Movie or TV titles that aren't obvious

[Orbert]

Got the idea from the "Greatest Hit Men" thread, discussing the movie Collateral.  The word "collateral" is in the movie exactly once, when Jamie Foxx's character complains about all the stuff going on, and how he's just collateral.  (Actually, it is supposedly the last name of Tom Cruise's character, but Tom thought that it sounded stupid and convinced them to just use the character's first name, Vincent, throughout the movie.)  So I'm trying to think of other movies where the title isn't something obvious.

Bad Example:  My Cousin Vinny.  The main character in the film.

Good Example:  To Kill a Mockingbird.  No birds were killed in the making of this film, and it's not what the movie is about.

[Prog Snob]

Vanilla Sky.

[Adami]

Breaking the Waves

[MirrorMask]

This will make no sense to you but I will report an ATROCIOUS case of bad translation, actually, not even a translation, just a nonsensical decision to rename a movie.

You all know it as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", in italian it was labeled as, I  translate literally back into english, "If you leave me I'll delete you". A title that would lead everyone to think about it as a whimsical comedy, rather than the mindfuck of a movie that it actually is.

[Orbert]

"If you leave me I'll delete you"?  Holy crap, that is atrocious.

Vanilla Sky.

I'm trying to remember if I saw that one.  If I did, I don't think I ever figured out why it's call "Vanilla Sky".  Is there any kind of reference to the sky, or is it the code name of something?  Or is it literally just a cool-sounding phrase that they thought would make an intriguing movie title?

Breaking the Waves

I swear, I thought this was a movie about surfing or surfers.  Didn't a movie come out around the same time that was about surfing or surfers?  This was on cable late at night one time and I watched it mostly out of boredom, and maybe it's because I was dozing in and out of the movie, but it didn't make sense anyway, and they never did go surfing.  Also, I thought I heard that Emily Watson got naked in it (which was why I was watching it), but I must've dozed through that, too.

[Adami]

Breaking the Waves is a brilliant film, minus the very very very ending of it. It's not a fun exciting film, it's a super depressing character study.

[Orbert]

So what does the title mean?

[BlackInk]

Vanilla Sky.

I'm trying to remember if I saw that one.  If I did, I don't think I ever figured out why it's call "Vanilla Sky".  Is there any kind of reference to the sky, or is it the code name of something?  Or is it literally just a cool-sounding phrase that they thought would make an intriguing movie title?

I think 'Vanilla Sky' was the name of a painting they look at at one point in the movie. Sort of relevant to the movie in some other way but I don't want to spoil anything if someone hasn't seen it. Good movie though.

[Orbert]

I don't think I've seen it.  There was a period there where Tom Cruise had a bunch of movies that I never got a chance to see for one reason or another.  I didn't see Minority Report until years later, never seen Magnolia or Jerry Maguire, caught Collateral and all the Mission Impossible movies later on video or cable.  I really should get caught up on Tom, because I pretty much like everything I've ever seen him do, but I don't want to feel like a fanboi who literally has to see everything Tom Cruise has ever done (not that there's anything wrong with that).

[Adami]

So what does the title mean?

I have no clue. I'm sure there's some deep metaphorical meaning that I can't be bothered to figure out.

Also the end takes place on the water? Maybe that too. Still a brilliant movie.

[Orbert]

That's awesome.  No seriously, the title has a meaning, or maybe not, we're not even sure, and that's just how it is.  I think that's cool.  That's exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to fish out with this thread.

[TAC]

A Clockwork Orange.

[Adami]

Chinatown.

American History X.

The Green Mile.

[Orbert]

Chinatown.

Never seen it, but I've always assumed that it takes place in Chinatown.

[Big Hath]

I think Chariots of Fire fits your definition?

[Adami]

Chinatown.

Never seen it, but I've always assumed that it takes place in Chinatown.

Amazing movie, but doesn't really have much to do with Chinatown. The reference it a few times and a small part of the movie is there, but it's largely absent.

[Orbert]

I think Chariots of Fire fits your definition?

Probably.  I've never seen that one, but I've seen trailers (and countless parodies) with guys running in what look like togas or other ancient Greek attire, and I think of the god Zeus riding his flaming chariot across the sky, according to ancient mythology.  But he probably doesn't show up in the movie or anything.

[NoseofNicko]

How about The Room? It takes place in several rooms and there isn't a specific room that is highlighted. Why the fuck is it called The Room?

[Zydar]

Scary Movie

Wasn't scary at all

[hefdaddy42]

Reservoir Dogs.

No reservoir, no dogs.

