Violence in Reservoir Dogs

When looking at Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese we see two totally different approaches to the same ideal. To me they both present violence as a wrong, gross, harsh matter. The only thing is that with Martin Scorsese is more brutal and nasty. While Tarantino presents the violence in a more discreet way. When watching this movie, we do not get the usual beating and torture, as a matter of fact we never see it. We are led to think of what is going to happen and then the result of that thought is illustrated. With Quentin Tarantino, we never see the actual cutting and slicing, he lets us react to his inputs. He not only directs the movie, but he directs the viewer to create the scene in their minds. And this is really unique, it characterizes him.

If we are to compare Tarantino and Scorsese, we are to see two different worlds. With Scorsese the viewer knows what is the product going to look like. In the other hand, Tarantino is always reinventing himself and for such we are forced to watch and wait. In my opinion, when talking about the mob films genre, I’d say Martin Scorsese is my pick. I like new things, but there is nothing like tradition

Martin Scorsese's Ideology

When looking at Scorsese’s films we can distinguish his feelings towards the violence and the gangster life. When doing a movie Scorsese illustrates us a very crude, gross, brutal violence. He has brains blowing left and right, lots of blood and quite some beatings. Like in “Taxi Driver”, he has Travis go up to Iris’ room shooting everyone and blowing brains, hands and parts of the body every where. By doing this, he shows that violence is not pretty and it should not look like that on films. He lets us see, violence for what it is, a harmful, indecent and unaccepted action. In most Scorsese’s movies he has a character which loves the life but does not like the violence that implies being on this world. At least does not support the violence with out a reasonable reason. An example of this is Charlie from Mean Streets.

Which leads me to say and believe that Martin Scorsese tries his best to portray the life as it is, without showing his believes. I think he is fascinated by the mafia/gangster life, but does not which to become a part of it. He is constantly letting us see what he thinks is amazing an inviting about the life but at the same time reminds us that ones our in is not the priest world, nor the safest. When talking about the genre, I believe he stays true to what he thinks a mob film should look like. When you see a Scorsese’s film the first things that comes to mind is Mafia or gangster. So to my criteria he stays true to the genre while staying true to the life it self.

Genre in Goodfellas

“Goodfellas" is one of the greatest mafia-crime movies I have ever seen. I loved the plot, the music used, but even more the way he went about every single shot. This movie was just perfection to me. Starting with the opening shot, Scorsese drags you into the movie and makes you feel a part of the story. It is almost as if the viewer was part of the “gang”. If we point out every characteristic that points the movie as a mafia-gangster film, we would just be narrating the movie. When we talk about mafia, we are referring to an Italian criminal society and in the movie Scorsese makes that point very clear. In addition, he highlights the relationship they have with each other, which is more than just a business partner relationship they are family. The mafia does everything together. Everyone respects them, but even more, they are respectful to their elders and traditions. In this film, Martin Scorsese introduces a lot of the mafia’s rules. We can take Tommy’s action, of killing Billy Batts, which is a made member off the Gambino Family and its untouchable, as defiance to the rules, and for this, he is killed.

When the movie starts Scorsese gives us an opportunity to see the ugly side of the mafia life style but he also let us experience their luxurious and so envied life of the mobsters. And is here when we focus more on the technicality of the mob films (subgenre of the crime films). This films are thrillers, they get you hyped-up and most of the time they get us roaring for the strong-badass character. On the other hand this movie shows he importance of a woman in this world. They know about it, what goes on in their husbands’ life and most importantly how to handle it. What is beautiful about this movie and what makes it so traditional, is the fact that Scorsese brings the reality of this world and show it to us as cleaned as possible. Yes, this movie also looks at the drugs world but it is all part of the crime films genre. To me the movie not only stays true to the genre but most of all it stays pretty accurate to the mafia world and that is why is a great movie.