Posted on 08/10/2010 7:25:50 AM PDT by MissTed
Movies and catchphrases go together like popcorn and microwaves. However also like popcorn, some of these catchphrases can get a little burnt and a lotta stale.
There are, of course, certain movie catchphrases that have stood the test of time and will continue to do so. "Here's lookin' at you kid" from "Casablanca" and "We're not in Kansas anymore" from "The Wizard of Oz" are just a couple of examples of movie catchphrases that will never grow old.
Even some more modern zingers like "You can't handle the truth" from "A Few Good Men" and "Expelliarmus!" from the "Harry Potter" series still have not lost their charm.
Then again, there is a whole slew of other movie catchphrases that make you want to pull out your eyelashes one by one every time you hear them. Here are the top five most overused movie catchphrases that we all wish would just fade into oblivion.
'Show Me The Money' - Jerry Maguire
There are many of us out there who would choose never to see a dollar bill again over having to hear the "Jerry Maguire" chant "Show me the Money!" one more time.
Yes, it was a pretty cool line when we first heard it ... more than 13 years ago. So were the other two famous catchphrases from the same film: "You had me at hello" and "you complete me." But enough is enough already.
Has there been a single negotiation since "Jerry Maguire" came out in which at least one schmuck didn't ask to be shown the money before he was shown the door? Probably no more than there has been a single time when someone standing on the helm of a ship didn't shout, "I am the king of the world!" But that's another story.
The point is no one should say "show me the money" ever again. Perhaps even more important, they should never utter the next four words.
'Hasta La Vista, Baby' - Terminator 2
When Arnold Schwarzenegger first uttered the Spanish-American hybrid "Hasta la vista, Baby!" in the action blockbuster "Terminator 2" back in 1991, it was pretty darn funny and undeniably cool.
But that was almost 20 years ago, people -- it's time to move on.
Yes, yes, we know that "hasta la vista" is a legitimate Spanish term meaning (essentially) good-bye. But it is that little addition of the word "baby" combined with Ah-nold accent that makes the phrase so annoying.
It's one thing to use the phrase if you are a robot from the future about to blow apart the bad guy you've been chasing across time and space. It's a whole different thing to use it because your girlfriend ticked you off and you want to make dramatic exit.
And speaking of dramatic exits, we sure wish the next movie catchphrase would make one ... right off the face of the earth.
I See Dead People' - The Sixth Sense
"The Sixth Sense" was a fantastic movie -- there is no denying that. And when most of us saw the previews with a wide-eyed Haley Joel Osment whispering, "I see dead people," we said, "I see dat movie!"
This once eerie catchphrase has unfortunately lost all its creep appeal due to oversaturation and over "satirization." First we have a freaked-out Marlon Wayans confessing in "Scary Movie" that he sees dead people as marijuana smoke puffs out of his mouth instead of cold mist.
Then we have the "South Park" episode "I See Dead Celebrities" where little Ike takes on the ghostly burden -- not to mention the myriad of YouTube parodies. And of course, just regular people walking around randomly spouting this catchphrase for the last 11 years has murdered its appeal as well.
Of course, at least this one is usually whispered -- the next one is usually SHOUTED!
'Say Hello to My Little Friend' - Scarface
Tony Montana was one bad, messed up dude. So when he shouted, "Say hello to my little friend" in "Scarface" while whipping out one of the biggest machine gun/grenade launchers ever conceived, audiences couldn't help but latch on to the memorable line.
The line was cool, but so was Al Pacino back then. Since then they've both kind of lost their luster.
But the moment the phrase became used on maternity wear, it truly lost its last bit of coolness. So now when people try to imitate this classic "Scarface" moment, they sound more like a loser than a delusional drug king who's about to die. Of course, when you put it like that, Tony Montana sounds like a pretty big loser too.
Nonetheless -- please, stop using this catchphrase! It was cool once, now it is just tired and lame. Speaking of which ...
'Go Ahead, Make My Day' - Sudden ImpactIn 1983 Dirty Harry held a gun on a "bad guy" who was about to reach for his own gun and smugly declared, "Go ahead, make my day." What could be cooler than that? Not a whole lot.
This classic scene from Clint Eastwood's "Sudden Impact" will live on forever. Unfortunately, so will this catchphrase.
Don't get us wrong -- this was one of the best movie moments of all time. But people just can't seem to understand that when you use a phrase over and over and over again, it loses its appeal. It's just the way life works.
You may hear a song that rocks your world the first few times, but by the time the radio plays it for the 10,000th time, you never want to hear it again. Such is the case with "Go ahead, make my day."
So please, go ahead and make our day by giving it a much needed rest.
or “It is what it is”....arghhhhhhhh
That's very true. Barack also seems wholly uninterested in the last part of this formulation: "In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women".
Loved the South Park where Cartman was “playing with his dollies” in the basement and he had Little Miss Prissy Pants down the hole and he was saying “it puts the lotion on its skin”.
Surely, you can't be serious!
Lighten up Francis!
;)
“Thass what I’M talking about”
is usually NOT what I’m talking about....
My favorite from "Casablanca" is "I was misinformed".
Why did you come to Casablanca?
I came for the waters.
But Casablanca is in the desert.
I was misinformed.
We will say it in unison.
One more:
“It is what it is.”
-PJ
‘Hasta La Vista, Baby’ - Terminator 2
I reserve to use that phrase one more time, when Ahnold leaves the governor’s house.
And, to Congress - “Show me the money”! NOW! (my own addition;)
If Buzz Lightyear didn’t say “To Infinity, and Beyond!” he would be Buzz Lightyear.
D’oh!
I pity the fool!
Well Excuuuuuuse Me
you know these guys.
“Don’t Mention the War.”
I thought that one was from Fawlty Towers...
I don’t use “Expelliarmus” but I should.
“I kill a Communist for fun. But for a Green Card, I’m gonna carve him up real nice.”
Close enough.
I love the smell of napalm...
Sorry, I can’t retire that one - always loved it - it smells like VICTORY! Can’t help it - love it.
My kid has the Spongebob's Boating Bash video game. One of the phrases Spongebob says is "Yippee-ki-yay!"
Every time I hear it, I can't help but finishing the whole quote you mentioned (in my head, of course).
Actually Bruce Willis latest, Cop Out, with Tracy Morgan is full of these one liners.
Tracy Morgan gets to use every one of these and more while he is roughing up a criminal.
I didn’t really care for the movie, but that one moment was pretty ok fine.
AMEN, brother! Say it again. I’d rather offend millions than have the utter silence of PC censorship.
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