A comparison of Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Ringo Lam's City on Fire. Lion's Gate suddenly thinks they owns material in this video. This is protected via Fair Use.
+Vincenzo Migliore It has a very similar plot, but the two are told as stories completely differently. I suggest you actually watch City on Fire as opposed to just going by this video.
No, he fact that you had to insult me just proves that you are a butt hurt Tarantino fanboy. If you had said anything else we might have a mature discussing. But hey, what's the use right?Alan Smithee
To say Tarantino is someone's favorite filmmaker doesn't require much validation. He could easily be the best filmmaker that that person has seen, and there's nothing wrong with that. To say that Tarantino is the greatest filmmaker without having exposed one's self to as many filmmakers as possible is a different story.
You should watch both movies and make a serious comment then... It's hugely based on the story of City on Fire, but what makes reservoir dogs an awesome movie is the way Tarantino tells the story.
Artemio Soto plus the whole aftermath of the robbery section is the very last part of City on Fire while it's basically the whole film for reservoir dogs
He said: "It's a really cool movie. It influenced me a lot. I got some stuff from it." I don't think de denied it as you said. Source: www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-04-14-1995104053-story.html
@@lepetitchat123 that was after 3 years of reporters and other people pestering him about it, man. Come on now.. that's the only reason why he owned up. Even in that quote he is downplaying the influence. When has he ever done a retrospective thanking Ringo Lam for his career? He OWES that to Lam.
It's funny how Tarantino fanboys defend him with arguments like different storys, while Reservoir Dogs copied so much that without City of Fire it would not even exist.
i just learned of this tonight, & it majorly bummed me out. a grey haired Tarantino defending that his movie is a different thing than this. Reservoir Dogs was one of my fave movies & i thought it was an ORIGINAL story by Tarantino. if Tarantino were to say: yes, i ripped it off, & give co-writing credits to whoever wrote City for any future releases of Reservoir Dogs & related media, i would have so much more respect for him than i do right now.
@@bgdlc9591 At some point in the past 12 years they moved this away from whatever I was sarcastically replying to but the reference to a "time machine" should have given you a hint that I was aware of the dates.
You have obviously never seen "City on Fire." It IS the same plot. Tarantino added a cool soundtrack, snappy dialogue and some very solid characters to this. There is absolutely no question he saw this film before making Dogs. This doesn't mean QT is a hack. He's very talented. There just seems to be a trend in his career of using others' work as more of a springboard than is usual. This is probably the most egregious example.
Tarantino is like music artist who gets famous by releasing a cover of a classic song nobody remembers until it's too late... Good job on the comparison, thanx!!!
He has his unique, intense style, and there's no problem if you love his movies for this. Most people just tend to say that Tarantino is their favorite filmmaker, but in fact they don't know anything else.
Gad damn! I'd seen an interview where he'd cited this as an influence (I think it was Sundance where he didn't get shit n was pissed). I'd been putting off watching Lam's earlier work until now. but ffs this just a straight rip smh. Wish I'd seen this earlier lol. Excellent vid 👍👍
I think what bugged most people is that he lifted so many things from ONE movie and at least initially didnt acknowledge it. There are very obvious similarities between the two movies, anyone can see that. To deny it is foolish or just plain dumb however there is no denying that QT is an incredibly talented filmmaker. What is key with regard to Tarantino is that although he lifts stuff from other sources his own movies, at least his early ones, were always better than the stuff he was taking from so imo you would have to say fair play.
Yeah, if the guy simply said the film was based on the film City on Fire, no problem. Instead he plagiarized City on Fire and called it Reservior Dogs. No class, and probably illegal.
Mike White Michael Bay's 2001 would end with Hal transforming into a killer robot and Dave setting off the self destruct sequence, then jetting away from the Discovery just ahead of a huge explosion, before entering the stargate to find it full of scantily clad alien babes.
I am a HUGE fan of QT, but he let me down here. I understand he uses tiny things from all movies ever, but what he did with Reservoir Dogs was blatant theft. I didn't lose any love for the movie, but I lost nearly all my respect for it. Some of my favorite scenes were copied straight from City of Fire.
Same with me. Reservoir Dogs is my favourite Tarantino film but I hate the fact that he's just taken the plot of this movie and made tweaks to it, and that he hoped no one will notice.
No it wasn't. Have you even watched City on Fire? You should btw it's actually so much better than Reservoir Dogs. But no. Some scenes look alike but they don't even carry the same meaning or the same tension
See, I love Edgar Allen Poe. I feel so much inspiration, I'm going to write my own poetry. First one will be "The Hole and the Pendulum." Much different from the Pit and the Pendulum. Next will be, "The Crow." It's not plagiarism, it's inspiration.
Quentin Tarintino has been a fan of these sorts of films for years, long before he started directing. I have no doubt that figured since this was an Asian cinema flick, most Americans wouldn't notice. There's no way in hell you can ignore the blaring similarities. Watch both flicks in a row, you'll be like, wow. However, I love Tarintino flicks. I can't wait to see the Hateful Eight
+wakemore27 I agree most Americans likely haven't seen it before Reservoir Dogs was connected to it. I think if anything he gave the movie a very new audience. Hell he credits one of the actors in City On Fire in the original script if I'm not mistaken.
It looked familiar. Had been hearing so many times about Reservoirshit, and finally decided to watch it, just to find out that it's a copy of an original movie "City on Fire". My friends still consider Tarantino "original"! God!!!
