The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from classic Universal horror movie, The Wolfman, from 1941. The film stars Lon Chaney Jr. as Larry Talbot. He had just returned to his ancestral home and, while walking through the forest, fends off and kills what seems to be a wild wolf. Unfortunately for him, it turns out the “wolf” he killed is actually a werewolf. As he got bit during the struggle, Larry Talbot becomes a werewolf himself.
The quote comes from various points of the film. In the film, it is a very well-known legend and poem known by the locals. As such, many of them to believe in the creature, despite Larry Talbot not giving any credence to it.
Geek wisdom: People change. Even good people can eventually turn evil depending on the circumstances. Thankfully, the opposite it true. This means that even bad people can eventually have a change of heart.
he story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the 1987 horror film, Hellraiser. Written and directed by Clive Barker, the movie focuses on the Cenobites who are summoned into this world by solving a puzzle box.
The quote comes in the middle of the film. After Kristy (played by Ashley Laurence) solves the puzzle box out of curiosity, the Cenobites appear and start to torment her. A terrified Kristy asks who they are. This is when the leader of the Cenobites, affectionately called by fans as Pinhead (played by Doug Bradley) explains they are explorers from a different realm before delivering the quote.
Geek wisdom: People have different preferences, likes and dislikes. We might like certain kinds of foods and activities but these same activities may come off as bothersome to others. Essentially, what may be good for you may seem bad to others.
The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the 2010 cult classic comedy horror movie, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. The film focuses on two hillbillies, the titular Tucker and Dale. When they save a college girl from drowning, her friends mistake them for kidnapping her just because of how they appear. In a reversal of the hillbilly horrors trope, the college kids become the ones who start terrorizing Tucker and Dale.
The quote comes from the middle of the film. After a couple of the kids accidentally unalive themselves in at attempt to “rescue” their friend, Tucker (played by Alan Tudyk) and Dale (played by Tyler Labine) retreat into their cabin. Tucker hypotesizes the kids are offing themselves because of a suicide pact. Dale wants to report what’s happening to the police but Tucker retorts by sarcastically delivering the quote and how the law officers won’t believe their story.
What’s funny is, when the police do arrive, Tucker does try to explain the situation to the officer in the same way he explained it to Dale.
Geek wisdom: There are going to be good days and bad days. Well, maybe not as bad as what Tucker and Dale experienced. But life is never going to be smooth sailing and we have to take each day, both good and bad, as they come.
The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2019 superhero movie, Spider-Man: Far From Home. Based on the Marvel character, Far From Home sees Peter Parker/Spider-Man is recruited by Nick Fury to assist another hero, Mysterio, in fighting off a seemingly mystical force known as Elementals who have the potential of destroying the planet.
The quote comes in the middle of the film. Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson) brings Peter Parker/Spider-Man (played by Tom Holland) to their base and explains the situation. Peter is reluctant to join the fight as he doesn’t feel like he’s up to the task. This is when Nick Fury, pointing out what happened to him during the events of Avengers: Infinity War, retorts by delivering the quote.
Geek wisdom: It’s okay to be humble. However, at the same time, you should also be able to recognize what you are capable of. You may not realize how much you know or how skilled you are.
The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the DC 2025 superhero movie, Superman (2025). Written and directed by James Gunn, the film features the titular hero in turmoil after a message from his Kryptonian parents are translated and it turns out they may not have had the best intentions when sending him to Earth. This turns the public’s opinion against him and also leads to Superman questioning his purpose.
The quote comes near the end of the movie. Superman/Clark Kent (played by David Corenswet) is still in shock after it’s revealed his biological parents wanted him to rule the planet and not protect the people. His adoptive father, Pa Kent (played by Pruitt Taylor Vince) tells him it’s never a parent’s job to tell their kids what to do with their lives and he says Clark wanted the message to mean is more important. This is when Pa Kent delivers the quote.
Geek wisdom: Who you are when you are born is just a matter of circumstance. You can be from whatever race or class. But, ultimately, those circumstances are not what should define you. What should define you is how you choose to live and behave.
The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb. The show revolves around Phineas and Ferb, two brothers who, thanks to their inventive minds as well as engineering skills, manage to create and build various fantastical object in order to enjoy themselves during their summer vacation. Their sister, Candace, always wants to “bust [her] brothers” by telling on them to their mom. However, Phineas and Ferb’s creations usually vanish before their mom arrives. This is usually due to some mishap, usually caused by their pet platypus, Perry, who also a secret agent, and his nemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.
