Simple formula = Brilliant film

Rating: 8/10 (1 February 2000)

At first glance the film seems simplistic - too simplistic, but that's just not the case. The plot is a tad 'similar' to the Ringo Lam film 'City on Fire' - there are undeniable connections between the two films, from the phrase "Let's go to work" to the scene with Harvey Keitel firing two guns into a car, and the near identical scene in City. But I think Tarantino does it better. The whole approach to the film means it has a very different style to City, in which we know who the cop is right from the start. Reservoir Dogs begins by inspiring empathy with the criminals, which then leads on to the horror of Mr Blonde's actions, and the tragic relationship Mr White and Mr Orange develop. Quite simply, Reservoir Dogs is a very good film, not very complex perhaps, and scratch beneath the surface and you'll find very little substance, but it has a very impressive surface indeed... Dave