MovieChat Forums > Emperor (2013) Discussion > "let's show them some good old-fashioned...

"let's show them some good old-fashioned American swagger"

posted 9 years ago by skane110-1
6 replies | jump to latest

That is one of the worst lines that I have ever heard in a movie and could possibly be one of the worst things that I've ever heard, period. I not only cringed hard when I first heard it but, I still do whenever I think about it. It's just such a stupid, and cheesy line that is obviously there in order to seem cool or hip with the kids these days. I know this is just a fictional movie but, the chances of the real character saying that stupid line is astronomically impossible. It's just so stupid and unnecessary.

It also reminds me of super old guy that I work with who once said that he hates most modern music except for Bruno Mars because of his swagger. You could hear a pin drop from the awkwardness that that one single comment created.

[–] BQQ 8 years ago

Huh?
I don't see any problem.

"People get it wrong, but in today's world we don't live longer, we just die harder." -Bruce Willis

[–] skane110-1 8 years ago

The problem is that General Macarthur never would have said that ever in real life, under any circumstances and the use of the "swagger" was so shoe-horned into there and forced just because it's a current popular slang word. They're trying so hard to be cool that they end up being the complete opposite. Can you imagine another biographical movie doing that? Like in "Lincoln", if president Lincoln said "that's what she said". Or in "The Aviator", if someone said that John Hughes was "totes hella cray-cray" or something. It's ridiculous.

[–] BQQ 8 years ago

1580s, "to strut in a defiant or insolent manner;" earliest recorded usages are in Shakespeare ("Midsummer Night's Dream," "2 Henry IV," "King Lear"), probably a frequentative form of swag (v.) "to sway." Meaning "to boast or brag" is from 1590s. Related: Swaggered; swaggering. The noun is attested from 1725.

As far as I know, both "good old-fashioned" and "swagger" were in popular usage back then.

"People get it wrong, but in today's world we don't live longer, we just die harder." -Bruce Willis

[–] skane110-1 8 years ago

Lol, my problem was not with "good old-fashioned", it's just the "swagger" part that's so stupid. I'm sure that word was used back then but, would General Macarthur ever have said it? I very much highly doubt that.

[–] chrissso 8 years ago

you are very passionate about this ... which is kinda weird. I like the line for a second and then forgot it. I do recall thinking I am glad he did not say "swag."

What else caught your attention?

[–] skane110-1 8 years ago

I just remember the line super well because it gave me second-hand embarrassment from hearing it and I wish they didn't have that in there. I haven't noticed anything else that I really hated, though.