-ing Movies

Gemini Cricket · 11-14-2005, 06:52 PM

Have you ever noticed this title trend in movies? Verb ending in -ing and someone's name.

Saving Private Ryan
Finding Nemo
Being John Malkovich
Finding Neverland
Raging Bull
Chasing Amy
Leaving Las Vegas
Finding Forester
Raising Arizona
Waking Ned Devine
Deconstructing Harry
Regarding Henry
Kissing Jessica Stein
Saving Grace
Being Julia
Educating Rita
Guarding Tess
Killing Zoe
Raising Helen
Chasing Liberty
Stealing Beauty
Owning Mahowny
Saving Silverman
Crossing Jordan (TV show)
Serving Sara
Stealing Harvard
Boxing Helena
Raising Cain
Eating Raoul
Feeling Minnesota
Drowning Mona
Divorcing Jack
Chasing Papi

Just thought it was interesting. Are there others?

tikiboy · 11-14-2005, 07:10 PM

I noticed that too!!

Why do they do that!!

When I brought this topic up at work a few years ago, people just rolled their eyes. Good to know someone else out there notices it too.

flippyshark · 11-14-2005, 07:30 PM

Here are a few more - DRIVING MISS DAISY, CROSSING DELANCEY, KILLING MR. GRIFFIN, and the very similar KILLING MISS TINGLE, which was re-edited and retitled TEACHING MISS TINGLE in order to assuage nervous studio heads who feared their target audience might start offing teachers, I guess.

For some reason, I have always found this type of title (present participle - direct object) a little pretentious and off-putting. They sound self-important and fussy. However, there are some excellent movies on this list.

Just for fun, convert all these titles into the much more macho imperative with an exclamation point form. SAVE PRIVATE RYAN! SERVE SARA! EDUCATE RITA! Or try the inclusive and perky sounding form - LET'S FIND NEVERLAND, LET'S CHASE AMY, LET'S EAT RAOUL.

By the way, RAGING BULL does not fit here, but its inclusion made me laugh. (For that matter, REGARDING HENRY isn't really using the same construction either.) If we are admitting such movies, we could add one of my favorite films, BEING THERE. Okay, I'll cut out the grammar-geekiness now.

Moonliner · 11-14-2005, 07:34 PM

Well let's see, I noticed the "present" the new dog left in the hallway, I noticed the leaky toilet bowl, I noticed the car in front of me on the way to work doing 5mph under the speed limit, I noticed the three voice mails and 4 emails waiting for me when I did make it to work, I noticed the three hour meeting I had to sit through, I noticed when 6:00pm rolled around and I was still at work, I noticed the dishes from last night that were still in the sink this evening, but no. I never really noticed the 'ing' thing. That's the trouble with me, I never seem to be up with the ing thing.

Gemini Cricket · 11-15-2005, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

By the way, RAGING BULL does not fit here, but its inclusion made me laugh. (For that matter, REGARDING HENRY isn't really using the same construction either.) If we are admitting such movies, we could add one of my favorite films, BEING THERE. Okay, I'll cut out the grammar-geekiness now.

Yeah, I thought about 'Raging Bull' for awhile. I wasn't sure if it fit or not. I figured he, the boxer, was the bull. But, I dunno.

Why doesn't 'Regarding Henry' fit? 'Regarding' is a verb. ???

I forgot about 'Driving Miss Daisy' and the others. Nice.

Kevy Baby · 11-15-2005, 08:27 AM

Knowing that there had to be some porn titles that fit into this theme, I did a search and discovered The 100 Worst Porn Movie Titles. One that I could find that fit int the theme of the thread:

BEEPING MISS BUFFY

But go check out the others when you aren't at work and they kids aren't behind you to ask, "Dad, what's a ______."

Cadaverous Pallor · 11-15-2005, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Why doesn't 'Regarding Henry' fit? 'Regarding' is a verb. ???

The others are actions an outsider performs - you "Save Private Ryan", you "Chase Amy". The full sentence from this one would be "This is a story Regarding Henry". You can't say you "Regard Henry", it isn't what the title intends.

At least that's my non-grammarian POV.

flippyshark · 11-15-2005, 08:35 AM

Deniro IS the Bull of the title. But Raging is an adjective in this instance, telling us what kind of bull, not what is being done to the bull.

Regarding Henry is a borderline case, at least to my admittedly addled brain. "Regarding' is a verb, but unlike the other titles, it isn't being used here as an active present participle. The movie isn't about the act of looking at Henry. (Let's regard Henry) "Regarding" is being used in the sense of "as pertains to" Henry or "while we're on the subject of" Henry. Admittedly an extremely fine distinction, and I might be off my rocker on this one, hence my immediate apologies for being so picayune. Feel free to make a movie entitled PUMMELING FLIPPYSHARK.

(D'oh - I see GD has beat me to this particular explanation. And I just knew that someone would come up with a porn title. he he he)

Ghoulish Delight · 11-15-2005, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

(D'oh - I see GD has beat me to this particular explanation. And I just knew that someone would come up with a porn title. he he he)

Who did what now?

