Fashion/Costumes - While I love seeing designers get to flex their creativity with a good period piece, I also love it when the fashion is either a snapshot of what things truly looked like at the time OR inspire trends OR sometimes a bit of both. I love looking at a John Hughes movie and seeing clothes that really looked like 80s teens vs. the exaggerated stuff you see in so many modern depictions. I loved that feeling when Clueless came out and half of my wardrobe already looked like what Cher and friends were wearing.
Music - Some of my favorite movies became favorites because of their music. Sometimes it's an original score, like some of the iconic music from Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Sometimes it's a nod to an earlier timeframe, like movies set in the 50s and 60s with great singles like Dirty Dancing and The Flamingo Kid. Sometimes it's something like Amadeus that gives you real perspective on the astonishing gift people like Mozart possessed. Even soundtracks that take bits from Carmina Burana or The Planets and makes these classical pieces, which often set the moods, become well known by the masses.
Fun TV Shows - Some of it is cheesy or bad, but I can't help but think of the Harry Potter inspired baking show that's now in its second season. The work these artists make that turn bits of the movies into culinary masterpieces is just a major wow for me.
