apt-get --purge remove xmovie

seems to have removed xmovie. I just couldn't find the syntax. But synaptic seemed to still be broken. Trying to upgrade anything (I've yet to try a straight install) I got:

Preconfiguring packages ...

Update finished - You can close the window now

Nothing was downloaded, nothing was changed.

apt-get upgrade synaptic seems to upgrade a pile of stuff but not synaptic. I'm puzzled.