My Top 10: Phrases in TV/Movies that should be banned

There are certain lines in movies and TV shows that, every time I hear them, I can't help but cringe. There are so many cliches, but I'm talking about specific dialogue that keeps popping up over and over and over again. I first thought more deeply about this after watching the "We've Got Company!" video, reminding us how many times people say that in movies when we must wonder - has anyone ever said that in real life? I am not including natural cliches, like "it couldn't get any worse" because that's not specific to movies and TV shows. I'm not including things that aren't phrases, like "noooo," "get out of there," or, the frequent hacker quote, "we're in." It has to be a little more particular than that. I'm also not including famous phrases that people quote a lot - these lines are not natural cliches or oft-quoted famous phrases, they're just lines from the big and small screen that really need to die. (So, as much as I'd like to include the reality show staple "I'm not here to make friends!," it doesn't qualify for this fiction-based Top 10.)

10. "This ends here"

("And I will strike down upon these motherfucking snakes with great vengeance")

Our noble hero is fed up. Finished. Done with this. So he boldly declares that "this ends here. Today. Right now. I'm ending it." No promises, no vows, just a simple statement that this situation is going to be handled, damnit!

9. "Everything's about to change"

("Wait a minute. I'm miserable...in...the....future...?")

This one is primarily popular in movie trailers and I am so sick of it. Especially in the context of a movie trailer where we don't even have a frame of reference for what is changing and for whom! And if I hear it spoken in a show or movie, it's so blunt and pointless that it really irritates me. Yes, we know everything is going to change. Otherwise, there would be no conflict driving the narrative. And change is scary! It's a prime example of telling, not showing, in its finest form. In case you're too stupid to get it, we're now going to inform you that the plot is taking a turn. Thanks.

8. "I don't know what to think!"

("Wait, the creepy President is the Big Bad?")

Normally, this comes after a bewildered character faces repeated questioning about what he or she really thinks. They get exasperated at all the false accusations and after the tenth time they hear "is that what you think?" They frustratedly blurt out "I don't know what to think!" Their whole world was just ripped apart by some big plot device and they are clueless. Or they haven't come to accept the truth: that the hero is always right about what's going on. You'll think what he thinks. Clear?

7. "This isn't a movie/TV show, this is real life!"

("Come on, Truman, this isn't some TV show")

But this is a movie/TV show! How clever. It comes across as another insult of our intelligence. Sure, the writers are just being tongue-in-cheek normally, but it seems so awkward when we know we're watching a movie/TV show. Or the writers want you to think that this particular show or movie is grounded in reality, not some fantasy world. But it instantly takes me out of said fiction when they have dialogue specifically mentioning that it isn't fiction. If you want some meta, fine, but be more subtle than that.

6. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you"

("Oh, you really didn't kill your wife? Sorry for the mix-up. Let's find that one-armed bastard!")

Followed up 99.99% of the time with "try me." Our aforementioned bewildered character is now trying to get to the bottom of what they really do think and they come across the character who knows exactly what's going on. And he just can't believe it. (Or doesn't care.)

5. "The hunter becomes the hunted"

("My sources report that shit just got real")

I'll be honest, I wanted to put this one higher, but it's used most egregiously in movie trailers, normally for action or thriller flicks. Our big bad hero realizes that the tables have been turned, or some corrupt authority finds it's being targeted by people it trained to epically realize other people's shit. And we're supposed to be in awe over the irony or poetic justice of it all.

4. "Let's go home"

(See you in another life, brother)

Our noble hero has saved the day, reunited with his family, repaired all broken relationships, vowed to settle down and turn in his badge and gun and cherish what he previously took for granted. Talk about more stating the obvious. This is a classic painful line and I'm kind of surprised when I hear it in modern movies.

3. "You don't have to do this!"

("I have an English accent, of course I have to do this!")

Someone, probably a villain, is about to torture or kill a victim. The victim pleads desperately, trying to rationalize why the villain doesn't really have to be villainous. But unless the the villain is actually being forced to do things because his family is being held hostage, he doesn't just have to do this, he wants to do this. Especially if he needs to find the secret Founding Fathers treasure before you do.

2. "You don't want to know"

("What's happening to the Nazis, Indy?!")

How long until the comet reaches Earth? How many carnivorous dinosaurs are on this island? How much more time until the bomb goes off? How long has my quiet English sidekick actually been evil? Where have you been? I think you know the answer.

1. "You have no idea who/what you're dealing with!"

("Death has come for you, friendo")

This one bothers me the most because, most of the time, the hero really does know who they're dealing with. This is inevitably uttered by a henchman right before death, but the villain is free to state this one if he's feeling threatened. Because once you inform the hero that he's in over his head, he'll apologize and go home. Unless, of course, said villain took the hero's family hostage in which case things just get personal and the villain is in for some major pain. Look out, Mr. Villain, we've got company!