Z - We're Done! Sorta...

Welcome to day twenty-six of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answers to Y: Young Guns and Young Einstein

It's the last day of the Challenge. We're finally done. It's been a long month of movies. Some were easy, some were not so easy. It was fun choosing all the movies. I hope it gave you some ideas for movies to watch or to re-watch. This will be the last movie posted, but check back tomorrow for the answer and a complete recap.

Synopsis
What do you do when your space adventure game turns out to be more than a game? You keep playing... and praying.

Quote
"Do not push the button." - Walter

Character
The Astronaut - He's mysterious, he's a little rude, and he's trapped. Can they save him and themselves or will they be trapped in space with him? And why does he seem familiar?

There are your clues. Can you end the challenge with a correct guess?

Y - Because I Can

Welcome to day twenty-five of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to X: xXx

OK, it's the penultimate day of the challenge. That's right, only two letters left! In honor of this milestone, we have a double shot of movies today. You heard it right, two movies. Could it be that there were two movies that were so good they had to both be honored? Could it be that I couldn't decide which movie to use? I'll let you decide. (Hint: It's mostly the second one.) The first is one of my all-time favorites. The second is just goofy fun that requires shutting down some brain cells during viewing. (If you don't, they will be forcibly shut down for you.)

Quote 1
"Did you guys see the size of that chicken?" - "Dirty Steve" Stephens

Character 1

Jose Chavez y Chavez - In this movie, his characterization is not quite historically accurate. However, he is ridiculously skilled with a gun and a knife, which apparently is historically accurate.

Synopsis 1

Our first movie has an all-star cast as some of history's most notorious gunslingers. It's a fun movie that I think got unfair ratings from critics. C'mon people, it's Lou Diamond Phillips... on a horse!

Quote 2

"If you can't trust the Governments of the world, who can you trust?"

Character 2

Marie Curie - Yep, that Marie Curie, the scientist. She's the love interest. Don't know how historically accurate this one is either.

Synopsis 2

Movie number two is completely different. While it is still based on actual history, it takes a few more liberties. Set in Australia, it takes weirdness to a level that was misunderstood in America when it was released. I think it's an underrated film, but you've got to be in the mood for some ridiculousness for its own sake.

Alright people, let's hear your guesses. Can you get one or both? Let's see.

X - About a Man

Welcome to day twenty-four of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to W: The Wraith

Now we're to everyone's favorite letter in the A to Z Challenge. It doesn't matter what your topic, or if you even have a topic, X is always tricky when you first start out. I'll admit, I wasn't sure what I was going to do for today. But, then it came to me and it was pretty obvious. A bald guy who's name starts with X, leading to the name of multiple movies. Duh.

Character
Augustus Gibbons - He's not the nicest boss anyone could have. But that's OK, because he makes up for it with a complete disregard for his employees' welfare. But he gets results.

Synopsis
Extreme sports, rock music, and a protagonist with a distrust and lack of respect for authority. Yep, it's time to save the world.

Quote
"I like anything fast enough to do something stupid in."

Figured it out yet? If not, check back tomorrow.

W - Who Is He?

Welcome to day twenty-three of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to V: Van Helsing

We're almost to the end. Just four letters left. Today, we're going a little out of the mainstream. It's an indie sci-fi movie from the 80s. Good luck with this one.

Quote
"Bad feelin's don't add up to resurrections, buddy." - Sheriff Loomis

Character

Jake Kesey, played by Charlie Sheen, is new in town. Who is this mysterious stranger with the scars? And how is he related to driver of the black sports car that's out for revenge?

Synopsis

After Jamie is killed by local car thieves who steal cars by cheating in street races, a mysterious stranger in a black sports car appears in town challenging the thieves. The stranger eliminates the thieves one by one. Who is the driver? And what is his relationship with the new kid in town?

I saw this one as a teenager and it has stuck with me for almost thirty years. I don't know why, since it was not very successful. It has developed a small cult following. It also includes a very cool prototype car that I wish had gone into production.

V - Very Fun Movie

Welcome to day twenty-two of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to U: The Usual Suspects

Today we have one of those movies that you watch just to enjoy. The effects are great and the story is simple. Here are your clues.

