Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
#1
DVD Talk Special Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
As times change, and movies age, outdated technology or cultural trends can really stand out. Can you name some examples? Perhaps the best one is Gordon Gekko’s brick cell phone.
I watched Diehard last night on blu-ray, and noticed a few things that amused me:
Mcclain is seen puffing and smoking away in the airport.
Mcclain tries to locate his wife through a computer touch screen toted as high tech for the Nakatomi plaza.
All the computer screens are monochrome green on black
I watched Diehard last night on blu-ray, and noticed a few things that amused me:
Mcclain is seen puffing and smoking away in the airport.
Mcclain tries to locate his wife through a computer touch screen toted as high tech for the Nakatomi plaza.
All the computer screens are monochrome green on black
#2
Moderator
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
Movies made in the first half of the 20th century where all the men wear a coat, tie, and hat.
#3
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
What's the last movie about a newspaper reporter where they still use a typewriter?
That would be an interesting thing to identify.
Or the last movie with a rotary phone.
Or the last movie where you see somebody change the channel on a TV by manually turning a dial.
That would be an interesting thing to identify.
Or the last movie with a rotary phone.
Or the last movie where you see somebody change the channel on a TV by manually turning a dial.
#4
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Posts: 39,239
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
Fight Club had a rotary phone...
I think Superman Returns had a typewriter in there somewhere....
I think Superman Returns had a typewriter in there somewhere....
#5
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
Late 80s movies with brick style cell phones.
Elevator operators in office buildings
Fabric counters in department stores
Characters meeting at an Automat for lunch.
Elevator operators in office buildings
Fabric counters in department stores
Characters meeting at an Automat for lunch.
#7
Moderator
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
I recently saw a movie where the man broke up with the lady over dinner. My kids were flabbergasted. "Why didn't he just order a hit in Mafia Wars?"
#8
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
The changed attitudes toward smoking is definitely something I notice. I watched Carrie a few days ago, and one of the first uses of her powers in the movie is when she flips the ashtray full of cigarette butts and ashes off the school principal's desk.
I also notice the lack of technology in older films. For example, characters in situations where the entire plot could be resolved if only they had a cellphone.
I also notice the lack of technology in older films. For example, characters in situations where the entire plot could be resolved if only they had a cellphone.
#11
Moderator
#12
#13
DVD Talk Hero
#14
Moderator
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
I always laugh at movies set "in the future" when they consult the computer -- and it's a room full of reel-to-reel tape and blinking lights.
#15
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
The DVD commentary for A Nightmare On Elm Street pointed one out. "This dates the movie. You can smoke in a clinic?"
#16
DVD Talk Special Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
#17
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
The movie "Hackers" where they are all drooling over at 28.8k modem.
Broadband seems to have spoiled me.
Broadband seems to have spoiled me.
#18
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
How about the Iomega like zip disc in the first Mission Impossible movie or the Floppy discs in various others. (The Negotiator)
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
If they made another Ring sequel it would be really out of date with haunted videotapes. Maybe this time it can be a possessed Blu Ray that kills you if you haven't updated your firmware.
#20
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
Lots of films from the 80s seem dated because of the fad music of the time.
Any film that takes place wholly or in-part "IN THE FUTURE" when the date is either close or has gone by altogether (2001: A Space Odyssey, 2010, Demolition Man, Terminator 1/2 [Judgement Day was in 98' iirc ], Escape from NY, and we're almost there for Back to the Future 2). I don't understand why directors don't push out the dates a little more
Smoking in space isn't a big deal... perhaps in the future smoking is more acceptable, who knows!
Any film that takes place wholly or in-part "IN THE FUTURE" when the date is either close or has gone by altogether (2001: A Space Odyssey, 2010, Demolition Man, Terminator 1/2 [Judgement Day was in 98' iirc ], Escape from NY, and we're almost there for Back to the Future 2). I don't understand why directors don't push out the dates a little more
Smoking in space isn't a big deal... perhaps in the future smoking is more acceptable, who knows!
#21
#22
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
Love how Escape from New York has 1988 being the downfall of the U.S. and the story's set in 1997.
A reverse statement of this would be RoboCop with the DVD-like video disc Dick Jones makes for Bob Morton.
A reverse statement of this would be RoboCop with the DVD-like video disc Dick Jones makes for Bob Morton.
#24
#25
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Outdated Technology or Cultural Trends that You Notice in Movies?
Women having untrimmed pubes.