Favorite Movie Quotes (IRL)

This is to be like the posts designated prior as "Famous" in that they are not theory, not review, and little to no trivia. An inaugural single post on Movie & TV Cars started it all, and more recently, a series of four posts on film music celebrated the themes of John Williams, instrumental themes by other composers, soundtrack songs, and songs repurposed for a soundtrack. The shift in terminology from "Famous" to "Favorite" is because it becomes even more individualistic in opinion. It also begins a series, all supported by data, though each post's subject is measured differently.

Favorite Movie Quotes (with Real-Life Application)

Spend much time around me and eventually I will begin to spout out film quotes, sometimes in the course of regular conversation. These are not always merely the most repeatable one-liners, but instead actually do a good job of summing up an opinion, good advice, or even a circumstance encountered in life. That is today's topic, a sampling of ones I commonly use. They range from lightening up less favorable situations to serious commentary, and their notoriety is equally ranged. The format will be quote, character and film as a heading followed by how it fits into the film and finally its real-life application. Apologies in advance for the number of items, more than is typical.

"Look at it this way: In a hundred years, who's gonna care?" -Nancy, The Terminator

Your likely first thought is correct, who is Nancy in The Terminator? Portrayed by Shawn Schepps, she is Sarah Connor's co-worker at Big Jeff's, the restaurant at which Sarah is working when the film introduces her. A series of mishaps that could happen to any server equal a bad day for Sarah, and her fellow waitress puts things in perspective with this line. The level of dramatic irony in it is high and twofold. First, Sarah and more specifically, her actions will soon be important to the future, and second, with Judgment Day a few years away and the War Against the Machines to follow, humans may not actually have a hundred years left. In real life, the quote reminds us that just because something is rough at the moment does not mean it will not pass. Sometimes we just have to remember what the great twentieth century philosopher Winnie-the-Pooh says and does when something does not go as planned. He just says, "Oh, bother," and moves on.

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris, Ferris Bueller's Day Off

This quote is more well-known, and thus, it requires less explanation. If you're not familiar with the film (you should be), Matthew Broderick's Ferris Bueller breaks the fourth wall a good amount. The line is delivered as such as the last of the film before end credits. Presented as a guideline he lives by, it serves to justify his titular day off. In real life, it is an admonition to be on the lookout for the good moments and to slow down and enjoy them. With nearly the entire populace having electronic devices at hand nearly every waking moment, the "you could miss it" is quite literal.

"Tell her the...TRUTH!" -Genie, Aladdin

With any Robin Williams role, it seems a high number of quotable lines are always produced on his part. The film is so popular, often cited as one of Williams' best-known works, it almost seems redundant to provide any context. Aladdin, a financially impaired individual, finds a magic lamp and is granted three wishes by Genie. He uses one to be made a prince so he can marry Princess Jasmine. However, this does not change who he truly is in origin. When he has been less than successful at gaining Jasmine's affections, Genie provides this great advice, more fitting with the integrity that made Aladdin worthy of the lamp in the first place. It does not take someone all-powerful to know that Aladdin will have a better time not having to put on airs. In real life, it is truly no different. Not only is honesty in speech obviously always best, but the greatest lies we sometimes tell are projecting images that are not really who we are. To quote Mr. Williams in character again, this time impersonating Jack Nicholson just prior to the subject quote, "Alright, Sparky, here's the deal...you gotta be a straight shooter. Do ya got it?"

"...your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should." -Ian, Jurassic Park

Park developer John Hammond's large investment of time, energy and money is severely threatened when a worker is killed by one of the cloned dinosaur attractions of the yet unopened titular theme park. The other investors send a lawyer along with their expert, chaotician Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), while Hammond invites a paleontologist and paleobotanist for support. This line comes out of discussion among all five of them and serves as a summary of other good points, including one regarding the discipline in obtaining knowledge oneself as opposed to merely building on others' work. In real life, this is always the debate of the ethics of science as the ability to accomplish something is not always in line with the potential application of those accomplishments. The principle reaches further than just science, too, as lawmaking should involve similar close scrutiny, particularly with granted freedoms. It is in the same vein of what the Frankenweenie character Mr. Rzykruski tells the main character, "Science is not good or bad, Victor. But it can be used both ways. That is why you must always be careful."

"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying." -Andy, The Shawshank Redemption

If you've ever read the source novella of the film, you know it was released as part of a collection, Different Seasons. Each novella is tied to a different season, and this film's novella was subtitled Hope Springs Eternal. There is no better motto for Andy Dufresne, excellently played by Tim Robbins. Falsely convicted of murder, it's even pointed out by his fellow prisoners, who know of their own guilt, he might be the only actual innocent person at Shawshank. This nearly unbreakable optimism finds him endearing himself to some of the inmates, using his education to reach an understanding with the guards and the corrupt warden, and when it comes to it, enacting an escape plan when the situation becomes otherwise hopeless for his vindication. Later, Red (Morgan Freeman) breaks free of an institutionalized life after release before it can take hold with the exact same sentiment. In real life, it's been said we begin dying the day we are born. Biologically, this is untrue. However, depressing as it is, it captures the certain aspect of our brevity in life, and is in fact encouraging to not squander what we are so graciously given. Fun fact: Three of the four stories in Different Seasons have had film adaptations, this one titled Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, The Body as Stand by Me before it, and another one we don't talk about.

