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Was Be Kind Rewind Born Out Of Thievery?
Thanks to slashfilm for this story. It appears Be Kind Rewind is alarmingly similarity to a sketch done on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show (starring Amada Bynes) that aired 8 years ago. Check the video out for yourselves!
I am going to see Be Kind Rewind tonight, but this certainly seems like a similar idea. Parallel thought occurs when it comes to jokes, but original ideas must always be credited at the source. If Amanda Bynes is that source – then she deserves recognition and compensation for her idea.
What do you guys think? Coincidence or theft?
I saw the trailers for “Be Kind, Rewind” and thought it looked original and fresh beyond looking awesome.
That being said, it’s really hard to argue with that footage. It’s not like when claims that people ripped off moveis like “Juno” or “Finding Nemo” from unknown source material. This show was on a major, domestic televison network
I wonder if there will be an offical statement made by the producers?
I am starting to wonder if their are anymore original concepts in the world any more.
As to see if this is theft, I would have to see Be Kind Rewind first to really see how similar they are.
The sketch is hardly identical, and I think it’s a bit of a stretch to claim that such a creative mind as one who came up with “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” would need to watch old kids’ TV shows for inspiration. Saying that, my whole argument could be flawed as I though Be Kind Rewind was overly whimisical, narrativeless shite.
My God, I remember seeing all of this when I had cable 8 years ago! Wow, I am starting to realize there is certain parts of history (in terms of movies, wrestling, and games like Sonic) where no one is aware of the good history and are focused on what is seen right now, which is a shame.
I can’t say if this is a ripoff, but this is interesting as a comparison.
my god that show looks shit!
I’m sure the film will be alot BETTER than that crappy show. And no I will not give credit to Amanda as she probably didn’t think it up. Some douchebag writer for Nickelodeon thought that it would be funny. That person isn’t getting my appreciation either.
Still looking forward to Be Kind, Rewind!
I’ll have to wait and see “Be Kind” to pass judgement. That said, haven’t we ALL thought of this idea at one time or another? It’s hardly a master stroke of genius. The tricky part is making it look good…I know that show in the video is geared toward children; but, wow…that was pretty crappy delivery.
I don’t think just because they have similar concepts means it’s a ripoff.
LOL, this isn’t exactly breaking news. If you go to the Be kind board on IMDB, you will see there are tons of threads about this. Yes, it is an exact rip off. I remember watching those skits on the Amanda show. Probably the only good part about that show. I’ll try to find actual links to the episodes so you can see for yourself. The only difference is the customers at Blockbister are angry about it. But the concept is exactly the same.
Well the idea seems similer but this is not an uncommon concept. This idea had come from many city bread video stores where the clerks or friends make a spoof of famous videos. Thats where the Amanda Show got the idea. There are many differances between this skit and the movie so as far as a ripp off…I dont think so. An orginal concept..not at all. Is it funny to watch spoofs of movies made by your friends…Hell Ya!
Eh apples and oranges. Stupid annoying characters making their own version of movies to rent out to customers. Littered with unfunny jokes by untalented people. Then there is the concept of having all the movies in a store accidently erased so the clerks are forced to make their own versions of the movies and they become a hit in their little community. Delivered by talented, funny actors.
I don’t see the similarity.
the theme seems to be much different. In the sketch, the idea is that the customers dislike the verions that the (sterotypically) foreign store owners make. In Be Kind, the the customers are charmed by the do it yourself versions of the hollywood blockbusters the clerks make.
I think it is silly to charge of idea theft. Pretty much a non-story to me.
So because they have the same idea, one’s stealing off the other? Please, give me a break.
90% of what comes out now is the same idea as something else. Doesn’t mean they stole that idea. I’m getting sick and tired of every time a movie comes out, there’s a post somewhere on the net, about it stealing from another movie/book/show/ect.
An Icelandic sketch show had a similar sketch a few years ago. I doubt they saw The Amanda Show and I doubt Gondry saw that as well.
It’s a fairly common idea, one that’s probably been done a hundred times or thought of by thousands of people.
I don’t know if they have Nickleodeon in France.
Fuck! What a rip off!
HAHAHAHAHA
I can’t wait to see Mos Def say ‘dis mooovieee iz beetaaa!’
i really double michael gondry was watching the amanda show. and guaranteed the amanda show was not the first to be doing this type of satire. second city of chicago has been doing very similar exercises for training center and on their stages.
There’s a lot of strong “I guarantee” statements in this thread, but how is it people not involved can make such claims, not being involved in either project (or are you)?
Interestingly, TMB surprises me with threads like this. Come on guys, you’re movie fans and in the business, and ripping off ideas isn’t exactly new or un-Hollywood. This has been going on for YEARS of not decades. “Be Kind – Rewind” is not an original concept, but that doesn’t mean squat in an industry known for this sort of behaviour. Hell, just last year, I could’ve sworn I’d seen “Hitman” before, titled “The Bourne Identity”. Pretty similar to me.
And it’s also similar to Son of Rambow, and it’s also similar to Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaption… etc. etc.
I think this is nothing more than parallel thinking.
Let’s just see if Amanda sues or not. Or whoever has the rights to Amanda Show.
I will always be interested in investigating if someone ripped of an idea. It may happen all the time in Hollywood, but that doesn’t mean that it should be viewed as acceptable behavior. People who birth ideas deserve the credit for them.
That being said, I did see be kind rewind today, and after doing so it does appear that this could be a case of parallel thinking.
Key thing to remember: Be Kind Rewind will be MUCHA BETTA!
as NBA Jam Tournamnet Edition once said, STOLEN!
Doug
I’d like to know how you could come up with that opinion of “parallel thinking” because unless you spoke with the writers of Be Kind, how could you just from watching the movie? And don’t say “it’s because they used different movies to remake” because that would be a weak argument.