When it comes to trivial matters, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the undisputed champion. His Austrian accent combined with a characteristically stoic delivery often leads to cinematic gold, as Schwarzenegger turned lines of varying quality into real classics. The former governor of California always found time to drop a good line.
The documentary film “Arnold”, which will be released on Netflix, will undoubtedly offer a fascinating study of the life and career of one of the greatest action stars of all time. .
9. “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.” – ‘Conan the Barbarian’ (1982)
While it was not his film debut, Schwarzenegger’s role as Conan the Barbarian is the one that announced him as an action star. Based on the popular fantasy character, the movie sees Conan seeking revenge against the sorcerer who killed his family while battling anyone who gets in his way. The film begins with Conan’s family murdered while the young boy is sold into slavery, eventually turning into a warrior. As Conan sits with a Mongol general, reveling in their recent victory, the man asks Conan “what is best in life?” Schwarzenegger speaks his first lines in the film as he replies with “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.”RELATED:
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8. “Put that cookie down, now!” – ‘Jingle All the Way’ (1996)
Jingle All the Way is an oddity in Schwarzenegger’s career as it stars the big man as a father in a family comedy where he frantically searches for a hot new toy for his son on Christmas Eve. It was derided by critics, but it remains a favorite of Schwarzenegger fans and is now considered an underrated Christmas comedy. One such moment comes when Howard (Schwarzenegger) calls home from a pay phone, only to be forced to talk to his neighbor Ted (Phil Hartman), who has made no secret of his intentions of having an affair with Howard’s wife. When Ted has the pleasant experience of eating one of Howard’s wife’s cookies over the phone, Howard yells at him to “put those cookies down now” in the middle of the street. Since then, this phrase has been repeated by people who see others enjoying baking.
7. “Let’s Kick some ice!” – ‘Batman & Robin’ (1998)
Batman & Robin is universally agreed as being the worst Batman movie, but it remains a favorite thanks to venturing into so bad it’s good territory. A key part of that is Schwarzenegger’s role as Mr. Freeze, with the star not letting a case of horrible miscasting stop him from saving the movie. Schwarzenegger spends most of the movie spouting off ice-related puns, and an entire list could be dedicated to just them. The most simple is often the best, however, and as Freeze is preparing for a showdown with his rival, Schwarzenegger delivers “let’s kick some ice”, a line that has surely been recreated by hockey players ever since.
6. “Let off some steam, Bennett.” – ‘Commando’ (1985)
Former soldier John Matrix (Schwarzenegger) is trying to enjoy retirement with his young daughter. But after she is kidnapped by a group of deadly mercenaries, Matrix is forced to commit murder to get her back. Schwarzenegger is at the peak of his powers, destroying an army of thugs and cracking wisecracks. One of the best action films of the 80s, Commando is full of great lines that are some of Schwarzenegger’s best. He destroys the main villain, Bennett (Vernon Wells), and the Matrix impales a steam pipe through his enemy’s chest. Schwarzenegger says the icy “let off some steam, Bennett.”
5. ‘Consider that a divorce.” – ‘Total Recall’ (1990)
One of the best movies of 1990, Total Recall sees him playing Douglas Quaid, a construction worker plagued by dreams where he is a secret agent on Mars. As he looks deeper into the meaning of his dreams, he finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy that results in his own wife, Lori (Sharon Stone), being revealed as a secret agent herself. As Quaid fights to uncover the mystery and stay alive, the villainous Lori remains a constant threat. After a scuffle results in Quaid drawing a gun in Lori, she pleads that he wouldn’t hurt his wife. He replies by shooting her in the head before quipping “consider that a divorce.”RELATED:
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4. “Get to the choppa!” – ‘Predator’ (1987)
The Predator franchise is one of the biggest in science-fiction. Arnie plays Dutch, the leader of a team of soldiers who are sent into the South American jungle to rescue hostages. While there they run afoul of a hostile alien that begins hunting the commandos for sport. Possibly the manliest movie ever made, Predator features plenty of great machismo lines. One of the most popular is when Dutch yells “get to the choppa” to Anna (Elpida Carrillo) as he holds off the Predator. Schwarzenegger’s thick European accent made the line more funny than urgent, and it has become a meme over the years.
3. “If it Bleeds, we can Kill it.! – ‘Predator’ (1987)
Predator is unique in both the action genre and in Schwarzenegger’s filmography, as in many ways it functions like a slasher movie, seeing armed soldiers being picked off one by one by a hidden killer. This makes for much of the movie’s appeal, as the team of tough guys find themselves matched up against something stronger than they are. Even though the Predator that is hunting them seems invincible, a scrap with the soldiers results in the invader shedding some blood. When Dutch notices the blood, he tells his team “if it bleeds, we can kill it”
2. “Hasta la vista baby.” – ‘Terminator’ 2 Judgment Day (1991)
One of the best sequels of all time, Terminator 2 takes everything that was great about the first movie and doubles it. When the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) is sent back in time to kill the young John Connor (Edward Furlong), another Terminator (Schwarzenegger) is also sent back to be his protector. Arguably Schwarzenegger’s best movie, Terminator 2 sees the killing machine bonding with his young charge. An exchange between the two results in John teaching the phrase to his guardian, and when the Terminator has the T-1000 frozen later in the film, he repeats “hasta la vista, baby” before shattering it to pieces.