Okay, this has been bothering me for a while now....

[VicVega]

Because this deals totally with movies I dont think it belongs in the Rant forum.

Anyways, I'm sick of directors always being accused of copying Quentin Tarantino and his style of movie making. It seems you can't make a witty movie with catchy dialouge these days without it being a Tarantino ripoff. And the same thing goes with the violence. I mean I dont think QT's movies are that violent, but some people sure think they are. So, with that in mind, you can't make a witty movie WITH violence in it without it being a Tarantino ripoff. Sure, QT did it the best but he certainly didn't invent the style. I don't think the Boondock Saints was a QT ripoff at all. Sure, it did have lots of violence and some cool dialouge, but it doesnt mean that it is copying. Also, the fact that it's told with a non-linear structure. I personally like when movies do this because it maked them more interesting. Did any violent movie that came out after 1974 get accused of copying Dirty Harry? Probably not. I like to write films but I'm scared to write anything "cool" and "witty" because I'll be accused of making yet another Tarantino ripoff.

Don't get me wrong schmoes, QT is my favorite screenwriter/director out there now, but it seems too many young filmmakers are being accused of copying his unique style.

[Beeblebrox]

Don't get me wrong schmoes, QT is my favorite screenwriter/director out there now, but it seems too many young filmmakers are being accused of copying his unique style.

They are being accused because they are, in fact, heavily influenced by Tarantino's style. I was in film school right after Pulp Fiction came out and from then on everything was Tarantino-style.

And you say that Tarantino is your favorite writer-director and that you want to write cool and witty dialogue. Then you are probably going to be influenced by what you've seen in Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. And you're going to be accused of ripping him off. So what if you are?

If you don't want to rip him off, then don't. Do something totally unique. Come up with your own style. Believe me, it's easier said than done.

Paying homage to your influences (filmmaker speak for stealing) is not necessarily a bad thing. This happens whenever a new, hip, or unique style hits it big. Everyone starts trying to emulate it. Just make sure you're contributing your own ideas and that it serves the story.

[BubbaStrangelove]

you are selling Tarrantino short if you believe his movies hold no influence on filmmakers.


I agree that sometimes people use it as a cop-out when they can't think of anyway to describe a movie.



To give you some perspective. I make shorts that are mostly unseen. There have been countless times when I had a concept and was planning on working on it. Then a movie comes out, and has a similar concept, or idea.

I used to typically scapped the idea, knowing that it wouldn't be as impactful.

Now-a-days, I wouldn't do that. I shoot everything, and screw 'em if they say it's a copy. A good flick is a good flick.

Think if car companies were afraid to copy designs - We'd all be driving fords.

It's totally up to the filmmaker who has seen the movies to determine if they are copying it or not.

[freakandgeek]

it also angers me when people say that something is a rip-off. well, in my opinion, every movie has gotten it's style from another movie. i mean, a lot of people say that quentin tarantino isn't original. but what movie is? yeah, there might be a few that are different (the matrix....) but every director probably gets ideas from another movie. its not a rip - off if they tell the same story differently, or they tell a different story in the same way. i think the word "rip off" means if you are trying to be different and saying you are different, but your movie is EXACTLY like someone else's. everyone might "borrow" a few ideas from another director or movie, but they all have their own little style....am i making any sense?

[James Logan]

I'd say it's obvious Tarantino has influenced modern movie-making. That's how you recognize great filmmakers: they weigh on the way movies are made in their era.

[Kastman]

Originally posted by Beeblebrox
Paying homage to your influences (filmmaker speak for stealing) is not necessarily a bad thing. This happens whenever a new, hip, or unique style hits it big. Everyone starts trying to emulate it. Just make sure you're contributing your own ideas and that it serves the story.

This exctly what happened when scream came out and it still hasn't died. But then again most slashers suck big ass dog poopy, but ost crime comedy movies are pretty good.

[notchreturns]

Does anyone else find it funny that people are accused of copying or stealing QT's style of filmmaking and writing when Tarantino, in fact, admittingly said he "stole" or "copied" from Jean-Luc Godard, who was basically doing the same stuff... 25-30 years earlier...

Anyone? Hello? Bueller?...

[Beeblebrox]

Originally posted by notchreturns
Does anyone else find it funny that people are accused of copying or stealing QT's style of filmmaking and writing when Tarantino, in fact, admittingly said he "stole" or "copied" from Jean-Luc Godard, who was basically doing the same stuff... 25-30 years earlier...

They make that accusation because the ones doing the stealing aren't stealing from Godard. They are stealing from Tarantino. They don't care who Tarantino stole it from.

People are also accused of ripping off The Matrix, when the Waschowskis ripped off just about every sci-fi movie that came before them.

And perhaps one of the most stolen from directors, Akira Kurosawa, admitted to stealing from Ford and other Western filmmakers before him.

[BubbaStrangelove]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Beeblebrox
They are being accused because they are, in fact, heavily influenced by Tarantino's style. I was in film school right after Pulp Fiction came out and from then on everything was Tarantino-style.


I second this. At UCF, in the Spring of 95, - not even a full year after Pulp - one of our required readings actually had a section on Tarranino, Rodriquez, and the crop of indies coming out at the time. The guy did have a huge impact, and again, it would be selling him short to say he isn't ripped off.


I will concur that it is annoying when people mistakenly say QT was ripped off.


THEM: Ah that movie is a total Tarrantino rip-off. Naming the people after colors... Come on!

ME: Uh, actually the people are named after colors because this movie is based on a board game called CLUE, and in the name the people were named after colors. ;)

THEM: Yeah, well, I saw this other movie that used the colored name thing too, and there was even a heist!

ME: Are you talking about the Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, and it starred a young Walter Matheau?

THEM: Oh, you saw it?



Granted I'm exaggerating.... isn't that what makes a rant?

[Beeblebrox]

I second this. At UCF, in the Spring of 95,

UCF, as in the U of Central Florida? When did you graduate? I went there from 95 to 97. (this is about to get freaky if we actually know each other, dude)