If you have seen both films, I think it would be very strange if you didn't see how Tarantino borrowed from City on Fire. 1. It focuses on an undercover cop who infiltrates a group of jewell thieves 2. The undercover cop develops a friendship/bond with a more experienced thief, who mentors him 3. The undercover cop is shot in the stomach in the aftermath of the robbery 4. The mentor sticks up for the cop when he is being accused of being a cop 5. The mentor gets into a mexican standoff with his guns aimed at the boss, another criminal aims his gun at him 6. The mentor kills two cops as they drive up in a cop car in the robbery aftermath - shooting multiple rounds into the windscreen with two pistols in each hand 7. In the aftermath of the robbery, the undercover cop kills an innocent person - and is shot by that same innocent person 8. One criminal shoots people in the jewellery store - triggered by someone setting of the alarm 9. The undercover cop confesses that he is a cop to the mentor. The mentor then aims his gun at the undercover cop as a swarm of cops raid their hideout I think Reservoir Dogs is a fucking amazing film. City on Fire had really strong aspects, but overall I prefer Reservoir Dogs. They are also very different films even on a story level. But there is no denying the influence/inspiration. My feeling is that Tarantino saw this film and re-imagined it.
thesatanic6 vollsticks Are you trying to say "Good artists copy, great artists steal"? I believe that's the quote you're reaching for there. That is commonly attributed to Picasso but that's up for debate. Year earlier TS Eliot wrote " Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; " Meanwhile,, Milton's stance on plagiarism is "For such kind of borrowing as this, if it be not bettered by the borrower, among good authors is accounted Plagiarè." I would say that Tarantino definitely "bettered" City on Fire but as to the debate whether he plagiarized or not should be moot. He clearly saw elements he liked and recycled them for his own work. I would have had no problem with this had he been up front about it but he tried to obfuscate and deny his source(s).
The chinese make pretty good movies too.Chinese movies aren't that popular though only in parts of Asia. The departed was also adopted from chinese movie called "Infernal affairs"
@@michelleyang1581 Fake 'Michelle' (why do u hate your Chinese name? :))) Is that why you chinese need a VISA to enter Hong Kong from China? Then u get just a ONE WEEK visa, and u leave, yay! Dont claim Hong Kong and China are the same as that exposes your stunning ignorance. Lol
"but mostly it recalled Ringo Lam's LESS THAN SPECTACULAR 1987 film CITY ON FIRE" from wikipedia: City on Fire is Ringo Lam's most celebrated work. The film has been critically acclaimed, holding a 91% "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
Rotten Tomatoes deletes/alters viewers posts on their site on a regular basis. Nothing on that site can be trusted. It is no longer an accurate source. The culture war ruined it, like it has so many other things.
"The difference between what The Departed did and what Tarantino did is that the makers of the Departed actually bought the rights to the film and admitted that it was a remake, whereas Tarantino just outright stole "City on Fire"." That's it, that's it right there. Well said.
I know I'm 14 years late, I've only now found out about this whole debate But anyway Qt has admitted to taking a few scenes from city on fire, but other then that Resvior dogs is still a different movie, And yeah, there are similar scenes, I don’t think it's enough to call "Resvior Dogs" a rip off But then again I've never seen city on fire, so I can't say much
@@smiechu47 sure, in the sense it involves an undercover cop, amongst a group of theives trying to figure out who he is, and there are a couple scenes that look similar, but that's it Just because something looks similar or has a similar plot that doesn't mean it's the same
@@whyhowwhen7043 but in this case it has same plot, though city on fire is more thriller and action while reservoir dogs is just drama. Having same plot and one to one script and scene in some case is no coincidence. Its basically a remake without owing the right. If they sued him he would have lost easily.
It's hilarious how fanboys will do all sorts of mental gymnastics to justify this blatant, transparent plagiarism. People are so dumb. Like animals. Makes me feel great about myself.
@mrderrickmcguinty The Idea with time Travelling Cyborgs came from another OL episode 'Demon with a Glass Hand' , and the Idea of a computer AI becoming self aware and destroying humanity is from his short Story ' I Have no mouth and I must Scream'
Ok, so it now makes sense why Tarantino didn't show the heist. It wasn't exactly some clever non linear storytelling trick. He had to in order to avoid making a totally 1:1 remake.
LOL no, why would he crib so much from city of fire but choose to leave that one specific thing out? The fact is the editing and the cinematography is what makes them distinct from each other.
Mike White Tarantino has always said he bases his movies on other films. You have to be stupid if you think Reservoir dogs is a remake, a lift or a plagiarism of City on Fire. It's based on it but, seriously, it has nothing to do.
Artemio Soto nothing to do................ did you stop your sentence half way through because you realised the fallacy in your argument as you were typing?
Just remember: when anyone else does it, it's Plagiarism but when Tarrantino does it it's Homage. That's the be-all and end-all of all QT fanboy arguments.
Akira Kurosawa borrowed heavily from John Ford, who was an idol of his, when he made one of the greatest films of all time, The Seven Samurai. John Sturges then made The Seven Samurai into The Magnificent Seven, and Eiichi Kudo lifted the final battle for his 13 Assassins from which was recently remade by Takashi Miike. All of these movies are great in their own way. Each tells the same story, but in a completely different style. Kurosawa went on to make Yojimbo which was turned into A Fistful of Dollars by Sergio Leone, and The Hidden Fortress which George Lucas borrowed heavily from for Star Wars. Every time an american action star goes flying through the air sideways blasting two guns, that's lifted directly from John Woo's Hard Boiled whether they know it or not. Film makers have been lifting types of shots, archetypal characters, stories, and even whole plot lines from their peers and idols since the invention of the medium. If you think this is wrong, you are welcome to your opinion, but don't think for a second it's an isolated incident.
Kurosawa took his inspiration and put his own spin on it. He made it his. Tarantino copies Asian cinema's scenes shot-for-shot, puts white actors in it, and calls it a "homage".
Whatever you gotta say to make you feel better about your horrible taste. Every time a fanboy is triggered he has to conflate influence and borrows with plagiarism.
