Tag: movies

“Brawndo has what plants crave. It’s got electrolytes.”

From: Idiocracy

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: The population of the future!

The story behind the quote: Although he became popular due to his animated outings like Beavis and Butt-head and King of the Hill, Mike Judge has actually achieved a modicum of success from his live-action films. One of those films is the 2006 cult hit, Idiocracy.

In the film, Corporal “Average” Joe Bauers (played by Luke Wilson) becomes a guinea pig for a suspended animation experiment. However, the experiment is forgotten and “Average” Joe wakes up 500 years in the future to a world that has evolved in such a way that intellectualism is scoffed at, leading to the world’s population to be of less than average intelligence, making “Average” Joe the smartest man on the planet.

The quote comes from the middle of the film. Joe advises that, instead of using the energy drink Brawndo, to irrigate the world’s failing crops, they should just use water instead. However, the cabinet just can’t see why ordinary water would be better than Brawndo…

Geek wisdom: It may seem sad, but there are some people that do emulate the future population featured in Idiocracy. These are the same people that only assure what they’ve been told is correct without even checking if its true or not. They blindly follow what they’ve been told because it sounds good but it might not actually be. People sometimes have to think about things rather than just accepting them.

“A strange game. The only winning move is not to play.”

From: WarGames

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Joshua/WOPR

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the 1983 science fiction thriller, WarGames. In the film, all of the United States nuclear launch capabilities is given to a computer called “Joshua” or WOPR, which stands for War Operation Plan Response. It is programmed to consistently run military simulations to concoct the best plan of an attack if nuclear retaliation is needed. David Lightman (played by Matthew Broderick) unwittingly hacks into Joshua and causes the computer to think that the Soviet Union has launched missiles at the United States.

The quote comes from the very end of the film. David forces Joshuato play tic-tac-toe against itself in the attempt to make it understand the concept of mutually assured destruction. As Joshua obtains the final launch code, it runs through all the possible scenarios in an attempt to find a winning plan. After cycling through all of them and not finding one where anyone survives, the machine delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: War is ultimately useless as, while history may say there are winners and losers, there really aren’t as both sides suffer massive losses. No matter which side comes out on top, it’s usually not worth the pain and suffering it does and the only real way to not have war is to not participate.

“They’re dinosaurs. ‘Wow’ enough.”

From: Jurassic World

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Owen Grady

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Jurassic World. Jurassic World is the fourth film in the Jurassic Park franchise and also serves as a way to revive the franchise and update the movies for today’s audiences. In the film, the theme park, Jurassic World, is looking to create a new dinosaur. As such, they create the Indominus Rex, a hybrid of a variety of dinosaurs… with predictably dire consequences.

In the film, Claire Dearing (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) brings Owen Grady (played by Chris Pratt) to the Indominus Rex’s holding pen. She explains that they needed to do this to reinvigorate interest in the park and to do that, they used genetic modification to “up the wow factor.” This is when Owen snidely delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There’s a lot of amazing things in the world at this very moment. Whether it be something simple and trite as watching the sunrise or a technological marvel like the engineering and manpower that was put into the construction of a building, we just seem to be bored with it as we’ve gotten used to it. As such, we just can’t seem to appreciate these special things. However, that doesn’t make these things any less fantastic.

We have to learn to recognize the beauty of the things around us and appreciate them rather than take them for granted.

“It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.”

From: Batman Begins

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Batman and Rachel Dawes

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the superhero/crime drama movie Batman Begins that was directed by Christopher Nolan. Released in 2005, Batman Begins tells the story of Batman’s first years as Gotham’s Dark Knight as a vigilante crime fighter.

The quote actually comes up twice in the film. The first time it’s mentioned is during the early part of the film. After Bruce Wayne (played by Christian Bale), Batman’s alter ego, puts on a show regarding how carefree he is at a hotel, he bumps into his old flame, Rachel Dawes (played by Katie Holmes). Bruce fumbles through a speech, implying that its all an act. However, Rachel rebuffs him by delivering the quote.

The second time the quote it mentioned near the climax of the film. As the city is under assault by Ra’s al Ghul’s League of Assassins, Batman saves Rachel and a child. Batman is about to jump into the fight again when Rachel stops him, asking him who he really is under the mask. This is when Batman turns to Rachel and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Actions speak louder than words. It’s incredibly easy to say what kind of person you are. However, all the talking and speeches in the world stating what a great person you are is useless unless you can actually back it up.

“They call me Mr. Tibbs!”

From: In the Heat of the Night

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Virgil Tibbs

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the classic 1967 film In the Heat of the Night. The movie was based on the book of the same name and  the film won the Oscar for Best Picture for the year as well. The movie follows Philadelphia homicide detective Virgil Tibbs, who was wrongfully arrested while passing through the backwater town of Sparta because of the color of his skin. He eventually assists the local and prejudiced police force in solving the murder of Philip Cobert, the very crime for which he was arrested for in the first place.

The quote comes after Virgil Tibbs (played by Sidney Poitier)  is “cleared.” The local police bring in Harvey Oberst, who happens to have Philip Cobert’s wallet in his possession. The Philadelphia detective examines the suspect and notices the man is left-handed. He attempts to talk to the Police Chief Bill Gillespie (played by Rod Steiger, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the role) rebuffs him and feels insulted that a black detective is questioning him in the first place. Gillespie then insults Virgil which is when Mr. Tibbs delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There are going to be people in the world who are going to try to bring you down. They will insult you and call you strange because of the things that make you unique. You shouldn’t let them get to you ever. You are who you are and that’s perfectly alright. You should always be proud of who you are.

“Not even in the face of Armageddon. Never compromise.”

