Am I the only person that finds most Tarantino films annoying?

Question

Someone has to be anti-Tarantino, so I will...  He is talented, and I enjoy all of his films but this legendary status he has is not deserved.  There is no question that Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction had a positive impact on the mainstream film industry but all he really did was take a bunch of old concepts, mash them up, and recycle them in a modern setting.  He has said as much in interviews.  I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing but I do think he gets way too much credit.

Watch an interview of Tarantino, then watch any of his films up till Death Proof.  Almost every character talks in exactly the same manner, exactly like Tarantino himself.  Watching Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction is like watching Tarantino possess every character and talk to himself a lot. He never wrote a real character, they were all just Tarantino: as a hitman. as a boxer, et frakkin cetera. he was the only character in any of his moves.  I can't be the only one who sees this, sure they look different:; black, white, male female... But they all talk just like him!  With the same cadence even!  Am I the only one who finds this annoying?

Inglourious Basterds is the first truly great film he has made in my opinion.  It actually has characters in it, what a concept?!

? · Accepted Answer

You know, I don’t usually talk about Tarantino with people who dislike him. Like I wouldn’t talk about colors and Van Gogh to color-blind people. Sure, they can see his pictures, but can they really *SEE* his pictures??? Can they appreciate the feast of color, the color explosion that his pictures are?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Starry_Night_Over_the_Rhone.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Vincent_van_Gogh_%281853-1890%29_-_Wheat_Field_with_Crows_%281890%29.jpg

but something you said grabbed my attention – it seems you got one thing about him that even most of his fans don’t get – his characters sound just like him. Lol You’re right. But the thing you’ve missed is that everyone’s characters sound just like them, it’s not that noticeable just because they don’t have such a recognizable voice like Tarantino has (voice meaning phrasing, of course).

Tom Tykwer’s characters sound like him, Robert Rodriguez’ characters sound like him, Wachowskis’ characters sound like them, Paul Thomas Anderson’s characters sound like him, and even Cameron’s characters sound like him – these people simply aren’t that unique in conversation, they are brilliant directors, but they just don’t have any recognizable style of talking. Tarantino does.

When people ask him how he manages to write those amazing dialogues, he every time tries to answer. I see his honest attempt to explain it, I also see that it’s in vain – because he doesn’t know it either – he SIMPLY THINKS THAT WAY. His thinking pattern is built that way, that’s the way he thinks and that’s the way he talks, and naturally, that’s the way his characters think and talk, and that’s the way he writes.

So, when they ask even a sillier question it drives me up the walls – “How can one write like Tarantino?” You have to think like Tarantino, you have to have the exact same thinking pattern to transform your ideas, impulses and interpretations into Tarantino’s phrasing. You have to BE Tarantino to WRITE like Tarantino. ‘ts all.

BTW, you mean "Tarkovsky"? I don't know any "Tartovsky" (no sarcasm, just asking, I'm not saying I know everything). If you mean Tarkovsky, then yes, when I ask about him I get 3 or 4 answers, but does it matter? If there are 3 or 4 people who want to talk about him - we talk, if there is no one who wants to talk about him - don't see any problem there. He is in my top 30 (#25), but he is nowhere near Tarantino. He's good, I like his movies (fav Stalker, and it's his best, but you feel like your fav is Andrei Rublev....), but not Tarantino. There are other directors one could whine about being neglected (Kurosawa, Lars Von Trier, Jean-Luc Godard, Tom Tykwer, Leni Riefenstahl, etc) I just don't see any point in whining about that.

lucero · Answer

Yeah, he's stressful. Love his films, cannot say I believe the equal for the person. I've suggestion approximately this earlier than. For a individual to have an artistic brain comparable to his, he could were a unusual unconventional individual within the opening. I consider we uncover him stressful on account that we do not get the individual he's. Deep down within, he is awkward and he does not rather are compatible into traditional society. For the equal intent that we do not get Tim Burton or Johnny Depp in individual on account that they may be able to come throughout as kooky and awkward, it is the equal with Quentin. The change is, Quentin attempts tough to slot in even as Depp and Burton revel of their eccentricity. He must simply quit making an attempt too tough.

King Crimson · Answer

I agree, and he just tries to be over the top "hardcore", and it gets old. Real life isn't like that, not that all films have to be totally realistic, but I like my characters to be relatable on some level... I feel like I'm watching a damn cartoon with some of his movies. I mean, Kill Bill? Well, it was entertaining, but it was basically a video game... ok so I've compared him to both cartoons and video games, I think I've made my point. But he's talented at what he does and as I said, it's entertaining, maybe not one of the higher forms of entertainment though.

simone · Answer

I agree with your criticisms of Tarantino.  He is talented but not great.  He is a narcissist and writes versions of himself instead of characters (a major criticism I have of Woody Allen.)  He isn't innovative and tends to be repetitive and derivative but I don't find it annoying or even perceive those characteristics of his work as a negative.  Maybe because he does admit to alot of it in interviews.  Maybe because I tend to think of it as his "style."  Maybe because he is such an outspoken film lover and fan that I perceive it as cleverly referencing popular culture and subculture rather than as rehashing old concepts.  I just enjoy his films so much that it's hard to be anti-Tarantino.

edit: I just saw your additional details.  Kurt always admitted to ripping off Pixies too.  Maybe I'm too lenient for giving Kurt and Tarantino a pass for being honest.  I think the real reason I give them a pass is because I feel they created something new from other sources.  Music and film that can stand on its own even though it was heavily influenced by the work of others.

I figured that you like both and were just looking for someone to take the anti-side.  I tried to put my mind in that zone for the benefit of interesting discourse but couldn't muster enough vitriol to hate on that darn foot worshiping pervert Tarantino.

Maus · Answer

I don't really care about all that. I think his movies are awesome and really fun to watch. I especially love the Kill Bill films, and Ingourious Basterds too. Btw you don't really sound like you're anti-Tarantino, you just sound like you want him to measure up to his legendary status by not doing the things you complained about.

nodumgys · Answer

I find him annoying in general, but must admit, theres something I find oddly attractive in that douch'esqueness. cant quite put my finger on it, maybe similar to removing the side of an ingrown toe nail, it hurts and its gross, yet also feels good.

but yeah, the films, you really only need to see one. I lost interest completely after jackie brown, and only saw that because it was the only movie playing on the base in puerto rico where I lived in 1998. we were a captive audience.
Inglorious basterds was good, but it still has his stank all over it, I think.

and I remember when nirvana came out, I liked them, as well as most of my circle of friends, but they werent anyones saviour. no one claimed the course of their life changing. it was just a good band that sounded good, like many before and many after.

mutual. (((ape)))??? ..I dont know what I just did there, but it seems to be all the rage.
internet lingos make me feel awkward and goofy, but I'll do it for some.

Donny · Answer

looks familiar...

I'm sure there are other people that agree with you, but I am definitely not one of them.

Pulp Fiction revolutionized cinema, Reservoir Dogs is one of the best..if not THE BEST directorial debut ever, Inglourious Basterds was the best movie of 2009, Jackie Brown is an underrated masterpiece, and the Kill Bill films are high up on a list of the greatest action movies of all time.

everyone has their own opinion I guess

Anonymous · Answer

i'd rather watch a bad jerry lewis movie than a tarantino wannabe orson welles movie..and listening to that whiner kurt cobain makes me want to pull my eyes out so i can plug up my ears with them.

? · Answer

Troublemaker ;)

Give me Oliver Stone or Martin Scorsese any day, any time, any place.  
Pixies pwn Nirvana.  Just my opinion.

(((ape))))

Am I the only person that finds most Tarantino films annoying?

9 Answers