and how to use them in everyday life.
I was talking to an old friend the other day, and we were reminiscing about the ‘70’s – and one of us said, “remember how everybody used to say, ‘and may the force be with you?’ after Star Wars came out?”
Even people who had never even seen Star Wars, and wouldn’t be caught dead watching that silly Buck Rogers stuff, used may the force be with you on a regular basis.
My wife and I still use that phrase upon occasion, usually when one of us is about to engage on some damn fool quixotic enterprise – like stuffing the cats into their travel box for a trip to the vet (and believe me, force is exactly the correct word for such an endeavor. Really).
It got me thinking about this week’s Ten Top SciFi list, specifically phrases from science fiction or fantasy movies that should be used in everyday life.
See, the idea is to use a line from a science fiction movie who’s meaning is immediately obvious even to someone who hasn't seen the picture.
Like so:
That’s no moon! That’s a space station!
Origin: Star Wars. Obi Wan’s exclamation upon spying the enormous menacing bulk of the Death Star for the first time.
Meaning: Jesus Christ! Run for your lives!
How to use it in real life:
Hey! Check it out. Isn’t that Rush Limbaugh at the donut counter?
That’s no moon! That’s a space station!
Out of the way, Peck!
Origin: Willow. Airk Thaughbaer to Willow Ufgood. Airk is marching to a battle where his men will be slaughtered, he doesn’t have time for questions from little people.
Meaning: I’m an asshole.
How to use it in a sentence:
Excuse me, Mr. Bush, but we found one of your waterboarding memos and …
Out of the way, Peck!
Study your math! Key to the universe.
Origin: The Prophecy. The Archangel Gabriel giving a little cowbell to Katherine Henley.
Meaning: You’re doomed.
How to use it in a sentence:
Wow! This is so cool. We just sign right here and we don’t have to pay anything but the interest on our new house for five years! How did you guys at Countrywide come up with this? You guys are the best!
Study you math! Key to the universe.
Get to the choppa!
Origin: Predator, of course. Dutch’s (Arnold Schwarzenegger) command to the survivors of his special forces team to get to the rescue helicopter before the alien predator kills them all.
Meaning: We’re doomed.
How to use it in everyday life:
Mr. Madoff! Mr. Madoff! There are federal regulators at the front desk!
Shit! Call my lawyer in the Hamptons and hold ‘em off while I get to da choppa!
Boy oh boy, I wish I’d taken the blue pill
Origin: The Matrix. Cypher’s line to Neo, after Neo figures out that reality isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Meaning: Dude, what the hell was I thinking?
How to use it in everyday life:
Senator McCain, in retrospect how do you feel about about your selection of Sarah Palin as your running mate?
Boy oh boy, I wish I’d taken the blue pill, Larry!*
*Note: there is more than one possible meaning here. For extra credit, see how many you can find.
Oh, noooo! It’s the Queen Bitch of the universe!
Origin: The Abyss. Chris Elliot’s line upon spying Lindsey arriving onboard board the Benthic Explorer.
Meaning: Oh No! It’s the Queen Bitch of the universe!
How to use it in everyday life:
Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce the Secretary of State…
[It’s OK, folks, we can say it, it's Bill's pet name for her]
That son of a bitch took my pants!
Origin: The Terminator.
Meaning: You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
How to use it in everyday life:
Today Exxon posted record profits for the third year in a row…
Bloody hell! That son of a bitch took my pants!
Then we’re stupid and we’ll die.
Origin: Bladerunner. Pris, realizing that she and her friends are stupid - and about to die.
Meaning: Because the terrorists will win!
How to use it in everyday life:
Mr. Cheney, how to you feel about Obama’s closing of the Gitmo facility?
Then we’re stupid and we’ll die!
What the hell are you saying?
Origin: The Thirteenth Warrior. Ahmed, sitting comfortably enjoying a fine meal and a great party, to his translator upon learning that life has just dealt him an unexpected blow.
Meaning: Holy shit! What am I gonna do? I just bought a new Gulfstream III! Fuck!
How to use it in everyday life:
Mr. Wagner, I’m afraid that in order for the Fed to agree to yet another GM bailout, the President of the United States has personally requested your resignation as CEO.
What the hell are you saying?
And there you have it. Stonekettle Station’s list of great Science Fiction movie phrases and how to use them in everyday life. Practice a few in front of the mirror and dazzle your friends.
Now that I’ve got you started, feel free to suggest a few lines of your own in the comments.
