The late late movie on cable right now is the 1984 Coen Brothers film "Blood Simple." Even though The I should be asleep, it's no use. I'm hooked. It's a great film, and not really a film that one can have on in the background. 

Missing out on the subtleties (by attempting to write while half-watching) is to miss out on the essence of the film. "Blood Simple" was the first major film release for the Coen Brothers, yet it comes off like the work of seasoned vets. Some of the actors who appeared in the film would turn up in other Coen Brothers films (notably Frances McDormand, who also turned up at the altar next to Joel Coen in 1984). 

In the same manner that Spielberg frequently casts Tom Cruise and Tim Burton repeatedly uses Johnny Depp, the Coen Brothers would develop a group of actors who would rotate in and out of their films. There's McDormand, who would later make her star turn in "Fargo," along with others like John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and John Turturro. 

Veteran character actor Dan Hedaya's only Coen Brothers film was "Blood Simple," in which he's one of the five main characters. But he has a credit in common with actress Frances McDormant. Both had recurring roles in a popular 80's TV cop drama, although it doesn't look like their characters ever appeared together in the same episode. What was the show?

Last week the sky was falling over in Russia, in the form of a meteor that fell to earth. Fortunately nobody overreacted in the fashion predicted by at least a few apocalyptic films from the 80's - no counterstrike, no accidental armageddon. And anyways, WWIII is SUPPOSED to be initiated by the release of a red balloon, not by a meteorite.

Comedian, Steven Colbert got the opportunity to make jokes about the 80's arcade game "Asteroids" before The I had the chance (Grrr), but we can still use the occasion to offer some "Asteroids" related trivia. Atari's "Asteroids" was the most successful arcade game the company ever released, and it has long since earned an exalted status among video games.

Shortly after its release in 1979, the game inspired sequels, home versions, imitators, and bootlegs, some of which are still showing up today. Rumor has it there's supposed to be a Hollywood film inspired by the game. I remembers how, intentionally or not, the game's appearance coincided with the release of the first Star Wars sequel "The Empire Strikes Back." The asteroid chase was one of the best parts of the film, and upon exiting the Mall theater after watching it for the 27th time, one could head over to the arcade for several rounds of Atari's "Asteroids." 

Several films from the 80's featured shots of "Asteroids" arcade game, either in the background, or being played by the characters. These included "Fast Times At Ridgemont High," "War Games," and "Terms Of Endearment." But perhaps the most ironic, given last weeks dashcam images of the Russian meteor streaking through the sky, was a 1984 film starring Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelli Maroney, and Robert Beltran. It featured teenagers left to fend for themselves in a post apocalyptic wasteland populated by zombies, only this time thermonuclear war was not actually to blame. What was the name of the film?

Scanning through the endless newsfeeds, I've noted that an online friend has posted a video by Kid Creole and The Coconuts. Hearing Kid Creole takes me back to my college days. Kid Creole's third album "Tropical Gangsters" was in regular rotation at the time, and understandably so. Probably the standout album in the band's catalog, it featured the U.K. hits "Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy" and "Stool Pigeon." 

Ol' Kid Creole was ahead of the curve, too. The record had swing before the swing craze, "gangsters" before the gangstas, and an homage to Cab Calloway (in the form of the Kid himself) years before Janet Jackson's "Alright" (to be fair, Ms. Jackson did get the genuine article for her vid.) Kid Creole's Cab Calloway inspired persona was all part of his schtick, the invention of frontman August Darnell. Darnell an eager and energetic performer from the Bronx who started his first band in the 60's, and spent time in Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band during the 70's. 

Putting together a latin swing ensemble and releasing a cycle of theme albums about a mystery woman, all the while appearing in a yellow zoot suit and fedora, might not have seemed like an obvious move in 1980. But Kid Creole's catchy tunes caught a break on the U.K. charts, and the band has managed to persist in one form or another to this day. Not only that, they've had several appearances in major films, they produced stage shows, they had their own T.V. movie, and they even collaborated with Prince and Sheila E. Perhaps we'll save their six degrees of separation with the New Wave Blitz crowd for next week, but for now: 

The band's breakthrough 1982 album "Tropical Gangsters" was released in the U.S., but the American record label changed the title. Perhaps they were nervous about the notion of "gangsters" as a theme for a record (an anxiety they've clearly overcome since), but they decided to call it something else. So what was the U.S. title of Kid Creole & The Coconuts' third album?