"HE just sampled city on fire, just like rap artis do when they sample somones song. Tarrintino just took the plot of one movie, changed the diaologe, chaged plot points, the actors, and made a better movie." You're right. QT's as original as Diddy and Oasis.
@@deedumeday518 the word could have had a different meaning : taking some part of a song with the agreement of its writer, clearly saying that it was an inspiration/that the new song comports some part of the other song (when the new song is released, not after everybody discovered that it was plagiarism), that could work. But fanboys and fangirls made the word lose his meaning, it's not sampling if the plagiarist didn't acknowledge it, it's simply plagiarism, stealing.
It never ceases to amaze me how the Tarantino fan boys can defend his plagiarism and call it homage or inspiration. It's one thing to borrow a few ideas or concepts. But that's not what he does. He straight up steals plots and scenes. He's an untalented hack and a criminal. FYI people, copyright infringement is illegal.
@Sheepy007 so he wrote a story about a cyborg sent back in time to kill the future mother of leader of uprising against machines. what is novel called?, I would like to read it.
"Tarantino is a brilliant director whose personality and cinematic presence is unique and charismatic." A guy who punches a critic and bad-mouths Chow Yun Fat's English is charismatic? "The bits and pieces he steals from all those obscure films...?" So it's ok for Michael Bay to rip off Clonus, too? "In every instance he makes them his own." Except for times when most people can tell that they're other films, which is about every time.
Wasn't aware of this one to be honest. I heard about the "rip off" by Tarantino in 'Hateful 8' of the tv show 'The Rebel' (episode 25, 'Fair Game'), wich is also pretty much the same in all aspects but the end, and it lead me here after a while. Mike White, feel free to do one of these on 'Hateful 8' and 'The Rebel - Fair Game' so that credit goes where due. I have no problem with gettin influence, but give credit where due and don't ripp other people off just because you're a bigger name. Just lost a lot of respect for Tarantino after these two "rip offs" since he apparently claimed he didn't know of (at least one) of the works.
+Silver Wolfer 21 His original script actually mentions one of City Of Fire's actors as a inspiration of the movie. He didn't edit it however so I assume the editor just forgot to put the names at the start of the film not knowing their importance. I feel Tarantino is smart in his film making. I agree some of his shots are shot for shot and sketchy at times but they're used so different in context making it it's own movie. I don't think he'll deny the influence these elements of work had on his film. He's a big movie buff and credits lots of works in interviews as influences or inspirations of his movies. I know for a fact he saw this movie before Reservoir Dogs but he told the tale very differently. Elements were changed, symbols were added, characters were altered. Everything has already been done essential. His works uses language, references and connections that only he would put into a film. His dialog is very him. I'm not gonna defends him to the core on everything but he's even admitted he's very into sampling of other works to make new works. He doesn't hide it and isn't very ashamed of it.
In Hatefull 8 also he ''Borrowed'' a great lot of the cinematography(and plot devices too), from a Italian film named the Great Silence . Speed watch it and see if you can pin point the...''homage'' parts.
Reservoir dogs is a great film, but it is a remake, just like The Departed is a great film, but it also is a remake. The same story, but told by different perspectives. I was a huge fan of Tarantino when Inglorious Bastards came out, I was obscessed with his movies, but then I discovered a whole new world of filmmakers and studios that were doing what he is doing way befero him (before he was born, btw). Of course, discovering that he is not that original or that his films are not groundbreaking, best of all times and don't have deep meanings beyoung the entertaiment is a little frustating, but my opinion is that art don't serve any purpose, it musn't have a meaning, meanings are just consequences and Tarantino's films are pure art, the don't have meaning, they serve no purpose, they just exist to be admired by us. So it's no shame to say that the "originals" are better (because they are, city on fire was groundbreaking, just like Police Story and Fist Fury were before it), we just have to stop to see Tarantino as a film god, or something like that. The sooner you accept it, the better.
I'll be honest, I don't have a problem with it. City on Fire is a great movie; Reservoir Dogs is a great movie. They both bring their own thing to the table and they're both worth watching, although for different reasons.
+Dennis Bauer But Kurosawa has been known for borrowing ideas from European and American cinema, photography and literature. Everyone's art is inspired or influenced by the brush strokes of others. More people have seen Lamb's work cause of this film and others cause of movies like star wars and the dollar westerns. The secret is have as many influences as possible.
+Joe A. Verage You call giving special thanks at the closing credits denial? He thanks Chow yun Fat, John Whoo and Ringo Lam and Ringo Lam has praised Tarantino's work. Would you have seen this movie unless someone told you it was what inspired Reservoir Dogs? If he did it was more than likely Wienstien's speaking for him in the early 90's.
@Sheepy007 those are small touches, like Scorsese's influences on Raging Bull and Taxi Driver. their work was still original, Tarantino is a collage artist. he samples numerous things and sticks it all together into big picture.
being influenced by someone´s work and plagiarize someo´s work is something very diferent..I like Tarantino but I think sometimes he makes fun of the audience
...as a writer myself I'm incredibly "sore" about people stealing other peoples work. It's happened to me before. A lot of work and creativeity (for most people) goes into writing, and creating a film. And then some prick with a big ego comes along and thinks he can take someone elses work, call it his own, and profit from it?
@mrderrickmcguinty It took it's ideas mostly from the script of 'Soldier', an episode for an old SciFi tv series called 'the outer Limits' he wrote. It's about 2 enemy soldiers who get hurled in a time vortex on the battlefield. One is sent to (then) present day, gets captured and interrogated by the police and nobody believes his Time travel story. The other one Materializes later, hunts down the first soldier and tries to kill him.
