Reservoir Dogs 1992 Quentin Tarantino Reservoir Dogs was Quentin Tarantinos debut film that had him

pinned as a talented director. The opening scene of this film is one that is discussed due to the language and the topic being discussed, but also the way it is shot. Todd Mccarthy says; Strikingly shot and funny opening scene has eight criminals at breakfast arguing about the true meaning of Madonna's "Like a Virgin." This vulgar, unlikely discussion, coupled with subsequent shots of them emerging from the restaurant like the Wild Bunch. (McCarthy, 1992) Throughout the entire film the audience has numerous racial slurs and dubious topics of conversation to contend with, however, the opening scene helps to set the characters and the tone of the film without much even happening within the scene. The way in which the camera pans around the table to reveal each individual member of the group, using peoples backs to transition from different sides and different people has a disorientating but useful effect as it captures the audiences attention.

As more films have been released, audiences have noticed Tarantinos fondness for blood, however, when Reservoir Dogs was released, audiences were surprised to witness such an excessive use of blood during one film. A certain section of the film has one person almost dead from a gunshot wound and a tortured police officer who has been slashed and had his ear cut off both sitting in a room in pools of their own blood. Todd McCarthy says; The young officer is brutally tortured in a scene that drove numerous fest viewers from the unspooling here, and may make even the brave look away. The worst is left off-camera, but it's still a needlessly sadistic sequence that crosses the line of what audiences want to experience. (McCarthy, 1992)

The film is well known for its crude manly humour and blood; however, Reservoir Dogs is film that uses suggested violence rather than excessive effects and fight sequences. Much like the torture scene, where the audience is given a glimpse of some form of torture when the man slashes at the officers face and beats him up a bit, the audience is then denied the right to see the officer having his ear cut off and just as it happens, the film cuts to a different section of film. Almar Haflidason says; Tarantino exploits audience savvy, preferring to build anticipation, mesmerise, and then cut away at the climax, as in the infamous ear-severing scene. Somehow it's horribly effective and lingers far longer than the usual point blank bloodshed that seems compulsory in other movies. (Haflidason, 2000)

Bibliography Images Figure 1 - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/6rirX5gLMzc/TV1kIhZKCyI/AAAAAAAAAxc/6KYUY7e1dH4/s1600/reservoir_poster.jpg Figure 2 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/En8YNZLSX70/UA9qla0aUzI/AAAAAAAABn8/waZ5CwDMrP4/s1600/Reservoir-Dogs_400.jpg Figure 3 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/RJ3zVWevBPE/TtqxJzDqXPI/AAAAAAAAADM/ZXv1JcPiHf4/s1600/tort.jpg Figure 4 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qKqBmpkKaqo/TTdQkPgANnI/AAAAAAAAAcs/3_vfEtNl8yg/s1600/DogsL0403 _468x336.jpg Quotes Quote 1 & 2 - Todd McCarthy. In: http://www.variety.com [online] At: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117794411/?categoryid=31&cs=1 (Accessed on: 19/02/2013) Almar Haflidason. In: http://www.bbc.co.uk [online] At: http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/11/21/reservoir_dogs_1992_review.shtml (Accessed on: 19/02/2013)