Last week's "Message" touched on the subject of movie franchise 'reboots,' as well as movies inspired by comic books and graphic novels. One of the possible reboots, actually more of a live action remake, that could have happened was a reinterpreted version of the Manga/Anime classic "Akira." I say 'could have happened,' because even though its been on and off the table in various forms since the 90's, it appears to once again have been put on hold. 

In The my opinion, it should stay on hold. One might suspect that a Hollywood remake would be a little too likely to get it wrong, and announcements of what the movie company wanted to do with the property only underscored those suspicions. Online fan sites have long since raised a ruckus over the proposal to set the film in New York and cast a bunch of Europeans, so there's not much more to do here than to agree. But if I was going to go ahead and rant anyways, it would seem that these movie people have a poor grasp of context. There's a reason why an apocalyptic story centered around an obliterated city has a greater resonance when set in Japan. Would "Roots" tell the same story if it were redone and set in Denmark? Besides, were they going to rename all the characters? If not, how would they explain Kaneda, Tetsuo, and Kei, played by Garrett, Michael, and Kristen, hanging out with Kiyoko, Takashi, and Yamagata in Central Park? Kinda hoping we never know. Plus, the original 1988 film was already great, and it was (appropriately) Anime. 

The comic series that inspired it was even better, insofar as it offered a much better opportunity to develop the characters and the world they lived in. Like the Judge Dredd comic mentioned last week, "Akira" was originally serialized in a larger magazine publication starting back in 1982. It also got collected together and republished, both in Japan and over here in the U.S. But what was the name of the Japanese Manga magazine that originally ran episodes of "Akira?"

The Reboot. A term common to the movie industry and comic book fans, the reboot is not quite a sequel, not quite a remake. The reboot is to film as the remix is to music (not quite a cover, but not exactly an original). Judging by the recent proliferation, the reboot is on the verge of becoming its own genre. 

Modern movie reboots have some things in common: They're usually applied to franchises or series, although they don't have to be. They rely on the fan's undying affection for the original premise, irrespective of the actual people involved. But moreover, they're usually inspired by the feeling that the first attempt got it wrong somehow, set the wrong tone, or at least could be improved upon. Sometimes they're right (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Batman, Lord of the Rings, Godzilla, earlier attempts at Captain America), sometimes they're wrong (Planet Of The Apes, Superman Returns). For some only time will tell (The Punisher, Man of Steel, Robocop), and some will have a hell of a time overcoming fan skepticism no matter how they turn out because nobody should have ever even THOUGHT about messing with the original (Akira, The Crow, Prometheus). The cynic can't avoid the conclusion that its a cash in, though. And as such, a profitable reinvention might work out nicely for the movie studios and those who own the original rights. But for those cases where the original creators are out of the loop, don't own the rights (or there are no rights to be owned), aren't consulted or even acknowledged, where its clear that the rebooters are clearly making reference to the original work in their zeal to entice an audience and are trying to capitalize off of the reputation of that work even though they had absolutely nothing to do with the building of that reputation, in those cases any true fan should refuse to support these frauds no matter how much that fan misses the original. 

The casual patron is one thing, but how can someone calling themselves a true fan take part in a shameless knock-off without at least acknowledging the affront to the original? Furthermore, it really underscores how the copycat, along with their accomplices at the venue, are collectively incapable of coming up with an original concept, let alone promoting their rehash without making clear and overt references to the original work that they're trying to rip off (all the while conveniently abstaining from acknowledging those who labored under difficult circumstances to create the work that these charlatans are only too happy to bastardize without due credit. It's all well and good to smear a person's reputation by claiming that THEY were "difficult to work with," without acknowledging the soul crushing difficulty of the circumstances imposed by the inflexible and often irrational management. Anyone can be all congenial when they haven't suffered for their creation, let's see how chipper they are after going all in with that nutjob for the long haul!!)

