Star Wars and The Matrix are Japanese Movies

[Charles Foster Kane]

On a trivia note, if you get the chance watch a Japanese movie from the 50's called Hidden Fortress, this is where George Lucas got 'inspiration' from when creating Star Wars. I was amazed when watching this how much he completely lifted, it's not far off the same movie except he has set Star Wars in space, there are even a comic duo walking through desert like terrain at the beginning who became R2D2 and C3PO, and Lucas even lifted the scene fades from here. So much for originality.

It seems copying Japanese movies that the majority have not seen is quite an American habit, with the Wachowski brothers blatantly ripping off Ghost in the Shell with the Matrix too:

http://www.mig81.com/matrixgits/page1.html

And let's not forget everyone's favourite director Tarantino, who has ripped off more Hong King martial arts movies than I can be bothered to name, then there's Scorsese With 'The Departed' which ripped off Internal Affairs, again from the East, and got an oscar for it.

Don't get me wrong I like all the aforementioned movies, but maybe more people should take an interest in movies from the East, and they might see a more accomplished and original version of the next up-and-coming Tarantino movie, or Star Wars/Matrix installation before it's been made.

On a closing note, here's a sample of one of my favourite Eastern set pieces, it happens to be the longest unedited fight scene in a movie, I wouldn't be surprised if Tarantino lifts this scene wholesale should he make a Kill Bill 3 or 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJJtuTxovQA

[DimPrawn]

I've also noticed Coronation Street often blatently rips off story lines from Eastenders.

[Spacecadet]

And let's not forget everyone's favourite director Tarantino, who has ripped off more Hong King martial arts movies than I can be bothered to name, then there's Scorsese With 'The Departed' which ripped off Internal Affairs, again from the East, and got an oscar for it.

Infernal

The Departed wasn't a "rip off", it was a legitimate remake and the screen writer for Infernal Affairs was credited as a writer.

I should point out that I watched Infernal Affairs some years ago, I'm a keen watcher of eastern cinema.

[Xenophon]

The Wachowski Brothers have acknowledged the influence of 'Ghost in the Shell' - admittedly a pretty significant influence.

[Moscow Mule]

Isn't the matrix based on the book Neuromancer by that Will Gibson fella?

[Charles Foster Kane]

Infernal

The Departed wasn't a "rip off", it was a legitimate remake and the screen writer for Infernal Affairs was credited as a writer.

Yeah, thanks, there is a story to that error, a friend disputing the Western translation, although the proper name strictly is Mou gaan dou which translates to neither.

[Spacecadet]

Yeah, thanks, there is a story to that error, a friend disputing the Western translation, although the proper name strictly is Mou gaan dou which translates to neither.

translates as "Non-Stop Way" which doesn't make much sense in english

[MrRobin]

No reward for innovation

The whole entertainment world is saturated with copies, remakes, band reformations, repeats and so on. Everything from the subtle plagiarism of content from films as you describe, to the completely unsubtle NBA or NFL or Fifa 2000/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 games that are released every year.

Then you get something that is fairly new or atleast brings some new creative input and the writers go on strike because they get a pittance.

[Xenophon]

Isn't the matrix based on the book Neuromancer by that Will Gibson fella?

It isn't based on it as far as I am aware, but there are similarities. The Matrix makes reference to a ton of stuff.

[cailin maith]

I like the Matrix - saw all 3 at the IMAX and it was wow