In his 2001 flick "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" genius auteur of reflexsive pop culture Kevin Smith penned "The Internet is a communication tool used the world over where people can come together to [complain] about movies and share pornography with one another."
We can't agree more, so we've compiled some of the most little-known facts about some of THE biggest movies of the past 30 years. Yes, the "Jedi"-"Blue Harvest" legend is present, but there's so much more.
Jaws (1975)
Sick your teeth into this little known shark bait.
Shark tale: In addition to the well-known nickname of "Bruce" (after his lawyer), director Steven Spielberg called the ever-failing mechanical shark "the great white turd" when it really frustrated him.
Sink or swim: How many studio execs does it take to think of test driving this $250,000 beast from the sea before shooting began? Apparently zero. When the shark was first put in the water at Martha's Vineyard, it sank. It took a team of divers to retrieve it.
Head games: During pre-production, Spielberg, along with friends Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and John Milius, went to visit "Bruce" the shark in the special effects shop. Lucas stuck his head in the shark's mouth to see how it worked. Milius and Spielberg sneaked to the controls and made the jaw clamp shut on Lucas' head. The shark malfunctioned and Lucas got stuck in the mouth of the shark.
Shark bite: Charlton Heston was so miffed about being rejected for the role of Brody that he slagged Spielberg whenever possible. No wonder he later panned Spielberg's offer to play General Stilwell in the flick, "1941" (1979).
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
The battered leather jacket, the dust-encrusted hat and the hunky (and badly bruised) Harrison Ford. Great to be sure, but it's not all that sums up this classic action adventure romp.
Why'd it have to be snakes? Just one sheet of glass stood between hero Ford and the snakes beneath him in the Well of the Souls. The arched cobra actually spat a lethal dose of venom right at him.
Death to spiders: The movie used more than 7,000 snakes. None of them were harmed but one tarantula died when it was accidentally dropped.
Animal brutality: The Well of the Souls scene was shot on the same sound stage where Stanley Kubrick shot, "The Shining" (1980). When his daughter Vivian came to visit Spielberg's set and saw dead snakes lying about, she called the British humane society. The film was shut down until conditions could be made safer for the reptiles.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
May the force be with you after you load these illuminating facts into your light saber.
Alien nation: Among the aliens in Jabba the Hutt's entourage are ones named "Klaatu," "Barada" and "Nikto." Sci-fi fanatics will remember these names given to the robot Gort in the 1951 classic, "The Day the Earth Stood Still."
Science secret: For security reasons, the film was always sent to the lab under the title, "Blue Harvest," a decoy code inspired by the Dashiell Hammett story, "Red Harvest." When you go to www.blueharvest.com, you'll get the official Star Wars website.
Sound the trumpets: The victory trumpet call the Ewoks use at the end of the movie's big battle is the same trumpet call used in the Cecile B. DeMille classic, "The Ten Commandments" (1956). It can be heard when the Jews are about to leave Egypt for the Promised Land.
The Untouchables (1987)
It's the movie that made Kevin Costner famous and filled movie books with fascinating film trivia.
All Al's: The set for Capone's personal barbershop at the Lexington Hotel included cologne bottles and shaving brushes that really belonged to the infamous gangster.
Brief notes: Known as a "Method" actor, Robert De Niro insisted on wearing the same style of silk underwear that Capone wore, even though it would never be seen on camera. The producers reluctantly gave in to the actor's undie ultimatum.
Smashing party: The scene where Capone pulls out a baseball bat and beats to death two of his men at a dinner party is based on an incident that happened on May 7, 1929. In real life, however, Capone battered both men, then shot them in the head.
Batman (1989)
Unmask these cape crusader tidbits on your next stroll through Gotham City.
Meat and great: The painting that the Joker spares during his vandalism spree is Francis Bacon's celebrated work, "Figure with Meat."
Holy bat hunk: Mel Gibson was the filmmakers' original pick to play Bruce Wayne. Working on the film, "Lethal Weapon 2" (1090) forced Gibson to hang up the bat cape due.
Tall tale: Since Kim Bassinger was almost as tall as Michael Keaton, she spent much of the film in flats or stocking feet to make him look taller.
Seat of power: The throne the Joker sits on when he flings money over the citizens of Gothan is a copy of the "Silver Throne," the Royal Throne of Sweden which was used by the King of Sweden to open parliament until 1974.
Pretty Woman (1990)
Richard Gere's good looks and Julia Roberts' great smile aren't the only things that hook you in this film.
Love gone wrong: Julia Roberts got so nervous (including breaking out in hives) during the lovemaking scene with Gere that a big vein popped out of her forehead. Director Garry Marshall got into bed with the pair to ease her nerves.
The laugh: Roberts' famous signature laugh was an unrehearsed reaction to one of Gere's improvised moves. The filmmakers liked it so much they kept Roberts' career-making blooper in.
Red rover: Roberts' red coat was actually swiped off a movie usher in the street for $30 just shortly before filming began.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Dueling dinosaurs, scientists and their kids running amok. That's not all that sticks in your mind about this blockbuster.
The moves: To get the jerky movements of the Gallimimus herd down pat, the film's digital artists were ordered to run along a stretch of road with some obstacles, their hands next to their chest.
The roar: That giant T-Rex roar is actually the sound from the aircraft simulator at NASA Langley Research Center.
