I think movies have an enormous impact on our lives and many times these movies produce wonderful lines which are integrated into our language and culture over time and many of which have significant meanings for us as human beings on this planet larger and deeper than the movie itself. I have been thinking about many of these movie lines recently because either I have seen the movie on television (Thank God for the movie channels because most of programming TV really sucks!), or the certain lines have meaning to the situation at hand. In either regard, I have complied for discussion my top ten movie lines which I feel have had significant impact on us or which have meanings far greater than the circumstances in the depicted in the film itself.
No 10. “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn”. This famous line was uttered of course by Clarke Cable as Rhett Butler in response to the maniacal whining of Scarlet O’Hara who kept saying “But what will I do?” First this film was the earliest film to produce a famous movie line when it was produced in 1939. Second, it provoked serious outrage when the film was released as patrons walked out of movie theatres in protest of the utterance of this “cuss word”. Can you imagine the how these people would have reacted to today’s films and just for the “heck of it” I envisioned how this line would be reworked today if a remake was undertaken and I sense it going something like this ….. “Listen Bitch…..Go F@@k yourself …Hmmm…anyone heard that recently?
No 9. “I’ll be Back” …....the famous words spoken by then actor and now Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the original terminator movie. Now Arnold at that time was more know for his brut strength than his acting talents and I believe he only had about a total of 15 words in the entire movie but that was a catchy one indeed. It was repeated often by society and became synonymous with the fact we were not finished with our work, our task or our pursuits and while we may be gone for a while we would return to complete them and pursue them with a vengeance!
No. 8 “I’m mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore” …the famous lines uttered in the film the 1970’s classic movie Network. This line has been parodied by many in recent years and is even the subject the of a stupid TV commercial now for consolidation of annuities and structured settlements. Most of us in this world get upset about things in life which we seem to not even have control over in our life. We grow frustrated and everyone has their breaking point and we just to run and scream. I have this weird felling sometimes that when I am frustrated about things and I am driving I just want to stop the car and start running around a yard or field somewhere screaming my head off ……A close analogy to this quote is also from a movie… “Stop the madness!”
No.7. “We need a bigger boat”. At the time it seemed like a small little unimportant line for a movie that involved silly mechanical shark that was determined to destroy its attackers in the famous thriller Jaws which is more known for its famous eerie tune when the shark was about to attack than any lines. However, if you really think about it has many practical applications in today’s world. How many times have we approached a task in life or work and found we did not have the right tools or enough manpower or determination to accomplish this task and have to go get that “bigger boat” to accomplish what is needed to move forward.
No. 6 “I love the smell of napalm in the morning!” This line was uttered by actor Robert Duvall on the beaches of Vietnam in the long but entertaining movie Apocalypse Now. There are many famous lines which have been spoken in movies dealing with war as America has fought many wars in its life time and Hollywood has filmed all these wars form every perspective possible. I chose this on for the every reason it was uttered in a film about the Vietnam War which was the beginning of a time when America also began to question why we needed to be involved in every conflict around the world and the frivolity of war which took the lives of many innocent young people which continues today in the mess our boy George has this country in Iraq proving when it comes to wars we just don’t seem to learn …...maybe we are to busy smelling the napalm to see what has happened to us!
No.5 “You’ve got to ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk….Go ahead, make my day” These words were spoken by Dirty Harry actor and latter director and producer and even mayor Clint Eastwood. Well we ask our self that very question almost every day we get up and set out in our world and adventures. Do we feel lucky? Is this the day something good will happen or will we face consequences that seem out of our control or did we calculate something incorrectly leading to serious consequences and even possible death Go ahead …...make your day!
No 4. “Life is like a Box of Chocolates” Ok I will admit this film was a bit corny but it was also a good and provide a humorous look at our world over the last fifty years through the eyes of a very simple man played exceedingly well by actor Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump. We truly do not know what the world will bring us each day we wake up and start that pot of coffee. Will this be the day we find love? Will this day the day the world realizes it failures and advances our society? What new event, meeting or person will come into our lives and how will affect us? What is in store for us this day, this week, this month, and this year? We don’t know what lies ahead and we must take each thing that does with understanding that tomorrow will bring even more changes and events …..Life is truly like a Box of Chocolates …you never know what you are going to get…..and we don’t! Eat the damn thing and find out…..
No. 3 “ Well, nobody’s perfect” These words were first stated in the classic film Some Like It Hot and nothing could be closer to the truth for us as human beings. We are imperfect beings and we make mistakes and hopefully we learn from them except if we are the government in which we repeat them if it involves and armed conflict and we codify them if they are a policy to govern our lives. But we know that is bullshit! WE are imperfect beings and we always will be….. ..We strive to achieve perfection which will always eludes us and always will as long as we remain humans. Stop to make someone perfect ….stop trying to be perfect …stop striving for a goal which cannot be humanly achieved …just accept what comes and strive to do your best !
No2.” Get busy living or get busy dying” Now I will have to admit this movie is one of my favorite movies of all time and I love the symbolism in it as a man suffers injustice and loss of freedom for something he did not do but finds redemption after wadding through shit to be washed clean in a river and rain that soaks his body and frees his soul to pursue his life long dream and the companionship of a dear and good friend! I have always seen myself in the role of that person played so well by Tim Robbins. We have really two choices in life ….we can either spend it living each day to its fullest or we can spend it trapped and preparing for our impending demise. Get busy living people …..The alternative is not really a good option in my book!
No. 1 “What we‘ve got here is a failure to communicate” I have no idea how many times I have uttered this line in my life but it has been a many I would say. These important words were stated by the warden in the classic film “Cool Hand Luke” …..Pink Floyd used this quote for the basis of its song “Keep Talking” “then something happened…….man learned to communicate”…..It defines our entire world in a nutshell. Why do relationships fail? Why to problems occur at work? Why do countries war and live in conflict in a constant cycle? It’s simple we just don’t communicate! Communication is the key to any success and accomplishment in our society. It is the foundation by which our society advanced and will continue to advance. We have so many devices for communication in this world and more seem to arrive each day. Phones, cell phones, computers, letters, e-mails, I pods, faxes and the list goes on and goes on…..yet we are still plagued by the failure to communicate with each other and many times it is the root of why we have so many problems….I know I fail in this regard many times…but I am trying …hopefully I communicated something worth while in this blog you might take to improve your life my friends!!!
Hugs, Melissa
No comments:
Post a Comment