How does the 30% difference statute have anything to do with quality as I mentioned? I'm just saying that just because the original product wasn't of as high quality, that doesn't give someone the right to steal it just because they make it "better" As for music, I don't think borrowing another bands "sound" constitutes plagiarism. Stealing music and lyrics would. Not stylistic inspiration however. This guy below seems to think Nirvana stole from people.
Or not. It could mean that the Bride's speech to Vernita's daughter goes from a very formal apology to a girl too young to understand, to a very pulpy statement that Nikki can seek revenge at a later date. The contrast is an excellently written stylistic device. As far as character goes, Budd is clearly consumed by guilt over his past - but in the end, his own desires for survival and want win out, mirroring his brother's reaction to Beatrice. I'd get into more detail, but I've not got space.
The heist on the jewelry store goes bad thanks to a police mole who gets shot while trying to make the getaway to their safehouse. The principal characters then have a mexican standoff in the safehouse over weather or not the cop is actually a cop. The police arrive and the cop reveals his identity after the standoff has been resolved. The car crash during the getaway is also a direct cribbing from the plot of City on Fire.
Guys I understand defending reservoir dogs but CLEARLY city on fire is the exact same story. It's fine, but don't say these two movies aren't the same
+Vincenzo Migliore It has a very similar plot, but the two are told as stories completely differently. I suggest you actually watch City on Fire as opposed to just going by this video.
+Alan Smithee Butthurt Tarantino fanboy spotted
Relf Cepter Ignorant, childish Tarantino hater spotted.
Alan Smithee
Hahaha, no not at all kid. The need for you to insult me just proves my point.
No, he fact that you had to insult me just proves that you are a butt hurt Tarantino fanboy. If you had said anything else we might have a mature discussing. But hey, what's the use right?Alan Smithee
Man I object to the claim that City on Fire was "less-than-spectacular." It's a great movie.
It’s amazing. One of my favourites (even more than Reservoir Dogs, but I love that too)
"They've killed Bill!" Tarantino sits back in his chair ruefully and thinks, "Hmmm... killed Bill? There's got to be a story in there somewhere..."
He made "Kill Bill"?
@@kushalchowdhury9244 Yup.
"they killed bill!" -look like he took even more from this movie than first suspected.
"Just think about it like it's a joke, alright? You memorize what's important, the rest you make your own, alright?"
is that from reservoir dogs?
Paul Kennedy
Yea, in the cafeteria
The only thing that I have a problem with is the whole, "less than spectacular city on fire film" thing.
Ikr. City On Fire is such an amazing piece of cinema
True that. City on Fire is an absolute masterpiece
To say Tarantino is someone's favorite filmmaker doesn't require much validation. He could easily be the best filmmaker that that person has seen, and there's nothing wrong with that. To say that Tarantino is the greatest filmmaker without having exposed one's self to as many filmmakers as possible is a different story.
Quentin Tarantino is the original master of copy and paste.
You should watch both movies and make a serious comment then... It's hugely based on the story of City on Fire, but what makes reservoir dogs an awesome movie is the way Tarantino tells the story.
Artemio Soto
plus the whole aftermath of the robbery section is the very last part of City on Fire while it's basically the whole film for reservoir dogs
Artemio Soto fuck off tarantino shitfan
Eso Teric You fuck off hater. Q is one of the all time greats if you can't see that you don't know what the hell you're talking about
Can you tell me which movie was that?
"I loved CITY ON FIRE, I got the poster framed in my house, so it's a great movie."
- Film Threat, Issue 18, pg. 23.
Tarantino is a very clever guy, he rip offs from movies that no one knows about.
Even more damning.
Yeah no. People know about City on Fire.
@@AG1EnderDemon Not in 1992
The guy who made this lost credibility and respect when he described city on fire as “less than spectacular”
QUENTIN TARANTINO HAS ALL THE CREATIVITY OF A GUY WHO WATCHED A MOVIE! LMAO
Then why can't anyone make it like him?
@@guptageneralstores5243 because not everyone have a friend who knows a guy who knows another guy...
@@miguelvidal2335 The guy sold videos in a store. He did not had a lot of connection to begin with
Main point is he DENIED even seeing city on fire and he copied EXACT shots of city on fire.
This! I also remember him denying it. There is no way in remote hell that he did not see it.
He said: "It's a really cool movie. It influenced me a lot. I got some stuff from it." I don't think de denied it as you said. Source: www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-04-14-1995104053-story.html
@@lepetitchat123 that was after 3 years of reporters and other people pestering him about it, man. Come on now.. that's the only reason why he owned up. Even in that quote he is downplaying the influence.
When has he ever done a retrospective thanking Ringo Lam for his career? He OWES that to Lam.
@erock755 yep. And Woo's A Better Tomorrow 2
Clearly a copy
It's funny how Tarantino fanboys defend him with arguments like different storys, while Reservoir Dogs copied so much that without City of Fire it would not even exist.
Yeah it was clearly copied he said he watch this video multiple times a video archives
There are fanboys like me who doesn't defend him. But we still like it.
Less than spectacular? What's that supposed to mean? City on Fire is great
I think it means that the movie didn't impress me.
Mike White I don't care about the delivery guy. They sound like pygmies pretending to be LA cops.
YOYOdaMOOSE Like you saw the movie.. you probably tried to download it online after watching this. lol
Little Timmy
lol yes i watched the whole movie, like tons of people it's very easy to find
Years later this is still correct and the Tarantino fanboys are still delusional
i just learned of this tonight, & it majorly bummed me out. a grey haired Tarantino defending that his movie is a different thing than this. Reservoir Dogs was one of my fave movies & i thought it was an ORIGINAL story by Tarantino. if Tarantino were to say: yes, i ripped it off, & give co-writing credits to whoever wrote City for any future releases of Reservoir Dogs & related media, i would have so much more respect for him than i do right now.
