Category: Movies

“Remember those posters that say ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life’? Well, that’s true for every day but one: the day you die.”

From: American Beauty

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Lester Burnham

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the drama/black comedy. The film is all about Lester Burnham, a man experiencing a mid-life crisis and also becomes infatuated with his daughter’s best friend. While highly acclaimed at its time of release, American Beauty’s reputation has taken quite a hit as the days have gone by.

The quote comes from the very start of the movie. Lester Burnham (played by Kevin Spacey) opens up the film with the quote as part of his opening narration, hinting that someone is going to die by the end.

Geek wisdom: While it’s good to be optimistic about our future in life, always remember that it could end at a moment’s notice.

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“Congratulations. You are still alive. Most people are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you. Not anymore.”

From: Saw

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Jigsaw

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the original Saw film. As the predecessor of the series, the film laid the groundwork for the series, which had a serial killer named Jigsaw who would kidnap people and put them through violent “games” to test their resolve to live. This would usually mean having to maim or kill others in order to survive his diabolical traps.

The quote comes in a flashback of the movie and it’s from the testimony from the only one who has survived Jigsaw’s “game,” Amanda Young (played by Shawnee Smith). She recalls the brutal game and how she had to kill someone in order to survive. After escaping her trap, Jigsaw enters the room and delivers the quote to Amanda.

Geek wisdom: Don’t wait for some life-changing event to happen to you to start realizing it’s a good thing to be alive. Be grateful to be alive so you can actually experience living.

“Everything you’re doing is bad. I want you to know this.”

From: Ghostbusters II 

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Janosz Poha

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from Ghostbusters II. The movie is set some time after the events of the first movie. As all of the ghosts in New York has been taken out during the previous film, the Ghostbusters have disbanded and people have forgotten all of their heroic deeds. However, a new threat looms on the horizon.

The quote comes early on in the film as Janosz Poha (played by Peter MacNicol), the New York Museum’s curator is supervising it’s delivery. As he looks around the other art restorers, he makes an off-handed remark to one of them, showing his displeasure with her work and delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Constructive criticism should always be welcome. However, when the complains are vague and non-specific, then there’s no way to improve. Try to be specific as to why you like or dislike something.

“I’ve told this story so often, it might even be true.”

From: Larry King Live

Genre: Television and Comics

Who said it?: Stan Lee

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote is a unique one as it doesn’t come from any form of geek media. It does, however, come from one of the legends of the geek community, comic legend Stan Lee. It’s one of my favorite quotes from the man.

During a 2000 interview during Larry King Live, Stan Lee was asked about how he came to creating one of Marvel’s most popular characters, Spider-Man. Stan Lee starts out by saying how he’s created a whole lot of superheroes before and then sticks in the quote before continuing.

Geek wisdom: Our memories are a funny thing. While we think we have perfect recollection of a moment in our lives, it’s always clouded by our own perceptions of what we’re feeling at the time. Some events may be too good to be true while others may seem not so bad in reality.

“She doesn’t even go here!”

From: Mean  Girls

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Damian

The story behind the quote: The quote comes the cult classic, Mean Girls. Even though it was released over 10 years ago, many fans still remember the quotes from the film. While some of these quotes weren’t put in the film to be memorable or quotable, the writing of Mean Girls as well as the delivery of the lines actually inserted them into the public consciousness. One such quote comes from the middle of the movie.

After the Burn Book of the Plastics is distributed to the rest of the school, math teacher Sharon Norbury (played by writer Tina Fey) gathers all the girls in the gym to try to ease the tension. She does this by getting all of the girls to apologize to each other. One girl eventually goes on stage and gives a heartfelt speech about how she wants everything to go back to a time when everyone was nice to each other. This is when Damian (played by Daniel Franzese) yells out the quote.

Geek wisdom: It’s nice to be involved but make sure you’re actually wanted or actually a part of the situation before trying to insert yourself into it.

“Today is the first day of the rest of our lives.”

