Rip Off vs Homage

[urgeok]

There has been a lot of chit chat in the movie forums about who is ripping off who. (Rob Zombie ripping off TCM, etc)

I have seen examples where it seemed clear to me that someone was ripping off someone elses work to make up for a lack of creative vision but i also see some film makers who are huge fans and are really paying homage to the films that came before.

I dont know what exactly is the subtle nuance for me that seperates the two but let me give some examples.

Rob Zombie. Horror is the biggest motivating driver in this guys life. I believe that he wanted to bring a lot of the elements from the 70's horror films he dug and pump them into a new film. This was done out of love for the genre. Definately an homage, not a rip off.

Wes Craven. Scream was an homage to the 80's slasher films.
I didnt think he was ripping anyone off but himself. He wanted a movie to reward long time fanss of the genre by throwing a lot of in-jokes into the mix. If it hadnt become such a commercial and critical success people here would be going on about its genius ad-infinitum.

Brian DePalma. This guy has been ripping off Hitchcock over and over again. He's a brilliant filmmaker but he is constantly reworking the best Hitchcock films.
If you do it once its an homage, if you do it endlessly then you are ripping off.
(dressed to kill = psycho/body double = vertigo/blowout = blow up (ok thats not hitchcock but you get the drift)
I dont think Sisters was a very origional idea either.

I think its the spirit behind the film. Is it done with love and respect or is it done to capture a prepackaged audience so there is minimal financial risk.

Whats the consensus on this ? Anone concur or disagree - or know any other examples ?

[Vodstok]

I concur. There is definately a difference between "wink-wink, nudge-nudge" references to another movie, and say... Doing a complete fucking frame-for-frame "reworking" of an existing one....

[zombie2112]

I agree with you, Urgeok.

I think that in an homage, you definitely put something of yourself in there, kind of make it your own while still showing what it is that inspired you.

When you rip off, you just do the same all over, without the flavour.

I dunno - it's a fine line and kind of hard to explain.

I'm a writer and mostly inspired by all the movies I watch and like. It's so easy to just "do what he/she did" - and so hard to let it simmer until it's ready to come out tasting of me.

(Yeah, I'll go get some rest now)

[jay o2 waster]

in rob zombies case, i don't really see it as a rip off, he has said that these movies have been such an enomuse part of his llife that he wanted to make one to honor it. For me a rip off is when somebody does something for the money.

[feral cat]

It depends if they freely acknowledge the source I see it as a re-working not a “rip off”, its silly how much fuss people make about these “Homage” movies and then go see a lame remake, at least these “inspired by”, movies try and add something new and not just sell themselves off the back of a well none “Brand name” film!

[Hate_Breeder]

Well TCM ripped off the story of Ed Gein therefore isnt THAT original. Although it did influence many films to come. Not exactly "ripping" something off though..

[Gren the cake]

i just remmeber van hellsing's dracula tryign to be exactly like bram stokers dracula. not only dracula, but the female draculas too.

lame. did an ok job, but stil. then again, what other kind of dracula is there?

[urgeok]

Originally posted by Gren the cake
i just remmeber van hellsing's dracula tryign to be exactly like bram stokers dracula. not only dracula, but the female draculas too.

lame. did an ok job, but stil. then again, what other kind of dracula is there?

van helsings dracula was like frigging count chocula ..
good lord i laughed at every line that guy had.
until i remembered that i paid money to see it ..


AND a babysitter !!!

[Gren the cake]

i saw it for free on military base :)

and i actualyl liked the movie! lol fun fantasy type thing, love hugh, the outfits were cool. and i liked frankenstein too :)

and it had some startling moments that i liked. definitely not a GREAT movie but i thought it was entertaining.

[Kemal]

Basing one story on another doesn't make it a rip-off. Stories get told, retold, and appropriated by other cultures. Elements of stories get mixed. I think just about every military adventure story is a retelling of the Odyssey. Everything's been done before. The trick is to do it well, and to change settings, characters, and to have your own "twist."