XWord Muggles Forum

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.

Crossed the MOAT...thanks Ben!

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.

I can name that movie in five minutes.

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!

Just 2 more solvers:

Qmark
Abide

We're up to 36 now. Let's see if nudges help anyone...

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.

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

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

Stay well

Count me across the moat! Needed the nudges!

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.

Moat crossed. Thanks, Ben.

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.

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


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!

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.