Is Hollywood done with memorable lines?

[hopefuldreamer]

^Wow yeah totally forgot about Watchmen, practically every Rorschah, Manhatten and Comedian line was amazing and delivered perfectly.

"What happened to the American Dream? It came TRUE, you're lookin at it."

"You if we'd have lost here in Vietnam, I think it would have driven us crazy, you know as a country....."

Plenty more in the movie as well.

Yeah there is loads

I could also just list the entire dialogue of In Bruges. I love that film.

'Ken, I grew up in Dublin. I love Dublin. If I grew up on a farm, and was ******ed, Bruges might impress me but I didn't, so it doesn't.'

'Harry, let's face it. And I'm not being funny. I mean no disrespect, but you're a ****. You're a **** now, and you've always been a ****. And the only thing that's going to change is that you're going to be an even bigger ****. Maybe have some more **** kids.'

'One gay beer for my gay friend, one normal beer for me because I am normal.'

'[to himself] He pauses, even though he should just hit the ****, and he repeats [to the Canadian] Yes, I am talking to you. What's ****ing unbelievable?'

 

[Ultimatehero]

I don't think so. As a screenwriter, out in Hollywood, one of the things I aim to do is create lines that will stand out. Some have even told me a couple of lines seem like they would become catch phrases. I'm also positive I'm not the only writer out here who does that. It more relies on the general public in masses and if they latch onto it or not. Lines are still around though. Just different folks, different strokes maybe. Sometimes lines are just thought of in those terms - "this seems like a cool strand of words to put together" etc.

 

[DACrowe]

Don't know about that given LOTR is the most read book on the planet outside of the bible. I think a lot of people were aware of it before hand, I think more than anything the voice of Gollum is what's more memorable.

It didn't become a common phrase in popular culture to reference until the movies. And when people say it, they almost always try to emulate Andery Serkis's Gollum voice.

I think a lot of people are mistaking their favorite lines with lines that have become pop culture catch phrases. With that said, whoever caught "Are you not entertained?" from Gladiator caught a great one.

 

[darkseid26]

"i'm gonna steal the declaration of independence!"

this.

 

[Laderlappen]

No OP, I honestly dont know what you're talking about.

 

[Incrediblejeff]

All of Scott Pilgrim.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

Thought of some more:

- 'When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you’re doing his will.' - Kill Bill
- 'Just because she likes the same bizzaro crap as you, doesn't mean your soul mates' - 500 days of summer
- 'You just made a big mistake yourself... You didn't flush' - Sin City
- 'There's wrong and there's wrong, and there is this' - Sin City
- 'Hell's waking up every goddamn day and not even knowing why you're here' - Sin City
- 'As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children's voices' - Children of Men
- 'You're born, you take ****. You get out in the world, you take more ****. You climb a little higher, you take less ****. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what **** even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son' - Layer Cake
- 'I aim to misbehave.' - Serenity
- 'So here is us, on the raggedy edge. Don't push me, and I won't push you.' - Serenity
- 'I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me' - The Departed
- 'Gigolo Joe, What do you know?' - AI

And some comedy ones:

- 'This guy is either gonna think 'Here's another kid with a fake ID' or 'Here's McLovin, a 25 year-old Hawaiian organ donor'.' - Superbad
- 'All you got to do is use your instincts. How do you think a lion knows to tackle a gazelle? It's written, it's a code written in his DNA, says, "Tackle the gazelle." And believe it or not, in every man there's a code written that says, "Tackle drunk *****es."' - 40 year old virgin
- 'Come on, Kate. It's time to put your mouth where our balls are.'- Dodgeball

 

[LuvSupes]

I think the OP is right, there aren't that many lately. Of the ones listed, I think only a handful of the recent ones are truely memorable in that ingrained in culture way. My Precious, why so serious, i can't quit you, there is no spoon

To me, a memorable quote is one where you don't even have to have seen the picture to have heard it. I've never seen Casablanca but I know "here's looking at you kid". And usually a memorable quote has been reused or spoofed in other films/projects.

 

[CConn]

But the OP is complaining that there's more memorable lines in the past 60 years of film than in the last 10. That's just a ridiculous statement to begin with.

What we should be comparing is this past decade with other, singular decades. Not all of them combined.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Thought of some more:

- 'When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you’re doing his will.' - Kill Bill
- 'Just because she likes the same bizzaro crap as you, doesn't mean your soul mates' - 500 days of summer
- 'You just made a big mistake yourself... You didn't flush' - Sin City
- 'There's wrong and there's wrong, and there is this' - Sin City
- 'Hell's waking up every goddamn day and not even knowing why you're here' - Sin City
- 'As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children's voices' - Children of Men
- 'You're born, you take ****. You get out in the world, you take more ****. You climb a little higher, you take less ****. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what **** even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son' - Layer Cake
- 'I aim to misbehave.' - Serenity
- 'So here is us, on the raggedy edge. Don't push me, and I won't push you.' - Serenity- 'I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me' - The Departed
- 'Gigolo Joe, What do you know?' - AI

And some comedy ones:

