Things that Instantly Date Films

[Still Wynning]

Product placement.

Seriously, throw in Verizon phone or a Facebook reference into a film and watch it become dated within the next ten years or so.

It's one of the reasons why I love Nolan's films. I can't even really think of any product placement in those films, save for maybe the cars that Bruce drives in the Bat-films.

 

[redhawk23]

^On that note, I consider The Social Network to be a near past period film due to the usage the deliberate use of White Stripes Ball and Biscuit, from one of the best albums of 2003 at the very beginning of the year. Also the the old mountain dew cans.

The off period laptops are the result of mistakes and product placement.

 

[bullets]

The worst for me is outdated cgi. At least with practical effects there is some sort of charm to it.

 

[Liam_H]

Movies that use pop culture references, Scary/Date/Epic/etc... Movies do this a lot. Nothing like using someone's 15 minutes of fame in your movie to date it.

Basically every Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer movie ever made. These movies are awful in general, but they feel dated as soon as the come out since when they're written the jokes have played out.

So yea pop culture references date movies the most.

 

[Ultimatehero]

I love LOTR, but I gotta admit - rewatching it, it's weird how aged the special effects now seem and that movie was amazing when it first came out with effects. Not Gollum, but some of the other elements in it.

 

[Hotwire]

The cars everyone drives.

 

[MMMMM...Pancakes]

Movies that take place in the future that aren't even close to getting the technology right.

Futuristic movies with characters watching 13" tv's, lol.

80's/90's hair styles and 80's/90's inspired clothes in futuristic movies like Aliens and Total Recall.

Still doesn't ruin my enjoyment of a movie though.

 

[chamber-music]

slang, pop culture references, fashion, technology, made up events future historical events like having world war 3 in 1998.

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

made up events future historical events like having world war 3 in 1998.

it was 1996 iirc

 

[DCW]

 

[Soapy]

Too many pop culture references. Especially when they aren't subtle or clever about it. Not that it was ever a good movie, but Goldmember is un-****ing-watchable because of that. Yeah, you know what's a brilliant idea? Putting entire scenes that are references to flash in the pan reality shows that no one will remember ten years down the line.

Also, I don't have a problem with fashion and hairstyles and things like that. I'm surprised it bothers anyone. It's not like anyone can predict what's going to be in fashion when someone is watching the film 19 years later.

When a movie takes place in the future but they actually say the year. Much like Predator 2 which I think it says "Los Angeles 1997".

I can't tell you how much I hate that. How hard is it to not say what year it's supposed to take place in?? Or just say "100 years from now" or something so that the film perpetually takes place in the future.

 

[Pink Ranger]

slang, pop culture references, fashion, technology, made up events future historical events like having world war 3 in 1998.

But there really was a WWIII in 1998! Dude, how baked were you not to notice that?

 

[Octoberist]

It depends because sometimes, you can't escape dating a movie especially with tech, music, etc.

However, you can also see a film as a time capsule of that era. That's why people who love the 80's love John Hughes movies. It captured that era (assumingly) fairly accurately.

Or, when you look at Blade Runner, Terminator and Back to the Future and their 20XX timelines (especially with 2015 coming up), you can just see them as alt. timelines.

 

[Octoberist]

Edward is fine. Buckney/Montana Max's mullet not so much.

 

[Gianakin_]

Prince.

 

[Octoberist]

I was too young at the time, but I was even told that by the time Prince did the Batman soundtrack, his career was getting stagnant. So in theory, he was already dated back in 1989.

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

I still listen to Prince.

 

[Gianakin_]

Never did, never will. If someone ever forces me to, I hope God sends in a sniper to finish me before I listen to a single tune.

(Yeah, I'm not too fond of his music).

 

[The Morningstar]

Prince is awesome!

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

Prince is awesome!

^this!

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Any mention or caricature of either President Clinton or President Bush. I like when movies just use a random guy that doesn't try to impersonate anyone for President, unless it's a comedy.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Too many pop culture references. Especially when they aren't subtle or clever about it. Not that it was ever a good movie, but Goldmember is un-****ing-watchable because of that. Yeah, you know what's a brilliant idea? Putting entire scenes that are references to flash in the pan reality shows that no one will remember ten years down the line.

Scary movie 2 is much worse at it, especially with the Nike basketball commercial spoof in it. So many people who watch that movie now the future won't get it at all.

 

[Tanin]

The Nike basketball commercial was the best part of that film too.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Too bad fewer people get it now.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Full pubic hair in rated X films.