Yes, Ringo Lam actually traveled back in time to make Quentin Tarantino's movie before he could.
?
City on Fire: 1987
Reservoir Dogs: 1992
@@bgdlc9591 At some point in the past 12 years they moved this away from whatever I was sarcastically replying to but the reference to a "time machine" should have given you a hint that I was aware of the dates.
Did they say they ‘killed Bill’????? Wow
He even took Kill Bill from this film... What a Rip off Artist
"Less than spectacular?"
You have no taste in movies if your prefer Quentin Tarantino to Ringo Lam. Hope this helps.
You have obviously never seen "City on Fire." It IS the same plot. Tarantino added a cool soundtrack, snappy dialogue and some very solid characters to this. There is absolutely no question he saw this film before making Dogs. This doesn't mean QT is a hack. He's very talented. There just seems to be a trend in his career of using others' work as more of a springboard than is usual. This is probably the most egregious example.
As the great painter Picasso said, 'Good artists copy, great artists steal.'
He is a very talented hack
And Tarantino cleverly cut the whole heist scene.
@@_stone_age4673 People use this quote a lot but many don't realize Picasso's intent behind it
Same storyline- but, Tarantino version, delivery and direction is 100 times better.
Tarantino is like music artist who gets famous by releasing a cover of a classic song nobody remembers until it's too late... Good job on the comparison, thanx!!!
Reservoir Dogs = Johnny Cash's "Hurt"
He has his unique, intense style, and there's no problem if you love his movies for this. Most people just tend to say that Tarantino is their favorite filmmaker, but in fact they don't know anything else.
Thanks for posting that!
Nice comparison compilation. 🙂 Good effort.
Gad damn! I'd seen an interview where he'd cited this as an influence (I think it was Sundance where he didn't get shit n was pissed). I'd been putting off watching Lam's earlier work until now. but ffs this just a straight rip smh. Wish I'd seen this earlier lol. Excellent vid 👍👍
It really isn’t much of a rip off though, they are still done vastly different than each other.
3:01 -- something else he used!
wow nicely spotted LOL
Oh, _dang!_ I wonder if that's just a coincidence, though.
@@WailFin LOL
I think what bugged most people is that he lifted so many things from ONE movie and at least initially didnt acknowledge it. There are very obvious similarities between the two movies, anyone can see that. To deny it is foolish or just plain dumb however there is no denying that QT is an incredibly talented filmmaker. What is key with regard to Tarantino is that although he lifts stuff from other sources his own movies, at least his early ones, were always better than the stuff he was taking from so imo you would have to say fair play.
Yeah, if the guy simply said the film was based on the film City on Fire, no problem. Instead he plagiarized City on Fire and called it Reservior Dogs. No class, and probably illegal.
Ninety-six people are still Shia LaBeouf fans.
*****
I like the idea of a time-traveling Michael Bay making "classic" films before other filmmakers do.
Mike White
Michael Bay's 2001 would end with Hal transforming into a killer robot and Dave setting off the self destruct sequence, then jetting away from the Discovery just ahead of a huge explosion, before entering the stargate to find it full of scantily clad alien babes.
I am a HUGE fan of QT, but he let me down here. I understand he uses tiny things from all movies ever, but what he did with Reservoir Dogs was blatant theft. I didn't lose any love for the movie, but I lost nearly all my respect for it. Some of my favorite scenes were copied straight from City of Fire.
Same with me. Reservoir Dogs is my favourite Tarantino film but I hate the fact that he's just taken the plot of this movie and made tweaks to it, and that he hoped no one will notice.
No it wasn't. Have you even watched City on Fire?
You should btw it's actually so much better than Reservoir Dogs.
But no. Some scenes look alike but they don't even carry the same meaning or the same tension
See, I love Edgar Allen Poe. I feel so much inspiration, I'm going to write my own poetry. First one will be "The Hole and the Pendulum." Much different from the Pit and the Pendulum. Next will be, "The Crow." It's not plagiarism, it's inspiration.
XD
Quentin Tarintino has been a fan of these sorts of films for years, long before he started directing. I have no doubt that figured since this was an Asian cinema flick, most Americans wouldn't notice. There's no way in hell you can ignore the blaring similarities. Watch both flicks in a row, you'll be like, wow.
However, I love Tarintino flicks. I can't wait to see the Hateful Eight
+wakemore27 I agree most Americans likely haven't seen it before Reservoir Dogs was connected to it. I think if anything he gave the movie a very new audience. Hell he credits one of the actors in City On Fire in the original script if I'm not mistaken.
Jordan WuWu
I blame Miramax
The Weinsteins are pricks.
It looked familiar. Had been hearing so many times about Reservoirshit, and finally decided to watch it, just to find out that it's a copy of an original movie "City on Fire". My friends still consider Tarantino "original"! God!!!
i love when he sampling BUT in this case seems he sampled a little bit too much :)
If you have seen both films, I think it would be very strange if you didn't see how Tarantino borrowed from City on Fire.
1. It focuses on an undercover cop who infiltrates a group of jewell thieves
2. The undercover cop develops a friendship/bond with a more experienced thief, who mentors him
3. The undercover cop is shot in the stomach in the aftermath of the robbery
4. The mentor sticks up for the cop when he is being accused of being a cop
5. The mentor gets into a mexican standoff with his guns aimed at the boss, another criminal aims his gun at him
6. The mentor kills two cops as they drive up in a cop car in the robbery aftermath - shooting multiple rounds into the windscreen with two pistols in each hand
7. In the aftermath of the robbery, the undercover cop kills an innocent person - and is shot by that same innocent person
8. One criminal shoots people in the jewellery store - triggered by someone setting of the alarm
9. The undercover cop confesses that he is a cop to the mentor. The mentor then aims his gun at the undercover cop as a swarm of cops raid their hideout
I think Reservoir Dogs is a fucking amazing film. City on Fire had really strong aspects, but overall I prefer Reservoir Dogs. They are also very different films even on a story level. But there is no denying the influence/inspiration. My feeling is that Tarantino saw this film and re-imagined it.
thesatanic6 "Bad artists borrow, good artists steal" i.e what they take they make their own.