*ahem*

One such movie reboot which could't help but improve upon the previous attempt is last year's "Dredd." While I haven't seen "Dredd," I imagine that it would have a lower threshold of acceptance from fans to overcome than a sequel to "Supergirl." From the moment it was announced that the 1995 movie adaptation "Judge Dredd" would star Sylvester Stallone in the title role, fans of the original comic book character felt their own sense of dread. And, well, they were right. While that film can be as enjoyable as any other action adventure fantasy flick to the casual viewer, anyone with any appreciation for the Judge Dredd of U.K. comic fame had every right to be incensed. I mean, . . . Dredd takes off his helmet in the film. . . . !!! Never mind the corny life affirming ending and the love interest, can't they even get the smallest details right? As a comic character, Judge Dredd got his start way back in 1977. But like new wave music, Judge Dredd was a cultural phenomenon that really hit full speed in the 80's. The character was created for a comic magazine that featured a number of different story lines, but would later branch out to a dedicated publication. There would later be a U.S. version as well, and despite not having been created by DC or Marvel, the character of Judge Dredd eventually ranked #35 on IGN's list of 100 all time greatest comic book characters. So what was the name of the U.K. comic magazine that first serialized the character Judge Dredd?

Earlier this week we bid adieu to 2012, and I gotta say, it was a pretty good year. Not my favorite, but a good year none the less. Thirty years ago last October, MGM released a movie called "My Favorite Year." Charmingly innocent and replete with plenty of 80's era sentimentality, it basically fictionalized the youthful experiences of one of the filmmakers, the legendary Mel Brooks. 

Early in his career, Brooks had worked on Sid Caesar's "Your Show Of Shows." One of the guests on the show back then was matinee idol Erol Flynn, and although the actual appearance of Flynn on the show was uneventful, the idea of a forgotten movie star resurfacing for a TV appearance led to the concept for "My Favorite Year." 

The film embellishes the plot by having its hero reemerge as a washed up drunk, along with subplots involving the criminal underworld and a romantic interest for the narrator. But it's a Peter O'Toole film, and he is unforgettable as the aging matinee idol. O'Toole's character sits alongside Clint Eastwood's William Money and Willem Defoe's Max Schreck, although O'Toole's is a much more comedic interpretation. In deference to perhaps the greatest swashbuckler of cinema's golden age, the screenwriters gave O'Toole's character a name which sounds awful close to Erol Flynn, but not quite. What was the name of Peter O'Toole's character in "My Favorite Year?"

Sadly, musician Ravi Shankar passed away this week. It may seem like an odd acknowledgement to mention Shankar in a forum dedicated to 80's Trivia. After all, Ravi Shankar might be more readily associated with the 60's, George Harrison, Monterey Pop, and (of course) Woodstock. But such was Shankar's relevance and influence. At one point he was considered to be the most internationally recognizable person from the whole of India. He was considered to be one of, if not the pre-eminint, masters of the Sitar. His international success paved the way artists like Monsoon, Sheila Chandra, and Ofra Haza to score hits on the western pop culture charts, not to mention encouraging the "world beat" phenomenon of the mid 80's (with a little help from globalization, of course). And anyone who is a fan of music in general could not be unmoved by the expressiveness, artistry, and complexity of Ravi Shankar's music. Shankar's catalog of recordings spans the past five decades. In 1982, he got an Academy Award nomination for the soundtrack he recorded for one of the great epic bio-pics of the 80's. Shankar was the obvious choice for the gig, too. What was the name of the film?

Today, we're pitting film actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Winona Ryder against each other in a contest to determine which one was cooler. Both actresses got their start in the 80's, and both were child stars that went on to have successful careers as adults (not always an easy feat!)

Sarah Jessica Parker was the third actress to play the lead in the Broadway production of "Annie." She would follow that with numerous television roles, appearances in "Footloose" and "Firstborn," and a starring role in "Girls Just Want To Have Fun." Her career really clicked in the 90's, with star turns in "L.A. Story" and "Honeymoon In Vegas," and then her signature role in the HBO series "Sex And The City."

