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Sunday, February 6, 2011

Horror/Science Fiction Quote Blogfest

Hello, Fire Enthusiasts and distinguished guests. A couple of weeks ago I participated in a top ten song of all-time blogfest. It was so much fun, and I spent way-too much time building it. I laughed that I spent more time working on it then I ever have for any of the other blog posts or articles that I have written! Now, if you know anything about me at all, it's that I have a head full of useless trivia. I know a lot about music (even the stuff that I don't like), television, books and...movies. So, I was more than pleased to be participating today with a new blogfest: Top Ten Horror/Science Fiction Quotes. It is being hosted by Ellie Garratt and Jeremy over at iZombielover.

I hope you enjoy this recollection of some of my favorite or memorable quotes. Some you will recognize right away, while others may be new to you. If you are not a Superbowl fan or are simply waiting for the actual game to start, rather than listen ad nauseum to all of the endless build-up, then take the time to check out all of the other participants. It may take a while, but should be well worth it, and a lot of fun.


1) “You’re gonna’ need a bigger boat!” This particular quote is great because it was ad-libbed. The late Roy Scheider just pulled it out of the thin air off of Martha's Vineyard, where the classic film Jaws was being shot. I could have used several other lines from the film, but this might be one of the great scenes in the history of filmmaking. After a long while, the shark finally pulls up out of the water. Chief Brody sees it and stiffly sits up in shock. He slowly walks backwards into the cab of the small boat and the rest is history.


2) “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some Fava beans and a nice Chianti.” The Silence of the Lambs is a masterpiece. It was evident when it stunned Hollywood by essentially sweeping the Academy Awards in 1991. This quote was made famous by yet another ad-lib. As the story goes, Anthony Hopkins turned to Director Jonathan Demme and told him that he wanted to say the line and try something. He did, adding his trademark noise at the end, creeping everyone out. I can well imagine the words "cut!" and "print!" soon followed.


3) “Just remember what old Jack Burton says when the earth quakes, the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big old storm right in the eye and says, 'Give me your best shot, I can take it!'". It's campy, it's John Carpenter and it's Kurt Russell in an unforgettable role as an over the top John Wayne. He's a quote machine in Big Trouble in Little China. One might question my taste in films at this point, but I can't help loving this movie. I just jump right into the Porkchop Express and ride along with old Jack Burton.

4) “You son of a bitch! You moved the cemetery, but you left the bodies, didn't you? You son of a bitch, you left the bodies and you only moved the headstones! You-only-moved-the-headstones!” Poltergeist is a fantastic film which I grew up with. I don't own the DVD yet because I've been hoping that they might put a large collector's set together. This film has a bit of everything: great actors, great effects, great writing and, if nothing else, Spielberg. 'Nuff said? Rumors persist that Steven had to step off of his producers chair at the last minute and see this film completed as an uncredited director. In any event, it is still good after all of these years.

5) “But,...then he's still out there.” Whether the producers knew it or not, they set up their franchise perfectly with the last lines in the original Friday The 13th back in 1980. The lone survivor (at least until the first minutes of part 2) awakens to find herself in the hospital. She asks the police officer what happened to the boy, Jason Voorhees, who pulled her into the water. They explain that they didn't find any boy...


6) “Listen to them, children of the night. What music they make.” Many have played Dracula or other vampires. Some have done well; however, for me, there is none better than Bela Lugosi. Don't believe me? Try looking up regular photos of the great actor and he still looks like the famous vampire.


7) It's perhaps one of the most memorable exchanges in film. In The Exorcist, Father Karras walks into the bedroom of Regan McNeil for the first time. She is fully possessed:
[Demon with Regan] “I'm not Regan."
[Father Karras] "Well, then let's introduce ourselves. I'm Damien Karras."
[Demon] "And I'm the Devil. Now kindly undo these straps."
[Father Karras] "If you're the Devil, why not make the straps disappear?"
[Demon] "That's much too vulgar a display of power, Karras."

8) I typically do not see a film multiple times until it is released onto DVD or video before that. With the classic film, Jurassic Park, I saw it three times in the theater. As often as I use the quote: "I hate this hacker crap!" whenever my pc is acting up or I am unable to access whatever it is I want on the 'net, the following is my all-time fav. When John Hammond attempts to explain away the trouble the park was having as totally explainable, Ian Malcom counters.
[Hammond} “All major theme parks have had delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956, nothing worked!"
[Malcolm] "But, John. If the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists."


9) "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!" There have been many remakes and all-too many poor sequels, but nothing beats the classic original, The Planet of the Apes, and this signature line. After all, it is the late great Charleton Heston!


