Antz (1998)
Gene Hackman: Mandible
Photos
Quotes
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General Mandible : [Z has broken through to the surface where Mandible and his soldiers wait for them to be drowned] Let go! Don't you understand? It's for the good of the colony!
Z : What are you saying? We are the colony!
[Mandible is about to strike Z when Cutter knocks his aside]
General Mandible : Cutter, what are you doing?
Colonel Cutter : Something I should have done a long time ago.
[extends his hand to the worker ants]
Colonel Cutter : *This* is for the good of the colony, General.
General Mandible : You useless, ungrateful maggot! *I* am the colony!
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General Mandible : [on hearing that one soldier survived the battle with the termites] Damn...
[covering his true feelings]
General Mandible : ...good. Damn good.
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Bala : Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
Z : Well, maybe, then again, maybe not, and then again... yowch.
Bala : [recognizing his line from the night before] That's it. You're the guy from the bar.
Z : Shhh.
Queen : Bar? What bar?
Bala : I... danced with this guy at the bar the other night. He was just a worker, then.
Queen : What were you doing at a bar?
General Mandible : Precisely what I want to know.
Bala : No. This isn't about me. I mean, Look at this worker. Look what he's done.
Z : I think - I think you're thinking of someone else. After all, I am a soldier.
Bala : Exactly. You *were* a worker, but now you're a war hero.
Queen : He's a worker?
General Mandible : A worker danced with my fiance?
Z : F-fiance? Hey, w-wait a minute. Th-this is not how it looks. I-I can explain this... hey, SHE was the one making all the moves.
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[Mandible is giving a speech]
General Mandible : Sacrifice. To some, it is just a word. To others it is a code. The life of one individual ant does not matter. What matters is the colony. And each soldier knows that he's willing to live for the colony, to fight for the colony, to die for the colony.
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General Mandible : You're an ant after my own heart, an ant who looks death in the face and laughs.
Z : Actually, I generally just make belittling comments and snicker behind death's back.
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General Mandible : [dismissing himself and Z] I think it's time to debrief the soldier.
Z : Please, General! Not on a first date!
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General Mandible : Seal up the doors. Cutter, did you hear me?
Colonel Cutter : Sir, I've been thinking. Do we need to go through with this? Look at what these workers have done. They've got the right stuff. Isn't there any other way?
General Mandible : Cutter, you're a fine officer. You have discipline, courage, ability... but you seem to have a weakness for the lower orders that I find disturbing. Now, are you with me?
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Colonel Cutter : Attack a termite colony? That's suicide.
General Mandible : Exactly.
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General Mandible : I've heard a lot about this Z. I even had the pleasure of meeting him once. But where is he know? Can anyone point him out? I mean, if this Z cares so much about us, then why isn't he here? I'll tell you why. Because Z doesn't give about us! That's why he kidnapped our princess. That's why he ran away. Z is no hero, we are the heroes. We are the ones ensuring the future of our great colony. And when we've completed this magnificent structure, we will reap the benefits: more food and less work for everyone. And as further reward for your heroic efforts, each and every one of you will get the day off! So you can be the guests of honor at the MegaTunnel dedication ceremonies!
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[Weaver gets punched by one of Mandible's guards]
General Mandible : That's enough.
Weaver : I ain't telling you nothing.
General Mandible : Soldier, the princess is vital to the future of this colony. She must be returned to take their place as queen.
Weaver : We already have the queen.
General Mandible : As for your friend, Z, why should I hurt him?
[chuckles]
General Mandible : He's not important. Now, soldier, we all know that one individual ant doesn't matter. Not you. Not Cutter.
[the door opens while the guards taking Azteca]
General Mandible : Not even her.
Weaver : [turns to her] Azteca!
[runs to her, the guards grabs his shoulder and turns him back]
Azteca : Don't tell that tight ass anything, Weaver.
[the guards grab her]
General Mandible : Where is Z?
Weaver : I don't know where he is.
General Mandible : Hmm. That's too bad.
[He leaves and the guards grabbing Azteca]
Weaver : Wait! Insectopia. I know it sounds crazy, but that's where he'd be going.
Colonel Cutter : Soldier, you think this is a game? Insectopia does not exist.
General Mandible : As a matter of fact, it does.
Colonel Cutter : Sir?
General Mandible : I'll brief you on the coordinates. You're gonna bring the princess back. And as for Z, kill him.
Weaver : But, you said he didn't matter.
General Mandible : It's for the good of the colony. You made the right decision. Gentlemen, now you can see how dangerous individualism can be. It makes us vulnerable.
[Weaver turns to Azteca, sadly. She sadly to him. The guards took her and the door closes]
General Mandible : Take him back to the Mega Tunnel. Put him on the front line. Dismissed.
[He leaves. The guards are taking Weaver to the mega tunnel]