But, while many will always remember her as Manhattan Sex Columnist Carrie Bradshaw, children of the 80's might be more inclined to remember her for her character on the short lived 80's sitcom "Square Pegs." The show only lasted one season, but it's unvarnished portrayal of the trials of adolescence presaged everything from John Hughes films to "Freaks & Geeks." What was the name of Sarah Jessica Parker's character on "Square Pegs?"

Bonus Question: Much as it was with Parker, Winona Ryder's most significant roles as an actress came in the 90's. But the film "Heathers" was probably more satisfying for anyone who felt tormented by their high school experience. Who hasn't wanted to blow up the school on Prom Night? Ironically, Ryder's agent begged her not to do the film, predicting it would be the end of her career. Instead, it cemented her reputation for being able to sympathetically portray a young person who exists at the fringes of the social order. In any case, if one looks closely, it's evident that the creators of the film "Heathers" were very focused on teen archetypes in conceiving of the film. In fact, two of the characters in the film are named after well known teen comic book characters Which ones?

Back in 1988, Tom Cruise was in a movie that spent a good part of its time on some fabulous beaches in Jamaica. But Cruise's character wasn't on vacation, he was down in the tropics seeking work as a celebrity bartender.

He does find true love, but gets sidetracked by a wealthy female executive in search of a boy toy. He comes to his senses upon returning to New York, and dumps the society dame with the classic line "All things end badly, otherwise they wouldn't end."

The film earned Cruise a 'Razzie' award, and was probably the last time he played a party guy before he started seeking more substantial film roles. What was the name of this film?

Bonus Question: Another film from 1988 also featured plenty of sand and surf, and attempted to recall the beach blanket classics of the Sixties. The film was set in 1963, and follows the adventures of Phoebe Cates and her three friends as they seek one last fling before committing to marriage and adult responsibilities. What's the name of the ocean side community, known for its fabulous beaches, where most of the story takes place?

The New Indiana Jones film "Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull" comes out next week, so in celebration we're pitting two of Harrison Ford's best known characters against each other and letting you decide which one was cooler: Han Solo or Indiana Jones?

Previous 80's Trivia Questions included Stallone Vs. Schwarzeneggar, Nicolas Cage Vs. John Cusack, and Tom Cruise Vs. Kevin Bacon. This time, both contestants are fictional characters played by the same actor, Harrison Ford. Both of these characters are on the American Film Institute's list of all time greatest film heroes, both are rogue-ish adventurers with a quick wit and steady aim, and both are ladykillers.

Han Solo is a pirate when he first appears in the Star Wars series, vicariously appealing as a scoundrel from the wrong side of the galaxy. Of course, the character goes through a transformation when his conscience compels him to act on behalf of others instead of only in his own interests. When we see Han Solo appear in the next two films, he's a ranking member of the rebel alliance, fighting the good fight. In fact, what is his rank in "The Empire Strikes Back?"

Bonus Question: The Indiana Jones series of films from the 80's has the main character fighting lots of soldiers (and pretty much anyone else), even though he himself is not identified as a member of any military organization. No, Dr. Jones is an academic, a Professor of Archeology. According to the label on the package he receives from Venice in the film "Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade," what is the name of the college where Indiana Jones is teaching at the time?

If i asked you the name of Molly Ringwald's character in the film "Pretty In Pink?" Any fan of Molly's films knows that the answer is 'Andie.' Furthermore, fans of "Pretty In Pink" know that the title of the film was inspired by the Psychedelic Furs song of the same name that had come out some years before.

The legend goes that Director John Hughes heard the song playing during breaks while filming "The Breakfast Club," and set about coming up with a story based on the songs title. He apparently didn't base his story on the circumstances of the girl mentioned in the song, or any of the other lyrics, as I don't remember cars colliding or Andrew McCarthy "Walking around in the dress that she wore." And he probably could have used the name mentioned in the lyrics for his main character, but he didn't.

Those lyrics inform us that "The one who insists he was first in the line is the last to remember her name," but maybe you can do better. What's the name of the girl that the Psychedelic Furs are singing about in their seminal hit "Pretty In Pink?"

