--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're not used to seeing movies…" description: "\"We're not used to seeing movies, especially with physical action, when it isn't the man who comes in to save the day.\" — Curtis Hanson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/curtis-hanson-9380_action_we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especial_3202862.jpg" --- # We're not used to seeing movies, especially with physical… ![“We're not used to seeing movies, especially with physical action, when it isn't the man who comes in to save the day.” quote by Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/curtis-hanson-9380_action_we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especial_3202862.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/curtis-hanson-9380_action_we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especial_3202862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/curtis-hanson-9380_action_we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especial_3202862.jpg) > “We're not used to seeing movies, especially with physical action, when it isn't the man who comes in to save the day.” [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights that audiences expect a clear hero, limiting appreciation for non‑heroic narratives. **In simple terms:** People expect a hero to save the day. Key Takeaway Recognize diverse storytelling beyond traditional heroes. Themes media criticism storytelling hero archetype Mood analytical critical Type observational theoretical When to use this quote - film reviews - creative writing - media studies Key Concepts narrative expectations cinema analysis Questions to Reflect On - Why do we gravitate toward hero figures? - How can stories thrive without a savior? A Different Perspective Overlooks films that successfully subvert hero tropes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-isn-682246/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Man Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-comes-697788/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movies Especially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies-especially-364489/) [Physical Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-action-408773/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Seeing Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing-movies-521363/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [reaction isn't action - that is, it isn't truly creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/reaction-isn-t-action-that-is-it-isn-t-truly-creative/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [Action isn’t my forte. I’m an expert on contemplation and mild regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sheckley/action-isn-t-my-forte-i-m-an-expert-on-contemplation-and-mild-regret/) [Robert Sheckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sheckley/) > [Love's action. It isn't talk and it never has been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/love-s-action-it-isn-t-talk-and-it-never-has-been/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [“Action isn’t just the effect of motivation; it’s also the cause of it. Most”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/action-isn-t-just-the-effect-of-motivation-it-s-also-the-cause-of-it-2/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“Action isn’t just the effect of motivation; it’s also the cause of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/action-isn-t-just-the-effect-of-motivation-it-s-also-the-cause-of-it/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Action isn't a burden to be hoisted up and lugged around on our shoulders. It is something we are. The work we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/action-isn-t-a-burden-to-be-hoisted-up-and-lugged-around-on-our/) [Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/) > [I really dont work out. Ive always been kind of slight and Ive always loved to run and jump around and be physical so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-really-dont-work-out-ive-always-been-kind-of-slight-and-ive-always/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [Social action, just like physical action, is steered by perception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-lewin/social-action-just-like-physical-action-is-steered-by-perception/) [Kurt Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-lewin/) > [I'm a physical type of actor and love projects in which I can get physical. The more action, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/i-m-a-physical-type-of-actor-and-love-projects-in-which-i-can-get/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [We best avoid wars by taking even physical action to stop small ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-eden/we-best-avoid-wars-by-taking-even-physical-action-to-stop-small-ones/) [Anthony Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-eden/) > [There was a lightbulb moment as soon as I walked in the kitchen and started working. I love the physical action. I love the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenji-lopez-alt/there-was-a-lightbulb-moment-as-soon-as-i-walked-in-the-kitchen-and/) [J. Kenji Lopez-Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenji-lopez-alt/) > [When thought and action are combined, the results are powerful-among the most powerful forces on earth. The combination of successful communication-the sharing of thoughts-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/when-thought-and-action-are-combined-the-results-are-powerful-among/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Thinking is action… but there is nothing on this earth as powerful as consistent, bold, physical action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ringer/thinking-is-action-but-there-is-nothing-on-this-earth-as-powerful-as/) [Robert Ringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ringer/) > [A good Judoka never anticipates his action in a match, but his mind is as clever as a polished mirror which enables him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyuzo-mifune/a-good-judoka-never-anticipates-his-action-in-a-match-but-his-mind-is/) [Kyuzo Mifune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyuzo-mifune/) > [The karma that is most interesting is the mental karma because ultimately it generates physical action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-karma-that-is-most-interesting-is-the-mental-karma-because/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Curtis Hanson > [I very much had wanted to do a picture with more humor than what I had been allowed to do earlier, which is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/i-very-much-had-wanted-to-do-a-picture-with-more-humor-than-what-i/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [That's what I love about Michael Douglas' performance in Wonder Boys, because I feel like he surprises audiences that know him from very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/that-s-what-i-love-about-michael-douglas-performance-in-wonder-boys/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [I love suspense movies, because in a sense they're the most dreamlike of any genre, and I'm sure I'll make another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/i-love-suspense-movies-because-in-a-sense-they-re-the-most-dreamlike/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [I had a checkered early career, for sure, with a lot of very unhappy experiences where pictures got taken away, re-cut, re-titled... all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/i-had-a-checkered-early-career-for-sure-with-a-lot-of-very-unhappy/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [My very first professional writing credit was on a movie called The Dunwich Horror, and Roger Corman was the executive producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/my-very-first-professional-writing-credit-was-on-a-movie-called-the/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [There was a long period of time when Sam Fuller had a lot of projects fall through and had a lot of difficulties getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/there-was-a-long-period-of-time-when-sam-fuller-had-a-lot-of-projects/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [What I try to do is give each actor an environment in which they can do their best work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/what-i-try-to-do-is-give-each-actor-an-environment-in-which-they-can/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [Hollywood, of course, is the city of illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/hollywood-of-course-is-the-city-of-illusion/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [ I can't speak to how Michael \[Douglas\] approached it in terms of his process. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/i-can-t-speak-to-how-michael-douglas-approached-it-in-terms-of-his/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [Put simply, there are many people who want to make movies and very few opportunities for them to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/put-simply-there-are-many-people-who-want-to-make-movies-and-very-few/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [ I had the great fortune to actually become friends with Sam \[Fuller\] and ultimately collaborate with him on White Dog, which we wrote together. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/i-had-the-great-fortune-to-actually-become-friends-with-sam-fuller/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [You can dress it up, but it comes down to the fact that a movie is only as good as its script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/you-can-dress-it-up-but-it-comes-down-to-the-fact-that-a-movie-is/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [A day doesn't go by when I don't get a compliment on L.A. Confidential, for example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/a-day-doesn-t-go-by-when-i-don-t-get-a-compliment-on-l-a-confidential/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [I make that distinction only because I came to it strictly as someone who was just a lover of storytellers and cinematic storytellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/i-make-that-distinction-only-because-i-came-to-it-strictly-as-someone/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [ Roger \[Corman\] didn't actually hire me, though. I was hired by AIP \[American International Pictures\], the studio that made the picture, which was Sam… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/roger-corman-didn-t-actually-hire-me-though-i-was-hired-by-aip/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) [Explore all 73 Curtis Hanson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're not used to seeing movies, especially with physical action, when it isn't the man who comes in to save the day.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Curtis Hanson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especially-with-physical-action-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especially-with-physical-action-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/curtis-hanson-9380_action_we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especial_3202862.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/curtis-hanson-9380_action_we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especial_3202862.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/curtis-hanson-9380_action_we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especial_3202862.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We're not used to seeing movies, especially with physical action, when it isn't the man who comes in to save…” — Curtis Hanson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Curtis Hanson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We're not used to seeing movies,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especially-with-physical-action-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/we-re-not-used-to-seeing-movies-especially-with-physical-action-when/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```