No, I didn't.
thesatanic6 You're totally misunderstanding the quote. I'm not going to explain it again.
Okay. Blame Pablo Picasso.
thesatanic6 vollsticks Are you trying to say "Good artists copy, great artists steal"? I believe that's the quote you're reaching for there. That is commonly attributed to Picasso but that's up for debate. Year earlier TS Eliot wrote " Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; " Meanwhile,, Milton's stance on plagiarism is "For such kind of borrowing as this, if it be not bettered by the borrower, among good authors is accounted Plagiarè." I would say that Tarantino definitely "bettered" City on Fire but as to the debate whether he plagiarized or not should be moot. He clearly saw elements he liked and recycled them for his own work. I would have had no problem with this had he been up front about it but he tried to obfuscate and deny his source(s).
The chinese make pretty good movies too.Chinese movies aren't that popular though only in parts of Asia. The departed was also adopted from chinese movie called "Infernal affairs"
@Brocialist Party of America he never once said that,or was asked about it.
@Akhil Hong Kong films are Chinese films. They're made by ethnic Chinese people, who live in China.
@@darisfilmsdirect4038 he actually admitted it tbh
@@beekenko2379 no he didnt,and if he did give me the source.
@@michelleyang1581
Fake 'Michelle' (why do u hate your Chinese name? :))) Is that why you chinese need a VISA to enter Hong Kong from China? Then u get just a ONE WEEK visa, and u leave, yay!
Dont claim Hong Kong and China are the same as that exposes your stunning ignorance. Lol
I'm not concerned if a scene is stolen here and there, but when the whole story is rip-offed it's obvious that the guy writing the story is a thief.
"but mostly it recalled Ringo Lam's LESS THAN SPECTACULAR 1987 film CITY ON FIRE"
from wikipedia: City on Fire is Ringo Lam's most celebrated work. The film has been critically acclaimed, holding a 91% "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
The Ghostbusters (2016) was also certified "fresh" 74% on rotten tomatoes XD
@@fishingforpisces yeah by RT reviewers not the public reviewrs
Rotten Tomatoes deletes/alters viewers posts on their site on a regular basis. Nothing on that site can be trusted. It is no longer an accurate source. The culture war ruined it, like it has so many other things.
Tarantino said he used to watch a lot of asian movies when he worked at blockbuster.
"The difference between what The Departed did and what Tarantino did is that the makers of the Departed actually bought the rights to the film and admitted that it was a remake, whereas Tarantino just outright stole "City on Fire"."
That's it, that's it right there. Well said.
I know I'm 14 years late, I've only now found out about this whole debate
But anyway
Qt has admitted to taking a few scenes from city on fire, but other then that Resvior dogs is still a different movie,
And yeah, there are similar scenes, I don’t think it's enough to call "Resvior Dogs" a rip off
But then again I've never seen city on fire, so I can't say much
@@whyhowwhen7043 It's literally the same story arc.
@@smiechu47 sure, in the sense it involves an undercover cop, amongst a group of theives trying to figure out who he is, and there are a couple scenes that look similar, but that's it
Just because something looks similar or has a similar plot that doesn't mean it's the same
@@whyhowwhen7043 but in this case it has same plot, though city on fire is more thriller and action while reservoir dogs is just drama. Having same plot and one to one script and scene in some case is no coincidence. Its basically a remake without owing the right. If they sued him he would have lost easily.
It's hilarious how fanboys will do all sorts of mental gymnastics to justify this blatant, transparent plagiarism. People are so dumb. Like animals. Makes me feel great about myself.
Fanboys of every artist (Tarantino is a controversial one, though.) are dumb...
However, R is rated higher than C in China... for reasons unknown...
I like Tarantino movies but I am not apologetic for his scummy behavior.
@@lepetitchat123 Same. Reservoir Dogs is my favourite Tarantino film but I can quite clearly see the blatant plagiarism in this video.
@mrderrickmcguinty The Idea with time Travelling Cyborgs came from another OL episode 'Demon with a Glass Hand' , and the Idea of a computer AI becoming self aware and destroying humanity is from his short Story ' I Have no mouth and I must Scream'
So few people know about this, thanks UA-cam and thanks to the poster/maker for this video...glad that this is finally out of the bag now.
@impossiblefunky i had a question is the todd phillips that you have problems with the same person who directed the hangover films?
Well if I hadn't seen reservoir dogs, I wouldn't have been known with City of Fire either xD
Ok, so it now makes sense why Tarantino didn't show the heist. It wasn't exactly some clever non linear storytelling trick. He had to in order to avoid making a totally 1:1 remake.
LOL no, why would he crib so much from city of fire but choose to leave that one specific thing out? The fact is the editing and the cinematography is what makes them distinct from each other.
So Quentin himself is a thief just like Mr. Brown, huh?
hey, the Departed won 4 oscars copying a superior chinese movie - but nobody mentioned that either.
yes, but that was an acknowledged remake, not a lift.
Mike White Tarantino has always said he bases his movies on other films. You have to be stupid if you think Reservoir dogs is a remake, a lift or a plagiarism of City on Fire. It's based on it but, seriously, it has nothing to do.
Artemio Soto nothing to do................
did you stop your sentence half way through because you realised the fallacy in your argument as you were typing?
+Miles Geary true.. he should have payed homage to it. i think its greedy to claim it as your own when it isnt
First time I read this. Which movie is it?
