Every seasoned solver knows the feeling: you’re cruising through your daily puzzle, confidently dropping in answers, when you hit a wall. Not just any wall, but a monumental, perplexing obstacle presented as a single, potent phrase. It’s in these moments that the true spirit of crossword solving comes alive, pushing you to dig deeper, to scour your memory banks, and sometimes, to venture into the vast realms of pop culture or history. Today’s featured
crossword clue
perfectly encapsulates this challenging yet immensely rewarding experience.
We’re talking about the truly unforgettable
crossword clue
that reads:
“An assault on the eyes, the ears, the brain, common sense and the human desire to be entertained” (1998)
. Just reading it aloud, you can practically hear the exasperation, the sheer vitriol dripping from every syllable. This isn’t your average, gentle descriptive
crossword clue
; it’s a full-frontal critical broadside, transformed into a cryptic challenge.
What makes this particular
crossword clue
so fascinating, so utterly compelling to unpack? Firstly, it’s a direct quote. Not a paraphrase, not a general sentiment, but a verbatim condemnation. This immediately signals that we’re dealing with a specific piece of media, most likely a film, given the reference to “eyes,” “ears,” and the “desire to be entertained.” The intensity of the language – “assault,” “brain,” “common sense” – paints a vivid picture of something truly spectacular in its perceived failure. It suggests a work that wasn’t just bad, but actively offensive to the senses and intellect of the reviewer.
Then there’s the year: (1998). This single piece of information is gold for any solver tackling this
crossword clue
. The late 90s were a vibrant, often bombastic, era for cinema. Blockbusters were getting bigger, special effects more elaborate, and critical opinions often sharply divided. Knowing the year instantly narrows down the field from the entire history of film to a specific twelve-month window, forcing us to think about what major releases, what significant cinematic events, might have warranted such an epic takedown in that particular year. Was it a sci-fi epic that disappointed? A disaster movie that was too loud? An action flick that lacked substance? The possibilities, while limited by the year, still offer a tantalizing array of choices for this complex
crossword clue
.
Solving a
crossword clue
like this isn’t merely about recalling a title; it’s about engaging in a piece of cultural archaeology. It requires understanding the critical landscape of the time, the common tropes and expectations, and identifying a specific work that generated such a memorable, scathing review. It’s a test of not just memory, but of deduction and a keen awareness of popular culture. For many, a challenging
crossword clue
that delves into film or literary criticism is the most satisfying kind to crack, because the answer, once revealed, often comes with its own rich backstory and cultural context.
So, when you encounter a
crossword clue
that delivers such a punch, don’t despair. Embrace the journey. Think about the era, the hyperbole, the implied genre. Consider the clash between critical reception and, perhaps, audience appeal. These unique, quote-based
crossword clues
are designed not just to test your knowledge, but to spark your curiosity and remind you of the rich tapestry of human expression – even when that expression is one of utter disdain. This is the beauty of the well-crafted
crossword clue
, transforming a brutal review into an engaging puzzle for you to conquer.![]()
Available Answers:
ARMAGEDDON.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: 1126-25 NY Times Crossword 26 Nov 25, Wednesday
