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Old 01-04-12, 05:47 PM
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Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

No, I'm not talking about actors that slur their words so much you can't understand them, I'm talking about lines of dialogue that don't make any logical sense (this thread inspired by the poster who said he couldn't understand a line from OCEAN'S ELEVEN).

This is also an opportunity to provide explanations, in case we're "hearing" it wrong.

Here's one that has bothered me for years from THE FUGUTIVE:

At the end of the film, Tommy Lee Jones' character has come to the conclusion that Harrison Ford's Dr. Kimble is innocent, so he yells at Kimble (paraphrasing) "I know you're innocent...I know about Dr. Nichols...I know about Sykes." Then he yells:

"Richard - I'm either lying or I'm going to shoot you!"

That line makes NO sense. So he's a) lying about his belief in Kimble's innocence or b) going to shoot him. Aren't those one and the same things? The correct line should have been "Richard, I'm either telling you the truth or I'm going to shoot you." or some variation.

*****

So let's have it...dialogue that's completely taken you out of a film or bothered you for years due to the fact that it makes no logical sense, is incorrect, or totally contradicts something established by the characters earlier in the film.
Old 01-04-12, 05:50 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

anything coming out of Bane's mouth. discuss.
Old 01-04-12, 05:55 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

"Are you Arabic?"
Old 01-04-12, 06:03 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Do you know what happens to a toad when it's struck by lightning? The same thing that happens to everything else. /end thread
Old 01-04-12, 06:10 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by TallGuyMe
anything coming out of Bane's mouth. discuss.
No, that's clearly not what Shannon meant.

Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
Do you know what happens to a toad when it's struck by lightning? The same thing that happens to everything else. /end thread
That line makes sense. It's just stupid.
Yes, Whedonites, I'm well aware of the intended context.

Another one: "Two letters of transit, Rick, signed by General de Gaulle himself. Cannot be rescinded. Not even questioned." - I'll question it: why would the Nazis honor a pass issued by the leader of the French army they were fighting? Casablanca's great otherwise...
Old 01-04-12, 06:46 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by Shannon Nutt
No, I'm not talking about actors that slur their words so much you can't understand them, I'm talking about lines of dialogue that don't make any logical sense (this thread inspired by the poster who said he couldn't understand a line from OCEAN'S ELEVEN).

This is also an opportunity to provide explanations, in case we're "hearing" it wrong.

Here's one that has bothered me for years from THE FUGUTIVE:

At the end of the film, Tommy Lee Jones' character has come to the conclusion that Harrison Ford's Dr. Kimble is innocent, so he yells at Kimble (paraphrasing) "I know you're innocent...I know about Dr. Nichols...I know about Sykes." Then he yells:

"Richard - I'm either lying or I'm going to shoot you!"

That line makes NO sense. So he's a) lying about his belief in Kimble's innocence or b) going to shoot him. Aren't those one and the same things? The correct line should have been "Richard, I'm either telling you the truth or I'm going to shoot you." or some variation.

*****

So let's have it...dialogue that's completely taken you out of a film or bothered you for years due to the fact that it makes no logical sense, is incorrect, or totally contradicts something established by the characters earlier in the film.
You inspired me to play my DVD copy of The Fugitive. Then I realized I got rid of my DVD in anticipation of the BD... but I never got the BD.
Old 01-04-12, 06:50 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

"Pancakes!"
Old 01-04-12, 08:13 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by Fist of Doom
"Pancakes!"
Hell yes!
Old 01-04-12, 08:16 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Ghostbusters: "Ssshh! Do you smell something?"

Why do you have to be quiet to smell something?
Old 01-04-12, 08:25 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by Abob Teff
Ghostbusters: "Ssshh! Do you smell something?"

Why do you have to be quiet to smell something?
Well, it's a comedy. They tend to contain jokes.
Old 01-04-12, 09:18 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

In CASINO, right after DeNiro's and Pesci's thugs beat up Woods's character at a parking lot, you see the cars drive off and we overhear Woods saying "You brought it on yourself, you chicken s--t!" [paraphrasing] which confuses the heck out of me because it should be DeNiro saying it.

Or maybe I just mis-heard or mistaken whose talking, but it definitely sounds like the line is coming from James Woods.
Old 01-04-12, 10:55 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by DieselsDen
In CASINO, right after DeNiro's and Pesci's thugs beat up Woods's character at a parking lot, you see the cars drive off and we overhear Woods saying "You brought it on yourself, you chicken s--t!" [paraphrasing] which confuses the heck out of me because it should be DeNiro saying it.

