Month: June 2019

“In my experience, there’s no such thing as ‘luck.'”

From: Star Wars (specifically Episode IV)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Obi-Wan Kenobi

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from, what else, Star Wars. Specifically, it comes from Episode IV, the first film in the film franchise. Honestly, do I even have to tell you what Star Wars is now?

The quote comes from the middle of the film. Luke Skywalker is performing lightsaber training but fails. Obi-Wan Kenobi tells him that he’s relying too much on his eyes and should just give in to the Force. The old Jedi Master puts a helmet on Luke to cover his eyes. When he successfully deflects the laser blasts from the drone, Han Solo, who had been watching the entire event, calls it luck. This is when Obi-Wan delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There is indeed randomness in the world, both good and bad. Events will happen without notice and all of a sudden. It’s what we do with these moments that will determine our “luck” though. Do we take them as opportunities or as hurdles?

We make our own luck most of the time.

“My precious!”

From: Gollum/Smeagol

Genre: Movies/Books

Who said it?: The Lord of The Rings trilogy

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, both the books and the movies. The Lord of the Rings is a follow up to JRR Tolkien’s book, The Hobbit. In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins finds The One Ring in the possession of his uncle, Bilbo Baggins. What follows is a quest to go to Mordor to destroy The One Ring.

The quote comes sporadically from each book and film and is most notable from coming from Gollum, who lost the ring to Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit. As the One Ring has already corrupted Gollum, the “creature” lusts for the ring, calling it by the quote.

Later, in Return of the King (the film version), Gollum’s past is expanded on and it is revealed that he was an ordinary Hobbit named Smeagol. But, when he and his cousin accidentally find the ring, he is almost instantly corrupted by its power.

Geek wisdom: We all have some material object that we love and cherish. However, we should not let this love change us and forget that the object that we find precious is just that: a material object. We shouldn’t let our obsession change us for the worse.

“Do not be sorry. Be better.”

From: God of War (2018)

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Kratos

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Sony PlayStation exclusive game, God of War. The game is both a sequel and a reboot of sorts to the original games of the series. This time around, Kratos leads Atreus, his son, to go to the highest peak of the land to scatter his dead wife’s ashes. This leads them to an epic quest to traverse the land of Midgard to complete her final wish.

The quote itself comes early in the game. Kratos (voiced by Christopher Judge) decides to teach Atreus (voiced by Sunny Suljic) how to hunt and fight. Atreus tracks a deer but impulsively shoots his arrow, leading him to miss. Kratos scolds Atreus and his son apologizes. This is when the former God of War delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: It’s important to know what your current limitations are and you should never apologize if you’re just not up to snuff just yet. But this doesn’t excuse you if you never strive to better yourself. You have to keep improving.

“Boards don’t hit back.”

From: Enter the Dragon

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Lee

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1973 martial arts movie, Enter the Dragon, starring martial arts superstar and Jeet Kune Do master, Bruce Lee. Enter the Dragon was the legendary Bruce Lee’s last film that he was able to complete. It is widely known to be one of the best martial arts movies ever made.

The quote comes relatively early in the film. Lee (played by Bruce Lee) is set to fight O’Hara (played by another martial artist, Bob Wall). O’Hara makes a demonstration of his power by breaking a board in half with a single punch. Instead of being intimidated, Lee delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: It’s always so easy for bullies to implement their will over others when people don’t fight back. But once they do fight back, they may not be so eager to even try to impose their will anymore.

“Let them fight.”

From: Godzilla (2014)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Dr. Ishiro Serizawa

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2014 reboot of the Godzilla franchise. As such, this version of Godzilla does not take into account the Japanese Toho productions featuring the King of the Monsters.

The quote in the middle of the film. The US military forces have tried to take out Godzilla as well as the new monster, dubbed the MUTO, have failed. Dr. Serizawa (played by Ken Watanabe) is brought in to consult has he has been analyzing both Godzilla and the MUTO creature. When the General asked Dr. Serizawa if Godzilla can actually defeat the MUTO, the Japanese scientist delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: You can delay the inevitable but you can’t prevent it from happening. You will eventually have to let go and let nature take its course, even if you may not want to.