Synopsis
There's no chance this movie will ever be listed as Hugh Jackman's best. But that's OK, 'cause it's also got Kate Beckinsale. Interesting tidbit, Kate learned to speak Romanian so she could speak English with a Romanian accent. Kate Beckinsale in Romania? There's got to be a vampire or a werewolf involved, right?

Character
Anna Valerious is the last of her family, cursed for the last ten generations. She is determined to destroy her archenemy and end the curse. Years of preparing has made her into a formidable fighter.

Quote
"Vampires, gargoyles, warlocks, they're all the same — best when cooked well."

And there are today's clues. Like I said, not the greatest movie of all time, but it's still good mindless fun.

U - Using up the letters quickly

Welcome to day twenty-one of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to T: Terminator 2: Judgment Day

We're getting very close to the end. That means only a few letters left. Unfortunately, that also means some letters that have very few movies. I don't know if that makes it harder or easier to pick one. So here goes.

Quote
"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

Character
Roger "Verbal" Kint - A disabled conman who is the only survivor of a thief crew that works for a legendary mob boss who may or may not actually exist. The movie is essentially told from Verbal's viewpoint.

Synopsis
Five criminals meet in a lineup. Their lives will never be the same again. And who is Keyser Soze?

T - A Little Late, but I Made It

Welcome to day twenty of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to S: Secondhand Lions

Just a few days left in the challenge. Today we're getting back to scifi and back to franchise films. This is the second movie in an ongoing franchise that is already 30 years old. This movie was the most financially successful of the series so far and almost as popular as the original. Production quality was much better, but the feel of the movies was different. Which is actually better is a matter of taste and preference.

Character
Linda Hamilton's career-defining role, this character goes through significant change from the first to the second movie. Despite being thought insane (including being confined to a mental hospital) she does her best to prepare her son for his important destiny. When the time comes, she is willing to fight for the future of humanity at all costs. But can she destroy the machines without becoming one herself?

Quote
"I know now why you cry. But it's something I can never do." - Can't tell you who said it without giving away the movie. (In case you haven't already guessed it.)

Synopsis

After failing the first time in 1984, the machines make a second attempt in 1991. This sets the pattern for continued attempts in future movies and a television series. The latest installment in the franchise will be released later this year, 31 years after the original. I'm looking forward to this one.

Figured it out yet? I don't think this one will be very difficult. Anyone else looking forward to the new movie?

S - Star... Something... Maybe?

Welcome to day nineteen of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to R: Rush Hour

It's letter S today. Narrowing this one down could have been very difficult. There are so many great movies that start with S with so many great characters. Captain Mal and the rest of the crew on Serenity. Captain Kirk, Spock, etc. on Star Trek. Luke, Han, Leia, and on and on in Star Wars. Sky Captain, The Shadow, Colonel O'Neill and Daniel Jackson in Stargate, Sherlock Holmes. The list just keeps going. But, I didn't choose any of those for today. In case you haven't noticed, I like to slip in a lesser-known movie now and again. So here we go.

Quote
"Twice I've held your life in my hands, and twice I have given it back to you; the next time, your life is mine." - Hub McCann

Character

Jasmine - There are actually two Jasmines in this movie. One is a little past her prime and not quite as impressive as she could have been. The other is the definition of "one true love." Both play very important parts in this movie.

Synopsis

14-year-old Walter Caldwell gets sent to spend the summer with his eccentric, wealthy uncles. It's a toss-up who will get run off first. As the summer progresses, Walter learns more about his uncles, never quite sure if their stories are true. And what about that money?

Despite the complete lack of special effects, not being science fiction, and almost no explosions, this is one of my all-time favorites. I never get tired of watching it.

R - Plenty to Choose From

Welcome to day eighteen of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to Q: Quigley Down Under

It's time for R in our marathon of movies. There are a ton of movies to choose from for today. I finally got it down to one. This is one of my favorite comedies. Totally unexpected when it came out, it produced two sequels and became an instant classic. Don't think this will be the hardest one of the month.

Quote
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMIN' OUTTA MY MOUTH?"

