Draven

I was just watching The Rock for the millionth time and was struck by a line that has always bugged the shit out of me.

When they are listing all of Hummel's commendations in the war room, they say this:

That's how IMDB lists it. The way the actor says it though, is "The Congressional Medal of Jesus" - no break, no pause like he's reading a list and has decided to stop reading. He flat out says "The Congressional Medal of Jesus".

See it here around the 20 second mark:

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This has always bugged me. I can't believe no one on set noticed how that line was read. People have googled "what is the congressional medal of Jesus" because of it.

Anyway, what movie lines have you noticed that make no sense?

Groucho

It's pretty obvious to me that he interrupts himself mid-sentence.

Draven

Sorry, I disagree. He doesn't pause at all. Also it's a super weird place to stop. He should have said "The Congressional Medal of Honor...Jesus." He just says "The Congressional Medal of Jesus" at the end of a list of commendations.

HN

the first part of that line should have been FOUR tours...as in "Four tours -- in vietnam, panama, granada, desert storm...."

then it'd be 4, 3, 2, 1 (and a partridge in a pear tree).

Ash Ketchum

The line reading makes perfect sense to me, especially as you watch it. He's reading "Congressional Medal of--" and then he looks up and says "Jesus, this man is a hero." He didn't have to finish because everyone in the room knew that "Honor" would come next.

There are enough other things in the movie that make no sense that one can complain about.

Draven

Watch it again - he doesn't look up until after he says Jesus. Like he just read it off the page.

This is Line Reading 101 stuff here, people.

Well that's certainly true.

dave94

I think he meant three tours in Vietnam........and then the other operations.

HN

i know. but i like the patterned version better (plus it lists 4 locations so it still would have made sense)

Lord Zarak

"Do you know what happens when a toad gets struck by lightning?"

inri222

That what awful.

As a renown auteur, Michael Bay concentrates on the more important aspects of a film. He can't be bothered by bad acting and dialogue delivery.

hanshotfirst1138

I really can't see any punch line where that works. That was mind-boggling terrible line any way you take it.

But actors speak so highly of him.

EddieMoney

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DaveyJoe

The ones that get to keep their jobs do.

RichC2

I never got the hate for that X-men line. It was clunky and dumb but I never saw it as memorably bad. But oh well.

Movie lines that make no sense?

PANCAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Valeyard

Put me in the "Don't See A Problem With The Line Read" camp. His response mid-line read makes sense.

EddieMoney

Well, it's a line from a "comic book" movie, so it has to be analyzed to fucking death.

Shannon Nutt

Another monkey in the wrench*

(*We've had a thread like this already.)

Draven

It does? If I was reading a grocery list and, while looking at the page, said "Ok, I need to get milk, eggs, flour and Jesus" and then looked up and said "Are you making a cake?", you wouldn't think that "Jesus" was on that list?

Dan

#TeamInterruptsHimself

Lord Zarak

Bryan Singer addressed this line in the X-Men commentary track. He knew he blew it with "Same thing as everything else," and told a story where some young kid called him out on it. The kid told him the obvious punch line is "It croaks."

Still, awful setup and lame payoff.

joe_b

Fun fact: Joss Whedon is responsible for the toad line. He claims it was ruined by the delivery...

http://www.avclub.com/article/joss-whedon-13730

wishbone

It was a list of tours and meritorious service, not a grocery list. It would be akin to reading accolades attributed in show business, "...an Emmy, a Grammy, a Tony, an Oscar - Jesus. This person is something else."

Obi-Wanma

I don't believe that Honor needed to be said to get the point, but I do agree that it sounds like "The Congressional Medal of Jesus", without any pause or particular emphasis on the word Jesus to indicate that he is interrupting himself.

Mr. Salty

I disagree with your disagreement. It's pretty obvious to me he interrupts himself, and no one in their right mind believes there is a Congressional Medal of Jesus he could be talking about.

Dan

I think this thread needs a poll, and it needs to be retitled, and any posts not about this line in The Rock should be deleted and the users should be banned (or not)

We need to get to the bottom of this. Nic Cage's career depends on it.