Personally, I think Regarding Henry counts. I think the verb "Regarding" was chosen very carefully as the title. It could have been "About Henry", or "Concerning Henry". But no, it's "Regarding Henry" and as such, I think the intent is for it to have BOTH meanings. Sure, the immediate, surface meaning is "A movie regarding Henry". But I think it's also supposed to evoke the synonymous meaning, "Considering Henry".

Gemini Cricket · 11-15-2005, 09:55 AM

I understand now. I think.

How about 'Confusing Cricket'?

I'm kidding.

There was a big brouhaha about the script for 'Regarding Henry' way back when. I seem to remember hearing about it. It sold for a lot of money. As soon as it was made and the title was everywhere, people started wanting to get paid for their script like 'RH' was. I'm wondering if that had anything to do with the title trend. It's a stretch, but who knows?

11-14-2005, 06:52 PM	#1
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	-ing Movies Have you ever noticed this title trend in movies? Verb ending in -ing and someone's name. Saving Private Ryan Finding Nemo Being John Malkovich Finding Neverland Raging Bull Chasing Amy Leaving Las Vegas Finding Forester Raising Arizona Waking Ned Devine Deconstructing Harry Regarding Henry Kissing Jessica Stein Saving Grace Being Julia Educating Rita Guarding Tess Killing Zoe Raising Helen Chasing Liberty Stealing Beauty Owning Mahowny Saving Silverman Crossing Jordan (TV show) Serving Sara Stealing Harvard Boxing Helena Raising Cain Eating Raoul Feeling Minnesota Drowning Mona Divorcing Jack Chasing Papi Just thought it was interesting. Are there others?
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11-14-2005, 07:10 PM	#2
tikiboy Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 11	I noticed that too!! Why do they do that!! When I brought this topic up at work a few years ago, people just rolled their eyes. Good to know someone else out there notices it too.
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11-14-2005, 07:30 PM	#3
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Here are a few more - DRIVING MISS DAISY, CROSSING DELANCEY, KILLING MR. GRIFFIN, and the very similar KILLING MISS TINGLE, which was re-edited and retitled TEACHING MISS TINGLE in order to assuage nervous studio heads who feared their target audience might start offing teachers, I guess. For some reason, I have always found this type of title (present participle - direct object) a little pretentious and off-putting. They sound self-important and fussy. However, there are some excellent movies on this list. Just for fun, convert all these titles into the much more macho imperative with an exclamation point form. SAVE PRIVATE RYAN! SERVE SARA! EDUCATE RITA! Or try the inclusive and perky sounding form - LET'S FIND NEVERLAND, LET'S CHASE AMY, LET'S EAT RAOUL. By the way, RAGING BULL does not fit here, but its inclusion made me laugh. (For that matter, REGARDING HENRY isn't really using the same construction either.) If we are admitting such movies, we could add one of my favorite films, BEING THERE. Okay, I'll cut out the grammar-geekiness now.
	Submit to Quotes

11-14-2005, 07:34 PM	#4
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	Well let's see, I noticed the "present" the new dog left in the hallway, I noticed the leaky toilet bowl, I noticed the car in front of me on the way to work doing 5mph under the speed limit, I noticed the three voice mails and 4 emails waiting for me when I did make it to work, I noticed the three hour meeting I had to sit through, I noticed when 6:00pm rolled around and I was still at work, I noticed the dishes from last night that were still in the sink this evening, but no. I never really noticed the 'ing' thing. That's the trouble with me, I never seem to be up with the ing thing. __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
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11-15-2005, 08:27 AM	#6
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	Knowing that there had to be some porn titles that fit into this theme, I did a search and discovered The 100 Worst Porn Movie Titles. One that I could find that fit int the theme of the thread: BEEPING MISS BUFFY But go check out the others when you aren't at work and they kids aren't behind you to ask, "Dad, what's a ______." __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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11-15-2005, 08:35 AM	#8
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Deniro IS the Bull of the title. But Raging is an adjective in this instance, telling us what kind of bull, not what is being done to the bull. Regarding Henry is a borderline case, at least to my admittedly addled brain. "Regarding' is a verb, but unlike the other titles, it isn't being used here as an active present participle. The movie isn't about the act of looking at Henry. (Let's regard Henry) "Regarding" is being used in the sense of "as pertains to" Henry or "while we're on the subject of" Henry. Admittedly an extremely fine distinction, and I might be off my rocker on this one, hence my immediate apologies for being so picayune. Feel free to make a movie entitled PUMMELING FLIPPYSHARK. (D'oh - I see GD has beat me to this particular explanation. And I just knew that someone would come up with a porn title. he he he) Last edited by flippyshark : 11-15-2005 at 08:44 AM.
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11-15-2005, 09:55 AM	#10
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I understand now. I think. How about 'Confusing Cricket'? I'm kidding. There was a big brouhaha about the script for 'Regarding Henry' way back when. I seem to remember hearing about it. It sold for a lot of money. As soon as it was made and the title was everywhere, people started wanting to get paid for their script like 'RH' was. I'm wondering if that had anything to do with the title trend. It's a stretch, but who knows?
	Submit to Quotes