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Released by: Artisan
Released on: 3/18/2003
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Harvye Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
Year: 1992
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The Movie:
Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino's breakthrough film, is a simple but effective tale of a heist gone wrong. A group of criminals carry out robbery at a diamond warehouse but things don't go as planned and they end up on the run from the police after the alarm is set off.
Four of the original gang survive, and once they're safely hidden away at their hideout, they start to wonder just how the cops knew what they knew and why things went wrong. This leads them to assume that they might just have a snitch among them. Giving away any more information about the plot would be spoiling it for those who haven't seen it, and would be redundant for those who have.
While the film pulls together a lot of different ideas and themes from a lot of different films, it's most obvious influence is Ringo Lam's Chow Yun Fat vehicle, 'City on Fire' from 1987. The influence of Lam's film on Tarantino's effort is undeniable and the similarities uncanny.
But influences and originality aside, Reservoir Dogs is a great movie pulled together by razor sharp dialogue and memorable characters. The performances in the film as well are all top notch, Steve Buscemi as Mr. Pink, Harvey Keitel as Mr. White, Tim Roth as Mr. Orange, Michael Madsen as Mr. Blonde and especially the late, great Lawrence Tierney as Joe Cabot, the ringleader of the group.
Highlighted by memorable scenes of intense violence and black humor, Reservoir Dogs remains one of the best crime movies of the 90s, if hardly the most original. But hey, if you're going to steal, steal from the best.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Artisan has presented Reservoir Dogs in a newly re-mastered 2.35.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer as well as a 4:3 fullscreen version and viewers have the choice of watching the film in their preferred format.
For the most part, the transfer looks pretty good, but the colors are a slight bit softer than the previous barebones release, and the blacks aren't nearly as deep as they need to be. That being said, there is a fair bit more picture noticeable on this release, and Tarantino does state in one of the interviews on the disc that the movie was shot in scope and that this is how it is supposed to look. If you've never seen it on DVD before, you'll be happy with the transfer here, but if you have the older release, you'll definitely notice that it isn't quite as sharp. It's still a very good transfer though, and it's great to see it with an anamorphic transfer.
Again, as with the video, you have a choice with the audio as well. Whether you want a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track, a DTS track or a Dolby Digital 2.0 track, it's here, and the sound is just fine. While the film is primarily dialogue, it's never a problem understanding anything being said on screen, even when the funky 70s soundtrack kicks in or when gunshots are fired. Everything comes through crisp and clean sounding, just like it should.
This is where the newer release kicks the older one to the curb and then some: lots and lots of extras. First off is a 'selected scene' audio commentary. This is exactly what it sounds like, selected scenes with a different cast member talking overtop. Not exactly the ideal commentary track, but still informative and interesting none-the-less.
There are also some newly recorded interviews with Tarantino, Lawrence Bender, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Eddie Bunker and Kirk Batlz, which are also interesting and most of the cast and crew seem to remember the film fondly.
Three deleted scenes are included as well, 'Background Check', 'Just Doing My Job' and 'No Protection.' The scenes don't really add too much to the film, but it's great to see them here, along with two alternate angles of the infamous 'ear cutting' scene, one of which is in extreme close up and is pretty grisly to watch (it even has a disclaimer before it).
A moderately interesting short documentary about the development of the RD action figures is also included, so if you've ever wanted to know how little plastic Tarantino's have come to take over your favorite toy shop, here's where you can learn.
'The Class of 92' is an informative look at some of the independent features of the early 90s that reportedly changed motion pictures. There's a fair bit of information in here for those so inclined, regardless of what you might think of the movies covered themselves.
K-Billy Interactive Radio is an interesting feature allowing you to play with the onscreen radio dial and listen to some of the music from the film and some dialogue as well. Not really too original as far as content goes, but interesting.
There are some smaller extras as well, including a tribute to Lawrence Tierney, 'Film Noir Web' which examines some of the influences that some specific writers have had on the genre, a Reservoir Dogs 'Style Guide', location scouting footage, a poster gallery, the films original theatrical trailer, and the 'Reservoir Dogs Director Tribute' where Tarantino talks a bit about the directors who influenced the movie.
The Final Word:
Despite the slightly mute video quality, this is the definitive version of the film and is the one to own and you even have your choice of which character you want on the cover.