Or maybe I just mis-heard or mistaken whose talking, but it definitely sounds like the line is coming from James Woods.
I think Woods actually said something like, "Why don't you try it yourself, chickenshit!", meaning that DeNiro should've been man enough to fight him instead of sending his thugs. Of course, I could be wrong too.

Anyway, I remember a line from Die Hard that didn't make sense.
McClane was on the radio with Hans and said, "I'm the fly in the ointment, the monkey in the wrench.." That last part doesn't make any sense.
Old 01-04-12, 11:32 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Streamline dub (doesn't make sense): "So Tetsuo wants a bike!" - before driving a motorcycle into a wall

Pioneer dub (makes sense): "I'm sending Yamagata his wheels" - before driving a motorcycle into a wall

Last edited by dugan; 01-05-12 at 09:17 PM.
Old 01-04-12, 11:46 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Can the movie the lines are from be included. Doesn't make sense to post lines without naming the movie.
Old 01-04-12, 11:48 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Bergman: Everybody needs money. That's why they call it money..


Huh? From Heist
Old 01-05-12, 02:56 AM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by whotony
Bergman: Everybody needs money. That's why they call it money..


Huh? From Heist
Dude, that's a great line!
Old 01-05-12, 08:07 AM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

It's dopey.
Old 01-05-12, 08:45 AM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Okay, here is one I never understood:

In The Phantom Menace, when Obi-Wan, Kwi-Gon and Jar Jar are riding through the planet core in the submarine:
At one point, the camera looks at the 3 of them in the sub and Obi-Wan says "He overdid it" or something very close to that. But I have no idea what that line is in reference to since nothing was happening at the time.
Old 01-05-12, 10:00 AM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by whotony
Bergman: Everybody needs money. That's why they call it money..


Huh? From Heist
Originally Posted by Gunde
Dude, that's a great line!
Yes it is. I think it's a great line.

Originally Posted by whotony
It's dopey.
That's David Mamet for you.
Old 01-05-12, 11:33 AM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by Charlie Goose
I think Woods actually said something like, "Why don't you try it yourself, chickenshit!", meaning that DeNiro should've been man enough to fight him instead of sending his thugs. Of course, I could be wrong too.

Anyway, I remember a line from Die Hard that didn't make sense.
McClane was on the radio with Hans and said, "I'm the fly in the ointment, the monkey in the wrench.." That last part doesn't make any sense.
Yep, that's how I remember the Woods line as well. He was saying DeNiro wasn't man enough to come there and do it himself.

I don't know if you're really asking for an explanation, but the Die Hard line is just a joke. It's just a play on words on the term monkey wrench. Obviously it's not a very good joke, but there you go.
Old 01-05-12, 12:39 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oErlk4CddO0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 01-05-12, 12:40 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by mewmartigan
Okay, here is one I never understood:

In The Phantom Menace, when Obi-Wan, Kwi-Gon and Jar Jar are riding through the planet core in the submarine:
At one point, the camera looks at the 3 of them in the sub and Obi-Wan says "He overdid it" or something very close to that. But I have no idea what that line is in reference to since nothing was happening at the time.

I think Obi-Wan uses the Force to calm Jar Jar down, but he passes out instead.
Old 01-05-12, 12:42 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by JTH182
I think Obi-Wan uses the Force to calm Jar Jar down, but he passes out instead.
Qui-gon does.

Then Obi-wan says... "You overdid it"
Old 01-05-12, 12:48 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by mewmartigan
Okay, here is one I never understood:

In The Phantom Menace, when Obi-Wan, Kwi-Gon and Jar Jar are riding through the planet core in the submarine:
At one point, the camera looks at the 3 of them in the sub and Obi-Wan says "He overdid it" or something very close to that. But I have no idea what that line is in reference to since nothing was happening at the time.
That's the ONLY dialogue in Phantom Menace that doesn't make sense to you???
Old 01-05-12, 12:55 PM
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Re: Movie Dialogue That Doesn't Make Sense

Originally Posted by Double_Oh_7
That's the ONLY dialogue in Phantom Menace that doesn't make sense to you???
Do you have other examples? This is the place to list them.


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