In my family, we sometimes use "out of the way, peck!" instead of "excuse me." Or "everybody move!" (Princess Bride), that works too.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of PB, "you keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means" can be used in a lot of situations too.
"These are not the droids you're looking for"
ReplyDelete"Quaint!" (Firefly)
"That went well." (Firefly)
"I'll be in my bunk" (Firefly)
"I like smackin' 'em!" (Firefly)
"Death to the opposition!" (DS9)
"Oh, you mean THIS gate key!" (Princess Bride)
Actually, about 3/4 of the script from the Princess Bride: "She kissed me!" "A little head jiggling is supposed to make me happy, hmmm?" "My way's not very sportsman-like" "It's possible. Pig." etc etc etc
If we're including fantasies (e.g. Willow), how could you miss the all-time classic:
ReplyDeleteYou keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. Origin: The Princess Bride. The second-best swordsman in the world tries to clarify what the second-smartest man in the world is talking about, exactly.
Meaning: You realize you're some kind of fucking retard, right?
How to use it in real life: "All of these 'tea parties' really show just how unpopular Barack Obama is right now."
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who said "...I drank what?"Origin: Real Genius. Chris knight states after being told he will never be allowed to pass a final course and get the job after a practical joke.
ReplyDeleteMeaning: "ok ok ok, I fucked up"
usage: Hillary: "Bill, I know you have been screwing those interns"
Bill: "in the immortal words of socrates, I drank what?"
It's not SciFi but it needs no explanation (or citation)...
ReplyDelete"I think we're gonna need a bigger boat."
Useful in soooooo many situations.
Nathan, I love that line.
ReplyDeleteAlso "Whoa, looks like we're gonna need a couple more FBI guys, uh?" from Direhard, which means basically the same thing.
"that silly Buck Rogers " Are you kidding me"? Erin Grey in short skirts. Hummina! That's the stuff dreams are made of (also OT movie quote).
ReplyDeleteMichelle, my favorite from firefly (besides, "I'll be in my bunk") is "I aim to misbehave." Although lately I haven bee saying "Goram" a lot.
Also from Princess Bride, "I'm waiting for Vizzini." Or "Marriage", "Get used to dissapointment / (h)Okay" and the all time fav, "Have fun stormin' the castle."
And Nathan, if I had a nickel for every time I've had to explain that line, I'd have a good vacation to the coast. That and my other fav line from that movie, "They're all gonna die," said chuckling, walking away shaking my head.
"Eye-gor! / Fro-derick!" "Not the THIRD switch! / Throw it, I say!" "A riot is(t) und ugly thing. And it's about time we had one!"
ReplyDeleteOr from a different movie, "Aw, blow it out your ass, Howard!" Love that line.
I prefer to use the Taco Bell Chihuahua's version: "I think I need a bigger box!"
ReplyDelete"Might I suggest a different strategy, Let the Wookie win!" (Star Wars)
"I am a doctor Jim! Not an Engineer!" (McCoy Star Trek TOS)
"Aye. And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wagon." (Scotty Star trek TOS)
"I know this saying, it was invented in Russia." (Chekov Star Trek TOS)
They are all useful for the your regular IT person. I use them at least 3 times a day.
"May the Schwartz be with you" (Yogurt, Spaceballs)
"Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?"
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a drinking game (like we needed an excuse) where you'd take a drink for every one-liner in The Outlaw Josey Wales. There were also drinks for every time he shot someone or did some facny pistol trick. There was a lot of drinking... The gatling gun scene was brutal.
"Shiny" (Firefly) gets used around the house here a bit. And the Yoda quote: "Try not. Do or do not, there is no try."
No, gentlemen, the quote is:
ReplyDelete"Oh dear, I think we're going to need bigger buns"
As stated by the fabulous Dame Helen Mirren in the hilarious 2003 hit Calendar Girls...
"You came in that? You're braver than I thought!" Original Star Wars
"Aren't you a little short for a storm trooper?" Same as above, and a line I actually got to use in a downtown Atlanta food court when a storm trooper ran into me during DragonCon weekend one year. I got growled at by said short storm trooper...
"Move it Goldenrod!" Star Wars
"Frakk It" Battlestar Galactica
"Ston, she is yours. You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. This is not logical, but it is often true." -- Spock (Amok Time)
"Resistance is futile" followed by "you will be assimulated" Any Trek with Borg in it.
so many quotes, so little time.
WendyB_09
Jayne Cobb: "Shiny. Let's be bad guys." While unzipping jackets after dismounting the motorcycle.
ReplyDeleteRiver Tam: "I swallowed a bug." On the motorcycle, betimes.