Dear Mr. Smithee: Usually I would not dare to bother you with my banal movie questions, so instead I turn to the Internet Movie Database for answers. However, I've realized that I have no idea who I'm getting my information from. The site says IMDb.com was founded by hard-core movie fans from across the globe, but who are these people? Am I just using the Wikipedia of movies?
LAUREN BERG, SMYRNA, GA.
Dear Reality Check: Who is anyone on the Internet? Who am I? Who are you? Are you really Lauren Berg?
The answer to your question is as follows: sorta.
There are at least 20 individuals charged with monitoring received data.
Historic information is generally perceived to be accurate. With the fluid nature of Hollywood projects, some listings involving future productions need to be mentally absorbed with a grain of salt.
ALAN
P.S. You get caps from "Baby Mama" and "Leatherheads."
Looking for extra credit Dear Mr. Smithee: Might there be a record holder for lengthiest end credit roll? I stopped timing them long ago, opting instead for the pulse-pounding experience of watching grass grow.
BOB BESCO
Dear Can't Sit Still: End credits have certainly increased over the years, often because of the numerous folks required for computer animation, special effects and, certainly, computer-generated imagery.
As I've stated before, on the extended DVD of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," director Peter Jackson tacked onto the end credits the name of every single original "Rings" fan club member. The inclusion pushes the total credit time to at least 19 minutes, 59 seconds.
ALAN
P.S. You get T-shirts for "Wall-E" and "The Rocker."
Now this is funny Readers: Enjoy this item from a classic Smithee column. Mentions of original gifts bestowed have been excised.
Dear Mr. Smithee: The other day I watched a funny movie called "A Guy Thing." After watching it, I thought that this was certainly a modern comedy classic like "Dumb and Dumber" or "There's Something About Mary." Yet, no one I've spoken to has ever seen it.
I'm interested in knowing what movies you think are comedy classics. Please don't bore us with any of the "Pink Panther" movies.
CHRIS MONTROY, SNELLVILLE, GA.
Dear Snickerer: Don't worry. I'm not a really big fan of the "Pink Panther" movies, either. Never have had the urge to watch them again.
First tier: "Some Like It Hot," "Lost in America," "Annie Hall," "Animal House," "Fargo," "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein," "Blazing Saddles," "Groundhog Day."
Second tier: "Team America: World Police," "The Thin Man," "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," "Dumb and Dumber," "Duck Soup," "Airplane!," "Young Frankenstein," "The Lady Eve," "Caddyshack," "Horse Feathers," "Kung Fu Hustle," "Finding Nemo" and the "Toy Story" movies.
If only the Three Stooges' movies were as good as their earlier shorts.
ALAN
Send e-mail to alansmithee@ajc.com. Include your name, city and daytime phone number.
