10 Remarkable Movie Lines and Speeches

Inspiring. Provocative. Engaging. These are just but few of the many things a powerful line or two can bring whenever it's genuinely delivered. They make the scene so pronounced it will move you. 

Few are great movies. Yet fewer are great movies with great scripts crafted to perfection! Movie lines make the actor who delivered it famous, and often, the entire movie itself. 

Movie lines and speeches are a great opportunity for actors to see how much impact they can have in a little but remarkable amount of scene needed by the story.

Who wouldn't know “You're nothing but a second rate..” and “Ding, ang bato!” among many other famous Pinoy taglines? These lines were to be remembered by many generations. But as for this article though, I'm not touching any of these short lines. Instead, I'll take you on a bump to 10 of the most touching, inspiring and remarkable movie lines and speeches from Hollywood to Eastwood. 

These lines and speeches were so great that the scene and the movie might not have been as powerful as it should originally be when omitted. Here you go:

#10. Espiridion Acosta Cache as Tribe Elder, Apocalypto (2006) On our 10th spot is the story told by one of the tribe elders in this Mel Gibson's epic film. He talks about man's growing discontentment in life that drives his greed, fear and material love: And a man sat alone. Drenched deep in sadness. And all the animals drew near to him and said: “We do not like to see you so sad. Ask us for whatever you wish and you shall have it.” The Man said: “I want to have good sight.” The vulture replied: “You shall have mine.” The Man said: “I want to be strong.” The jaguar said: “You shall be strong like me.” Then the Man said: “I long to know the secrets of the earth.” The serpent replied: “I will show them to you.” And so it went with all the animals. And when the Man had all the gifts that they could give, he left. Then the owl said to the other animals: “Now the Man knows much and is able to do many things, suddenly I am afraid.” The deer said: “The Man has all that he needs. Now his sadness will stop.” But the owl replied: “No. I saw a hole in the Man. Deep like a hunger he will never fill. It is what makes him sad and what makes him want. He will go on taking and taking until one day the world will say: 'I am no more and I have nothing left to give.'”

#9. Randall Duk Kim as (Voice of) Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda (2008)  9th on our list is a short and memorable response that Po got from Master Oogway when he was in the verge of giving up: Quit. Don't quit. Noodles. Don't noodles.  You are too concerned with what 'was' and what will be. There's a saying: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”

#8. Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods, Legally Blonde 2 (2003)  At no. 8 comes from the only woman included on our list, Elle Woods, in her “Speak-up” speech about the importance of being heard and having the courage to voice out what you need to say:  Hello everyone my name is Elle Woods, and I’m here to speak to you today about a piece of legislation called “Bruiser’s Bill”. But you know, today is supposed to be about education so instead, I want to tell you about the education you all have given me over the past three months. See one day I came to Washington to help my dog Bruiser and somewhere along the way, I learned a really... unexpected lesson. I know what you’re thinking, who is this girl? And what could this simple small town girl from Bel Air have to say to all of us? Well I’ll tell you, it’s about something that’s bigger than me or any single act of legislation. This is about a matter that should be at the highest importance to every American: my hair. You see there’s this salon in Beverly Hills. It’s really fancy and beautiful but it’s impossible to get an appointment. I mean unless you’re Julia Roberts or one of the girls from 'Friends' you can just forget it. But one day, they called me. They had an opening. So I was finally going to get the chance to sit in one of those sacred beauty chairs. I was so excited! Then the colorist gave me 'Brassy Briggite' instead of 'Harlow Honey'. The shampoo girl washed my hair with spiral perm solution instead of color intensive moisturizing conditioning shampoo. Finally, the stylist...gave me a bob, with bangs. Suffice to say it was just wrong, all wrong, for me! You know? First I was angry and then I realized my anger was completely misdirected. I mean this wasn’t the salon’s fault. I had sat there and witnessed this injustice and I had just let it happen. I didn’t get involved in the process. I forgot to use my voice. I forgot to believe in myself. But now I know better. I know that one honest voice can be louder than a crowd. I know that if we lose our voice or let those who speak on our behalf, compromise our voice than this country, this country is in for a really bad haircut. So speak up!

#7. Stanley Anderson  as the President, Armageddon (1998)  Stanley Anderson played the role of the President in this sci-fi movie that will surely go in history books as one of the best Hollywood movie ever filmed. The speech, on our 7th, was delivered while the astronauts are about to depart on a mission next to impossible to save mankind -- drill and drop a nuclear bomb on an asteroid that is fast approaching Earth: I address you tonight not as the President of the United States, not as the leader of a country, but as a citizen of humanity.  We are faced with the very gravest of challenges.  The Bible calls this day “Armageddon” - the end of all things.  And yet, for the first time in the history of the planet, a species has the technology to prevent its own extinction. All of you praying with us need to know that everything that can be done to prevent this disaster is being called into service. The human thirst for excellence, knowledge; every step up the ladder of science; every adventurous reach into space; all of our combined modern technologies and imaginations; even the wars that we've fought have provided us the tools to wage this terrible battle.  Through all of the chaos that is our history; through all of the wrongs and the discord; through all of the pain and suffering; through all of our times, there is one thing that has nourished our souls, and elevated our species above its origins, and that is our courage.  The dreams of an entire planet are focused tonight on those fourteen brave souls traveling into the heavens. And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through.  God speed, and good luck to you.

