AEE 242: Why Hollywood Is Not Always Holly-GOOD for Your English

Can movies cause problems in speaking natural English? Today, find
out why mimicking phrases from movies can make it difficult to have
natural-sounding English conversations!   Hollywood is
drama. Its stories are fiction. This means that the
language used by characters is often unrealistic. Because of the
unnatural dialogue, you don’t want to quote from movies unless it’s
understood that you are quoting. Native English speakers do it
all the time by slightly changing the tone of their
voice. Even then, such quotes are usually made in a context
that makes it clear that the usage is a little joke.   Some
popular American movie quotes: “Life is like a box of chocolates.
You never know what you’re gonna get.” – Forrest Gump “May the odds
be ever in your favor.” – The Hunger Games “May the force be with
you.” – Star Wars “Houston, we have a problem.” – Apollo 13  
While it can be fun to directly quote movies, you want to try to
sound more like a real English speaker, not a fictional character.
  Do you have any favorite movie quotes in English? Share the
ones you love in the comments section below!   Learn more
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