MovieChat Forums > Rango (2011) Discussion > Huge references to Polanski's Chinatown

Huge references to Polanski's Chinatown

posted 11 years ago by keshidragon
6 replies | jump to latest

Hey. Great film. Did anyone notice the references to 'Chinatown'?

Now, this film is good enough already, with one joke after another putting me in hysterics. But when the homeages to one of my all-time favourite films starting coming in, it was truly sublime. And they just kept coming, getting bigger and more obvious until I had to yell out to the guy I was watching the film with.

I mean come on? The whole plot revolves around the water supply of a desert town. The mayor is a perfect caricature of Noah Cross, lecturing Rango about how 'if you control the water, you control the people', and even going as far as quoting "The future, Rango! The future!" When they're out looking for the water bandits, they find the body of someone who turned out to have drowned, rather than been shot.

I'm not accusing plagiarism or anything, far from it. I just love the way these references where built into what also stands as a solid family adventure. I'm surprised no-one else seems to have notice them, anyone? C'mon.

[–] Quest_Shield 10 years ago

I noticed 'em.

[–] hyack57 10 years ago

I never saw Chinatown (I'm 35) until just tonight when I watched it on Netflix. I didn't know the plot or anything going in; just that it starred Jack Nicholson and it had that nose cutting scene. I expected a more mobster like movie - having not read any synopsis.

The water supply issue began to ring in my head as similar to Rango and it wasn't until Noah Cross came on when it became clear. I could almost close my eyes when I was listening to him talk and envision the tortoise mayor. Uncanny. I get all the references in Rango now when before I didn't know they were referencing anything.

[–] SpikeHat 10 years ago

The similarities are so blatant that it distracted me from the story. I kept wondering which portion of Chinatown (excellent film) was going to be similied next. But mostly I wondered, Why draw from the plot of an R rated drama, and apply it to an animated animal show? While this is an interesting artistic move, the result just made me go "Hmmhhh".

[–] syafiqjabar 9 years ago

Cartoons and children's show references adult media a lot, since forever. Sesame Street had muppet versions of everything from Twin Peaks to Sons of Anarchy.

[–] ravi02 8 years ago

But mostly I wondered, Why draw from the plot of an R rated drama, and apply it to an animated animal show?

Why not? Rango is meant to be a loving tribute to westerns and old '30s-'40s Hollywood films. Even if Chinatown is rated "R" that shouldn't stop the filmmakers from making a reference. It's a nice way to catch the older audience and introduce the younger viewers to classic films.

[–] MoviemanCin 9 years ago

I didn't notice them since it's been a long time since I've seen Chinatown. And if I remember I was kind of confused by it.

Boom.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.