It’s Christmastime so naturally our thoughts turn to movies.
As a writer, I’m interested in words that knit themselves into our linguistic DNA. Many of those lines define the flicks more than the characters, awards, or plot. Here are some of my favourites.
“You had me at hello.” — Jerry McGuire, 1996
“I’ll be back.” — The Terminator, 1984
“I see dead people.” — The Sixth Sense, 1999
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” — The Godfather, 1972
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” — The Wizard of Oz, 1939
“Go ahead, make my day.” — Sudden Impact, 1983
Confession: A couple of those lines were shortened or muddled a bit in my memory. Thanks to the Internet I was able to push the words back into the right order.
For instance, I remembered the Godfather saying: “Make him an offer he can’t refuse.” My brain had Dorothy comment: “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.”
I digress. Other lines are great because they pretty well define the movie.
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!” — Dr. Strangelove, 1964
“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” — A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951
“Oh, no, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast.” — King Kong, 1933
“I feel the need, the need for speed!” — Top Gun, 1986
“I’m the king of the world!” — Titanic, 1997
In 1972, fans of a certain film found a new way to greet each other. “May the Force be with you.”
The latest iteration of the Star Wars franchise is playing large on the big screen and at the box office again this Christmas. Will Star Wars: The Last Jedi give us another great line?
I’ve seen a lot of movies in 2017 but no line in my opinion stood out like those above.
The Washington Post listed what it believed to be the 10 best lines from films in 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/the-10-best-lines-from-movies-in-2017/2017/12/06/cd099f10-cb24-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html?utm_term=.c686876db9ce
The only one that might find its way into our speech patterns, with a bit of tweaking to suit the occasion, comes in Darkest Hour after Winston Churchill delivers his famous “We shall fight on the beaches” speech the night before the Battle of Britain.
“You had me at hello.” — Jerry McGuire, 1996
“I’ll be back.” — The Terminator, 1984
“I see dead people.” — The Sixth Sense, 1999
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” — The Godfather, 1972
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” — The Wizard of Oz, 1939
“Go ahead, make my day.” — Sudden Impact, 1983
Confession: A couple of those lines were shortened or muddled a bit in my memory. Thanks to the Internet I was able to push the words back into the right order.
For instance, I remembered the Godfather saying: “Make him an offer he can’t refuse.” My brain had Dorothy comment: “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.”
I digress. Other lines are great because they pretty well define the movie.
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!” — Dr. Strangelove, 1964
“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” — A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951
“Oh, no, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast.” — King Kong, 1933
“I feel the need, the need for speed!” — Top Gun, 1986
“I’m the king of the world!” — Titanic, 1997
In 1972, fans of a certain film found a new way to greet each other. “May the Force be with you.”
The latest iteration of the Star Wars franchise is playing large on the big screen and at the box office again this Christmas. Will Star Wars: The Last Jedi give us another great line?
I’ve seen a lot of movies in 2017 but no line in my opinion stood out like those above.
The Washington Post listed what it believed to be the 10 best lines from films in 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/the-10-best-lines-from-movies-in-2017/2017/12/06/cd099f10-cb24-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html?utm_term=.c686876db9ce
The only one that might find its way into our speech patterns, with a bit of tweaking to suit the occasion, comes in Darkest Hour after Winston Churchill delivers his famous “We shall fight on the beaches” speech the night before the Battle of Britain.
“What just happened?” a stunned Parliamentarian asks.
“He mobilized the English language, and sent it into battle,” replies Viscount Halifax.
In the category ‘words that sum up a movie’ Moonee, a child at the centre of the film The Florida Project, says: “Do you know why this is my favorite tree? Because it tipped over, and it’s still growing.”
“He mobilized the English language, and sent it into battle,” replies Viscount Halifax.
In the category ‘words that sum up a movie’ Moonee, a child at the centre of the film The Florida Project, says: “Do you know why this is my favorite tree? Because it tipped over, and it’s still growing.”
Find a great line in recent books or movies? I’d love to see a post about it.
JohnMatsui.com 