"Name That Movie" by benchen71

Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? A weekly meta crossword constructed by forum member Ben (aka benchen71). These metas range from relatively easy to more challenging, depending on how many Australianisms he puts in them! Puzzles are posted in a new thread every Tuesday, with nudges appearing on Saturdays, and the solution coming out on Mondays. (At least, that's the plan. Given he lives in Australia, and they are so far ahead of the US time-zone-wise, things may get posted early!)
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benchen71
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#21

Post by benchen71 »

Here we are at the end of the first 24 hours, and here's the first batch of successful solvers for you!

markhr
Laura M
Schmeel
Pair O Ducks
Meg
Cindy Weatherman
Darth
MatthewL
Danny K Bernstein
Jaclyn
boharr
Hector
whimsy
woozy
Dave C
Tim
LarsCaine
Bird Lives
FrankieHeck
ajk
Tom Wilson
heidi
edestlin
rjy
DrTom
kurtalert
JM
HeadinHome
imontoo
DCBilly
hoover
KayW
Berto
I K Snamhcok

We start with 34.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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Qmark
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#22

Post by Qmark »

Crossed the MOAT...thanks Ben!
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woozy
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#23

Post by woozy »

KayW wrote: Tue Jul 09, 2024 8:45 pm
(Siskel and Ebert approve! - not sure how popular they are/were outside the Chicago area)
I am soooo tempted to tease you and pretend they were virtually unknown.

I think it is inarguable that they were mega-stars and the most well-known film critics in history.
GUAVA is not an anagram of VAGUE
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Abide
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#24

Post by Abide »

I can name that movie in five minutes.
The site is just a web page, a meeting place, a clubhouse - it's the group that's special.
—Brian MacDonald
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benchen71
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#25

Post by benchen71 »

Abide wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:49 pm I can name that movie in five minutes.
That would have definitely put you at the top of the leader board had you started solving the instant I released the puzzle. But 4pm my time may not have been a convenient time where you are! :D
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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#26

Post by benchen71 »

Just 2 more solvers:

Qmark
Abide

We're up to 36 now. Let's see if nudges help anyone...
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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#27

Post by benchen71 »

Nudges, in order of increasing blatancy:

1. 76A points to a meta hint in 49D: "They bring things together (three things, to be exact!)"

2. The puzzle title also consists of three words. So look for three grid entries that can be brought together to help you "name that movie".

3. You are looking for four groups of three grid entries.

4. There are four groups of three entries in the same row that provide you with a movie plot summary.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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Jeremy Smith
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#28

Post by Jeremy Smith »

Man, did I overcomplicate this! Clever one and lots of fun! Thanks, Ben!
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Streroto
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#29

Post by Streroto »

Wow me too. Very nice (in retrospect)!
Thanks for some between-time fun!

Stay well
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Ergcat
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#30

Post by Ergcat »

Count me across the moat! Needed the nudges!
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#31

Post by benchen71 »

Solver update!

Sharkicicles
omnilynx
Jeremy Smith
Tyrpmom
Streroto
Ergcat
Spid4567
Johnny Luau

That's 44 so far. Last update before the answer reveal, Monday morning Australia time.

FYI, I was asked to fill in on Crossword Fiend today, blogging about the WSJ Saturday puzzle.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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Cinny
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#32

Post by Cinny »

Moat crossed. Thanks, Ben.
Cindy Heisler
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benchen71
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#33

Post by benchen71 »

Final solver update, followed by an early answer reveal (since I'm going to be a bit busy tomorrow morning at the usual time!)

Mr Tex
frostyjhammer
Carolyn
Cindy Heisler

That's a grand total of 48.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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#34

Post by benchen71 »

Here's the solution to "Name That Movie":

Name That Movie (solution).png

The trickiest part of constructing this meta was trying to summarise the plot of a movie in three words in a way that will be recognisable to solvers, and then fitting those trios into a grid so that they're symmetrically located! :D
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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KayW
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#35

Post by KayW »

Those plot summaries were PERFECT, Ben. It probably helped that I happened to see all of the movies involved, but I got them all right away. A truly remarkable construction.
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