Movie quotes that sum up the ‘University Experience’

While at university, many of us will turn to films in our free time. Whether it’s a hot new release at the cinema, or an oldie but goodie on Netflix, watching a film can be a great way to wind down after a stressful week of deadlines and lectures. If you’re looking for some film inspiration for this weekend, here’s a few that summarise university life perfectly in just one line.

“There’s so much room for activities” (Step Brothers, 2008)

To those of you who recently moved in to your off-campus accommodation, you may be enjoying the simple pleasures of no longer living in halls. One of those simple pleasures is bound to be having more space, as opposed to being confined to the tiny room you had in your first year. This experience is perfectly captured in the film Step Brothers by the line “There’s so much room for activities.” Whether it’s board games, pre-drinks, or TV binging, living off-campus gives you more space to spend time with your friends, without your room reaching an ungodly temperature after just ten minutes.

“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” (The Godfather, 1972)

When it comes to socialising, we’ve all been in that situation where we’ve tried to persuade one of our friends who was adamant on not coming out to change their mind. Whatever excuse they have, be it a 9am lecture the next day, feeling tired from their long day, or trying not to spend any more money, we ignore them and continue to make our case. This experience is best encapsulated in the line “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” from The Godfather. Whether it’s the promise of a free drink, or that well needed cup of tea the next morning, all it usually takes to get your friend to change their mind is one offer they simply cannot refuse.

“I’m starving! We ain’t had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinking days!” (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002)

Alas, university life is not all fun and games. Living away from home means we have to do all those little things that we usually take for granted back home. One of those is definitely grocery shopping. In an ideal world, we’d all stick to our weekly routine, get our shopping on Saturday morning, and cook those well-balanced meals from the student cookbook given to us in first year. Most of the time, this is definitely not the case. When deadlines kick in and the workload piles on, food shopping moves down the list of priorities. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers describes this experience perfectly in the line “I’m starving! We ain’t had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinking days!” While I hope none of us are eating maggoty bread, some concoctions made from all the things we can find in the back of our kitchen cupboard can be just as questionable.

“By all means, move at a glacial place. You know how that thrills me” (The Devil Wears Prada, 2006)

After having a less-than-nutritious breakfast, and waiting far too long for a bus that doesn’t appear to want to arrive, we often find ourselves rushing to our lectures in the morning. While the journey to campus may seem like the biggest obstacle, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This is where Miranda from The Devil Wear Prada becomes our spirit animal when she says “By all means, move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me.” Walking behind a group of slow walkers while rushing to get to your first lecture at the other end of campus is not a winning combination, and unless you can overtake them, you’ll have to come to terms with being late.

“After all, tomorrow is another day!” (Gone With The Wind, 1939)

Whatever challenges we face at university, it’s important to remember that we’re only here for a couple of years; a problem today may be something you look back at and laugh in a few years. Whether it’s struggling to finish that essay, or missing your seminar, it’s important to remember that “After all, tomorrow is another day!” which we’re reminded of in Gone With the Wind. The meaning of particular quote is up to your own interpretation –  use it to tell yourself it’s okay to procrastinate, or to help you come to terms with missing that 9am lecture.