Whiskers, Battles, and Big Screen Bummers: Untangling Today’s Crossword Conundrum
Welcome, crossword aficionados! Today’s puzzle presented us with a real stinker, a clue that sent me digging deep into the cinematic archives of flops, fiascos, and films best left forgotten. We’re tackling a clue referencing a “Much-maligned 2019 movie” that one particularly savage critic likened to “Battlefield Earth with whiskers.” Ouch.
Now, let’s break down why this clue is proving so challenging. The key phrases are, of course, “Much-maligned” and the “Battlefield Earth” comparison. This immediately steers us towards critically panned movies released in 2019. We’re not looking for a hidden gem, a misunderstood masterpiece, or a so-bad-it’s-good cult classic. We’re searching for a genuine cinematic misfire, a film that earned the ire of critics and likely disappointed audiences.
The “Battlefield Earth” reference is crucial. John Travolta’s passion project is infamous for its poor writing, laughable special effects, and overall cinematic awfulness. So, the movie we’re hunting needs to be on a similar level of critical disaster. It needs to evoke that same sense of unintentional humor, questionable choices, and ultimately, wasted potential.
The final piece of the puzzle? “With whiskers.” This indicates the presence of cats, rodents, or some other furry, whiskered creature. It strongly suggests that our much-maligned movie involves animals, potentially as central characters. This narrows down the field significantly, but still leaves us with a few possibilities.
Thinking back to 2019, the year was filled with blockbusters and indie darlings, but nestled amongst them were a few films that, shall we say, didn’t quite land. When tackling a tricky crossword clue like this one, it’s essential to consider several factors. The length of the word, the letters you already have, and the overall theme of the crossword puzzle can all offer valuable clues. Think about the tone of the puzzle creator; are they known for dry humor, historical references, or pop culture trivia?
Consider also the genre. Could this be a poorly received family film? Perhaps a sci-fi action movie that fell flat? Or maybe a misguided attempt at a serious drama featuring (you guessed it) whiskered creatures?
The “Battlefield Earth with whiskers” comparison is a brutal assessment, suggesting a combination of poor storytelling, questionable visual effects, and a possibly bizarre or ill-conceived premise. This might indicate a movie that tried to be ambitious but ultimately failed, or one that simply didn’t know what it was trying to be.
Solving crossword puzzles often requires a bit of lateral thinking. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and consider all possibilities, no matter how far-fetched they may seem at first. Remember to use online resources, such as movie review aggregators and lists of the worst films of 2019, to aid your search.
Happy solving, and may your crossword puzzles be ever in your favor!
Available Answers:
CATS.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: 0727-25 NY Times Crossword 27 Jul 25, Sunday