Category: Movies

“So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause.”

From: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Padme Amidala

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote initially comes from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. It is the final movie of the Prequel Trilogy and sets up the events which will lead to the Original Trilogy.

The quote comes from near the end of the film. Palpatine has managed to sow fear throughout the Galactic Republic and declares himself as Emperor in the guise of reining in all of the threats. Padme Amidala (played by Natalie Portman) sees this act as it truly is, people willing to give up their freedoms for this supposed security, delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Most dictatorships only happen when people declare their willingness to give up their freedoms for whatever reason. In fact, they might not even realize it and cheer on their new dictator as they believe that’s what’s right for them.

“You were always the wrong guy… until you weren’t.”

From: Deadpool and Wolverine

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: X-23/Laura

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from, technically, the third Deadpool movie, Deadpool and Wolverine. The film has Marvel superheroes Deadpool (played by Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine/Logan (played by Hugh Jackman) go on a interdimensional adventure in the hopes of saving Deadpool’s universe from annihilation.

The quote comes near the end of the film. X-23/Laura (played by Dafne Keen) meeting up with Logan. Although this Wolverine is of a different universe, Laura expresses her appreciation for saving her. Logan replies he shouldn’t deserve any credit as he has done a lot of terrible things in his universe and he’s not the same Wolverine she knows in the first place. This is when X-23 delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom:  Heroes come when the time and the place matters. When the situation arises, it’s the people who stand up during these crises who deserve praise. And that person could be anyone.

“Somehow, Palpatine returned.”

From: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Poe Dameron

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote initially comes from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Produced by Disney via Lucasfilm, this was the last entry of the new trilogy.

The quote comes from the start of the film. The First Order begins to rally after it is discovered that the Empire‘s previous leader, Emperor Palpatine, is still alive. The Rebels manage to retrieve this bit of information, which Poe Dameron (played by Oscar Isaac) relays to the group in one of the most unnatural sounding lines ever.

Geek wisdom: If there’s a fire in your house, you concentrate on putting out the fire and not what caused the fire in the first place. Sometimes, it’s more important to recognize what problem is happening in the present and solving that. Only after it’s done should you try to figure out the cause.

“That’s a lot of fish!”

From: Godzilla (1998)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Dr. Nick Tatopoulos

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the American Godzilla movie that was released in 1998. A sort of reboot of the Japanese Godzilla films, this has the titular King of the Monsters stomping around New York. While lambasted by critics and fans of the Japanese films, the film was a box-office success and spawned an animated series. 

The quote in the middle of the film with Dr. Nick Tatopoulos (played by Matthew Broderick) devises a plan to lure Godzilla out of hiding by using a lot of fish as bait. As the US Army gathered as much fish as possible, Nick looks at the mountain of fish and delivers the quote. 

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, quantity will triumph over quality. More can sometimes be better.

“I myself am strange and unusual.”

From: Beetlejuice

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Lydia Deetz

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1988 fantasy comedy Beetlejuice. Starring Michael Keaton as the titular character, the story is about a recently deceased couple who hire Beetlejuice to help the current living occupants out of their house.

The quote comes from near the beginning of the film. The deceased couple come in contact with the daughter of the family living in the house, Lydia Deetz (played by Wynona Ryder). They are amazed that she can see them as they are ghosts. She notes that the “ghost handbook” states that that’s only because most regular people ignore what’s weird. This is when she delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: People should be proud of what makes us “strange and unusual” as this is precisely what makes us all unique. We should celebrate our differences rather than shun them.

“You put the wrong em-PHA-sis on the wrong sy-LAH-ble.”

From: View from the Top

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: John Whitney

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from 2003 romantic comedy, View from the Top. The movie stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Donna, a smalltown girl hoping to become a high class airline flight attendant.

The quote comes early in the movie during her training under John Whitney (played by Mike Myers). While testing one of the students in a mock emergency, the student mispronounces the word “assess.” John Whitney teases the student by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: While it’s okay to mispronounce words once in a while, it’s also important to note that how we say things can have different meanings. In other words, we do have to be careful with not only what we say, but how we say it.

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

From: Gladiator

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Maximus Decimus Meridius

The story behind the quote: The quote comes Ridley Scott’s Gladiator starring Russell Crowe as Maximus, the titular “Gladiator” of the film. The movie is about a former Roman general who, because he didn’t give his fealty to Commodus (played by Joaquin Pheonix) and after some heartbreaking events, became a gladiator in the Roman colosseum.

The quote comes very early in the film. During a speech for his troops before they go to battle, he tells them to visualize where they will be after the war and, if they will it hard enough, it will become true. After this, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Every thing we do, good and bad, right or wrong, grand and mundane, will have an affect in the world. It may not make a huge impact but everything we do will make even the slightest change to the future. This is why we should think before we take action.

“If a lot of people love each other, the world would be a better place to live.”

From: The Room (2003)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Johnny

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from “the Citizen Kane of bad movies,” The Room. Written, directed and produced by the enigmatic Tommy Wiseau, the movie is about a love triangle between Johnny (played by Tommy Wiseau himself), his fiancee Lisa and his best friend, Mark. At least, that’s what I’ve been able to piece together as The Room is generally a mess of unrelated stories and plot points, some of which are never addressed or discussed in the film.

The quote comes sometime in the middle of the film. Denny (played by Philip Haldiman) tells Johnny that he may be in love with Lisa. Johnny, with all his wisdom, says that okay and, in fact, that it’s great. That’s when the wise sage delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: While this may be very obvious, it’s still on point. If more people did love each other, the world would indeed be a better place.

“Congratulations, San Francisco! You’ve ruined pizza! First the Hawaiians and now you!”

From: Inside Out

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Anger

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Inside Out. Released by Disney in 2015, the film revolves around the inner emotions of Riley, a pre-teen who had to move to San Francisco with her family. 

The quote comes early in the film when Riley and her mom go to a pizza place and they realize the people in San Francisco put broccoli on their pizza. This prompts Anger (voiced by Lewis Black) to deliver the quote.

Geek wisdom: Different locations and different cultures will take one thing and adapt it for their own. While it may “ruin” it for some, some others may actually like it. Trying something different that may be terrible might not be so bad after all.

“I’m just Ken.”

From: Barbie

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Ken

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2023 live-action comedy/fantasy movie, Barbie. Based on the toy doll line by Mattel, Barbie stars Margot Robbie as the titular character who leaves Barbieland to go to the real world and find out why she’s been getting more adult thoughts and issues recently.

The quote actually comes from the song, I’m Just Ken. Sung by Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) and the other Kens of Barbieland after the Barbies try to get the Kens to fight among themselves. The song is a ballad about how much he still loves Barbie but how she doesn’t return his feelings.

The song itself won Best Song during the 29th Critics Choice Awards and nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media during the Oscars.

Geek wisdom: Being yourself should always be enough. You can try to improve yourself but always be proud of who you are.