At the end, in a climactic moment, Data says "Resistance is futile!" and smashes the coolant tank.
The script writer was obviously trying to be ironic or something - what an idiot. The Borg weren't resisting Data, he (and the rest of the crew) were resisting the Borg.
The line should have been:
"Resistance is NEVER futile."
No. That sounds corny as hell rather than bad ass. Say it outloud, it sounds bad. And it's not even true, sometimes resistance is futile.
shareIt doesn't sound any different, really. The OP has a point, as the scene clearly in no way goes along with the phrase "resistance is futile". The writers were just trying way too hard to have a cool moment.
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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?
It does sound different, it's an additional word. Even if you think they are trying too hard, adding "never" to it doesn't make it any better. It's supposed to be a one liner that sounds cool, turning their phrase against them.
shareHe's standing a split-second away from ending them - there's no chance to resist on their part at all.
When the Borg say "resistance is futile" they are saying "don't bother fighting us, you cannot win" or basically "surrender now."
When Data is standing next to the coolant tank, he's a second away from winning - there's no chance for them to react or surrender or resist. Saying "resistance is futile" isn't ironic or turning it back on them or anything - it's nonsense.
If he said "Resistance is NEVER futile" he would be saying to them "You told me that fighting back is pointless - you were wrong." I don't see how people don't get this.
I don't think it needs to sound badass. It's Data we're talking about here. Op has a point that it does make a lot more sense.
shareIt's a movie. Sounding badass is the entire point of a one liner before the hero takes down the villain.
shareDunno, I think being cute and charming is more important than being badass for Data. "Resistance is NEVER futile" might sound boring but I can imagine a delivery from Data that would seem to fit right into the film, and still leave the audience smiling.
shareMaybe he could have pulled it off, but the entire point of the line is to use their iconic phrase against them. Worf got his one liner, now Data gets his. That is the entire function of him saying a line at that point. Being charming/cute all of a sudden doesn't sit right for me.
shareI like it better the way Data says it. It's in your face.
"Live long and suck it, Zachary Quinto!"
I love the line above: "Assimilate this!" That would be my choice for ending it, but that's because it fits my philosophy of life. (and because I love Dark Helmet too ;) (edit: and they gave that line to Worf when they were mag booting outside on the hull)
While I do like OP's take on it, I believe that the original line was steeped in sarcasm. I think you are not relishing in the emotional offering of the line. I think Data was saying "Remember that time when you said Resistance is Futile??? Well, the Ferengi in the gorilla suit has to go!" 0.68 seconds later... "ugh, I mean, Resistance is Futile"
I think he was using it in a way that was 1.) very '90s and 2.) very tongue-in-cheek. Remember back in the '90s when all you had to do to point out how dumb somebody was by simply repeating what they said with the slightest hint of sarcasm? Well, I do. ;)
Dissecting films nearly 20 years on is like picking on '50s-'70s cartoons for being racist and politically incorrect. We can't apply today's so-called logic to a different time. Unless you can place yourself within the time frame of the thing being critiqued, then you won't be able to see the steeping deliciousness of that era.
Is it a much better line OP? Yeah, you got me there, in this moment, now. But I do remember being in the theater at the time that ST:FC was released and that line was very well received because we understood the subtlety of it... then.
Now, I must go figure out a punishment for myself for using the term "deliciousness" in a context that has no food references whatsoever (although I did refer to relish above... maybe I'm just hungry). That scene where Carla slams her tongue in the entrance door to Cheers comes to mind...
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"Your wife's on my Wham-O"
I believe that the original line was steeped in sarcasm
I took what Data says to mean the Borg had lost and can't do anything about it. It's not Shakespeare but this is the Star Trek universe we're talking about.
shareData was being sarcastic. Why can people never understand sarcasm?
shareI understand sarcasm fine. He should try it.
Seriously, it didn't sound sarcastic. Or maybe it did, but not in the right way. It just sounded flat to me.
And I still think it would have been far more impressive for him to say "Resistance is NEVER futile!"
You really don't think it sounded sarcastic?
I did, but I also took into account his expression, which looked contemptuous
Also, he'd been snide and sarcastic earlier in the film, once his emotion chip was turned back on ("believing oneself to be perfect is often the sign of a del-YOO-ded mind"), so it wasn't out of the blue OR out of character
this used to be my favorite next gen movie
now i hate it
thanks
reminds me of Data in Generations
"YES!!!!!!"
http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Data-Star-Trek-Fist-Pump.gif
watching this again on cable
Worf just said "assimilate this" right before blasting the modified deflector dish
maybe he should have said something else ?
Your line is terrible and you should be ashamed
share