Bonus Question: Another 80's classic is the 1983 film "Valley Girl." The film was an early success for headliners Nicolas Cage and Deborah Foreman, and it had some other notable appearances as well. One of the supporting actresses in the film also had a singing career during the 80's, and was responsible for putting a song at the top of the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play chart in 1986. During the 90's, she was the voice of a Rugrat, and also of a talking pig. What was the name of this versatile actress/singer/voice over talent?

Pop culture, like the art world it aspires to emulate, has an unbreakable bond with sex and human sexuality. Ian Dury placed it above drugs and rock & roll, Berlin placed it above everything, Marvin Gaye sought it's healing effect, and Thrill Kill Kult put it on wheels. Janet Jackson called out the Nasty Boys, while Vanity proclaimed herself a Nasty Girl.

Sex and pop had an odd relationship during the new wave era, though. Some artists, like Madonna and Prince, embraced the subject without hesitation (and often without tact). Others like Howard Jones, A-ha, & Erasure kept their distance. Artists like Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Soft Cell, and even George Michael managed to get their videos banned in some places (resulting in big notoriety and sometimes big sales) for being a tad too overt.

Depeche Mode managed to approach the subject without coming off as exploitative. On their first few albums, the band relied on subtle references and analogies. On their fourth album, however, the band included a dance floor favorite that addressed the subject of domination in both sexual relationships and in society at large. So what was the name of this new game Depeche Mode invited listeners to play, as described in the title of their 1985 club hit?

Bonus Question: Funny how things that were shocking for the previous generation often seems tame for the current one, but I guess that's a perpetual cycle. Frankie Goes To Hollywood stirred up enough of a fuss with "Relax" that the song was banned by the BBC. Beyond the controversy over the lyrics, though, the song probably had more different videos shot for it than any other from the era.

There was the MTV-safe laser version, there was the much racier shaving cream version, and there was the 'live' version. And there was one more version, the footage for which was taken from a film that used the song as a centerpiece for one of its dramatic sequences. The plot device that makes it possible is when the main character, on the trail of a murderer, investigates the set of an adult film shoot. The film makers basically embedded their own version of the "Relax" video smack in the middle of their film, complete with all the Holly Johnson and all the other members of the band. This was subsequently edited and released as yet one more version of the video. So what was the name of this movie?

Sometimes pop stars will mention the names of other celebrities in their song lyrics, and there are many examples from the 80’s. Bananarama were relieved to know that "Robert DeNiro’s waiting, talking Italian." Kim Carnes acknowledged the power of "Bette Davis Eyes." Joe Jackson’s song "Memphis" made ’em "think about Marlon Brando on T.V." But the best example of Hollywood name dropping on an 80’s song has to be Madonna’s "Vogue." The song mentions a host of well known actors and actresses from the golden age of cinema, including Marilyn Monroe, Gene Kelly, James Dean, Rita Hayworth, Greta Garbo . . . (you can almost hear the lyrics in your head at this point). There is one person mentioned in the list at the end of the song who was not an actor, aside from a single film role back in 1940. But he was a part of the show biz elite at the time, and his name did rhyme well with the name of his famous former wife (also mentioned in the song). And for a period of time between the 70’s and the 80’s, he was the spokesman for Mr. Coffee! What was his name?

Bonus Question: Infectiously groovy 80’s ska band Madness used the name of a famous actor as the title of one of their songs, and even got a recording of this same actor introducing himself, and used it in the song. Word has it the band approached him in a bar with a tape recorder, and then used the recording in the studio later on. So what was the name of this actor/Madness song title?

Speaking of car commercials that use songs from the 80's, KIA is airing a commercial right now that uses the song "Maniac." The song originally became a hit when it was included in the 1983 film "Flashdance." The video for the song was a montage of scenes from the film, and the images of dancers being doused with water and chased by strobe lights are about as 80's as it gets. The fact that the video barely showed any shots of the artist responsible for the song didn't stop him from becoming one of the great one hit wonders of the decade.

