Can you name that film by its middle frame?

[MDH257]

If you’ve ever been perplexed by the small photographs that are used to represent YouTube clips, you’re not alone.

 

Why does the photo that links to Christina Aguilera’s “Hurt” video depict some guy in a hat, for example? Is that really the most effective way to entice YouTube users to watch the clip?

 

Like every such promo image on YouTube, the photo was selected automatically, with no regard to its actual content: It’s the frame that falls precisely in the middle of the clip.

 

From a promotional standpoint, these “middle frame” images are hit-or-miss. As the basis for a pop-culture quiz, on the other hand ...

 

http://www2.tbo.com/static/special_reports/movie-midpoints/

 

I got 22 out of 45.

 

EDIT:

For the record the one's I got were: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 42, 43, 45.

Seven were movies I hadn't seen.

I had close calls on two more:

On #18 I couldn't palce the movie even though I recognized Ian Holm in the picture. On #39 I guessed the wrong Woddy Allen movie.

Edited June 3, 2007 by MDH257

[Craig Th]

Those pictures are way too small.

[The Amazing Rando]

Yeah, maybe two or three times bigger and it might have been easier to name 'em.

[Mik]

You got 22? Seriously?

 

I got 5.

[bob_barron]

I got 9

[Vern Gagne]

I got 11.

[Aero]

10

[the pinjockey]

15/45 (only got no. 15 right because it is on right now)

[2GOLD]

32. I have seen way too many movies and I need a life really bad now.

 

Missed:

7, 8, 13 (never saw it), 14, 18, 23, 24 (too random of a shot), 29 (see 24), 33, 38, 40.

And that is only 11 so I also can't god damn count.

 

Make the number 34. Now I feel even worse.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

I got six. I've only seen 19 of the films though.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I got 42. I have no life.

[Ripper]

I got 26. I thought I had 27 but what I thought was Watermelon Man...well..it wasn't.

[Ravenbomb]

44, that wide shot of NY threw me off.

[treble]

6. Ha, I thought Easy Rider was Star Wars. Kinda looks like Chewbaca in there.

[Star Ocean 3]

I got 3, two of them are movies I've never seen.

[Jingus]

Only got 8, with about another half dozen that I was kicking myself for not getting afterwards. Aside from that? Either I haven't seen it or the damn picture was too small or it was just a completely unidentifiable shot.

[krease]

out of the 7 movies on that list I've seen (so many old movies beyond my time), I got 5.

[Jaxxson Mayhem]

I only got 2. The pictures are way too small, and kinda blurry.

[Vern Gagne]

6. Ha, I thought Easy Rider was Star Wars. Kinda looks like Chewbaca in there.

 

That's nothing.

 

17.A Christmas Carol-Because I thought the one guy had a long night shirt on.

 

29.Outbreak-Because it said Outbreak on the screen.

[Craig Th]

You can't even tell that's Vinney Chase in 40.

[Red Baron]

I'm fucking disappointed with myself that I did not get 14.

[CanadianChris]

I could only get 5.

 

Anyone who beat Ken Jennings (who got 28) has spent way too much time watching movies.

[Ravenbomb]

And proud of it.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Ditto!

[Your Paragon of Virtue]

I just don't know how someone could have such a good memory of watching these movies to the point where they remember obscure frames in the middle of the movie, unless you've seen it repeatedly to the point where certain scenes are etched in your memory. How can you do that for over 40?

 

I'm envious, actually, rather than taking the traditional "You have no life" route. I wish I had the discipline to follow through on my movie watching like that, and take the time to make repeat viewings. I have like 50 at least that I haven't seen, and a bunch I have seen once a long time ago and don't remember much about.

[Jingus]

Yeah, cuz a lot of those frames are just nondescript blurry crap that seem like they coould come from 1000 different films. and I've SEEN like 1000 movies if not more. How can anyone have a memory photographic enough to spot them?