Character
Detective Inspector Lee - Kung fu master, top cop, and funnier than he has any right to be, Lee begins as the proverbial fish out of water in LA. By the end of the movie, he's still half of one of the funniest buddy pairs in recent movie history.

Synopsis
This movie combines the buddy comedy, cop movie, and kung fu into an unforgettable adventure that's more than worth multiple viewings. This is another of those movies that I have to watch every time it comes on TV. It's a can't miss. If you haven't seen it, you owe it to yourself.

Q - Quite the Question Mark

Welcome to day seventeen of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to P: Pacific Rim

Today we get to everyone's favorite letter during this month, Q. Depending on the theme, this one can get quite interesting. There aren't that many movies that start with Q and most of them begin with the word Queen for some reason. Here's a free clue; mine doesn't start with Queen.

Character
Crazy Cora is aptly named. She's about three nuggets short of a Happy Meal and about as loony as a dingo in tap shoes. At least she's still got "Roy" to talk to so she doesn't completely lose her mind.

Quote
"Lady, you're about a half a bubble off plumb, and that's fer sure and fer certain." - "Roy"

Synopsis
Matthew is unsurpassed as a sharpshooter. Unfortunately, refusing to use his skills for a corrupt rancher puts himself in the cross-hairs. With the help of a crazy woman and some aborigine's, Matthew will bring the fight to his enemies in gunslinger style.

Figured it out? If not, try looking at it upside-down. That may actually help today.

P - For the Best Character Name of All Time

Welcome to day sixteen of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to O: O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Today we have the guilty pleasure of guilty pleasures. This movie is, by all reasonable standards, terrible. The plot is simplistic and obvious. There are no surprises. The acting is OK at best (with one significant exception.) The action is over the top. It is quite simply a turn-off-your-brain-and-enjoy-the-ridiculous-awesomeness type of a movie. I've seen it many times.

Synopsis
Robots fight monsters. Who wins? The audience. As stated above, just turn off your brain and enjoy.

Quote
"Today, we are canceling the apocalypse!" - See today's character.

Character
Idris Luther Heimdall Elba himself as Marshall Stacker Pentecost. If there is a better character name, I haven't run across it yet. Elba brings his A game as always. I'm not sure which is the best part of the movie; Idris Elba, the in your face action, or the special effects. But since I'm pretty sure Heimdall can kick my butt, I'll say he wins.

Anyone else love to just shut down the cranial power plant for a couple of hours and just enjoy? Let's hear about it in the comments.

O - Oh Wow! We're Over Halfway Done

Welcome to day fifteen of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to N: The NeverEnding Story

There were a few movies to choose from for the letter O. Including one of my all-time favorites. However, I decided that one was too easy for those who love it, and impossible for those who don't. So I didn't choose Office Space for today. I decided to go with something a little different.

Quote
"We thought...you was...a toad!" - Delmar O'Donnell

Character
Tommy Johnson (the real-life one) is said to have sold his soul to the devil at a Mississippi crossroads for the ability to play guitar. Tommy Johnson (in the movie) says he sold his soul to the devil for the ability to play guitar. Hmm...

Synopsis
It's The Odyssey set in Depression-era Mississippi. A little off-kilter throughout, this movie follows Homer's epic with a retro-modern spin that is unforgettable. It's also one of George Clooney's best (and funniest) roles. And the soundtrack may be more popular than the movie.

I think I've given enough clues to make this one guessable by anyone who's seen it. Let me know if you love it as much as I do.

N - Next Movie

Welcome to day fourteen of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to M: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Now we move on to the letter N. This is another classic from the 80s. Today we're moving to fantasy. Here are the clues.

Synopsis
Based on a book of the same name, this movie spawned two sequels. I still find that ironic considering the title. There was also an animated series and a short HBO series. Reality and fantasy intermix in this imaginative tale. While the special effects look very dated, the story still holds up very well.

Character
Falkor - Falkor is a luckdragon, one of six mentioned, and the only one ever shown in the movie. While not very powerful, he has incredible luck in everything he does, hence the name. He manages to save one of the protagonists more than once.

