Comments on: Financial Times 14,227 by Cinephile

By: Pete Maclean

Pete Maclean — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 22:07:11 +0000

Good question, Keeper. I think the answer is no. Denver may be the capital of Colorado, its largest city and its best known, but it is not defined by “Colorado’s”. That said, I still think there is some justification to this clue in that, if you read the whole clue as the definition, then it sort-of works. So, in a strictly Ximenean puzzle, it would not pass muster but, in Cinephile’s looser world, it marginally suffices.

By: Keeper

Keeper — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:05:59 +0000

Like MichaelG, I was able to work out the long anagram with the help of the crossing letters (even though I didn’t realize Lysander was a Shakespearean character who spoke that line).

Just one question: Is “Colorado’s” really a sufficient definition for DENVER?

By: MichaelG

MichaelG — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:10:30 +0000

There do seem to be fewer comments on Cinephile puzzles than Araucaria ones, which is strange given that they are from the same much-loved hand. A bit more work is needed to solve them as they can’t be done on-line, although they can be downloaded from FT.com – I subscribe to the paper version of the FT but always print out downloaded Guardian ones anyway. I’m sorry Bamberger finds them difficult – give them a try, get inside the setter’s head, and after a while you will get the hang of it. 2,7,21 could be guessed from the crossing squares without knowing who Lysander was or working out the anagram.
My main complaint is that I wait ages for an Araucaria/Cinephile puzzle(they are the only ones I regularly attempt) and then two come along at once – I once asked the Guardian’s crossword editor whether he could coordinate with the FT to avoid this!
The NW corner stumped me so I was glad of Pete Maclean’s blog when it appeared on Thursday. The explanation of 23D (solution was obvious from the wordplay) was helpful – I’d never heard of bull/inner/magpie – and assisted the solution of 12A in Araucaria 25,866 which I tackled after this one (and have only just finished after struggling with the NE corner).
That said, in general Cinephile puzzles seem somewhat easier than Araucaria ones and often have an initial letter for a word theme.

By: Pete Maclean

Pete Maclean — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:41:30 +0000

Hello Jen and Nel, Thank you for chiming in and for your kind words. It is good to hear from some other Cinephile fans; I do not get comments from a lot. As I have mentioned before, I am a great fan as well, although one who is very ready to criticize.

By: Jen and Nel

Jen and Nel — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:35:19 +0000

We’re huge fans of Cinephile, and definitely appreciate your work in providing answers for the one or two words that we sometimes cannot get. Very sorry to hear that the Rev is sick. We thought this was a great puzzle. Thanks for the site!

By: Pete Maclean

Pete Maclean — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:32:40 +0000

Bamberger, Thanks for not leaving me commentless! I suspect your assessment is correct.

By: Bamberger

Bamberger — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:19:05 +0000

Since noone else has commented I will. I look forward to the Saturday and Monday FT crosswords but my heart sank as soon as I saw it was a Cinephile.I immediately looked at the Grauniad but Aracauria was the setter. I have tried Cinephile before, but not enjoyed the attempt so when I saw 2,7 ,21 I just thought “no way” and maybe given the lack of comments that is what other FT solvers thought.
I am aware of the Rev’s illness and wish him well so I’m simply making the point that it appears that FT solvers expect an easier ride than they would get with the Times, Indie and Guardian and if they perceive that the game isn’t the owrth the candle, they “vote with their feet” by simply not even starting it.Why else the lack of comment?