Quintessential Movies of the Decade

I was thinking of this today while I walked through the woods...what would be considered the defining movie of each decade (starting with the '70's)? As I brainstormed I came up with a quick list, '70's: "The Godfather", '80's: "E.T.", '90's: "Pulp Fiction", '00's: "Lost In Translation". Just wondering what everyone else thinks...

Tags: dvds

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Permalink Reply by The Real Uncle Bob on February 14, 2008 at 3:50pm: 1960s: Blow Up (1966)
1970s: Gimme Shelter (1970)
1980s: Wall Street (1987)
1990s: Falling Down (1993)
2000s: let me get back to ya.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SGLcafe on July 26, 2008 at 5:25am: Of all the ones I've read so read, 1990's "Falling Down" is the most perfect to capture a decade. "Wall Street" too for the eighties, but if I gave it some thought I'd settle for one that incorporated my personal journy in the eighties. Insider trading wasn't my bag.

And I also agree, its too early to decide which movie speaks for this decade. This is actually a deeper question than it seems.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on February 14, 2008 at 4:03pm: Here's my list

60's Easy Rider or (The Graduate)
70's Star Wars
80's indiana Jones (or Breakfast Club)
90's Jurassic Park
00's Lord of the Rings; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Space on January 10, 2009 at 11:34am: I think you nailed it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by droidmaker on February 14, 2008 at 4:52pm: This is tough -- what was defining for me is pretty differerent than from others... but how about:

60s: The Graduate or Harold & Maude
70s: Star Wars or All The President's Men or Annie Hall
80s: Big Chill (83), or Being There ('79, but whatever)
90s: Pulp Fiction or Fargo or Matrix
00: Amelie or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Little Miss Sunshine

You know, if i started again, i'd probably end up with another bunch of movies...
sorry i can't be more decisive... very hard problem...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by The Real Uncle Bob on February 14, 2008 at 9:59pm: It's impossible to be definitive -- anybody making a list like this is really writing an autobiography.

Clever thread idea, El Topo.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on February 15, 2008 at 9:31am: Uncle Bob is on to something here. These lists really paint a very descriptive picture of each author's life. There can really be two lists: one that best represents society as a whole and a second that represents the individual. Been enlightening seeing the options different people pick.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Baff on February 15, 2008 at 10:25am: I think there is a 3rd type of list. Personally, I tried to pick titles that defined the movies of each decade rather than define society. I picked movies from my favorites, so they automatically reflect my own tastes of course. If I had been trying to define society, I probably would have chosen a bunch of dramas.

People have been taking a lot of different approaches in making their lists. That is what makes this thread fun for me. There are no wrong answers and there is no definitive list, but thats ok.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by MCWHAMMER on February 14, 2008 at 5:51pm: Cool topic.

I agree with the O.P. on a couple of them, and agree with some of the recent postings as well. But the below is completely my list, so you aren't allowed to pick on it :P

60's: Nothing I've seen so far :(
70's: Dawn of the Dead and The Godfather, for sure.
80's: Scarface, The Breakfast Club and the Indiana Jones series (My favorite being Last Crusade). It's too hard to pick just one, it was a great decade for movies, in my opinion.
90's: Jurassic Park I and Pulp Fiction
00's: Spider-man. I can't think of any other from this decade (SO FAR) that made me enjoy movies more, and was more defining for the Double Thousands. Heck, throw in the sequels as well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Goddess on February 16, 2008 at 9:05pm: For the 2000s era, do you mean Memento?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Desperate Living on July 13, 2008 at 9:00pm: Soylent Green! That's a good one for the 70s... Brazil is great for the 80s as well. kudos to you.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by pterosaur on February 15, 2008 at 8:50am: I tried to stick with the more mainstream Hollywood-type movies. I did 3 for each decade.

60's Psycho, 2001, A Fistful of Dollars
70's Star Wars, The Godfather, Jaws
80's Blade Runner, Scarface, The Terminator
90's Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, The Big Lebowski
00's Kill Bill, Gladiator, 28 Days Later (or whichever of the fast zombie movies was first); ▶ Reply to This