The quote comes from the episode Brain Drain. In the episode, Dr. Doofenshmirtz puts a mind control helmet on his nemesis, Perry the Platypus, and he is able to control everything he does. Later, as they goes to pick up his daughter at a junk yard where a party is being held, a mishap happens and Phineas, Ferb and their friends are able to control Perry the Platypus with their gaming controllers. Thinking Dr. Doofenshmirtz is the final boss of the game they’re playing, they attack him while controlling Perry. While escaping, Dr. Doofenshmirtz falls down a hill, gets his hands covered with glue and gets records attached to his fingers. Perry then puts the mind control helmet on him and controls him to do rap called “There’s a Platypus Controlling Me” in front of his daughter and his friends. He delivers the quote (in song) which the crowd believes is a metaphor instead of being literal.
Geek wisdom: Although Dr. Doofenshmirtz was using the quote literally, the metaphorical way of thinking of it is also true. We all have something that is telling us what to do, both literally and figuratively. It can be hard to find that balance between these outside forces and what we want to do but that’s just the way life is.
The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2006 sports comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Rick Bobby. The movie follows the titular character Ricky Bobby, a professional race car driver throughout a significant portion of his life and career.
The quote comes in the middle of the film. Ricky Bobby (played by Will Ferrell) gets in an accident and has to go to the hospital. He has a psychological break as, due to his fear of getting into another accident, believes he’s now paralyzed. His friends learn the truth from the doctor and try to convince Ricky Bobby it’s all in his mind and he can go back to racing again.
Ricky Bobby becomes agitated and then wishes for his friends to eventually have kids and they become paralyzed so they would know his pain. Angered that his friend would wish this on him, the head of his pit crew Lucius Washington (played by the late Michael Clark Duncan), yells out the quote at Ricky Bobby.
Geek Wisdom: No matter the circumstance, it’s just wrong to wish evil on others, especially when they only want the best for you.
The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Marvel‘s First Family, the Fantastic Four. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Fantastic Four are a group of people who were bombarded with cosmic rays that granted them superpowers. They then decided to use these new abilities to help mankind.
The quote is actually the catchphrase of one of the members of the Fantastic Four, Ben Grimm AKA The Thing. The first time the catchphrase/quote was used was way back in Fantastic Four #22, The Return of the Mole Man. In the issue, Mole Man managed to trick the Fantastic Four into an isolated island and plans to trap them there while he sinks New York and Moscow in order to get the two nations to ignite a world war.
Sue Storm/Invisible Woman uses her new found ability to create force fields to enable them to pass through their radioactive prison. As the Fantastic Four escape and prepare to go after the Mole Man, Ben Grimm/The Thing utters the catchphrase and the quote for the very first time in Marvel continuity.
Geek wisdom: While it’s always nice to try to resolve things peacefully, there are times when force will be necessary. Sometimes, you do have to go “clobberin'” in order for peace to work.
The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the 1980 spoof comedy, Airplane! A pastiche of disaster movies of the 70’s such as Airport, The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno and, most especially, Zero Hour!, Airplane! focuses on a former fighter pilot traumatized from the war, who is forced to take command of a commercial airliner when the assigned pilots are incapacitated. The film has an all-star cast, including the likes of Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Stack. These actors were actually known for more serious roles, so having them perform comedy just adds to the humor of the situation.
The quote comes in the middle of the film. Former fighter pilot Ted Striker (played by Robert Hays) is called into the cockpit by Dr. Rumack (played by the aforementioned Leslie Nielsen). As he has determined the pilots are incapable to land the plane, Dr. Rumack asks Ted Striker if he can do just that. Ted replies with the phrase “Surely you can’t be serious” and Dr. Rumack does reply that he is serious before perhaps misunderstanding the first word and delivering the quote.
As kind of a continuance of the gag, as Dr. Rumack’s first name is never given, fans have comically concluded that his first name is indeed Shirley.
Geek wisdom: Names are important as they are going to be linked to who you are. However, sometimes, some people just don’t want to be called a certain way so it’s important to also respect their wishes.
The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the British sci-fi program, Doctor Who. The long running program started way back in 1963 on the BBC. The program follows The Doctor and his various “companions” throughout various adventures in his time machine, the TARDIS.
The quote comes near the end of the episode entitled “The Big Bang.” The Eleventh Doctor (played by Matt Smith) visits his companion, Amy Pond (usually played by Karen Gillan but, in the scene, she was played by Caitlin Blackwood) on the night when they first met when she was seven years old. In order to save the universe (as well as restore Amy Pond’s parents back into the timeline), The Eleventh Doctor states he has to leave this current timeline.
The Doctor mentions Amy will probably not remember him at all but that’s not exactly true. She won’t remember him or the adventures they had together. Rather, she’ll be thinking of them as kind of a story she imagined. This is when The Doctor delivers the quote.
Geek wisdom: No one can live forever… physically. However, when we do pass on, there will be people who will remember us, leaving a legacy of our limited time on this world. Now, people will remember us as they will remember what we’ve done and what we did not do. So, it’s up to us regarding if we are leaving a good or a bad legacy behind us.
My Geek Wisdom 