Last Night, I was watching Pulp Fiction again and suddenly this thought of plagiarism crept into my head. Some call it “influence”, which is an overused politically correct synonym for it.
I was thinking about what Jules say before killing a person. He recites a line from bible, Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee." And quite similar to this is what Joker says in the movie Batman, before killing anyone. "Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?”
Is this an influence? May be it is. By any rationale, I won’t go too far to say it is a theft.
What about the un-avoidable similarities in Reservoir Dogs and City on Fire? Quentin Tarantino has told in a million interviews that he was heavily inspired by the Hong Kong film and he has almost copied shot-by-shot the end of Reservoir Dogs, i.e. the Mexican standoff. But then he is probably the only director/writer to admit such a thing blatantly. He scores for accepting truth gracefully
I really don’t know where the thin line between “homage” and a nonchalant “copy-paste” lies?
Labels: From the other side of the Lens, Sentiments, Wandering Thoughts
April 13, 2007 5:06 AM
Such a coincidence, a coupla days back (or was it yest only?) I looked up Ezekiel 25:17 basically cuz I got a Facebook notification that you had joined that club. And I guess that's what made you write this post, so not much coincidence there actually.
Coming to the point you raised - there are supposed to be just seven basic story plots (http://ask.yahoo.com/20070305.html). So there are probably just a few basic ideas that everyone can draw upon. But then the treatment of these ideas is what makes a creative work stand out, and it's a fact that though the no. of 'original' ideas may be limited, there can be innumerable interpretations of a single idea. So even if filmmakers (or authors or artists) play with the same idea, I would expect a 'good' filmmaker to give his own take on it, his own interpretation & its consequences. Sometimes a filmmaker might like an idea but think there's more potential to it than has been explored, more dimensions that can be given... and he may think himself capable of doing that. Which is fine, I think.
And this is why 'inspired' need not really be a bad term. You CAN seek true inspiration from something and then take it forward from your own creativity, your own ideas & thinking. Though, of course, in Hindi cinema it's acquired such contemptible connotations. top
April 16, 2007 7:03 AM
whoa !! nice link..
and so true..but i wat i mean about influence is pure copy..which music directors like pritam..anu malik have done..
and more thn tht..even if you do it..accpet it. just dont publish it as ur creation..
thts why i like QT...he says i accept i copied it. but i did it coz i like it and i want others to see tht too..
he copies characters, scenes and what not top
April 16, 2007 7:03 AM
and have u not seen pulp fiction ?? if not...DO IT top
April 17, 2007 4:34 AM
Oh Anu Malik toh is a classic case!! :D
And of course, have seen the movie. Amazing movie. The Facebook notification just reminded me of the quote again, so looked it up. Tarantino rocks. top
April 17, 2007 4:48 AM
hail..another tarantino fan !!
chk out on facebook..i've put one link..with screenplays of most of tarantino movies..
this guy is a genius. i;m his fan, ac, cooler, fridge, tv and entire sony electronics consuables. top
April 19, 2007 6:01 AM
Yeh le commenting..
I like Taratino movies - but not all of them. Jeez.. bachche you are face book too?? Are har community networking system ne tujhe hire kiya hai kya :P
Abt creativity. I think using lines from Bible or other famous quotes needs to be contextual. Old movies are remade, sometimes copied frame to frame sometimes revamped. If the director is good he is going to leave his stamp on the scene. top
April 20, 2007 12:01 AM
precisely my point...wat i like about tarantino is, the way he can twist a plot in an unbelievable shopt..and his witty comments....proper entertainment..and the way he pays attanetion to minutest of the details..and as far as quotes are considered..at first you will find tht quote to be atupid..but when Jules explain it to ringo in the last scene of the movie..it makes whole lot of sense..
thts whr genius of tarantino lies..at first you might not be able to catch where is he going, but after a while, he will give leave u spellbound with the reason.
this man is GOD !
and faceboo..abhi recently aaya hoon :)..add me, add me, add me do !! top