love, break up, and then get married, all in the space of two years. \*\* A Game of Thrones\*\*: Intrigue in the court leads to the death of the king. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/211 "2009-03-01T20:39:01Z")
Since I still have this dead horse to drag around, I’ll give it another whack: \*\* Schindler’s List\*\*: Nazis are cool if they can make money off of you! **Saving Private Ryan** : War sucks, but it’s \*totally \*worth it! Oh wait, those don’t miss the point; those \*are \*the point of those movies. Sorry, my bad. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/212 "2009-03-01T22:56:25Z")
This one is sort of cheating, because this is an _actual_ listing I saw in the newspaper TV guide: > [@](#): > > \*\*Airplane! \*\*\*\*\* ’80 _(PG)_ Robert Hays. Food poisoning puts fate into a neurotic pilot’s hands. 105m. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/213 "2009-03-02T02:03:04Z")
_Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ (movie): Girl with PMS gets cranky. _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ (series): Twentysomething teenagers exchange witty remarks while taking care of hungry photophobes with weak chests… OK, I’m reaching on that last one… ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/214 "2009-03-02T02:50:47Z")
The works of Terry Pratchett: **Guards, Guards** - The long-lost heir to the throne comes home as an evil dragon threatens all he holds dear. **Small Gods** - The Omnist religion nearly dies out, but in the end is revitalized by the people’s faith. **Thief of Time** - Twins, seperated at birth, reunite under strange circumstances. **Soul Music** - Three guys start a rock band. **Wyrd Sisters** - Three women track down the son they adopted out. **The Fifth Elephant** - Sam Vimes is forced to wear red tights. **Witches Abroad** - Three clueless tourists blunder around upsetting evryone. **Jingo** - Due to a strange quirk of geology, an insignificant island sometimes floats and sometimes sinks. **Going Postal** - The intense competition between two businesses turns ugly. This is fun! ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/215 "2009-03-02T16:08:09Z")
Hope nobody minds, I’m stealing this thread for another CF-type message-board. ---
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/216 "2009-03-02T22:11:27Z")
_ **Let the Right One In** _ - Young boy meets vampire, survives murder attempt. _ **After School Nightmare** _ - Teen with gender-identity issues finds romance during unconventional psychotherapy sessions. _ **The Tyrant Falls In Love** _ - Emotionally needy homophobe must act against his prejudices to avoid losing his only friend. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/217 "2009-03-02T22:17:58Z")
Prison Break–Some guys break out of prison (well, duh…) House–The tales of a brillant (if eccentric) doctor. The Big Bang Theory–Nerd and geek meet pretty lady. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/218 "2009-03-03T01:16:09Z")
**Million Dollar Baby** : Loner befriends, then kills young girl. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/219 "2009-03-03T02:15:32Z")
**Who framed Roger Rabbit** ; A down on his luck private investigator gets a new case **Freaked** ; Toxic waste is bad **The Toxic Avenger** ; Toxic waste is bad **Better off Dead** ; Young man gets language lessons **The Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy** ; 42 **Tank Girl** ; Young woman “pimps out” an old tank **Clovrfield** ; Young man documents a going-away party for his best freind **Titan A.E.** ; Young man falls in love with the girl of his dreams **Mystery Science Theater 3000; The Movie** ; Mike Nelson breaks the Hubble telescope **I Am Legend** ; Lonely scientist looks for love in New York **Jason X** ; A tender love story about a boy and his hot, sexy female android **The Iron Giant** ; Rogue robot goes on a rampage, nearly destroying a small Maine town **Rise, Blood Hunter** ; Lucy Liu whines about her new high-protien liquid diet **Team America, World Police** ; Puppets piss off the world ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/220 "2009-03-03T02:50:13Z")
Airplane!: The crew gets sick and a coward must land the plane. Blazing Saddles: Unpopular sheriff rallies townspeople against corrupt officials. Animal House: Freshman joins college fraternity. To Kill a Mockingbird: Lawyer defends unpopular man. Gone With the Wind: Civil War widow struggles to keep her home. Sound of Music: The Brady Bunch with Nazis. Which reminds me of how Fran Drescher supposedly pitched _The Nanny_ to CBS. _It’s The Sound of Music with me instead of Julie Andrews._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774.md?page=12)