It was like Talking to a Pancake

I have watched movies my entire life. They have been a part of my upbringing, part of my value system and part of my soul.

Too dramatic?

Maybe.

But when you can remember quotes from the most obscure movie ever produced, and regularly use these quotes to prove a point during daily conversations, then I think it's not dramatic enough.

Quotes, one-liners, diatribes and monologues from movies color my daily vocabulary to the point that many friends and family members routinely roll their eyes during our conversations. But they always know where I am coming from. They know how I feel about politics, religion and sex. They can determine how I feel about topics we have never discussed based on the movie quotes I find funny, and quotes I find enlightening and quotes I use to pepper my daily dialogue. So I thought I would spell out my Top 10 favorite movie quotes as a way of explaining in a very condensed fashion my views on the world at large.

Say Anything - Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack)

Lloyd Dobler - "She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen."

There is no more succinct way to describe the parting of ways between circumstance-driven lovers.

The Truman Show - Christof (Ed Harris)

Christof - "We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented."

This quote encapsulates one of my favorite mottos - Truth is a matter of perspective.

Conspiracy Theory - Alice (Julia Roberts)

Alice - "This guy's a restraining order waiting to happen."

The way most women view the male of the species.

Batman- Joker (Jack Nicholson)

Joker - "This town needs an enema!"

One of the best descriptions of local government I have ever heard.

Heathers - Veronica (Winona Ryder)

Veronica - "My teen angst bullshit now has a body count."

There aren't many teenagers who have not felt this way into today's world.

Arthur - An exchange between Susan and Arthur

Susan (Jill Eikenberry) - "A real woman could stop you from drinking."

Arthur (Dudley Moore) - "It would have to be a real big woman."

This witty exchange was my first introduction to smart-laeck world of conversation. And in this world I have attained the rank of general.

Airplane- Every boy who came of age in the early 80s can quote this movie ad nauseum, and I am no exception. But the quote that stands out in my mind is between Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen) and Elaine Dickinson (Julie Haggerty).

Rumack - You better tell the Captain we've got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.

Elaine Dickinson - A hospital? What is it?

Rumack - It's a big building with patients, but that is not important right now.

The humor of literalism is never more apparent than in this exchange.

Love Story - Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O'Neal) and Jennifer Cavalieri (Ali McGraw) in this two-line exchange illustrate the power women have over men.

Oliver - You, Jenny, you're not that great looking.

Jennifer - I know. But can I help if you think so?

There is no better way to explain how men have been succumbing to women through generation upon generation of war, pain, strife and summoning the courage to ask the blonde cheerleader to the prom. Beginning with Adam and Eve, moving onto Helen of Troy (The face that launched a thousand ships), and finally solidifying in Love Story, no matter their bluster, men will always succumb to the whim of a beautiful woman.

When Harry Met Sally - Sally Albright (Meg Ryan)

Sally - "You see? That is just like you, Harry. You say things like that, and you make it impossible for me to hate you."

This quote illustrates the power of annoyance in creating love.

And finally, my favorite quote of all time comes from a book, not a movie. But it provides the best description ever of trying to explain something to a bubblehead.

The quote is from Robert B. Parker's Widow's Walk, part of the award-winning series of Spenser novels.

When asked how the interview went with a potential witness, a rich, blonde airhead, Spenser replied, "It was like talking to a pancake."

Now tell me that isn't the most succinct way ever to describe talking to the airhead population.