From: Watchmen

Genre: Comics/Movies (sort of)

Who said it?: Rorschach

The story behind the quote: The quote comes the Alan Moore comic Watchmen, which was later adapted to a feature length film of the same name. Both the comic and the movie takes place in a world on the brink of nuclear war and a group of costumed heroes try to solve the murder The Comedian, a former comrade of theirs. There’s a lot more going on but, if I did try to cram all of the details of the incredibly dense narrative, this would be one long paragraph.

The quote comes from the very end of both the film and the comic. The heroes do discover who is behind the murder of The Comedian. However, the mastermind behind the plot has managed to also find a way for the world’s leaders to band together and, thus, actually have world peace through a truly despicable act, however. Most of the heroes decide to keep quiet to ensure the peace would last. However, one of the heroes, the anti-social Rorschach (played by Jackie Earle Haley) doesn’t want to do it…

Never Compromise Watchmen

 

When the comic was adapted into the 2009 film, the quote did change a bit as the lines are switched but the message is still the same. This time, Rorschach says, “Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon.”

Geek wisdom: A person’s integrity and humanity will never be tested when things are easy. They will only be tried during times of hardship and when we feel we need to compromise. While some people may believe that conceding may be the proper thing to do, there will be people who will be sticking to their guns no matter what. These are the people that may not be able to see the greater good of compromise or these people may be the ones who are the true heroes for standing up for their beliefs even if they are not popular. Ultimately, only history will say which was the right choice.

“You learned to dance like that sarcastically?”

From: The Other Guys

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Detective Allan Gamble

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the 2010 action comedy buddy cop movie The Other Guys. The film is about a seemingly mild-mannered detective and former pimp Allan Gamble (played by Will Ferrell) and hot-headed copy Terry ‘Yankee Clipper” Hoitz (played by Mark Wahlberg). Hoitz got the nickname by accidentally shooting at Derek Jeter during the World Series. They are both looked down upon by the entire precinct yet both feel that they just need to crack that one big case to get the respect they deserve.

The quote comes from the middle of the film. Hoitz confronts his former fiancee for joining a strip clup (which is actually a dance studio). Thinking that his ex will let him back if he proves he can dance, Hoitz does a series of outstanding pirouettes and leaves. His partner, Gamble, astonished by his dancing ability asks Hoitz how he learned to do those moves, to which Hoitz replies that he learned how to do that to make fun of the other kids who are actually good at dancing. This is when Gamble delivers the quote…

Geek wisdom: We actually don’t learn skills because we like them or not. We learn them instinctively through repetition. In fact, we may actually become good at things we don’t even enjoy because we keep on doing the same thing over and over again. But, whether or not this new skill is something we enjoy doing or not, we have to be thankful that we learned something new because you never know when it may become useful to us in the future.

“Fear can never kill you.”

From: Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Chiun

The story behind the quote: The movie comes from the little known film, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. The movie was loosely based on The Destroyer, a series of books. The movie and the books all focus around Remo Williams (played by Fred Ward), a former New York police officer forcibly recruited into a secret government organization to fight off evils that ordinary law enforcement can tackle. Remo Williams is trained by Chiun (played by Joel Grey), a Korean martial artist, who trains him in the martial art known as Sinanju, which gives Remo the ability to do extraordinary feats, like dodging bullets.

The quote comes early in the film during the initial stages of Remo’s training. Standing on the ledge of the building, Chiun asks Remo to follow him. When Remo climbs up on the ledge, Chiun immediately runs to the other end of the building and beckons his student to follow him. Remo is hesitant as he’s afraid he may fall off. That is when Chiun tells Remo that fear is just a feeling and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We sometimes let fear control our actions. While fear may be good in telling us we shouldn’t be doing something dangerous or stupid, we do have a lot of irrational fears that stop us from doing actions that may benefit us. It could be speaking in front of large crowds or being rejected. But we do have to get over some of our fears as these irrational fears prevent us from being more than we can be.

“Stupid is as stupid does.”

From: Forrest Gump

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Forrest Gump

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the critically acclaimed film of the 90’s, Forrest Gump. The movie is about a slow-witted man named Forrest Gump and all of the adventures he goes through as well as how he influenced the world around him. The movie won several awards, including Best Picture during the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes.

The quote comes from the middle of the film. Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks) has just been discharged from the Army. He proceeds to fulfill his promise to his friend Bubba, who he met during basic training, to start a shrimping business. Everyone around him, even Bubba’s family, is skeptical that the shrimping business would succeed and they think it’s an dumb idea. This is usually when Forrest delivers the saying that his mother taught him when he was younger.

Geek wisdom: It’s so easy to judge people by the way they look. Based on this, we automatically infer their intelligence as well as questions the decisions they make. But a person’s intellect, quick-wittedness and mental acuity is never determined by the way they look, but, rather, from the choices they make. Look at the decisions and the choices the person makes, not how they look like.

“I’m not even supposed to be here today!”

From: Clerks

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Dante Hicks

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the cult classic Clerks. The movie was written and directed by Kevin Smith. Filmed on a really shoestring budget, Clerks follow the misadventures of Dante Hicks, a clerk from the Quick Mart who is called in to work on his day off, and Randall Graves, a slacker clerk who works next door at a video rental store. The movie became a cult classic and launched Kevin Smith’s career.

The quote comes from Dante Hicks several times throughout Clerks. Whenever something unfortunate happens to him while on the job, he bemoans the fact that this was supposed to be his day off.

Geek wisdom: There are going to be bad days and there’s really no way to say how a day will turn out because it’s not something you can control sometimes. The best thing to do is to bear with it and try to get through the day the best you can.