MovieChat Forums > Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) Discussion > Whats the point of this 1991 movie being...

Whats the point of this 1991 movie being set in 1996?

posted 14 years ago by jonieblon
10 replies | jump to latest

What cinematic value did this add...except seeing gas prices at circa 2003 levels?
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[–] idn82 14 years ago

You know, I often ask myself the same question. It makes the movie slightly futuristic, I guess. But... why?

Maybe the director/writer thought it was cool to do a buddy action-comedy that is set in the near future?? It's still a strange decision though. :P

[–] Lunchbox-3 13 years ago

Kind of like Strange Days coming out in 1995 or whenever and being set in 1999, a distant future when we would all have digital recording devices that could jack into our brains. Because that could happen in 4 years' time.

[–] RS-Bundy 13 years ago

I don't think anyone could fathom living beyone the millenium back in the 20th century.

If it aint moving, you can eat it!

[–] mikey1969 10 years ago

A: If you can't figure out why Strange Days was set in '99, you must have been very young at the time. Everything was about the new "millennium"(Even though it was actually 200-01). Kind of natural to set a futuristic movie then.

B: If we couldn't have had something to "jack into our brains in only 4 years' time", you also must have been very young in '07, which is when the first iPhone came out(As well as the rest of the smartphones). In 7 years' time, phones have gone from "Why would I need a phone that did that? I have a perfectly good computer." to "Jesus, what do you MEAN I can't get a "dumb" phone for my kid? He doesn't need a "data plan". Just for reference, the iPad debuted in '10.

In other words, you would be amazed how quickly tech sneaks up on us. 4 years is a l-o-n-g time...

[–] TVippy 9 years ago

LOL, iPhone is still an unnecessary toy and it did revolutionize nothing.
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[–] lastironman 12 years ago

Well, I think that it was really about how Harley and Marlboro and their friends were supposed to be sort of the last of a dying breed, but present day 1991 was kinda too soon to portray that as such. '96 may have been too soon for that as well, but whatever...

[–] tyfmorgan 11 years ago

I always assumed it was to set up the new drug "Crystal Dream" being on the streets and the fact that Burbank had become an airport. They just needed it a couple years into the future for that to be possible.

[–] Max06 11 years ago

It's also a lot easier to set the story in the "future" and still be able to use existing cityscapes, vehicles, etc. when the budget is tight.

[–] WarpedRecord 10 years ago

Good point. I think it's an interesting angle, to be slightly futuristic but not to the point of the "Jetsons." The future here is as believable as anything else in this film, which probably isn't saying much.

[–] 9 years ago

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