#6. John Lloyd Cruz as Popoy, One More Chance(2007) There were so many memorable lines from this movie but I just took the one from the heart-breaking scene when one of Popoy's friend is rushed to the hospital because of a suicide attempt. Feeling hurt, his friend asked for Popoy's presence since he knew exactly what it felt when he was dumped by Basha, his ex: Oh, eh diba’t ikaw pa ang nagsabi sa akin..? Na baka kaya tayo iniiwan ng taong mahal natin kasi baka merong bagong darating na mas ok.. Na mas mamahalin tayo. 'Yung taong hindi tayo sasaktan at paasahin. Yung nag-iisang taong magtatama ng mali sa buhay natin...ng lahat ng mali sa buhay mo.

#5. Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Here, Aragorn persuades the Men of the West to make a last stand against Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor. With him were the men of Gondor and Rohan (including Gandalf) who are gathered on the field in front of the Black Gate of Mordor to fight Sauron's forces: Hold your ground, hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, “Men of the West!”

#4. Piolo Pascual as Marco, Starting Over Again (2014) Coming at no. 4 is Marco's outburst with the former love of his life when she reluctantly demanded an explanation on why he kept rejecting her proposed designs for their agreed project for no apparent reason. Marco took the rationality of giving back the favor to her in the most painful way he knew: experience first-hand what it feels like to be denied without getting an acceptable reason:   Kailangan mong malaman kung bakit isang umaga paggising mo biglang nagbago lahat. Bakit wala na s'ya? Bakit mag-isa ka na lang? Kailangan mo ng dahilan 'di ba? Kailangan mo ng mapanghahawakan kung bakit kailangan mong tiisin na magmukhang tanga! Na magmukha kang tae sa paningin ng tao, sa paningin mo sa sarili mo. Kasi hindi mo alam kung pa'no.. Hindi mo alam kung kailan.. Hindi mo alam kung ano nangyare.. Kung ano mali sa'yo.. Kung bakit ka nya iniwan! Anong karapatan mong hingin ang isang bagay na ipinagdamot mong ibigay? I deserved an explanation. I deserved an acceptable reason!

#3. Bill Pullman as President Tomas Whitmore, Independence Day (1996) The aliens have basically conquered Earth. And the US President has put up a rag tag fleet of pilots from every parts of the planet to go against them. None of them sure if they will be able to return or if it they would even be successful. So in the context of the 4th of July, President Whitmore (Pullman) delivered a rousing speech that goes in at no. 3: Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind. Mankind -- that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps its fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution -- but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live, to exist. And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: “We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive!” Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!

#2. Liam Neeson as Brian Mills, Taken(2008) At no. 2 is Liam Neeson's phone call dialogue over an alleged kidnapper who took his daughter. You can feel the character's power and definite will to get his daughter back by the intensity and the unnerving tone he had while talking to the person on the other line: I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want.  If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money.  But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.  If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it.  I will not look for you, I will not pursue you.  But if you don't, I will look for you. I will find you -- and I will kill you.

#1. Dante Rivero as Luis Montenegro, It Takes a Man and a Woman (2013) Topping our list was the recorded speech of Miggy's (played by John Lloyd) father, which was played during the contract signing between their company and an international magazine company. The way Dante Rivero delivered this speech was a real music to anyone's ears and will certainly move you: Nung isang araw, may writer na huminigi ng interview sa 'kin, tinanong niya ko, “Sir, ano po bang gusto ninyong maging legacy ninyo?” Aba eh, mahirap yan. Pero napaisip nya ko.  Ano nga ba? Hangang isang araw, sinamahan ko 'yung bunso kong anak. He was awarded as one of the best youngest businessman in the country. I was so proud of him. At ang sabi nya, he wants to be the best.  And then that moment, I realized what I want my son to become: I just want him to be a good man.   Be good in the face of failure.  Sometimes, being the best means being the least.  Be good even after you made a mistake.  Sometimes being good just boils down to being able to say sorry.  Sometimes being good is loving the people who hurt you and making the most difficult choices that may hurt the people you love.  Madalas sa kagustuhan nating maging pinakamagaling, nakakalimutan natin maging mabuti. We lose sight of the fact that every day is a struggle to just be better.  Being good is what kept my family together. Being good is what built and sustained this company. Being good is what will move it forward for the future of our children, and for our children's cheer. It's not the easiest, but that is probably the best legacy that a person can leave behind: to always believe in goodness and just be a good man.

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