Which generation is better. Generation 1: James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott. Generation 2: JJ Abrams, Christopher Nolan, Quinten Tarantino, & Coen Brothers
shareObviously the first one. You forgot John Carpenter, George Lucas, and Stanley Kubrick though. The movies from that group will stand the test of time.
shareAlso the Coen Brothers began making movies around the same time as James Cameron, including cult classics such as Blood Simple and Raising Arizona, so they'd probably belong more to the first generation.
Time to make up a new signature.
You made it too easy. A more difficult choice would be between (Generation 1) Scorsese, Coppola, Spielberg, DePalma, Lucas, Carpenter, Ridley Scott, Coen Brothers, Raimi, Cameron
OR
(Generation 2)
Tarantino, Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wachowskis, Nolan, Whedon, Shyamalon, Bryan Singer, Rian Johnson, Kevin Smith
That makes it a tougher choice because the filmmakers in Generation 2 have a stronger personal style. I'd still go with Generation 1.
I'd lump JJ Abrams in with Stephen Sommers, Brett Ratner, and McG as more of a studio hack with no strong personal style or vision, but rather someone who just churns out generic product.
Time to make up a new signature.