[Prog Snob]

I don't think I've seen it.  There was a period there where Tom Cruise had a bunch of movies that I never got a chance to see for one reason or another.  I didn't see Minority Report until years later, never seen Magnolia or Jerry Maguire, caught Collateral and all the Mission Impossible movies later on video or cable.  I really should get caught up on Tom, because I pretty much like everything I've ever seen him do, but I don't want to feel like a fanboi who literally has to see everything Tom Cruise has ever done (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Vanilla Sky is a really good one. Totally obscure. Not as much as Eyes Wide Shut, but still really good. Eyes Wide Shut is one of his best films and it has everything to do with the fact that it was done by Kubrick.

[Orbert]

I appreciate what Kubrick did as an artist and filmmaker, and I like most of his films, but I could not get into Eyes Wide Shut.  I thought it was a strange combination of boring, tittilating, and mostly incomprehensible.  I saw it once, kept falling asleep, tried it again, and decided that it just wasn't going to hold my attention.  I had no idea what the fuck was going on, no investment in any of the characters, and it almost seems like that was the point.

[BlackInk]

I didn't love Eyes Wide Shut either. It was fine, but nothing special. I prefer Vanilla Sky.

[Adami]

Magnolia.
Cloud Atlas.
Apocalypto.
There will be blood.
Hard Candy.
A Mighty Wind.
Once.

[Prog Snob]

I appreciate what Kubrick did as an artist and filmmaker, and I like most of his films, but I could not get into Eyes Wide Shut.  I thought it was a strange combination of boring, tittilating, and mostly incomprehensible.  I saw it once, kept falling asleep, tried it again, and decided that it just wasn't going to hold my attention.  I had no idea what the fuck was going on, no investment in any of the characters, and it almost seems like that was the point.

I broke it apart bit by bit and, being a Freemason, I wound up appreciating the symbolism more. That whole secret society feel was intriguing.

[BlackInk]

It was intriguing indeed, the problem for me is that it didn't lead anywhere. It ended when I thought I was only halfway through the movie.

[hefdaddy42]

I thought Eyes Wide Shut was just awful.

[Orbert]

Thank You!  I knew I couldn't be the only one.

I tried telling my friends that I couldn't get into it, and they were all "But Nicole Kidman's ass!  Dude!"  Yeah yeah, nice ass, actually too skinny, but seriously, I'm supposed to sit through a three hour movie because it showed Nicole's ass?  "But the orgy scene!"  Seriously?  If I wanted to watch naked people doing weirdass shit, that's what porn is for, and I don't even want to watch naked people doing weirdass shit.

[hefdaddy42]

Back to the thread topic:

Cloverfield.  No clover, no field.  No place or street named Cloverfield.  Just a big-ass alien monster tromping his way through Manhattan.

[BlobVanDam]

Back to the thread topic:

Cloverfield.  No clover, no field.  No place or street named Cloverfield.  Just a big-ass alien monster tromping his way through Manhattan.

The monster's name was actually Sir Edward Cloverfield III. It's in the credits somewhere, I think.

[Orbert]

I never saw the movie (because I heard it was dumb) but I do remembering hearing that Cloverfield was the name of the creature.  What I don't understand is how we know this.  Did it introduce itself?  Leave a business card at city hall or something?  "I am Cloverfield, roar!"

[BlobVanDam]

I never saw the movie (because I heard it was dumb) but I do remembering hearing that Cloverfield was the name of the creature.  What I don't understand is how we know this.  Did it introduce itself?  Leave a business card at city hall or something?  "I am Cloverfield, roar!"

Godzilla told them.

[King Postwhore]

I couldn't read the credits since I had motion sickness. 

[BlackInk]

I never saw the movie (because I heard it was dumb) but I do remembering hearing that Cloverfield was the name of the creature.  What I don't understand is how we know this.  Did it introduce itself?  Leave a business card at city hall or something?  "I am Cloverfield, roar!"

No, Cloverfield is not mentioned or shown anywhere in the movie as far as I'm aware. The monster might be officially called Cloverfield, but it's not in the film.

I actually like the movie though. One of the few found footage attempts I enjoy.

[hefdaddy42]

I never saw the movie (because I heard it was dumb) but I do remembering hearing that Cloverfield was the name of the creature.  What I don't understand is how we know this.  Did it introduce itself?  Leave a business card at city hall or something?  "I am Cloverfield, roar!"

We don't know it, because it isn't true.

Not sure where you heard it was dumb.  I think the vast majority of giant monster films are dumb, but this is better than most.  It's also one of the best "found footage" films (make of that what you will).

I really enjoyed the film.