Rip Off of a German Film


I understand this is based on an actual experiment, but it is also the plot of a 2001 German film called Das Experiment. It starred Moritz Bleibtreu, from Run Lola Run. I don't know how dark this film will be, but Das Experiment was often hard to watch as the prisoners and guards began to assume their roles. Looking at this "rumored" cast, I can't imagine it could be that serious. But, Paul Dano and Charlie Hunnam could be a hint that they are looking to make a thoughtful film.

reply

How can you acknowledge The Stanford University Experiment and claim this movie rips off a German movie based on the experiment?

Makes no sense.


You can't palm off a second-rater on me. You gotta remember I was in the pink!

reply

Yes, several people made good points about it not being a ripoff.

Think of it this way. Ed Gein was Tobe Hooper's main inspiration in writing "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", he took parts from the true story, but essentially created something else entirely that was pure fiction. When somebody later went to make a film actually about Ed Gein, I don't think they said "Oh, that's a ripoff of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre".

Das Experiment (and the book it was based on) was inspired by the actual experiment, and while it had many similarities, was in no way telling the actual story of the experiment, and was a work of fiction. This is going to be non-fiction, and actually tell the story that Das Experiment used as its inspiration. The Stanford Experiment is a pretty interesting story, maybe not motion picture interesting, but interesting nonetheless and I think a version of this story that doesn't involve death and pistol fights to spice up the story is warranted.

There are many films loosely based on true events that I would probably rather see a movie about the real thing. This is one of them. Sometimes real life is interesting, and we don't need some big climactic battle with guns and people going crazy to tell that story. Das Experiment was too easy. I think it would be more difficult to tell the true story than to make a jazzed up version for film-goers who needed the climax and big struggle in the end.

"IF THE DEVIL HAD A NAME, IT WOULD BE CHUCK FINLEY!!"

reply

Isn't America a rip off of European ideas in itself?

;-)


Hank Tuff - when the going gets rough!

reply

Haha, that's nice!

reply

No....THIS movie ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0997152/?ref_=nv_sr_1 ) is a rip-off of the German film. Quite literally.

reply

Long story short: Mario Giordano wrote a book about the Stanford experiment called The Black Box, which Das Experiment (with Moritz Bleibtreu) is based on. The Experiment (with Adrien Brody) credits both the book and the German movie. However, neither are based on the original experiment, but on Giordano's book, as pianostix correctly stated above.

Since The Stanford Prison Experiment is based on the real story and not the book, it cannot be a ripoff. However, i would consider The Experiment to be a ripoff.

I am actually looking forward to watching this.

reply

Thank you, someone said it finally.

1971... the real, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment

reply

And the Stanford experiment was a collegiate take on the Cubberley High School of PALO ALTO experiment of 1967. The events of which are depicted in a Bruce Davison 1981 afterschool special. Seriously. Look it up. The Wave.


False: all conservatives are stupid people;
True: most stupid people are conservative

reply

I think regardless of the findings, an experiment involving a child (high school student) is something that should be considered in your statement of rationalization. I do like stem cells.

reply

Das Experiment was the ripoff ...

reply

Is everyone forgetting thet there was already an American version made about five years ago? It wasn't small-time either, it starred Forest Whitaker and Adrien Brody!!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0997152/

reply

WOW
Did you know about this movie in 2008???
It's not a good sign it took that long to see the light.
I never bothered watching Brody's version. I really liked Das Experiment and I don't see the point of a remake, but anyway, could someone who's watched both tell me if it's worth it?

reply

this movie began its life in 2002 actually, according to the imdb trivia page. if you only knew how long scripts bounce around before they're actually turned into movies.... :)

🐙

reply

[deleted]

[deleted]

Wrong. Das Experiment is inspired by The Stanford Prison Experiment. This film is based off of the actual event.

reply