# Time or date in movies or songs where your perception of that time/date has changed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 7, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607 "2025-07-07T21:02:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/21 "2025-07-08T19:04:12Z")
[Moderating] Title edited at OP’s request. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/22 "2025-07-08T21:43:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I remember reading Arthur Clarke’s **2001 - A Space Odyssey** in 1968 and doing a calculation in my head about how old I would be then. I realized I’d only be 54 and was pretty sure I could live that long if I could survive my impending tour in Vietnam. I was really looking forward to the exotic electronics and capabilities of that far-off time, which, while fairly astonishing, fell far short of my expectations. If I remember correctly, as HAL is being deactivated, he mentions the day the date on which he was originally activated. It’s different on the book and movie, either 1992 or 1997, but I can’t remember which is which. On that date, rather than the birth of an intelligent machine, the area code where I lived was split into two, and a new code created for one of the pieces. I look back on that with a certain significance. Rather than ushering in a utopian era of technology and machines to do our thinking alongside of us, in the real world we were running up against the constraints of our technology and having to find ways to cope with its exploding popularity. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/23 "2025-07-08T21:46:44Z")
In the Harry Potter books, doesn’t he get a new, state-of-the-art flying broom called a Nimbus 2000? When that was written, the year 2000 seemed like the glorious future. I wonder if kids now view it as quaint and old-fashioned. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/24 "2025-07-09T00:58:03Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > If I remember correctly, as HAL is being deactivated, he mentions the day the date on which he was originally activated. It’s different on the book and movie, either 1992 or 1997, but I can’t remember which is which. I visited The Computer Museum in Boston on the 1992 date HAL was supposed to be activated, and was amazed to see that they had no clue about what was supposed to be happening (in fiction). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/25 "2025-07-09T01:11:15Z")
I called the mayor’s office in Urbana, Illinois, to ask if they were having a birthday party. They were similarly unimpressed. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/26 "2025-07-09T01:12:38Z")
The song “1999” by Prince implies that the year 2000 will be the apocalypse, and therefore the year 1999 is when you need to enjoy things as best as you can as it will all be over. Some lyrics for context: > I was dreamin’ when I wrote this > Forgive me if it goes astray > But when I woke up this mornin’ > Could’ve sworn it was judgment day > The sky was all purple > There were people runnin’ everywhere > Tryin’ to run from the destruction > You know I didn’t even care > Say, say, 2000-00, party over > Oops, out of time > So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999 These days, “party like it’s 1999” sounds more like having nostalgia for days past rather than preparing for the end of the world, as we’re more than 25 years past that point already. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/27 "2025-07-09T02:02:18Z")
It’s taking longer than we thought. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/28 "2025-07-09T02:03:09Z")
In 1978’s “Heaven Can Wait,” the main character played by Warren Beatty is taken to the afterlife way before his time. The date he supposed to die? “Due to arrive 10:17AM, March 20th of the year 2025.” That date in 1978 seemed so far in the future it made your head spin. Now, it’s four months in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/29 "2025-07-09T02:57:30Z")
_The Jetsons_ was set one hundred years in the future - 2062. George Jetson was born in 2022. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/30 "2025-07-09T03:25:22Z")
After reading _Infinite Jest_, I really expected The Year of the Depend Adult Undergarment to be more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/31 "2025-07-09T05:48:54Z")
Hehehe, yeah. When I first watched 2001 in the early 80s, I knew immediately that reality wasn’t happening on that timeline, not even close. 20-30 years later, at least. I kind of felt the same way about the Ghost in the Shell universe when I started watching it in the late 90s. 2029? Nah, not even close, but it’s entertaining. Now that we’re just 4 years away from that? Not 2029, for sure. 2039 doesn’t seem that implausible, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/32 "2025-07-09T06:50:17Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I’m currently the same age that Pat Morita was when he played crusty old Mister Myagi in _Karate Kid_. 52. Pat Morita was 52. Wilford Brimley was **49** when Cocoon started filming. [![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox29.com/www.fox29.com/content/uploads/2020/08/932/470/GettyImages-Cocoon-Wilford-Brimley-Hume-Cronyn-Don-Ameche.jpg?ve=1&tl=1) ](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox29.com/www.fox29.com/content/uploads/2020/08/932/470/GettyImages-Cocoon-Wilford-Brimley-Hume-Cronyn-Don-Ameche.jpg?ve=1&tl=1) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/33 "2025-07-09T07:01:20Z")
The fantasy world of _The Matrix_ took place in what humanity assumed was the year 1999, described by Agent Smith as “the peak of your civilization.” Looking back now, he may have been right. It was two years before the towers fell, which is arguably when things went to shit. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/34 "2025-07-09T07:40:00Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Wilford Brimley was **49** when Cocoon started filming. That’s a lie that’s a lie, shut up shut up. He was **not** only one year older than I am now. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/35 "2025-07-09T07:45:55Z")
And _three_ years younger than I am now. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/36 "2025-07-09T10:23:41Z")
I was in college when _Star Trek: The Next Generation_ premiered. We were all kind of disturbed by the fact that the Captain in this version, unlike Captain Kirk, was “an old guy.” I’m now older than “the old guy” who commanded the Enterprise. Hell’s bells, _Wil Wheaton_ is now older than “the old guy” who commanded the Enterprise. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/37 "2025-07-09T11:12:48Z")
In 1980, fur my fifth grade English class, I wrote an essay about how impressive it was that Mick Jagger was in his late thirties, and yet he was still rocking out like a young man. Late thirties! Both Mick and I left that in the rear-view mirror decades ago….and we’re both still rockin’ out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/38 "2025-07-09T11:50:23Z")
It might be interesting to see Grumpy Old Men again, now that I am 32 years closer to the age of the grumpy old men. ---
**Author:** ![TheBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@TheBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBryan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/39 "2025-07-09T13:25:43Z")
I saw a Jay North article last night that made me think of this thread. When I watch Dennis the Menace now, I totally empathize with Mr. Wilson. And I actually do like kids. But I also like peace and quiet. It’s something strange that I realized when I lived in my last apartment before buying a house. When I moved it, it was a fun neighborhood. I got along with all of the neighbors I met, and the afternoons when the weather was nice was full of the joyful sounds of kids at play. Fast forward a couple of years, and those joyful sounds of kids at play had turned into the shrill shrieks of children that sounded like someone was being murdered on a regular basis. And I turned into Mr. Wilson. I see a lot of that in pop culture. You grow up and realize that the “mean old person” was right. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607/40 "2025-07-09T13:25:53Z")
The time stamp in _Soylent Green_ haunted me for years. In 2022, I would be 59; too old for the food riots but too young for the thanatorium and cracker factory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-or-date-in-movies-or-songs-where-your-perception-of-that-time-date-has-changed/1020607.md?page=3)