10) Lastly, as much as I really didn't want to use this quote, it was probably inevitable. My wife encouraged me to use it. It was brilliant at the time, and has been used and overused since George Lucas surprised the world with it back in 1980 in the The Empire Strikes Back. It was one of the great all-time cinematic twists. Therefore, whether I am tired of it or not, I shall leave you with the exchange:
[Luke Skywalker] "I'll never join you!"
[Darth Vader] "If you only knew the power of the Dark Side. Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father."
[Luke] "He told me enough! He told me you killed him!"
[Darth Vader] "No. I am your father."

Once again, I hope you all find this blogfest as fun as I have. I look forward to reading what everyone else considers to be the greatest quotes in Horror/Science Fiction.

We'll talk soon.

42 comments:

  1. this is great!
    Dracula's children of the night quote is my favorite! if you think about it--just between us. think of a certain 'Eco' and you will discover just how much I like 'children' here!
    wink.
    and the other quotes are fab! each selection is terrific.
    Probably Jurassic Park is the best about the Pirates.
    cool, Jimmy and happy Sunday!

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  2. You have some awesome choices on your list. I did the Planet of the Apes quote and I can't believe I forgot about Silcence of the Lambs!

    Thank you for taking part and I'll be checking your book out.

    Top Ten Movie Quotes Blogfest

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  3. Ref: “You’re gonna’ need a bigger boat!”

    One of my favorite lines. :)

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  4. Big Trouble in Little China is a classic! Only a few films that I'll watch over and over. The Princess Bride is another one - my son has seen that movie so many times he can just about quote the whole thing.

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  5. What a great list, and I share many of the same movies with different quotes. That's what makes them so great is the dialogue! Kudo's

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  6. Thanks, Carole. I also love, "I never drink...wine." I'm glad they only asked for 10 quotes. I spend way too much time doing these trivia blogfests!! LOL! I just can't help it; I love trivia!!

    -Jimmy

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  7. Hi, Ellie. I nearly forgot about the "Apes" quote. I found myself stuck on 8 and was getting ready to check out my DVD library to see whether I had forgotten something. That was when inspiration struck!
    Thanks for the interest in my book. That's very nice of you. *bows*

    Have a great day!
    -Jimmy

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  8. Hi, Maria. Are you feeling better after that chicken/hair incident? I love the couldn't get in the shower fast enough bit. EEK!
    Thanks for stopping by. Other great Jaws quotes that I could think of would have been the Dreyfuss one where he tells the mayor that he wouldn't know a shark "until it swims up and bites him in the ass!" or "Smile you S.O.B.!" when Brody blows it up. In Jaws 2, Brody yells at the counsel by warning that he had seen a shark close up and that "I don't intend to go through that again!" Something like that. I'd have to refresh my memory.
    Take care,

    -Jimmy

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  9. Thanks for stopping by, Rick. We've seen Princess Bride so much in my house, that we all know it by heart, too. Thankfully, it's that good that none are tired of it.
    I showed my kids Big Trouble in Little China a year or so ago. My oldest thought it was the most ridiculous thing, but my 13 year old liked it. As long as I got one out of the bunch, I'm good! ;) Love the dialogue in that one. As I said, good old Jack Burton was a quote machine in that film!!

    -Jimmy

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  10. Thanks, D.L. I'm torn. I love it when we all use the same quotes...shows how our great minds think alike!! I also want to discover something new or to be reminded of something I have forgotten about after many years. I must admit that I'm epic fail when it comes to Galaxy Quest. I really need to watch that one.

    Thanks,

    -Jimmy

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  11. Great quotes! I'm surprised you didn't quote some 2001 Space Odyssey :P
    The only other ones I can think of are from The Princess Bride, my fav movie, but it's more fantasy than sci fi...

    Talk soon!
    Sun shiny hugs
    Jen

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  12. The Empire Strikes Back quote is so well known, but I'm glad you put it in its context, because it's the lead up to it that makes it really great!

    Loving that the Jaws quote is showing up a lot too in this Blogfest.

    I am going to have to see that old Dracula movie. That's one of my fav quotes from the book!

    And kudos for including Silence of the Lambs! I think it's my fav horror movie, though I don't watch them much, I can't take the nightmares afterward.

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  13. These were so much fun to read. Great choices!

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  14. question your taste in movies because you like Big Trouble in Little China? Absolutely not, I applaud it!

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  15. We have some in common. Poltergeist was a great movie.

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  16. We selected the same Jurassic Park quote! (And ironically, I'm watching it right now...)

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  17. Great choices on your list. I love that Planet of the Apes quote - there have been some other excellent ones around. Whereas, I'm trying to forget that Silence of the Lambs quote: that guy is seriously scary.

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  18. Some great creepy lines. Some of the older horror movies really knew how to end them on a scary note.

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  19. Great lines, great movies! I didn't put many horror movies on my list but I know most of them! Great line from Star Wars!!!

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  20. great minds... excellent list with some great movies. I didn't know that about the Jaws line.

