What is a movie? Is it the story? Is it the characters? Sometimes, a movie is symbolized by an iconic dialogue, which immortalizes it forever.
Taken – I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.
“If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”
Everybody knew Liam Neeson was a rock star and an action icon. But in Taken, he proved just how much of a badass he is. A retired intelligence agent, Liam Neeson’s character never talks about his job to his family. But when his daughter is kidnapped by a human trafficking ring, Neeson decides to use his ‘very specific set of skills’. The scene showed us Neeson on the phone, listening to his daughter’s screams as she is being taken away. And when the kidnapper holds the phone, that is when Neeson delivers this epic dialogue. That’s when we knew a great storm’s coming. And it did.
Gladiator – My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius…
“Maximus: My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”
He will have his revenge. For his family, for the betrayal, for what Commodus did to him, he will have his revenge. And revenge, he did have. Commodus died a dog’s death. Maximus became the beacon that led to the liberation of Rome from absolute tyranny. Gladiator was a badass movie but this line was what pushed it into the realm of the Gods.
Also Read: Kids Movies That Feature Inappropriate Characters
Midnight Cowboy – I’m walkin’ here!
“I’m walkin’ here! I’m walkin’ here!!!”
The truth behind the legendary scene will leave you in splits. Apparently the movie’s production budget did not have enough money to shut down an entire street in New York. So the actors had to undergo shooting amidst heavy traffic. In this particular scene, a taxi almost hit Dustin Hoffman as he was crossing the road. He stayed in character and started shouting at the driver for almost running him over. The director loved the impromptu acting so much he insisted it be included in the theatrical run.
Gran Torino – Ever notice how you come across somebody…
“Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn’t have fucked with? That’s me.”
Clint Eastwood is the very definition of badass. Before there were heavyweights like Schwarzenegger and Stallone with their ripped bodies holding machine guns in their hands, Eastwood proved how an action hero should act like. In Gran Torino, he tried to bring back the notion of a true action star. His acting is subtle. Like a legend, he minds his own business and keeps to himself. But when trouble knocks at his door, he grabs his gun, looks death in the eye and delivers this epic line that makes even monsters cower under their bed. You do not mess with Clint freaking Eastwood!!!
The Silence of the Lambs – An old friend for dinner…
“I’m having an old friend for dinner.”
16 minutes. Anthony Hopkins had a total screen time of 16 minutes in The Silence of the Lambs. And in 16 minutes, he delivers such a power packed performance he wins a God damn Oscar. That’s Anthony Hopkins for you. It takes a special kind of talent to pull something of this sort. Hannibal Lecter is a special kind of deranged. He is not mentally unstable. He was just born that way. With this one line, he shows us the magnitude of terror he embodies.
The Usual Suspects – The Devil’s greatest trick
“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”
The Usual Suspects was never meant to be a blockbuster of this caliber. Even after years of it being released, it is still talked about. Why? It represents the very epitome and zenith of Hollywood plot twists. The entire movie is just a massive build-up for that one scene in the end that leaves us gasping for air. Keyser Soze was there all along. And right before he vanishes back into thin air, he delivers the same sentence he had said when the movie began. only this time, it carries much more weight.
Dirty Harry – Do you feel lucky?
“You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?”
Clint Eastwood was a star long before he starred in Dirty Harry. But he immortalized himself as the greatest action star Hollywood has ever seen or will ever see with this one liner. There’s a common misquote that happens all the time in Hollywood. the line ends with “Do I fell lucky”. Eastwood’s character never said “Do you feel lucky, punk?”. That’s an adulteration the rest of the Hollywood is guilty of.
You May Also Like: 4 Of The Worst And Best CGI In Movies
The Godfather – On offer you cannot refuse
“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
The Godfather movies are symbols of a bygone era of Hollywood. They represent greatness, when people from all walks of show business came together to make something truly iconic. Marlon Brando delivers this amazing dialogue that sends shivers down our spine. If Don Vito Corleone makes an offer, you say yes or you die drowning in your own blood. You decide.
The Wolf of Wall Street – The story you keep telling yourself
“The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.”
The Wolf of Wall Street was far from being a motivational movie. But it has its award winning moments. The protagonist Jordan Belfort is a go-getter. He does not wait for things to fall in line. He makes it happen, by hook or by crook. in this scene, Belfort claims that the biggest enemy you have is yourself. Your insecurities make you take a step back and you start telling yourself useless tall tales from taking that step forward. You want something then make it happen. If it costs you everything, then so be it. At least you die on your feet rather than live on your knees. And the way DiCaprio says it is sheer class redefined.
The Dark Knight – I am not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.
“Don’t talk like you’re one of them! You’re not, even if you’d like to be. To them you’re just a freak, like me. They need you right now, but when they don’t, they’ll cast you out—like a leper. See, their morals, their “code”…it’s a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They’re only as good as the world allows them to be. I’ll show you, when the chips are down, these—ah—”civilized people”? They’ll eat each other. See, I’m not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.”
Jut going to leave it here. Society never seemed so ugly until we heard Ledger say this.