From: Clerks II

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Dante Hicks

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from Clerks II. The sequel to Kevin Smith’s first ever film sees Dante Hicks and Randall Graves now working at a fast food restaurant after the original Quick Stop convenience store was burned down.

The quote comes the end of the film. Dante (played by Brian O’Halloran) and Randall (played by Jeff Anderson) have rebuilt the Quick Stop thanks to a loan from Jay and Silent Bob (played by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, respectively). After serving a customer, Dante turns to Randall and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There is actually some truth to that because every day is the first day of the rest of your life as well. Try to begin your day with a refreshed mind and try to look at life with a more positive outlook with new horizons to explore.

“Your story may not have such a happy beginning, but that doesn’t make you who you are. It is the rest of your story. Who you choose to be.”

From: Kung-Fu Panda 2

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: The Soothsayer

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the animated film, Kung-Fu Panda 2. It is the sequel to the 2008 DreamWorks animated film and has Po face off against a dictator hellbent on taking over the country with his discovery of gunpowder.

The quote comes near the end of the film. Po (voiced once again by Jack Black) is badly hurt and is rescued by the soothsayer (voiced by Michelle Yeoh). Po starts to recall his past and how his parents gave up their lives to save him when he was very young. Po is initially distraught by this memory but the soothsayer delivers the quote. This makes him realize that, because of his parents’ sacrifice, he was able to live on and make new friends and live a happy and fruitful life.

Geek wisdom: While we may not have any control of our initial circumstances, we do have control of what we do with the rest of our lives. We have the power to change a bad situation as long as we put the necessary effort into overcoming it.

“I never saved anything for the swim back.”

From: Gattaca

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Vincent Freeman

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1997 sci-fi film, Gattaca. The movie takes place in a future wherein most children have been genetically altered to inherit all the best traits of their parents. Naturally born children are deemed “inferior” because of this. Vincent Freeman (played by Ethan Hawke) is one of those children who have been conceived through natural means. In order to fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut, he takes on the identity of a modified person who is now wheelchair bound.

The quote comes near the end of the film. Vincent Freeman is found out by his brother, Anton Freeman (played by Loren Dean). Anton is worried that his brother is not up to the task of space flight as he was not genetically modified. Vincent challenges him to a swim race to see who can go out the furthest and the first to turn back loses. Vincent manages to keep swimming while Anton decides to go back in fear of drowning. After Anton concedes, Vincent delivers the quote, explaining how he was able to win all those year back.

Geek wisdom: Always be ready to give it your all. Do your very best when you need to do so.

“A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.”

From: Batman, specifically, The Dark Knight Rises

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Batman

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the third and final entry in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movie trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises.

The quote comes near the end of the film. Batman (played by Christian Bale) has to fly out the bomb that is set to destroy the whole of Gotham City. Commissioner Gordon (played by Gary Oldman) knows this might be the final time he and the people of the city gets to know who their savior is behind the mask. Batman then delivers the quote and this makes Gordon realize the Batman just might be Bruce Wayne because he recalls when he did that exact action after the child’s parents were murdered.

Geek wisdom: Even the smallest good deed should be recognized by people. This is because it just might be the tiniest bit of kindness put in the world that makes all the difference in a person’s life.

“For years, I’ve been treating the Hulk like he’s some kind of disease, something to get rid of. But then I started looking at him as the cure.”

From: Avengers: Endgame

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Bruce Banner/The Hulk

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Avengers: Endgame. The movie was the climax of a decades long story that started way back in 2009 with Iron Man. The heroes have been defeated but it turns out there is still something they can do to, at the very least, set things right to the way things were.

The quote comes during the start of the movie. Captain America and Black Widow take Ant-Man to see Bruce Banner (played by Mark Ruffalo). However, instead of seeing a mindless monster or a meek scientist, Banner finally figured out how to merge both his Hulk side and his normal side into one being. He explains that, when they lost in the previous film, it was doubly hard on him as he lost twice. This is when he delivered the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, the thing you think is your greatest weakness can actually be made into your greatest strength. It’s just all about how you can utilize whatever you have in yourself and make it work for you.