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Reservoir Dogs is not a widescreen (2.35:1) movie. It was shot in the aspect ration of either 1.77:1 or 1.85:1 (I'm not positive which). The widescreen version is missing a considerable amount of image at the top and bottom, and it's obvious in several scenes (Keitel's head is completely cut out of the shot near the end of the breakfast scene). The pan and scan version on this edition is even more of a travesty, as they take the cropped widescreen version and crop the left and right side of that. You wind up with about 60% of the image missing. Awful.
Only the original DVD release of this film includes the legitimate full screen (NOT pan and scan) version of this film. You lose just a bit of image on the sides, but not nearly as much image as you lose with the widescreen editions of this film.
The widescreen format makes no sense for a movie set in a small warehouse with a claustrophobic vibe. Widescreen is meant for films with sweeping landscapes, not art films that take place primarily in one room. The pristine remastering makes little sense, since faded color and pops and scratches actually enhance the 70s vibe of this film.
Do yourself a favor if you love this film: buy the ORIGINAL DVD release and watch the "Pan & Scan" version.
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Reservoir Dogs is one of those films that you don't forget. It's an excellent story and is very compelling to watch. It also features some iconic shots that are parodied over and over again. I can't believe it's 15 years old, but it still holds up. This is also a great transfer. Sure, the extras are a little lacking, but it's the film that matters and if you're looking to update your collection, this is a good bet. If you're looking for other great indie films from this era, another good one is El Mariachi (Special Edition).
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Amazed by the quality of the bluray...that along with this grand movie makes this this a good purchase.
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One thing that I have noticed about Tarantino: is that you really can't watch his movies once then forget about them. In addition, you seem to get a liking for them more and more, hey, it worked for Kill Bill Vol 1 as well (although I still think Vol. 2 is alright). Reservoir Dogs, his first feature, doesn't rely on anything such as visual effects, pyrotechnics, but rather, great dialogue, sparing yet satisfying action, and excellent performances. As everyone and their mother knows, Reservoir Dogs deals with a botched jewel heist, and consists of finding the rat who made the heist. It's a movie that deals in flashback to reveal characters, but not without juicy dialogue that reveals the characters instincts and other things like that. Of course, that means it's going to be pretty antsy, and it ends in a bloodbath.
Anyway, Reservoir Dogs takes some heat from the love-to-hate Tarantino camp, but I beg to differ. Reservoir Dogs creates characters and dialogue that is his own, and not to mention, takes the action and pacing in a good way and actually makes the whole movie much better. Why? Because City on Fire is a pretty slow movie. It doesn't really matter much anyway, because I could not care less about City On Fire's boring dialogue and everything else. I could give a damn less about some old, crappy chinese movie anyway. Sorry stupid movie ________, this movie is way better.
The Dialogue of Dogs and Fiction have some major assets and in my eyes sometimes compete with one another. While Pulp Fiction may have great lines through ever turn, Dogs has rich dialogue relating to the plot, all of it a blast to just jump up once in a while and talk along with them. If you do that (and put facial expressions and nonverbal communication elements, you will, UNDERSTAND, why it always seems the actors are having the time of their lives while acting in a Tarantino movie. Besides that, it has some of the greatest Tarantino Dialogue bits ever. The like A Virgin discussion and is classic, and there's many many more entertaining bits. My favorites are the giving of the names, the s Besides that, the dialogue that is used to carry the story along is electric. Unlike KIll Bill Vol 2, which contains lot's and lot's of very slow and boring dialogue, Reservoir Dogs does not. It's a testament to the brilliance of this movie's way of sucking you into the movie. Through it, they brilliantly set up motives of characters, to keep you guessing until they reveal it. That's why these movies go by so quick, they know how to make the dialogue seem like an action scene, or something of that nature. It's the same thing with Pulp Fiction, anyway.
The somewhat meager film-making further outstrips the movies's many assets, as a matter of fact, it might make it better. Besides, it doesn't help either that the performers are great, and actually include good ones. Actors such as Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, MIchael Madsen, and Lawrence Tierny give great performances, and Tarantino himself does a good job, considering that he actually gives some love into his part as Mr Brown, preferably when he's giving his speech. Besides, he knows he loves the speech, so he's going to _______ tell it like he loves it (and that's just what he does). The setting, LA, isn't really a wonderland, however, if you have a (weird) taste, you might like the setting of LA. Besides, I think the fact that you spend time in an abandon warehouse full of coffins to be a cool asset. And the violence is pretty good, not too overdone, somewhat bloody, and there is not a single cut-off in the whole movie onscreen (such as the ear scene). The music is great, very amazing. The iconic opening scene, with Little Green Bag, you just can't beat an opening like that. Shame on those who think they are just so cool to parody it. Yeah, The SImpsons, I'm looking at you (watch the Sherry Bobbins episode for a very inaccurate and shamelessly retarded parody of Tarantno. Stupid _______).
Reservoir Dogs is a movie that you probably would be futile not seeing. WHile Pulp FIction is well known, Reservoir Dogs is nearly as good, and the epitome of Tarantino. Sure, I once was never interested in other Tarantino work, but if you find a pechant for this and Fiction, check out his other work and be sucked into the world of Tarantino. To those who understand what makes Tarantino so great, well, suffice to say, we know what we are talking about.
A-
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Reservoir Dogs is one of those films that you're either gonna love it, or you're gonna hate it. There is no in-between with this movie. Me...well, I loved it. The non-linear storyline was a very creative element that added a new take on crime films that isn't seen too often. Tarantino told you up front exactly what happened, then he worked backwards to show what led up to it, then it concluded with the famous Mexican Standoff at the end. Some people have said that it uses violence and blood in excess, but I disagree. It just helped to tell the story of what happens when you mix 8 different personalities and a whole lot of money. One thing I must applaud Quentin on is the soundtrack. I don't think the song "Stuck In The Middle With You" will ever sound the same again when I hear it on the radio. The sharp dialogue was also very creative, making this one of those "quotable" movies that are so much fun to watch, over and over again.
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