Category: Movies

“I’m your density… I mean, your destiny.”

From: Back to the Future

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: George McFly

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1985 sci-fi comedy, Back to the Future. The film has Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) travelling back in time in a time machine created by Doc Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd). While stuck in the past, he accidentally prevents his parents from ever getting together. So, in addition to Marty and the Doc trying to find a way to get him back to the future, they also have to make sure that Marty’s parents end up together or else he will be erased from the timeline.

The quote comes in the middle of the movie. Marty manages to convince his future father, George McFly (played by Crispin Glover) to try to talk and woo his future mother. He tries to give him pointers on what to say. When he does try to talk to her, he initially flubs his line but, as he has been infatuated with her for quite a while, he does recover to say it correctly.

Geek Wisdom: When there is a connection between two people, little mistakes can always be ignored. After all, the point is for the two of them to be together. So, words ultimately don’t matter.

“Maybe this is what happens when you grow up. You feel less Joy.”

From: Inside Out 2

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Joy

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Inside Out. Released by Disney in 2024, the movie is a sequel to the first Inside Out. With Riley hitting puberty, she gains a bunch of new emotions, including Anxiety. Anxiety kicks the original emotions out of the control room as well as throw out Riley’s old Sense of Self. They now have to find a way back to regain control of Riley and try to give her back her original Sense of Self.

The quote comes near the end of the film, Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler) is dismayed as, while they did retrieve the Sense of Self, they have no way of returning to Riley’s control center. Unsure of what to do next and knowing that Anxiety may be destroying Riley’s life, Joy delivers the quote.

Geek Wisdom: Growing up can be painful. It’s when you have to realize life can be hard and you do have to shed some of your childish ways of thinking in order to make room for learning how to be responsible in life.

“Indiana… let it go.”

From: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Henry Jones Sr.

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the 1989 action adventure movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Closing out the original Indiana Jones trilogy and directed once again by Steven Spielberg, the Last Crusade has Indiana Jones teaming up with his father, Henry Jones Sr. in a quest to find the Holy Grail.

The quote comes near the end of the film. The cave where the Holy Grail is contained starts collapsing and the cup falls into a crevasse. Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) frantically tries to reach for it while his father (played by Sean Connery) holds onto him. His father pleads with Indy to give him his other hand (which is trying to grab the Holy Grail) but Indy believes he can get it. Henry Jones Sr. delivers the quote in order to get his son to change his mind.

Geek wisdom: In order to move forward, we do have to let go off the past.

“I was on this tour for one reason: money! But now I got a new reason: kicking your ass!”

From: Happy Gilmore

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Happy Gilmore

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the sports comedy film, Happy Gilmore. The film stars Adam Sandler as the titular character who was a professional hockey player. When his grandmother’s house is about to be foreclosed, he starts joining the golf circuit as his powerful slapshot allows him to drive the golf ball further than anyone else.

The quote comes in the middle of the film as Happy Gilmore meets up with Shooter McGavin (played by Christopher McDonald) taunt Happy as all he can do is a powerful line drive. Happy takes issue but tries to walk away. Shooter further taunts Happy as he feels slighted how Happy has taken the limelight from him. This is when Happy Gilmore delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Your motivations for doing things may change but just because you change the reason, that doesn’t make the reason any less valid. As long as you have a why, then you have every right to do what you want.

“If you focus on what you left behind, you will never be able to see what lies ahead.”

From: Ratatouille

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Chef Gusteau (in Remy’s mind)

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Disney/Pixar animated film, Ratatouille. The film is about a rat named Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) who loves fine dining and learns to become a great cook, thanks to watching his favorite chef, Chef Gusteau (voiced by Brad Garrett). He then accidentally becomes partners with a young man named Linguini, the son of Gusteau, and together they try to become one of the greatest chefs in all of France.

The quote comes very early in the film. After being forced out of his home, Remy finds himself living in the streets of France. As it was his actions which led to him and his family leaving their home, Remy feels guilty. This is when Chef Gusteau (or, at least, Remy’s image of Chef Gusteau) tries to get him to pick himself up by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: While it is good to learn from our past and our mistakes, we should never let them control our lives. All of us has a future to live for and we should always look towards tomorrow and not yesterday. This is especially true for the upcoming new year.

“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.”

From: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Patches O’Houlihan

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2004 sports comedy film, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. The film is about a scrappy group of misfits who join a dodgeball tournament with the hopes of using the prize money to save their local gym from Globo Gym.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Retired professional dodgeball player Patches O’Houlihan (played by Rip Torn) decides to train the group after finding out Globo Gym’s owner, White Goodman (played by Ben Stiller), created his own team to thwart the good guys. However, it turns out Patches O’Houlihan’s training is very unorthodox as his training involved throwing wrenches at them. He does explain why by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom:  Skills aren’t just in a vacuum. Some of them will bleed into other skills and will actually help you learn new things.

“What are your Prime Directives?”

From: Robocop

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Bob Morton

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1987 sci-fi/cyberpunk movie, Robocop. The film is about Officer Alex Murphy (played by Peter Weller) who is gunned down on duty. But, thanks to Omni Consumer Products, also known as OCP, Murphy is resurrected as Robocop to be the future of law enforcement.

The quote comes early in the film. After officer Alex Murphy is transformed into Robocop and is transported to his old police unit, Bob Morton (played by Miguel Ferrer) goes up to Robocop and delivers the quote as part of his initialization tests.

Geek wisdom: Everyone has their own special code of conduct within themselves. These help them navigate through the complex world we live in and guides us through life. You have to recognize your very own “prime directives” and keep them to heart.

“I made an educated wish!”

From: Deadpool and Wolverine

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Deadpool

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from, technically, the third Deadpool film, Deadpool and Wolverine. Featuring the Marvel superheroes, the aforementioned Deadpool and Wolverine, played by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, respectively, the movie has the Merc with a Mouth partnering with the former Weapon X in a quest to save his universe.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Deadpool and Wolverine are travelling when the former lets it slip that he doesn’t really know if the Time Variance Authority can fix the latter’s universe. Wolverine confronts Deadpool about this and, to defend himself, Deadpool delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom:  The world can be unfair at times and all you can do is try your best and hope all that hard work will bear fruit. Sometimes it will but sometimes it won’t. All we can do is make the “educated wish” things will work out.

“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.