Best Decade For Cinema

[The Chairman]

This has probably been discussed numoerous times, but for you guys, what do you consider the best decade for film?

For me personally, it has to be the 1970s'. It was during this decade that some truly groundbreaking and often controversial movies were released that revolutionized the way we look at cinema forever. Films like The Godfather (parts 1 & 2), One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Taxi Driver, Carnal Knowledge, The Last Picture Show and a host of other classic films. It was also the decade of Star Wars, the greatest series in the history of movie making, and saw the debut of, among others, Steven Spielberg & Martin Scorcese, arguably the two most important and prominent directors of the last thirty years. I could go on and on about how great a decade it was for cinema, but I won't bore you.

So, from the 1930s' onward (I won't include the 1920s' because for some reason I doubt a lot of people have seen moves from that era outside of the comedies by Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, etc.), which is the best decade for film?

 

[Bat Attack]

I voted for the 2000's by accident. But I meant to vote for the 1990's.

 

[JLBats]

God, easily '70s. This was when the greats started to emerge from film school and make very important works in the history of film. Coppola, Lucas, Scorsese, Spielberg... some of my Gods. Plus, we got Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Godfather 1 and 2, Annie Hall, Star Wars, Jaws... All classics.

So, basically, I agree with everything you said. Congrats on a post well done.

 

[The Chairman]

So, basically, I agree with everything you said. Congrats on a post well done.

Thanks.

 

[The Chairman]

I voted for the 2000's by accident. But I meant to vote for the 1990's.

Really? I don't know the 1990s' were pretty weak for me. Yeah, we got some great stuff (Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption), but it was also the birth of the trend of mindless, special effects driven action spectacles (the overrated beyond human comprehension Titanic immediately jumps into my mind) and lame brain comedies that are currently dragging down the movie industry.

The 2000s' I'd say are the worst. Seriously the two best films of the decade IMO were Almost Famous (my all time favorite movie) and Gladiator, and those both came out six years ago.

 

[JLBats]

Really? I don't know the 1990s' were pretty weak for me. Yeah, we got some great stuff (Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption), but it was also the birth of the trend of mindless, special effects driven action spectacles (the overrated beyond human comprehension Titanic immediately jumps into my mind) and lame brain comedies that are currently dragging down the movie industry.

The 2000s' I'd say are the worst. Seriously the two best films of the decade IMO were Almost Famous (my all time favorite movie) and Gladiator, and those both came out six years ago.

Meh, I'll excuse Titanic since Cameron deserved some extreme box office glory after all his classic work in the past.

 

[The Chairman]

Meh, I'll excuse Titanic since Cameron deserved some extreme box office glory after all his classic work in the past.

I don't know, for me Titanic was just such a letdown. Cameron had done far better films than Titanic. Titanic was so cheesy, overblown and sappy, not to mention overly depressing and drawn out. I hate it when people refer to it as "The Greatest Movie Of All Time" simply because it grossed a gagillion dollars. If you go buy that logic(and I'm ripping this off from someone on imdb), McDonald's is the epitomy of gourmet cousine because it is eaten at more than any other restaurant in the world.

 

[FaT_tONle]

2000 maybe in terms of BLockbusters... it's the 70's easily... cmon do your homework people...

 

[Shuley]

I voted for the 1940's

Citizen Kane
Casablanca
The Big Sleep
It's A Wonderful Life
All About Eve
The Maltese Falcon
The Treasure Of Sierra Madre

List goes on and on...

The best year in cinema history is 1939.

 

[JLBats]

I don't know, for me Titanic was just such a letdown. Cameron had done far better films than Titanic. Titanic was so cheesy, overblown and sappy, not to mention overly depressing and drawn out. I hate it when people refer to it as "The Greatest Movie Of All Time" simply because it grossed a gagillion dollars. If you go buy that logic(and I'm ripping this off from someone on imdb), McDonald's is the epitomy of gourmet cousine because it is eaten at more than any other restaurant in the world.

Oh, I completely agree about the quality of the movie itself.

 

[Shuley]

I don't consider The Titanic to be "The Greatest Movie Ever" Casablanca is

 

[Bat Attack]

I say Pulp Fiction is the best movie ever, just my opinion.

 

[The Chairman]

I don't consider The Titanic to be "The Greatest Movie Ever" Casablanca is

Some people do. I consider them idiots. I long for the days when a film was considered a success not for its box office receipts but for the way it influenced cinema and whatnot. Sadly, those days are gone.

 

[The Chairman]

I say Pulp Fiction is the best movie ever, just my opinion.

You have the right to your opinion. Personally, I want to say it's Almost Famous, but I'm a bit biased since it's my favorite movie and has touched me in a way no other film has ever been able to do.

That being said, I'd go with Cuckoo's Nest or Goodfellas.

 

[Lighthouse]

I have to go with the 70s. An incredible amount of quality movies came out during that decade. I'd say half of my all time favorite movies came from that time period.

 

[da creole kid]

I voted for the 70's.

I immediately regret that decision.

Just look at some of the films of the 50's (American and Foreign) that influenced the best stuff in the 60's to the 90's

 

[Shuley]

The 50's was a very good decade for movies as well. All those Brando and Hitchcock films. The 90's has it's highlights,alot of excellent independants movies came from there and of course Pulp Fiction which is the most influentional film of the 90's.But I not alot of stuff came out of the 80's,Raging Bull,The Shining and Scarface come to mind and the groundbreaking Sex,Lies and Videotape which really started off the whole independant films.

 

[CrypticOne]

This poll should have been multiple choice. Late 80's, the 90's, and the 2000s.

 

[Rac]

70's. There's so many of my all-time-favorites from that decade.

For example:

Star Wars
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Man with the Golden Gun
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Papillon
The Exorcist
Assault on Precinct 13
Halloween
The Omen
Apocalypse Now
Escape from Alcatraz

etc. etc.

 

[Shuley]

70's. There's so many of my all-time-favorites from that decade.

For example:

Star Wars
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Man with the Golden Gun
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Papillon
The Exorcist
Assault on Precinct 13
Halloween
The Omen
Apocalypse Now
Escape from Alcatraz

etc. etc.

Halloween is an 80's movie 1980 or 81'

 

[black_dust]

I voted 80`s

With the rise of Die hard, Rambo, Terminator, Aliens, Indiana Jones and Back to the Future.

It was defo the best when things were fresh and new

 

[Cinemaman]

Honestly, 70s.

 

[Rac]

Halloween is an 80's movie 1980 or 81'

No it isn't. It came out 1978. Halloween II premiered 1981.

 

[thealiasman2000]

I am a child of a '80s.

I was born and raised on the '80s.

Thus, I hold an affection for anything that came out of the '80s.

And that includes movies.


I have fond chilhood memories of "Ghostbusters", "Robocop", "Back to the Future", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", "Gremlins" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles".

Therefore, I go with the '80s.

 

[Carmine Falcone]

70's

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
The Long Good Friday
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather
The Man Who Would Be King
Dirty Harry
The French Connection
Dog Day Afternoon
Get Carter
High Plains Drifter
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Escape From Alcatraz

Great movies And I LOVE the 70's feeling like in One Flew and Dog Day.