The girl: Hard to believe, but legendary French actress Juliette Binoche was offered the role of Dr. Elie Sattler (Laura Dern's part). She turned it down to make "Trois couleurs: Bleu" (1993). Dinosaurs vs. high drama. Go figure Juliette!
Forrest Gump (1994)
"Life is like a box of chocolates" isn't the only gem from this movie's trivia vault.
Chain gang: The necklace worn by Lt. Dan in this flick is a rosary with a Saint Christopher medal, inscribed "Protect Us In Combat". In real life, the piece was actually worn in Vietnam by Gary Sinise' brother-in-law, Jack Treese, in 1967-68.
Forrest followers, not: Chevy Chase and John Travolta turned down the part of Forrest Gump. The lucky Hanks should send them a box of chocolates.
Picture perfect: Norman Rockwell paintings inspired the look of Forrest's hometown, Greenbow, Alabama. The scene where Forrest sits in the hallway of his school while his mother talks to the principal is a direct re-creation of Rockwell's painting, "Girl with a Black Eye."
Austin Powers: international man of mystery (1997)
Mike Myers' witty offering serves up these equally amusing gems:
The bra: The lethal brassiere worn by the fembots is identical to the breast beautifying bra worn by Ursula Andress in, "La Decima vittima" (1965).
Doggy bag: The characters General Borchevsky and Commander Gilmore are named after two Toronto Maple Leaf hockey players and the star's dogs.
Buff bonanza: It was Myers' wife who suggested he dance during the credits. He danced naked around their house and she thought it would be fun. The goofy idea became a continuing trademark throughout the franchise.
"The Matrix" (1999)
Sure there's Keanu Reeves looking super-spy fly. But there's a lot more to marvel about in this 1999 smash.
The parts: Could anyone but Keanu play the iconic role of Neo? Yes, according to studio execs. Ewan McGregor turned down the part, Will Smith and Leonardo DiCaprio were considered and as for Morpheaus, Sean Connery turned it down because he didn't understand the script.
The car: A black 1965 Lincoln Continental cruised inside the matrix.
The coat: Neo's dramatic black duster inspired millions of fashionistas to drop big-bucks for designer look-a-likes. According to Kym Barrett, the film's costume designer, Neo's coat was actually made from wool blend fabric that cost just $3 a yard.
The "One": It's a huge number in this movie and with good reason. One is an anagram of Neo. Neo's room number, 101, is also the same room and number in George Orwell's book "1984" where people were sent to be tortured.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
So creepy and so full of fun film factoids.
The clincher: To get studio execs to bite, director M. Night Shyamalan pitched this film as a cross between "The Exorcist" (1973) and "Ordinary People" (1980).
The kid: At the film's audition, Shyamalan asked child actor Haley Joel Osment if he had read his part. Osment replied, "I read it three times last night." Shyamalan said, "Wow, you read the part three times?" Osment replied, "No, I read the script three time."
The catch line: In 2007 the line, "I see dead people," was voted #100 of "The 100 Greatest Movie Line" by Premier Maganze.
Gladiator (2000)
Are you entertained? You will be by these little known tidbits:
The contenders: Mel Gibson was offered the part of Maximus but turned it down. And if you can imagine, JLo auditioned for the role of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen). Too bad. Ancient Rome could have benefited from some toga-clad booty.
The kitchen: Remember when Maximus describes his home and the way the kitchen smells? It was an ad-libbed description of Crowe's own home in Australia.
The deal-maker: Director Ridley Scott was persuaded to do this movie when studio executives presented him with a reproduction of the 1872 painting, "Pollice Verso" ("Thumbs Down") by Jean-Leon Gerome, in which a gladiator stands over a beaten opponent.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Strange but true, here's what you didn't know about this fantasy epic.
Hobbit highlights: During filming 1,800 Hobbit feet were created; extra wig hair was imported from Russia (where women cut their locks for loot); the nocturnal screams of possums created the Orcs' blood-curdling screeches; and the 111 candles of Bilbo Baggin's birthday cake set fire to the fake polystyrene confection.
Size matters: He's the runt of the Fellowship litter on screen. Yet in real life John Rhys-Davies, who plays Gimli the dwarf, is the tallest of these actors. He's 6' 1".
Well read: Christopher Lee (Saurman) is the only member of the cast and crew to have ever met J.R.R. Tolkein. Maybe that's why he makes a point of reading this book once a year. He's done so since the year it was published in the mid 1950s.
Enough "Fame": Lord Elrond was a part David Bowie reportedly wanted. It went, instead to actor Hugo Weaving.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003)
'Yo Ho, Yo Ho' maties. Mark this down in your little black book of plum "Pirates" factoids.
A pirate's life for me?" That's what Michael Keaton, Jim Carrey and Christopher Walken all aspired to, who all jockeyed for the role of Captain Jack Sparrow. As for civilian-turned-seafarer Will Turner, Jude Law, Tobey Maguire and Christian Bale were bandied about before Orlando Bloom nabbed the role.
Tatoo trivia: The "Jack Sparrow" tattoo on Johnny Depp's arm in is a fake. He got a real replica after finishing the movie in honour of his son Jack.
Traffic jam jitters: Keira Knightley (aka Elizabeth Swann) almost didn't make it to the audition for Disney's first PG-13 rated movie in the U.S. because she was stuck in traffic.
Got any great movie trivia nuggets you want to share? No movie is too obsCure