Just remember: when anyone else does it, it's Plagiarism but when Tarrantino does it it's Homage.
That's the be-all and end-all of all QT fanboy arguments.
Akira Kurosawa borrowed heavily from John Ford, who was an idol of his, when he made one of the greatest films of all time, The Seven Samurai. John Sturges then made The Seven Samurai into The Magnificent Seven, and Eiichi Kudo lifted the final battle for his 13 Assassins from which was recently remade by Takashi Miike. All of these movies are great in their own way. Each tells the same story, but in a completely different style. Kurosawa went on to make Yojimbo which was turned into A Fistful of Dollars by Sergio Leone, and The Hidden Fortress which George Lucas borrowed heavily from for Star Wars. Every time an american action star goes flying through the air sideways blasting two guns, that's lifted directly from John Woo's Hard Boiled whether they know it or not. Film makers have been lifting types of shots, archetypal characters, stories, and even whole plot lines from their peers and idols since the invention of the medium. If you think this is wrong, you are welcome to your opinion, but don't think for a second it's an isolated incident.
Plagiarism is a natural part of creation. Ripping off a whole plot line is not.
Kurosawa took his inspiration and put his own spin on it. He made it his.
Tarantino copies Asian cinema's scenes shot-for-shot, puts white actors in it, and calls it a "homage".
Whatever you gotta say to make you feel better about your horrible taste. Every time a fanboy is triggered he has to conflate influence and borrows with plagiarism.
@@iangoodman2228 That just proves you ain't seen City on Fire
"HE just sampled city on fire, just like rap artis do when they sample somones song. Tarrintino just took the plot of one movie, changed the diaologe, chaged plot points, the actors, and made a better movie."
You're right. QT's as original as Diddy and Oasis.
Yeah, you know what another word for "sampling" is? Plagiarism. Plain and simple.
Sampling is in this case a euphemism for plagiarism.
@@deedumeday518 the word could have had a different meaning : taking some part of a song with the agreement of its writer, clearly saying that it was an inspiration/that the new song comports some part of the other song (when the new song is released, not after everybody discovered that it was plagiarism), that could work. But fanboys and fangirls made the word lose his meaning, it's not sampling if the plagiarist didn't acknowledge it, it's simply plagiarism, stealing.
@@01What10 He samples. He interpolates as well.
ps: if RD is your 2nd favorite film, whats your favorite one?
No matter what,what's a better movie? City on fire or reservoir dogs?
I liked city on fire more, but reservoir dogs is a good movie
The way the Tarantino fanboys defend him even with all the evidence is pathetic.
It never ceases to amaze me how the Tarantino fan boys can defend his plagiarism and call it homage or inspiration. It's one thing to borrow a few ideas or concepts. But that's not what he does. He straight up steals plots and scenes. He's an untalented hack and a criminal. FYI people, copyright infringement is illegal.
@Sheepy007
so he wrote a story about a cyborg sent back in time to kill the future mother of leader of uprising against machines. what is novel called?, I would like to read it.
Wasn't Inception based on an Uncle Scrooge comic book?
I have no idea. Need to look into that. I've also heard that a Darkwing Duck episode was very similar to Inception also.
If crime doesn't pay, then neither should plagiarism... Tarantino, LaBeouf.. I'm lookin' at you two..
"Tarantino is a brilliant director whose personality and cinematic presence is unique and charismatic."
A guy who punches a critic and bad-mouths Chow Yun Fat's English is charismatic?
"The bits and pieces he steals from all those obscure films...?"
So it's ok for Michael Bay to rip off Clonus, too?
"In every instance he makes them his own."
Except for times when most people can tell that they're other films, which is about every time.
did you record the narration through a fridge?
Bullshit, fanboy. The plots are identical and the stand-off at the end is a shot for shot duplication.
This but with "First Reformed" and "Winter Light".
Tarantino must have 63 different youtube accounts...
Wasn't aware of this one to be honest. I heard about the "rip off" by Tarantino in 'Hateful 8' of the tv show 'The Rebel' (episode 25, 'Fair Game'), wich is also pretty much the same in all aspects but the end, and it lead me here after a while.
Mike White, feel free to do one of these on 'Hateful 8' and 'The Rebel - Fair Game' so that credit goes where due.
I have no problem with gettin influence, but give credit where due and don't ripp other people off just because you're a bigger name. Just lost a lot of respect for Tarantino after these two "rip offs" since he apparently claimed he didn't know of (at least one) of the works.
+Silver Wolfer 21 His original script actually mentions one of City Of Fire's actors as a inspiration of the movie. He didn't edit it however so I assume the editor just forgot to put the names at the start of the film not knowing their importance. I feel Tarantino is smart in his film making. I agree some of his shots are shot for shot and sketchy at times but they're used so different in context making it it's own movie. I don't think he'll deny the influence these elements of work had on his film. He's a big movie buff and credits lots of works in interviews as influences or inspirations of his movies. I know for a fact he saw this movie before Reservoir Dogs but he told the tale very differently. Elements were changed, symbols were added, characters were altered. Everything has already been done essential. His works uses language, references and connections that only he would put into a film. His dialog is very him. I'm not gonna defends him to the core on everything but he's even admitted he's very into sampling of other works to make new works. He doesn't hide it and isn't very ashamed of it.
In Hatefull 8 also he ''Borrowed'' a great lot of the cinematography(and plot devices too), from a Italian film named the Great Silence . Speed watch it and see if you can pin point the...''homage'' parts.
