Saturday, August 15, 2009

Top Ten Lines In Film

Note: For those curious, here are my criteria.
1) The iconic status of the quote.
2) The delivery of the line itself.
3) The impact the quote has during the scene and in the film
4) It’s usage in my life. For example, do I myself use it in everyday life?

Without further adieu, here’s my list

10. "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
Film: Forrest Gump
Spoken By: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks)


One of the first lines spoken in this brilliant film, Tom Hank’s delivery certainly makes it a memorable line in film history, but its truth in life also helps elevate its iconic status. It’s such a wonderful metaphor and perfectly captures the innocence in Forrest’s ways of learning about life. Not mention it’s my youngest brothers favourite film, so this quote has become one both of repeat time to time.

9. "You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?"
Film: Dirty Harry
Spoken By: Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood)

There’s really not much to say other than if there was a ‘top ten badass moments’ list out there, the scene in which Clint Eastwood delivers this line would certainly make it in there somewhere. I’ve personally used this line on other people several times in my life when the situation called for it (jokingly of course) and again, Clint’s badass delivery certainly allows this line to make a spot.

8. "Hasta la vista, baby."
Film: Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Spoken By: The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger)


There are two reasons makes the list. The first is, like the last line, it’s simply badass on every level in term of Arnold’s delivery. The second reason is it’s actually meaningful in the whole context of the relationship between John Conner and The Terminator. Earlier in the film John is teaching the very unemotional machine how to speak like a human, using this line as an example. So when The Terminator speaks this line, not only is it super cool…it shows how he’s retained the knowledge and teachings of his friend. Awesome.

7. “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
Film: Gone With The Wind
Spoken By: Rhett Butler (Clark Gable)


Even in film it’s not often that men get a chance to put women in their place (no offence to any ladies reading this =D). At the end of Gone With The Wind, instead of a classic and feel good ending, we get a more realistic situation in which the character of Rhett Butler decides he can’t take anymore of Scarlett O'Hara crap and delivers this line when she asks what will she do without him. Not only does the line show he’s given up on her and no longer cares about her, it’s almost a cheer worthy moment to see him be able to tell her off. He struck a blow for men everywhere!

6. "I See Dead People."
Film: The Sixth Sense
Spoken By: Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment)


Even if you haven’t seen this film you know the memorable line when you hear it. Osments delivery is both chilling and almost heatbreaking. Take into account that it’s becomes one of the most spoofed lines and has become a part of pop culture, not to mention I myself refer to it many times, and you’ve got a winner.

5. “Why So Serious?”-The Dark Knight
Film: The Dark Knight
Spoken By: The Joker (Heath ‘King’ Ledger)

Anyone who thinks Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker can be replaced by anyone(at least in the current franchise) is insane as the clown prince of crime himself. The scene in which The Joker explain just one of his origin stories was scary. I remember the feeling of dread exactly as it was when I was sitting in theatres as the menacing Joker initiated the gangsters in the film. This line was so cool and chilling it easily became one of the most memorable from the film. It’s probably the newest line in film to become such a popular and repeated one in today’s culture. Also, this is now how I often ask people 'what's up' or 'why the long face' and other simiar greetings. For these many reasons, the line earns a spot in the top five.

4. “*I*, Am Your Father.”
Film: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Spoken by: Darth Vader (David Prowse-Suit/James Earl Jones-Voice)


Even as a kid whose wasn’t 100% into Star Wars, I was blown away and stunned by the revelation that Darth Vader, the most evil and feared villain in the galaxy, was the father of heroic and noble Luke Skywalker. James Earl Jones delivers this line with such ominous conviction and power you can’t help but be in a state of shock every time you hear it. There’s no need to tell you all its entered out culture in so many ways! There are a million ways this line could’ve been spoken that could have ruined the feeling of the twist, but Jones did it perfectly and it made for the greatest twist in film history (IMO.)

3. “Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
Film: The Wizard of Oz
Spoken By: Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland)


Anytime I find myself in a strange place or a new area where I have no idea where I am…I use this line! This line has been used several times in other films and television series’ as a wink and nudge to the film when the situation merits it. Smallville even referenced the line in an episode! In a film that is so memorable in itself, this line for me surely stands out amongst the rest.

2. "May the Force be with you.”
Film: Star Wars a.k.a Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Spoken By: Han Solo (Harrison Ford)

In the Star Wars universe, the force is an energy that surrounds and binds the galaxy and gives the Jedi Knights their power. The line itself, brilliantly spoken by Ford in the first instalment of the Star Wars saga, is meant as words of good luck and well wishes. Do I really need to tell you how much this line not only has become a symbol of Star Wars, but also a large part of pop culture just as the films themselves? I remember when my math class was just about to write an exam, I turned to my friend and said “Hey Andrew, May the Force be with you”, instead of ‘good luck’ or something similar. For that, the iconic status of the line, and the usage it has in everyday life…this line earns the number two spot!

1. "Welcome, to Jurassic Park.”
Film: Jurassic Park
Spoken By: John Hammond (Richard Attenborough)


As many of you know by now, Jurassic Park was the first film I’d ever seen in theatres. The people I saw it with and the overall experience of the film itself and how it’s influenced my life has made it one of the, if not THE most memorable part of my life. The Brachiosaurus scene, where we first see a full life sized Dinosaur, was pure film magic at its best. The line spoken by Hammond was equally as memorable and magical. He’s welcoming the characters to the dinosaur zoo, but the way Attenborough delivers the line is so child like and full of enthusiasm that it feels like an old grandparent, soothingly welcoming you to a world of magic, wonder, and excitement. To me, that is what film is all about.

So there you have it, the top ten film quotes in film according to me. I hope you enjoyed reading, see you all on the next one. Thanks!=)