Tarantino, theif or genius?

[uncle_al]

And, of course, Campbell was an anthropologist, who formed his conclusions about the Hero's Journey after researching "primitive" cultures (I dislike the term, but it is in such use, I can't seem to avoid it) and their myth structures.

Al B.
{Survivor, college anthro classes}

[rnbrewer]

Snce the term "barrowed" has been thrown around a lot I would like to take this time to mention an author that, if none you have read before, should look into.

Joseph Campbell.

Most notably I would suggest reading "Hero With A Thousand Faces," but almost all of Campbells work is worth picking up. The man more or less invented the Hero's Journey, a story template that is often used by screenwriters. George Lucas wrote the Star Wars films almost entirely from this template and was huge fan Campbell. I'm sure most of us here have read Campbells work but if you haven't I think it would be a good idea. You may find that our stories have more in common than you thought.

[seansshack]

Everything is based in some shape or form on something else. Maybe not consciously, but we are all influenced by other peoples work.

I think Dogs and Fiction were excellent movies. Don't think he has managed as well with other movies since. But a fine movie maker none the less. Yes he has borrowed and been heavily influenced by other peoples style etc. But closer to genius than thief.

I remember someone making a similar claim regarding David Bowie many years ago. Considering the man's contribution and body of work, a thief would may have only managed it for a short while without the talent to back it up.

So Tarantino? For me, a fine movie maker.

[sharry]

I feel, if anything, Tarantino is losing a bit of his touch.

yes i do feel the same way myself.... look at his old movies like reservoir dogs and pulp fiction... they are amazing... then look at kill bill which is okay and then kill bill 2 which is abysmal. deathproof really disappointed me. his old films are much better as compared to his new ones...

on the contrary i think robert rodrigues has given some better films.... i am not comparing them but in a way yes he has given better movies.... like planet terror... sin city... and not to forget... my fav....desperado, el mariachi and once upon a time in mexico.... they are all great films..... he is becoming more successful nowadays.... he may have been inspired by tarantino but he is in competition with him and seriously (and sadly) he is ahead of him!!!!

[rnbrewer]

And, with the notable possible exception of From Dusk Till Dawn, he succeeds.

Actually, From Dusk Till Dawn was directed by Robert Rodriguez so you can't really pin that one entirely on Tarantino. He wrote it, yes, but I'm sure Rodriguez had something to say about it.

I feel, if anything, Tarantino is losing a bit of his touch. I went and saw "Grindhouse" a while back and thought the Rodriguez portion was a far better film. "Deathproof" dragged on and on and on and the dialoge's barely established anything of real importance. The car chase at the end was cool, but for what was supposed to be the ultimate tribute to film noir and exploitation films turned into Talk Fest 2007.

"Pulp Fiction" was a well written film, but I think what truly made it great was the performance of some of the actors. They really helped bring the characters to life (God bless you Samuel L. Jackson. God bless you). And, of course, there's "Reservoir Dogs," arguably one of Tarantino's best films.

I have to agree with sharry that Tarantino presents his material -- whatever the original source -- in his own unique, confounding way.

I have to agree with you on this one. Also Don, who makes a good point about there being no "new ideas in hollywood."  If Tarantino is a thief then so is the rest of the writer/director population. I don't believe there are NO new, or original ideas, but it is tough to come up with one and that's putting it lightly. There's nothing wrong with preserving great stories for new generations, and I'll leave it at that.

[uncle_al]

I have to say, for my money, he's effective.  Not exactly to my taste, but effective.

Al B.

[Write Or Wrong]

If what Mr. Tarantino did didn't work, he would merely be an iconoclast, marching to the beat of a different drummer.  Since it does, he's a genius.

I have to agree with sharry that Tarantino presents his material -- whatever the original source -- in his own unique, confounding way.  And, with the notable possible exception of From Dusk Till Dawn, he succeeds.

[sharry]

i think he is a genius.... ( and yeah i will agree with script nurse that you can't call him a thief).... even if he is remaking or taking ideas from the previous work he still is making them in his own way and yes they are very good.... what do u have to say about pulp fiction... what about reservoir dogs..... they may be old ideas but presentation are of his own style which i and many other people just simply love!

[ScriptNurse]

As everyone knows, there are no new ideas in Hollywood ... just old ideas re-treaded to look new. It's only been that way for about 100 years, so the thief part can be overlooked. Now, genius? He's a pretty damned clever fellow. One man's Rain Man is another man's genius.

[LloJo]

I'm unwilling to comment on someone I may ask for a job one day, I can only say it's possible to be both.
I certainly wouldn't comment unless I could spell the word properly.

[renegadewill]

What do the members of script nurse think?