The artist who co-wrote and recorded "Maniac" was a seasoned session musician, who collaborated with stars like Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, New Edition, and George Benson. So what was his name?

Bonus Question: It's a fairly well known fact that "Flashdance" star Jennifer Beals didn't do any of the dance routines in the film herself, instead they were performed by body doubles. But the breakdancers were real. In fact, one of the breakers featured prominently in the film and the music video was New York native 'Crazy Legs' (a.k.a. Richard Colon).

Crazy Legs had come up through the earliest incarnations of the New York b-boy scene, when battling other breakers with dance moves was the pathway to glory and street cred. He would eventually become president of one of the best known breakdance outfits, a group that brought breakdance performances from the Roxy Nightclub in NYC to stages in London and Paris, and even to an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance for Elizabeth the second, Queen of England, in 1983. So what was the name of the famous 80's breakdance group that Richard "Crazy Legs" Colon presides over to this day?

As 2007 winds down to a close, our 80's Trivia Challenge takes a look back at some of the famous people who left this world during the past year. Many famous people who passed away in 2007 had no particular connection to the 80's other than having lived through it, folks like Norman Mailer, Kurt Vonnegut, Ingmar Bergman, Jane Wyman, Merv Griffin, Evil Knievel, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Robert Goulet had already made their mark before the 80's began.

Others, like Anna Nicole Smith, Frankie Abernathy, David "Disco D" Shayman, and Pimp C became famous after the 1980's had ended. As for famous (or infamous) names like Tony Wilson, Luciano Pavarotti, Jerry Falwell, Boris Yeltsin, Kevin Dubrow, and Tami Faye will always elicit thoughts of the 80's. When it comes to infamous figures from the 80's, billionaire hotel operator Leona Helmsley deserves mention. Dubbed the "Queen of Mean," this well known business tycoon went from a seamstress to become one of the wealthiest real estate moguls in New York City. But anyone who worked for her would likely remember her as the tyrannical boss who was prone to stiffing contractors and firing employees for the slightest transgressions.

When she stood trial for tax evasion in 1989, a former housekeeper testified that Mrs. Helmsley once said "We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes." Leona Helmsley's denials notwithstanding, the recounting of this oh-so-80's incident no doubt helped the jury convict her. So what was the name of the United States Attorney who prosecuted Leona Helmsley and her husband for tax evasion back in 1988?

Bonus Question: Contrast the life of Leona Helmsley with that of actor Calvert Deforest, who also passed away in 2007. The two had a very similar set of eyebrows, but while Helmsley was first getting recognized in the real estate world for forcing many New York apartment buildings to go condo, it's well known that Deforest managed to live in the same rent controlled Manhattan apartment for 47 years in a row. And while Helmsley was largely perceived as wicked and demanding, Calvert Deforest, (Larry 'Bud' Melman on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman) could only be described as (in Letterman's words) "a genuine, modest, and nice man." Calvert Deforest got many an acting gig outside of "Late Night" as a result of the popularity of his character. He even got a part in a music video by a well known 80's rap group. What was the name of the group, and what was the name of the song?

To celebrate the fall of the Berlin wall yet again (see the first Berlin wall trivia question) try your hand at this week's cold war trivia.

The end of the Cold War presented a problem for Hollywood. For over forty years, the Soviet Union were the de facto bad guys for spy flicks and action films. Not willing to give up on a proven formula, some films in the 90's continued to use evil Russkies to menace the hero (Air force One comes to mind). Most movies today seem to have moved on to terrorists, of course.

If ever there was a movie hero that was vexed by sinister Soviets, it was James Bond. The Bond franchise goes all the way back to the 60's, but the 80's provided several installments in the 007 saga. One Bond films starts out at the Berlin wall, and sees Bond sneaking across Checkpoint Charlie in order to foil the plot of a scheming Russian general. What was the name of this film?

Bonus Question: Speaking of Checkpoint Charlie, what's the name of the Elvis Costello song that mentions the phrase?

There's a chill in the air, and it feels like autumn is finally upon us. Fall is a great time for those fond of big hair or leather jackets, or any other fashion choice that doesn't fit with the heat and humidity of summertime. And the 80's gave us an abundance of great music that so perfectly fits the sombre mood of fall.