Quote
"Confronted by their true selves, most men run away, screaming!" - Truer words have seldom been spoken.

Good luck with this one. I think I'll go and watch it.

M - Movie Time!

Welcome to day thirteen of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to L: The Last Starfighter

Today we look at the letter M. This one has some of the best chemistry between the main actors of any movie I've ever seen. So let's get on with the clues.

Characters
John - His job is boring but pays well. His marriage is boring and predictable. He's lying about one and completely wrong about the other.

Jane - She's a corporate executive who never takes work home. Her marriage (to John) is boring and predictable. She's lying about one and completely wrong about the other. Sound familiar?

Quote
"Mom! We are on high alert here. I almost killed you right then! You do not even realize!" - Vince Vaughn

Synopsis

The character descriptions really give the synopsis of the movie as much as possible without spoilers or making it so blatantly obvious my cat can guess the answer. So that's all you get this time. Have fun.

L - Could it be Lord of the Rings?

Welcome to day twelve of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to K: A Knight's Tale

As you can probably guess from the title, today's movie is NOT Lord of the Rings. Any of them. I know that will come as a shock to some who know me, since I consider the Lord of the Rings trilogy to be one of the greatest of all time. But, that's not what we're talking about today. Today's movie goes much further back. We're taking it back to the 80's. Let's see the clues.

Character
Grig - He may look like an iguana on steroids, but he's one of the best navigators a pilot could ask for. He may also be the most gung-ho lizard of all time, determined to fight a desperate battle against incredible odds. He's also a father of 6000 little Griglings.

Quote
"Terrific. I'm about to get killed a million miles from nowhere with a gung-ho iguana who tells me to relax." - Alex Rogan

Synopsis
Alex lives in a trailer park, doing odd jobs to help out around the place. It looks like his life is determined for him. Until he meets a game designer who offers him a chance at another destiny. If he can survive long enough.

See you tomorrow with the answer.

K - Keeping it Going

Welcome to day eleven of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to J: Jurassic Park

Today we get the letter K. This is one of my guilty pleasure movies. It's cheesy and not exactly Oscar-worthy. Some of the acting is almost B-movie quality. But it's a lot of fun and I catch myself watching it almost every time it's on. I also have it on DVD, just in case it's not on.

Quote
"I was naked for a day; you will be naked for an eternity." - Jeffrey Chaucer

Character
Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein is the greatest jouster and swordsman in all of England and France. He is winning tournament after tournament and no one can stop him. Only one problem; there is no Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein.

Synopsis
William will do anything to be a knight. What begins as a means to feed himself and his friends turns into something larger than all of them. Can a man truly change his stars?

See you tomorrow with the answer and a new set of clues.

J - Just Because My Daughter Hates This One

Welcome to day ten of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer for I: Iron Man

Now we get to J. For today's movie, I picked one guaranteed to upset my older daughter. This is one of the few movies that she actually hates. With a burning passion. I can't really blame her after she got forced to watch it in daycare when she was three years old (without parental consent, I might add.) On to the clues.

Quote
Hold onto your butts! (Incidentally, this is also the first line of my first novel. I swear, it will be published some day. Really.)

Synopsis
Scientifically speaking, it's a ridiculous movie. Plot-wise? It's a ridiculous movie. Special effects and pure enjoyment? Give Spielberg another Oscar. I'm sure there's a small space left on his mantle for it. It spawned a franchise that now spans 22 years. The newest entry comes out later this year. I can't wait.

Character
Dr. Ian Malcolm - Played by Jeff Goldblum, Dr. Malcolm is a mathematician specializing in chaos theory. He continually warns of the dangers ahead and is usually ignored. Unfortunately, he turns out to be more right than wrong throughout the movie. He has some great lines in this movie. One of his best characters.

There you go movie fans. I think this one will be one of the easier ones. I'll work on getting you some more difficult ones in future letters.

I - I Love This Movie

Welcome to day nine of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to H: Heartbreak Ridge

Today we're doing the letter I. We're going back to the SciFi genre for this one because, let's face it, that's my type of movie. This one should be a little easier than yesterday, so here goes.