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  21. What a great rundown on the quotes. It's amazing that a couple, one I also listed (Jaws) was an ad lib!

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  22. "Just what do you think you're doing, Jen?"
    Yeah, I must admit I didn't think of that. I was a late-bloomer when it came to that film. I own it, and watch it every once in a while.
    However, to include The Princess Bride in a Horror/Science Fiction blogfest would have been inconceivable!!!
    Thanks for stopping by, my friend.

    -Jimmy

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  23. Thanks for visiting, Margo. I'm glad I hit all of the right buttons with my list. I'm serious; I spend too much time with these, but I can't help it. ;)
    The Exorcist doesn't give me nightmares, but it does prove to take a while to fall asleep after a viewing.

    Take care and have a great week,

    -James

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  24. Thanks, Wendy. It is always great to see you. I hope you are well. Take care of yourself,

    -Jimmy

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  25. Marcy - Thanks for your note. I need to find that movie as a Two Disc Special Edition. Little did I know how many people truly love Big trouble in Little China. Thanks for stopping by.

    M Pax - Poltergeist is yet another that I need to own. I used to watch the heck out of that film when I was growing up! Since then I have only seen it once or twice.

    Alex - I can't tell if they really are thinking about making a fourth one, or if the fans (like us) are simply talking about it so much on the 'net that we'll force them to.

    Thanks, guys!

    -James

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  26. Thanks, Elaine. Over a year or so ago, my oldest (he's nearly 17 now) started talking brave about being able to watch scary movies. I grabbed "The Silence of the Lambs" and played it for him. When it was over, he just sat there, stunned. It was great. He wasn't traumatized or anything, just talked down from the grown up table a bit!!

    -James

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  27. Susan, Danette, - I wasn't really trying to creep anyone out or to go for the scare. I really was only going for the memorable. It looks like I did fairly well. Thanks for stopping by.

    Budd, Kinberly, - I love to watch the films, but also to try and pick up the big Special or Collector's Editions of the DVD's, in order to hear some of these things.

    Thanks for participating and for making me feel welcome in these blogfests of yours. It has been really fun.

    -James

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  28. James, these are great! My favorite its the bigger boat quote. And the one "I am your father" now reminds me of the scene in Toy Story (2?) where Emperor Zurg says this to Buzz Lightyear. Yep, my sons are younger than yours :D

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  29. Thanks, Julie! You cracked my wife and I up with the Toy Story bit! We are well acquainted with Star Wars and Toy Story in my house. No worries!
    Have a great week,

    -Jimmy

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  30. so many quotes i missed, thank you for being in your right to have caught them...

    Thank you for being part of this, it was a great time and success.
    Jeremy [iZombie]
    http://izombielover.blogspot.com/2011/02/thank-you-all-success-my-plans-out.html

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  31. Lee, Jeremy, thanks for the notes. I had a lot of fun taking part in this blogfest. It is always great, meeting new people. Any time that I can talk about trivia, whether it be music or film, I am very happy to do so.
    Have a great week,

    -James

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  32. Terrific list. Poltergeist is a classic. I also forgot Hannibal. Brilliant.

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  33. Good morning, Heather. Thanks for the note. Reading about all of these films is making me want to watch them again, and certainly Poltergeist is one of them.
    Have a great week.
    -James

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  34. Fabulous list. Great choices all around. :)

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  35. Thank you, Okie. I really appreciate you having taken the time. This blogfest has been a lot fun, especially the interaction with the other bloggers.

    -James

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  36. How could I forget about Dracula? Great list. Thanks for sharing.

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  37. Hi, Lisa. Thanks for the comment and for the follow. Have a great week.

    -James

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  38. Fun fest! My fave quotes of yours are the Jaws, Silence of the Lambs, and Empire Strikes Back.Though the most repeated quote from Lambs in our house is "Put the lotion in the basket!" And we are huge Star Wars fans. So many great quotes. The classic movies are so quotable, I wish they'd made the newer SW movies a little bit funnier. Though all six movies have been played over and over anyway.

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  39. Hi, Kelly. Thanks for the note. My wife asked me why I was laughing, so I had to tell her your "puts the lotion in the basket" bit. I use that one a lot, too. Thanks for the follow.
    Have a great week.
    -James

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  40. Sorry that I'm late commenting. Kudos that you used the Star Wars quote correctly. Most people say, "Luke, I am your father."

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  41. Hi, Reid. I hate being wrong, so I try and double and triple check everything. Don't worry about being late. These blogfests are great fun, but they can also be a lot of work.
    Take it easy,
    -James

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Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate you taking the time. I'll get back to you here or on one of the other social networks. It's not like we're not on all of them, right? ;) Also, if you're here to give me an award - bless you. However, your friendship and visits are more than enough. Thanks and blessings.