# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/161 "2003-04-01T04:28:29Z")
**Get Carter** A man returns home to see to the cremation of his brother. **The Thirteenth Warrior** A diplomat faces a tricky situation. **Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai** A solitary man who is consumed by his work lends a potentially life changing book to a young girl. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/162 "2003-04-01T06:18:01Z")
**Raiders of the Lost Ark:** A collector of antiques has a series of unfortunate encounters with German military. **Back to the Future:** A young man and his mentor battle terrorists in 20th century suburbia. **Pulp Fiction:** A man who is struggling with his purpose in life must deal with a restaurant holdup attempt. **Fargo:** During a murder investigation in the midwest, a pregnant sheriff must deal with a mentally ill former classmate. **The Wizard of Oz:** A witch must deal with an outsider who, along with 3 locals, challenges her rule. **The Great Lebowski:** A loser’s life is punctuated by meetings with a mysterious cowboy in a bowling alley bar. **Deliverance:** A wilderness canoeing trip by a group of city slickers is punctuated by a series of encounters with eccentric locals. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/163 "2003-04-01T06:41:45Z")
My turn! **Macbeth** - Young man realises the consquences of following the advices of werid fortune-tellers. **Lord of the Rings** - Two boys must return a ring to whence it come from. **Charlie and the Chocolate Factory** - Boy witness the horrors of the inner working of a mysterious, sealed-off chocolate factory and is doomed to stay in it forever. **Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon** - A sword that refuses to remain in one place. **Star Trek - Undiscovered Country** - Shakespearse is a Kilingon who knew time travel **Spiderman** - Boy recovers from bite by a genetically-altered spider. **XXX** - James Bond sucks. **Shanghai Knight** - Young men discovered how dangerous fireworks could be. **Merchant of Venice** - Don’t ask for a pound of flesh. **Famous Five Series** - How a group of teenagers and dog passes their time while on holidays. **Secret Seven Series** - Group of pre-high school children think they are as good as James Bond. **Much ado about nothing**. Much ado about nothing!! **Hero** - The truth is white in colour and history is in green. (You have to watch it to find out…) **Star Trek: Nemesis** - See Bladerunner **Bladerunner** - See Star Trek: Nemesis Okay, a fairer take on **Bladerunner** - A man struggles with his own identity **All Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks** : Turn to page 499 to win **Sun Tzu’s Art of War** - Winning without a war is better than winning with a war. **Dungeon & Dragon 3rd Edition - DungeonMaster’s Guidebook** - the DM is god. **Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets** - A big snake hides within the drains and ventalition systems of the school. **K-Pax** - A man with sunglasses is ushered into an aslyum ---
**Author:** ![Gumbercules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gumbercules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gumbercules)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/164 "2003-04-01T14:52:45Z")
**Dogma** Two guys try to go to church. **Clerks** You can play hockey on the roof **Blade** Vampires are bad **Blade II** Some vampires are hot **Montsers Inc** Children are toxic **Ace Ventura Pet Detective** Jim Carrey contorts his face **The Mask** Jim Carrey contorts his face **How the Grinch Stole Christmas** Jim Carrey contorts his face ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/165 "2003-04-01T15:26:42Z")
**To Kill a Mockingbird** – Recluse reluctantly drawn into community affairs. **Jurassic Park** – Entrepreneur surprised when genetric experiments go awry. **The Bonfire of the Vanities** – Arrogant bond salesman arrested for murder. **Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil** – New Yorker documents Southern bachelor’s protracted legal battle. **The Princess Bride** – Improbable romance diverts recovering boy. **Of Mine and Men** – Social interactions perplex mentally challenged farm worker. **Roots** – Black author’s geneology quest proves successful. **Lonesome Dove** – Accidental shooting impacts Old West events. **Raising Arizona** – Man finds ingenious solution to wife’s fertility problems. **The Crying Game** – Romance blossoms between kindhearted IRA footsoldier and English free spirit. **A Simple Plan** – Downed plane provides Minnesota couple with windfall. **My Left Foot** – Handicap limits boy’s interactions with others. **Gosford Park** – Stylish whodunit. **The Stand** – Altered virus proves remarkably efficient. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/166 "2003-04-01T16:49:23Z")
**Amadeus** – Institutionalized musician reflects upon colleague’s career. **The World According to Garp** – Fatherless writer settles into domestic life, with mixed results. **Dangerous Liaisons** – Complex coiffures, raiment provide little hindrance to promiscuity. **Cold Mountain** – Walking home can take a really long time. **The Bridges of Madison County** – _National Geographic_ foots bill for randy photographer’s conquests. **O Brother Where Art Thou?** – Latent musical ability discovered in trio of escaped convicts. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/167 "2003-04-01T20:46:26Z")
Gone With the Wind - Girl learns about the value of real estate from her dad. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/168 "2003-04-01T20:50:30Z")