The Cure, The Smiths, Flock Of Seagulls, Japan, Xymox, Psychedelic Furs, Peter Murphy, and Kate Bush, all fit the season. Perhaps more than any other 80's band, Echo & The Bunnymen embody the barren trees and early twilight of autumn. Many consider the song "The Killing Moon" to be the band's finest moment. Lush and poetic, the song was the centerpiece of an album that was equally well crafted and brilliant. Later releases would lead to higher chart positions and more commercial success, but "The Killing Moon" was an artistic peak that was hard to follow. So what was the name of the album on which this song first appeared?

Bonus Question: Echo & The Bunymen's nouveau psychedelic sound earned them comparisons to many bands from the 60's, including The Doors. Echo & The Bunnymen did actually cover a Doors song, and their version was featured at the beginning and end of a popular 80's film. What was the name of the movie that featured this song?

Back in the 80's, The Cure had a video that also featured spiders and cobwebs. In this video, a bedridden Robert Smith anxiously contemplates being devoured by a gigantic spider-like creature. What's the name of the song for which this video was conceived?

Bonus Question: The aforementioned video is truly a masterpiece, from the concept to the costumes, sets, and cinematography. It was directed by long time Cure collaborator Tim Pope, but it could easily be mistaken for the work of Tim Burton. Burton was responsible for surrealistic and spooky feature films like "Beetlejuice," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "Edward Scissorhands," and "Batman." One of Burton's earliest work was a 5 minute animated short that set the tone for much of his later works. The actor who narrated the film was also the inspiration for it, and he would later describe it as "immortality - better than a star on Hollywood Boulevard." What was the name of this actor?

Actor C. Thomas Howell got his first acting gigs on television, but quickly moved on to film work in the early 80's. He had a small part in "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial," in which he got enough screen time to catch the eye of Director Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola was casting for the lead role in an adaptation of a novel by S. E. Hinton, and Christopher Thomas Howell landed the starring role.

Other brat pack era actors who appeared in the film included Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Ralph Maccio, Rob Lowe, and Emilio Estevez. What was the name of the film?

Bonus Question: The film mentioned in the first part of this question was probably the high point for Howell during the 80's. Despite being named one of the most promising young actors of the early 80's, many of his subsequent films didn't fare so well at the box office. Maybe it was because of the odd film roles he ended up in. In the movie "Tank," his father (played by James Garner) comes to rescue him from a juvie prison farm in a Sherman tank. In Red Dawn, he played a teen guerrilla who helps repel a Soviet invasion. He switched back to teen comedies with "Secret Admirer," which was a little more successful. But then in 1986 he starred in "Soul Man," a film that was poorly received due in part to its controversial premise.

There were plenty of 80's flicks where the star has to pose as somebody else to get a job/an apartment/a scholarship/whatever, but in "Soul Man" Howell has to pose as a black student in order to get into Harvard Law School. Not everyone found that funny. Oh well, if "Soul Man" didn't earn him rave reviews, it did give him the chance to meet his first wife. A few years later, he married the actress who co-starred with him in that film. What was her name?

World renowned operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti passed away recently. Pavarotti was beloved all over the world for his amazing vocal talents, his charisma as an entertainer, and his work as a humanitarian. He was a top selling artist who appeared on scores of recordings, both popular and classical. He was a member of The Three Tenors, a group that was responsible for the top selling classical album of all time. And, his work for charitable causes brought in record funds that went to relieve suffering in troubled spots around the world.

But he drew his share of criticism as well, much of which came from purists who felt his forays into pop culture diminished the stature of opera as an art form. He also drew fire from film critics for his starring role in a 1982 movie that is considered to be on the verge of unwatchable.

Whereas Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley managed the transition between the music and film worlds, it wasn't in the cards for Pavarotti. Oh well, may God rest his soul all the same. So what was the name of the film?

Bonus Question: Luciano Pavarotti set numerous records during his career. In 1988, he set a record at the Berlin Opera House that made it to the Guinness Book of World Records. What was the record setting achievement?