I just have to convey how shocked I am after seeing this on cable late at night, and discovering how much The Matrix lifted from it. My hero worship of the Wachowski Bros has taken a serious hit after realizing that they took not only concepts but some of the major fighting bits straight of of this film. I'm not against influences or allusions, but there's some serious thievery going on.
Not that this doesn't happen all the time -- not that Star Wars isn't a great movie despite taking so much from Hidden Fortress; not that the Gladiator OST isn't great despite virtually copying Holst's The Planets; but Resevoir Dogs is crap because there's nothing original to it.
Now, Matrix is still fantastic filmmaking, and Drive is pretty crappy (although still impressive for the budget), but I'm massively disappointed to see that things like the subway fight and elements like the 'fist bouquet' and moves like Neo's flexing dust off his shirt are all stolen from this movie that not many people see.
The question is, do the brothers credit Drive at all? I know they talk about their references in general, but have they mentioned this? I'd hate to think of them in the same light as someone like Tarantino, who steals and gives no credit.
Not that this doesn't happen all the time -- not that Star Wars isn't a great movie despite taking so much from Hidden Fortress; not that the Gladiator OST isn't great despite virtually copying Holst's The Planets; but Resevoir Dogs is crap because there's nothing original to it.
Now, Matrix is still fantastic filmmaking, and Drive is pretty crappy (although still impressive for the budget), but I'm massively disappointed to see that things like the subway fight and elements like the 'fist bouquet' and moves like Neo's flexing dust off his shirt are all stolen from this movie that not many people see.
The question is, do the brothers credit Drive at all? I know they talk about their references in general, but have they mentioned this? I'd hate to think of them in the same light as someone like Tarantino, who steals and gives no credit.