Reservoir dogs is a great film, but it is a remake, just like The Departed is a great film, but it also is a remake. The same story, but told by different perspectives. I was a huge fan of Tarantino when Inglorious Bastards came out, I was obscessed with his movies, but then I discovered a whole new world of filmmakers and studios that were doing what he is doing way befero him (before he was born, btw). Of course, discovering that he is not that original or that his films are not groundbreaking, best of all times and don't have deep meanings beyoung the entertaiment is a little frustating, but my opinion is that art don't serve any purpose, it musn't have a meaning, meanings are just consequences and Tarantino's films are pure art, the don't have meaning, they serve no purpose, they just exist to be admired by us. So it's no shame to say that the "originals" are better (because they are, city on fire was groundbreaking, just like Police Story and Fist Fury were before it), we just have to stop to see Tarantino as a film god, or something like that. The sooner you accept it, the better.
+Felipe Lisboa The nice thing is that Scorsese made The Departed as a remake. He never tried to say that it wasn't.
Mike White
yes, that's why I respect Scorsese more than Tarantino.
:)
@mrderrickmcguinty Are you referring to my Cameron comment or one of my Tarantino comments?
Tarantino is an absolute clown
I'll be honest, I don't have a problem with it. City on Fire is a great movie; Reservoir Dogs is a great movie. They both bring their own thing to the table and they're both worth watching, although for different reasons.
Check and mate. Well done sir, now I have to go find a City on Fire poster to out hipster my hipster friends.
I don't think I have to to determine that the vast majority of both movies are not contained within this 10 minute UA-cam video.
Akira Kurosawa must be pissed then his films have been retold by different directors in different settings in different styles many times
+Dennis Bauer I don't think he's too mad as he's dead.
You must be terrible shots you're missing the point by a mile
+Dennis Bauer But Kurosawa has been known for borrowing ideas from European and American cinema, photography and literature. Everyone's art is inspired or influenced by the brush strokes of others. More people have seen Lamb's work cause of this film and others cause of movies like star wars and the dollar westerns. The secret is have as many influences as possible.
+Joe A. Verage You call giving special thanks at the closing credits denial? He thanks Chow yun Fat, John Whoo and Ringo Lam and Ringo Lam has praised Tarantino's work. Would you have seen this movie unless someone told you it was what inspired Reservoir Dogs? If he did it was more than likely Wienstien's speaking for him in the early 90's.
+kyle carson I have never seen that in the end credits. I'd like to see a screencap please.
Subtitle at 3:02: "Bill! They've killed Bill!" LOL! There's even more to this rip-off than I thought!
@SvampinfektionFilms Actually, the dialogue is probably Roger's, and the non-linear structure is from other movies.
@Sheepy007
those are small touches, like Scorsese's influences on Raging Bull and Taxi Driver.
their work was still original, Tarantino is a collage artist. he samples numerous things and sticks it all together into big picture.
Men, you are a fuc ing genius! is a exelent edition video, respect! Tarantino Rules!
being influenced by someone´s work and plagiarize someo´s work is something very diferent..I like Tarantino but I think sometimes he makes fun of the audience
I hate to break it to you but there is no such word as "irregardless." The word is "regardless"
...as a writer myself I'm incredibly "sore" about people stealing other peoples work. It's happened to me before. A lot of work and creativeity (for most people) goes into writing, and creating a film. And then some prick with a big ego comes along and thinks he can take someone elses work, call it his own, and profit from it?
It's the same premise, but the story is completely different and told in a different way.
I love Reservoir Dogs and I love Pulp Fiction even more. But I am not so crazy that I'll pretend there is no problem with this thing right here
3:02 They killed bill!
Reservoir Dogs is Overrated while City on Fire is Underrated.
True and that how he got away with it knowing that most people haven't seen any Chinese crime movies.
mIKE, RADIODROME FAN HERE....QT is a sad thief.....awesome interview....thanks for the video
@Mike White I know what you mean; they list it as informal, but it has become an acceptable word die to its widespread use.
I have been trying to find City of Fire. I want to watch it.
Bill, they've killed Bill!
Yes, because a program (google) is the standard by which language is defined.
So it isn't the story that is important.. but it is the storytelling? wow man..
@mrderrickmcguinty It took it's ideas mostly from the script of 'Soldier', an episode for an old SciFi tv series called 'the outer Limits' he wrote. It's about 2 enemy soldiers who get hurled in a time vortex on the battlefield. One is sent to (then) present day, gets captured and interrogated by the police and nobody believes his Time travel story. The other one Materializes later, hunts down the first soldier and tries to kill him.
How does the 30% difference statute have anything to do with quality as I mentioned? I'm just saying that just because the original product wasn't of as high quality, that doesn't give someone the right to steal it just because they make it "better" As for music, I don't think borrowing another bands "sound" constitutes plagiarism. Stealing music and lyrics would. Not stylistic inspiration however. This guy below seems to think Nirvana stole from people.
Or not. It could mean that the Bride's speech to Vernita's daughter goes from a very formal apology to a girl too young to understand, to a very pulpy statement that Nikki can seek revenge at a later date. The contrast is an excellently written stylistic device.
As far as character goes, Budd is clearly consumed by guilt over his past - but in the end, his own desires for survival and want win out, mirroring his brother's reaction to Beatrice. I'd get into more detail, but I've not got space.
Mike White? From School of Rock?
The heist on the jewelry store goes bad thanks to a police mole who gets shot while trying to make the getaway to their safehouse. The principal characters then have a mexican standoff in the safehouse over weather or not the cop is actually a cop. The police arrive and the cop reveals his identity after the standoff has been resolved. The car crash during the getaway is also a direct cribbing from the plot of City on Fire.
@mrderrickmcguinty Nope, Mr Ellison already did, got it's right and is mentioned in the credits since
The point is that there's no doubt QT saw City on Fire and took bits and pieces from that film to make Reservoir Dogs in his own style.
@jerohare Because it was a crime? Not sure what IP means. And if it's so crappy, why does QT like it?
Only the process of their writing, not the quality.