- 'This guy is either gonna think 'Here's another kid with a fake ID' or 'Here's McLovin, a 25 year-old Hawaiian organ donor'.' - Superbad
- 'All you got to do is use your instincts. How do you think a lion knows to tackle a gazelle? It's written, it's a code written in his DNA, says, "Tackle the gazelle." And believe it or not, in every man there's a code written that says, "Tackle drunk *****es."' - 40 year old virgin
- 'Come on, Kate. It's time to put your mouth where our balls are.'- Dodgeball

Wow, how could forget one of my favorite films ever, Serenity, lots of amazing lines, plenty in Firefly as well. But really these arent known to the masses, which is a damn shame.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

Yeah I know they aren't totally well known... I guess all I was trying to point out is that there are still awesome lines there

Although when AI came out, everyone was going round saying 'Gigolo Joe, what do you know?' At my school, so I'd argue the case for that one

But I agree with most of what was said above. It IS ridiculous to complain that the last 10 years holds less memorable lines than the last 60. Of course it does! It's a 6th of the time!

And there certainly are a good few instantly recognisable ones.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^Exactly, and not to mention that lines from the 80's, etc have had years and years to become iconic, i'm sure in the years to come the great lines from the last decade will take on more and more familiarity as parents pass it onto their kids and older brothers/sisters pass it onto younger siblings.

 

[marvelman2006]

I dunno I mean I cant remember the last time me or people I knew actually used a movie qoute within the context of a sentenence. Sure we Quote movies from the 90's like dumb and dumber but in the last 10 years theres been better movies and perfomances then memorable lines if that makes sense. Like take inception for instance, I cant remember alot of the lines but I remember leo's performance and the story it self. The only one that really stands out memorable wise is Bardem's "coin toss" in no country for old men and Heath's joker lines in the dark knight.

To be honest if we dont get catchy memorable one liners but get top notch acting and stories I will be just as happy.

 

[ComicChick]

this one time at band camp....

 

[Sentinel X]

Honestly, I can only see four of these quotes being remembered by the general public in years to come:
"This is sparta"
"why so serious?"
"my precious"
"I wish I knew how to quit you"

The rest mentioned in this thread might be remembered by movie fans and are not bad quotes...but they just wont be remembered like these four imo

 

[Pink Ranger]

I think the main reason lines aren't as "memorable" is that they are way more movies, by sheer volume, being produced for mainsteam cinema than there were during the age when Gone With the Wind was a movie everyone was going to see and knew the lines from.

 

[ComicChick]

Fiddle de dee

Frankly My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn

the As God as my witness monologue...

I don't know nothin bout birthin no babies

and many more

 

[eddy]

WE HAVE A HULK

After Avengers comes out.

Edited to add that I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet cause I'm still reading page 1 but Scott Pilgrim is full of memorable lines that me and my friends at work and family members love to quote to each other.

YOU COCKY COCK, YOU'LL PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

Hey big fan....Why wouldn't you be?

Sounds like someone wants to get Funky.

Tell the cleaning lady on Tuesday.

Whats the address for Amazon.ca? Amazon.ca

Gelattio's not vegan? MILK AND EGGS B*tch.

and hundreds of others.

 

[The Morningstar]

You don't get it, do you? This isn't good cop/bad cop. This is ***, and New Yorker. You're in a lot of trouble

How 'bout this, you shut your mouth. Or I kick your teeth down your throat and shut it for ya

I once fought for two days with an arrow through my testicle

Well if this is it, old boy, I hope you don't mind if I go out speaking the King's

Your name is Buck, right? And you came here to ****, right?

Magic? You just pissed on a gypsy in the middle of ****ing nowhere

Look, love, no one gives a toss about Charlton Heston. The mans a c***. You're more the Charles Bronson type

On my arse, not IN my arse you ****ing homo!

 

[eddy]

I think alot of the most memorable lines the last 10 years come from tv shows rather than films. TV dialogue has gotten better while film dialogue has gotten kinda blah.

 

[cherokeesam]

With great power comes great responsibility. ---Spider-Man

I like to make sexy time. --Borat

I have had it with these motherbleepin' snakes on my motherbleepin' plane! --- Samjack

You're tearing me apart, Lisa! -- The Room

Never go full ******. --Tropic Thunder

Get off my lawn. -- Gran Torino

You are a smelly pirate hooker. Why don't you go back to your home on ****e Island? ---Anchorman

You stay classy, San Diego. ---Anchorman

What's a liger?
It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic. ---Napoleon Dynamite

I'm the Juggernaut, b*itch! --X-Men: The Last Stand

 

[Schlosser85]

"I wish I knew how to quit you"

"Are you not enrtertained??"

"You shall not pass!"

"Why so serious?"

"With great power comes great responsibility"

 

[Crockett]

Fiddle de dee

Frankly My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn

the As God as my witness monologue...

I don't know nothin bout birthin no babies

and many more

"Sir, you are no gentleman..."
"And you, Miss, are no lady."

"I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."

"I love you. Because we're alike. Bad lots both of us. Selfish and shrewd but able to look things in the eye and call them by their right name."

 

[Drizzle]

"oh, no! Not the bees! Not the bees! Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!! They're in my eyes! My eyes! Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhh!!!"

 

[The Morningstar]

On that note...

How'd it get burned? How'd it get burned? HOW'D IT GET BURNED!?!?!

I'll kill all of you. To the break of dawn. TO THE BREAK OF DAWN BABY!