Monster’s Ball: Racist maybe not so racist after all. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/169 "2003-04-01T20:55:28Z")
Titanic - Sometimes the price of a first class ticket is really worth it; sometimes not so much. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/170 "2003-04-01T20:57:03Z")
**Shrek** An ogre clears out his swamp. **Dogma** Wisconsin sucks. **Fargo** People from Brainerd talk funny. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/171 "2003-04-01T21:06:05Z")
The Red Tent - In the olden days having your period was a good excuse for laying around. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/172 "2003-04-01T21:08:12Z")
_Tears of the Sun_. Despite being surrounded by billions of dollars of equipment, military officer must stand on the deck of an aircraft carrier for his cell phone to work. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/173 "2003-04-01T21:17:49Z")
This is so addictive. **Girl With a Pearl Earring** – Servant girl’s domestic duties interrupted by master’s whims. **The Sixth Sense** – Hallucinations worrisome for Philadelphia youth. ---
**Author:** ![fanzing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@fanzing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fanzing)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/174 "2003-04-01T21:19:03Z")
I stopped reading after the first few so that I could do my own without any influence from others. (By the way, the classic of this genre is the TV guide summary of “Wizard of Oz” as a “A young girl travels to a magical land where she kills the first person that she meets, then joins with others to engage in further killings.” (I’m sure that isn’t 100% right; I’m doing it from memory.) Anyway, here are mine: Dark City: A man is frustrated by urban renewal. Apollo 13: A moon mission gets called off and the astronauts return home. The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Two people attend a party after their car breaks down. Falling Down: A fired defense contractor has a bad day. Sling Blade: A dimwitted man adjusts to life on his own. Forrest Gump: A dimwitted man adjusts to life on his own. Dumb and Dumber: Two men drive to Colorado to return a suitcase. The Perfect Storm: The crew of a fishing boat dies when their freezer breaks. Godzilla: An endangered species attempts to reproduce but is threatened by man. Schindler’s List: The labor woes of a German military contractor. Untouchables: Dozens of people die while trying to purchase Canadian whiskey. Halloween: A man returns to his boyhood home for the holidays. The Hunchback of Notre Dame: A church employee falls for a beautiful dancer. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/175 "2003-04-02T06:38:09Z")
**Devil’s Advocate** A father is reunited with his adult son. **Beverly Hills Cop** Eddie Murphy vacations in California. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/176 "2003-04-02T12:28:30Z")
_The Last Starfighter_ A young man’s video game obsession pays off big. _Ladyhawke_ Two lovers keep missing each other. _The Transporter_ A solitary man has an awkward encounter with a woman. _Thirteen Days_ Two stressful weeks in the lives of some executives. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/177 "2003-04-21T08:06:09Z")
I just saw this movie, and I’m angry, so: **The Piano** : A mute, adulterous, cocktease moves to New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/178 "2003-04-21T08:20:50Z")
**Valley of the Dolls** : Rural girl uses prescription medications. **Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas** : Journalist fails to cover the Mint 500 race. **The Andromeda Strain** : Epilepsy, lasers jeapordize human life. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/179 "2003-04-21T08:29:43Z")
**Saving Private Ryan** : Young man’s French excursion goes awry. **Dr. Strangelove** : Formerly handicapped scientist regains use of legs. **Mulholland Drive** : Two women make out. **Duck Soup** : Lowly salesman gets cushy government job. ---
**Author:** ![Rigel\_Haloran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rigel\_Haloran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigel_Haloran)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-sentence-summaries-that-miss-the-point/161774/180 "2003-04-21T09:58:52Z")
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