Quote

Give me a scotch. I'm starving. - Robert Downey, Jr.

Character

Happy Hogan - A great character brilliantly understated by actor/director Jon Favreau. While not in many scenes, he makes the most of his screen time with just the right comment delivered in just the right way. Favreau was perfectly cast for the role.

Synopsis

The movie that began a dynasty and changed the way superhero movies are made and perceived forever. No silliness, no reliance on gimmicks over story. This movie put the characters and the story up front and gave the special effects a supporting role. That's a demanding task for a superhero movie. Casting was perfect, story was strong, acting was top notch. One of my favorite movies of all time.

Bet a few of you can guess this one pretty quick. See you tomorrow.

H - As in Clint Eastwood

Welcome to day eight of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to G: Gone in 60 Seconds

It's time for letter H. I had trouble narrowing this one down. There are quite a few SciFi and Fantasy movies for H; The Hobbit (all three), Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Hancock, Highlander (the first one), the Hunger Games. H also has a very good movie based on one of my favorite books of all time, The Hunt for Red October. So, now that you know which movies I didn't choose for today, let's get to the clues.

Quote

Just because we're holding hands doesn't mean we'll be taking warm showers together until the wee hours of the morning. - Clint Eastwood as Gunny Highway

Character

Gunnery Sergeant Highway has a problem with authority when he feels that he's smarter than them, which is nearly always.

Synopsis

Highway's punishment is to lead a band of misfits through training without getting them or himself killed in the process. The movie is a little formulaic and predictable, but it's Clint Eastwood. that usually means goodness. This is no exception.

Guess away cinefiles!

G is for Memphis

Welcome to day seven of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to F: The Fifth Element

Today, we're doing the letter G. Believe it or not, we're switching genre. How's that for a great clue? Narrowing the field to everything that is not SciFi. Here we go.

Synopsis
96 hours to do the impossible. How far will a brother go to save family? This remake kept very little of the original script, but that's fine. It's a fun movie with loads of adrenaline. One of my guilty pleasures.

Quote
'If his unpleasant wounding has in some way enlightened the rest of you as to the grim finish beneath the glossy veneer of criminal life and inspired you to change your ways, then his injuries carries with it an inherent nobility and a supreme glory. We should all be so fortunate. You say, "poor Toby". I say, "poor us".'

Character

Eleanor - If you know the movie, 'nuff said. If you don't, she's the most beautiful character in the movie. Even my wife was drooling. She's dangerous, she's gorgeous, and she'll make him regret ever seeing her; but he can't walk away.

See you tomorrow!

F - More SciFi

Welcome to day six of the A to Z Challenge. If you're here for the first time or if you've forgotten already, this year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post.

Answer to E - The Empire Strikes Back

Today we're doing the letter F. This is a movie that I have to watch every time it's on TV. I also have it on DVD for those times it's not available to watch somewhere else. And yes, it's SciFi. As most of my favorite movies tend to be.

Quote
"Listen lady, I only speak two languages: English and bad English."

Character
Leeloominaï Lekatariba Lamina-Tchaï Ekbat De Sebat - Big name, big responsibility. Fortunately for everyone, she's got a shorter version of her name. Even better, she's here to save the galaxy. Yay!

Synopsis
The galaxy is threatened every 5000 years. Only one being can save it. But who is going to save her? The out of work cab driver, of course! Green? Super green!

E - Of Trilogies

The A to Z Challenge is up to letter E. But first we need to get the name of the D movie.

Answer: Dead Poets Society

Now on to E. This is one of my all-time favorite movies. I'm guessing a few people will get this one right and it's probably too easy, but I couldn't leave it off the list.

Synopsis
Breaking from the normal pattern of trilogies, this middle movie is actually the best of the three. Even 35 years after release, it still stands up as a great film. Building upon its predecessor, this movie's twist was unanticipated by fans everywhere. (Despite many people now trying to claim they saw it coming. Basically an impossibility since the writer didn't have it in the original story and added it late.) Science fiction was changed forever when this movie was released.