"There's no price." "There will be." -Stanley and Burt, The Mask

This exchange occurs when main character Stanely Ipkiss, played by Jim Carrey, goes to pick up his car from a mechanic for an oil change, only to be told his brake drums and transmission both require work. It's clearly a case of replacement fraud, with Burt (Johnny Williams) nodding while saying his line. In the film, once Stanley has become The Mask, he does get his revenge as the uninhibited persona. In real life, as some mild criticism of our unchecked capitalist society, I say this every time a product in a store is missing a price tag.

"You can't hide what's in your heart." -John, The Green Mile

Ah, the other prison film directed by Frank Darabont and based on a Stephen King work, this time what was originally released as a six-part serial novel. Excellently played by the late Michael Clarke Duncan, the mysterious John Coffey is simpleminded by human standards but has abilities that include healing, what he refers to as "taking it back" even in cases where the outlook is very, very bad, what is possibly "overhealing" by which he inadvertently endows longevity, referred to as "infecting with life", to a mouse and to Paul Edgecomb, and a level of empathy that is as supernatural as the other two. This line is said in the climax as John confirms to Paul through a vision that he is not guilty, and in fact, tried to "take it back" to save his supposed victims. It refers to the true perpetrator, another death row inmate, "Wild Bill" Wharton. In real life, very much the same, people's actions will reveal the intentions of their hearts, though they may be able to hide them for a time.

"Some men just want to watch the world burn." -Alfred, The Dark Knight

While Bruce Wayne is the Batman and well-rounded as he is, he still has some lessons to learn from Alfred Pennyworth, portrayed by the always excellent Michael Caine. In discussion of the mob leaders turning to the Joker in response to Batman's vigilante activities, he tells a story from his past about a man robbing the Burmese government of jewels, intended to buy off local tribe leaders. Instead of the normal motivations for a crime, the culprit was throwing them away. This quote is Alfred's explanation of the fallacy of logic, much like Joker. In real life, we are exposed to reports of pure evil, day after day. When faced with such things that our empathy fails us because we are unable to understand, this is sometimes all that's left.

"No man can walk out of his own story." -Spirit of the West, Rango

Rango is ready to give up when met with circumstances seemingly impossible to overcome. He returns to the point that literally set him on the path to the town of Dirt. He encounters and discusses his situation with the Spirit of the West, voiced by Timothy Olyphant, whose appearance and speech indicate he may have been the Man with No Name from Leone's spaghetti western trilogy; something Rango believes, as well. It is not lost on me that Rango is also nameless, and he is given these parting words after also being told, "It's the deeds that make the man." In real life, we sometimes find ourselves in a position of great difficulty, sometimes from little to no cause on our own parts. We know the right thing to do but are paralyzed by a perception that the odds are insurmountable. But even inaction is action, so the only direction is forward.

"The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't." -Arthur, Joker

The rest of these have of course been spoken, but this is actually seen written in a notebook, last on a page headed as JOKES. The page does contain some of those, as well, that Arthur Fleck, played Joaquin Phoenix, has written and presumably working out for his comedian act. With the film's unreliable narrative, it is unknown whether the statement was written in a moment of clarity or he thinks of it as a joke, too. In real life, this does not matter as much, because of the truth in it. While I believe the comparison of peoples' physical conditions to mental ones is harmful overall, it can help a person begin to understand certain aspects. The absurdity of the expectation is akin to expecting an amputee to put both hands on a steering wheel.

Honorable Mention: "Hold onto your butts." -Ray, Jurassic Park

It is actually said twice, once as the test-run of the tour begins and again when they are attempting to bring the park back online in the climax, both times by Ray Arnold (Samuel L. Jackson). In real life, I always say it for fun when I am not sure how something of minor importance is going to turn out.

Honorable Mention: "I think this boy's cheese slid off his cracker." -Bill, The Green Mile

This is uttered by the "floater" prison guard Bill Dodge, played by Brent Briscoe, about Percy Wetmore after John has neutralized him. In real life, I use it when a person's actions are questionable at best, typically when something has been reported, like a news story.

Perhaps it's the number of movies I watch. Perhaps it's coming of age while films could limp through on multiple one-liners. This might be how I developed this peculiarity to reapply quotes to real-life situations. But I know why. People much more talented than I have written things in such a clever way, that I just want to say them again and again. Thank you for sticking through.

Next week...Favorite Movies on Repeat!