Badass Creed/Film
- Dragonheart has something known as the Old Code. It was apparently the creed that King Arthur's knights lived by:
A Knight is sworn to Valor. |
- It also has an oath of service:
Call when you've need of me. |
- Pulp Fiction: "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyrannies of evil men..." However, Jules chose it just because it sounds cool, and he's still trying to figure out whether he's the man described in it.
- This was cribbed from the Sonny Chiba classic "The Bodyguard," one of Tarantino's favorite grindhouse flicks.
- "At other schools, they send young girls unprepared into a cold merciless world. But here at St Trinian's, it is the merciless world which must be prepared."
- Arguably, the school songs also qualify. The version from 1954:
Maidens of St Trinian's, gird your armour on. |
- And the chorus and tag of the song from the 2007 film:
We are the best |
Lo, there do I see my father |
- 300 used the actual Spartan creed of: "Come home with this shield or upon it." Dead soldiers were carried home on their shields, and victorious ones would carry their shields back, but cowards who ran from battle would throw their heavy shields away.
- "No retreat! No surrender!"
- In his last film role in The Shootist John Wayne's character is a gunfighter with this creed. "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same of them!"
- Tron: "I fight for the users!"
- The Code of the Jedi...
There is no emotion, there is peace. |
- ... and of the Sith.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion. |
- The members of the Rebel Alliance get to crib from the Continental Congress for the Declaration of Rebellion:
We, the Rebel Alliance, do therefore in the name--and by the authority--of the free beings of the Galaxy, solemnly publish and declare our intentions: |
- "By Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Warvan, you shall be avenged!" Though typically played for comedy (rightfully, as the catchphrase of a cheesy TV show), it's used very well during a certain dramatic point in the movie. The film's ersatz Federation's motto is "Never give up! Never surrender," which is also intentionally cheesy.
- In the crime thriller The Boondock Saints, the main characters would give a little prayer before executing a mafioso:
"And Shepherds we shall be |
- In addition, the movie's Dragon combines his prayer with a Luke I Am Your Father, and a Heel Face Turn:
"And when I raise my flashing sword |
- And another:
"Whosoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. For in the image of God made he man." |
- And in the sequel, two characters end a speech on manliness with this golden nugget of badassitude:
Rocco: Men do not cry. Men do not pout. Men check you on the fucking jaw, AND SAY... |
- From the Robo Cop series, a set of Prime Directives that for all intents and purposes acts like a Badass Creed:
Serve the public trust. Protect the innocent. Uphold the law. |
- "Nut up or shut up."
- Does the opening song from At World's End count? Probably not the first couple of lines, but...
The king and his men, stole the queen from her bed, |
- Short Circuit has a more humorous one:
"Los Locos kick your ass!" |
- This one:
Anonymity is your name, |
- Crimson Tide has one, sorta.
Ramsey: You're aware of the name of this ship [sic], aren't you Mister COB? |
- The Beast Of War. Sitting in a dead tank in the middle of Afghanistan, with a grenade in his hand:
Daskal: Out of commission, become a pillbox. Out of ammo, become a bunker. Out of time, become heroes. |
- O Lord, bless this Thy hand grenade that with it Thou mayest blow Thine enemies to tiny bits, in Thy mercy.
- From Tall Tales: "Protect the land, defend the defenseless, and never spit in front of women or children." *spits*
- From Men of Honor: "The Navy Diver is not a fighting man, he is a salvage expert. If it is lost underwater, he finds it. If it's sunk, he brings it up. If it's in the way, he moves it. If he's lucky, he will die young, 200 feet beneath the waves, for that is the closest he'll ever get to being a hero. Hell, I don't know why anybody'd want to be a Navy diver."
- In Holy Weapon, Super Sword cites one at the beginning of the climax:
"I am the master of Liu Sang School of martial arts. Now, I make a sincere wish. Hope all the Gods and Evils listen to me. From now on, I will rule over the whole world of martial arts. And I will devote myself to my beloved country. Until our country conquer China. If anyone wants to stop me, I will terminate it with no mercy. I will keep my promise." |
- From Battle: Los Angeles, the 2/5 Marines quote a WWI captain. "Retreat? Hell!"
Ghost rider:(johnny blaze to Mephistopheles after he attempts to take the power of the ghost rider from him) No. I'm gonna own this curse... and I'm gonna use it against you. Whenever innocent blood is spilt, it'll be my father's blood... and you'll find me there. A spirit of vengeance... fighting fire with fire.