Character
Denis Lawson finally got his chance to be both seen AND heard as his character that he portrayed in all three movies. Strangely enough, his character's first appearance (in the first movie of the trilogy) was by another actor and his voice was dubbed by a third actor. We never actually hear Denis Lawson's voice until this movie. All subsequent appearances of the character are by Lawson with his own voice. What a way to treat one of the greatest starfighter pilots of all time.

Quote
"You have failed me for the last time, Admiral."

Good luck with this one. I tried to keep it vague enough to give it SOME difficulty. :)

D - What Movie Is It?

Answer to C - Crimson Tide

How did you do with yesterday's guessing? It's time to move on to letter D. Good luck!

Synopsis
The right teacher can change lives. Unfortunately, that is not in his job description.

Character - (And the answer becomes obvious)
John Keating teaches more than English. He teaches life. But some lessons are not acceptable in the curriculum at Welton Academy. Possibly Robin Williams' greatest performance.

Quote
"No matter what anyone tells you, words and ideas can change the world."

Every writer should know this movie for sure. Even if you don't write, you probably still know this movie. It is one of the all-time greats in my opinion. It came out over 25 years ago, but doesn't feel its age. If you haven't seen it, add it to your to-do list today.

C - What Can It Be?

Answer to B: Blazing Saddles!

Both A and B were pretty easy for some folks. Today, we up the difficulty a little. As usual, post your guesses in the comments.

Quote
"We're here to preserve democracy, not to practice it." - Captain Frank Ramsay

Characters
Captain Frank Ramsay is a no-nonsense kinda captain who believes in the imperial captaincy. His rule is law and every order is to be obeyed without question. He's old school in a new school Navy.

Lt. Commander Ron Hunter is a new school officer of the nuclear Navy. He believes in the "why" of an order as much as the "what." Every bit as strong-willed as his captain, he is willing go stand up for his convictions, regardless of the cost.

Synopsis
What happens when two officers both try to follow orders (and the law) from two different interpretations? When both are right and both are wrong, the strongest will is likely to emerge victorious.

Until tomorrow, guess away!

B - ?? and the Answer to A

It's day two of the A to Z Challenge and that means we start with the letter B today. And of course, we get the name of yesterday's movie.

Yesterday's answer:  Aliens

Let's get to our B movie. I'll admit this one is pretty easy. Some of them this month will be harder, so I'm kinda throwing everyone a bone today.

Synopsis
This movie would never be made today. With its irreverent humor and biting satire, no studio would be willing to risk it. Unfortunately, most moviegoers today would have difficulty understanding the writer/director's method of taking humor to the extreme to point out the absurdity of the subject matter. The movie lambastes racism and bigotry while managing to make us laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. Fun for the sake of being fun, stupid for the sake of being more fun.

Characters - Bart and Jim
Bart is the very definition of "fish out of water". Roped into a situation that is way beyond his control, Bart is set up to fail from the beginning. Despite the odds, he manages to come out ahead in the end through superior wit and cunning.

Jim is just patiently waiting to die an alcoholic's death before getting a new purpose as Bart's plucky sidekick. Will he regain the confidence to be the Waco Kid once again?

Quote
"Hey, where da white women at?" (If that doesn't give it away, you've never seen the movie.)

See you tomorrow with the answer.

A - ????

Welcome to the first installment of the A to Z Challenge for 2015. If you are unsure what that is, see this post. This year's theme is movies! I am posting a quote, a character or two, and a brief synopsis of a movie for each letter. You then get to guess the movie in the comments. Answers will be revealed in the following day's post. So let's get started.

Quote
"Game over man! Game over!" - Bill Paxton as Private Hudson

Character - Newt
Rebecca Jorden, AKA Newt, was only a young child in this movie. The only survivor of her colony, she shows an uncanny ability to survive in the worst of circumstances. The actress playing her, Carrie Henn, won a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor. She earned it.

Synopsis
Really more of a description than a synopsis. So sue me. :) This sequel changed tone and, in some ways, genre from the original movie it followed. It was still considered by most (myself included) to be a fitting successor and every bit as good as the original. One of the all-time great sci-fi movies.

And those are your clues. Let's see your guesses in the comments and I'll give you the answer tomorrow.