Cap Codes In Kill Bill
Reader Mike B writes in with his observations about the cap codes (unique digital identifiers – usually red dots – that are supposed to fight piracy) in Kill Bill. His complaint is that they were way too visible:
I’ve never noticed these before in movies – but they were obvious enough in Kill Bill that they distracted me. (One instance that comes to mind was when they showed up on the cupboards in the background during the fight scene in the kitchen.) It really frustrates me that the movie industry feels the only way it can protect its intellectual property is by degrading it with this heavy-handed technique.
I’d be curious to know how many other people noticed these dots. More importantly, I’d love to know if anyone has found a reliable method of registering a complaint with Miramax.
I didn’t notice the cap codes when I saw Kill Bill, but since I saw it at a drive-in theater, the quality wasn’t nearly as high as it would normally be. And actually, I can’t remember ever seeing a cap code in a film.
So, did anyone else notice the cap codes when they saw the movie? Were they distracting? Is it worth complaining about to Miramax?
| Print article | This entry was posted by schlyer on October 14, 2003 at 11:56 pm, and is filed under Kill Bill. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |
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about 8 years ago
YES..
I noticed them.
NO..
They were not distracting.
NO..
It is not worth complaining.
about 8 years ago
I noticed the dots in 4 different areas of the movie. Most often during “The House of the Blue Leaves” chapter. At first I thought Tarantino was trying to slip something in as an homage to an earlier film, but then I read about the piracy issue. It really wasn’t a giant distraction or anything, but I definitely noticed them. There’s been some posts about it on imdb.com too. Should there be any complaints to Miramax about it? Probably not.
about 8 years ago
Yah I noticed them, at least three or four times during “House of the Blue Leaves” chapter. Definitely distracting, since each time they appeared, it brought back how frustratingly wrong-headed the movie industry is about piracy and art. They may as well just insert “SAMPLE” across the frame every five minutes. Or in the middle of a song blurt out “copyright 2003 BMG Records all rights reserved”.
It seems to me that they’re thinking that if they ruin the film, no one will want to steal it. Problem is, no one will want to BUY it, either.
about 8 years ago
People who are pirating movies, and the people buying them, don’t give a S–T about some little red dot that pops up in a few frames for a second. Any one with basic video editing software could make that disapear like Houdini. Those red dots are about as distracting as all the dust in the projectors lens that flicker during THE ENTIRE MOVIE.
about 8 years ago
it is for tarcking the origin of the movie. from which distributor or movie theater it leaked is the q!
about 8 years ago
I totally noticed them, and I totally thought that it was just something QT slipped in to mess with us. But I saw it twice and two different theaters and didn’t notice it the first time. I also think that there was a little diffence in editing the 2 times I’ve seen it. Maybe that’s just in my head.
about 8 years ago
The dots were totally distracting to me. I thought that Tarantino was trying to slip in a code or something interesting. Even so, I was completely distracted by them. Maybe some of us are more prone to seeing them? They were much like the little “burn” marks as pointed out in Fight Club.
about 8 years ago
I agree with albert, i thought they were similar to the fight club flickers. strange. another thing, did anyone catch the label on the bottle(during the anime scene)that gets shot? i remember hearing about QT brand of soda or beer or somthing, most people saw it in jackie brown…
about 8 years ago
I commented on the dots to my friend as we watched this movie. I guessed that it must be something for the fans to spot, as they are not quite subtle enough to go unnoticed, nor are they so obvious that everyone sees them. I was trying to figure out whether they represented letters spelling out the Bride’s real name or something. After much searching I found this discussion and I am horrified to learn that this is all to do with copyright protection. That’s just bollocks. It was definitely distracting and Miramax should be told. That said, it was a cool movie and I will definitely be in line for the second installment (sucker that I am)
about 8 years ago
Are you guys crazy? It looks to me like it is just an effect. I have seen the movie many times and i shows the little dots whenever you cut through a wall. I the house of blue leaves, Uma thurman goes to the restroom to change,right? Everytime we see her in the stall, we see the dots flash. This is giving you a view of the inside of the stall. It’s just a thing telling you that the camera is cutting through the wall.
about 8 years ago
Crazy? No. This is a documented technique that hollywood thinks will decrease piracy. While not completely ruinous, they are distracting and QT should not have let them bastardize his medium.
By all means, complain.
about 8 years ago
The red dots are very noticable, and are placed in the film to fight piracy.
they ARE NOT in the film to show that the camera is moving through a wall.
supposedly the signiture is spposed to be different for every reigion that shows the movie, to help track insiders that rip the movie and release it on the net.
and did anyone see the MPAA’s anti-piracy add showing how the lower ppl get pay’d less, from our dl’ing movies online? what a joke, if need be the stars don’t need to make near as much as they make for a movie.IMO
about 8 years ago
I watched “Master and Commander” and was for the first time exposed to these red dots.
It was horrible! At first i thought the movie reel was all scratched up, or just poor quality, but then i could see the pattern and figured it was something along these lines. Finally i couldn’t concentrate on the story, i would just be distracted by the red dots.
What i SHOULD have done is what my friend did after he saw Kill Bill: He went and got a REFUND. at the theatre booth, and explained why, very thoroughly.
I think if many of the movie going public COMPLAINS and ASKS FOR REFUNDS they will realize their folly and STOP RUINING OUR MOVIEGOING EXPERIENCE!
Hell, why go to theatres anymore? Movies are lesser grade than DVD (red dots and cigarette burns), obnoxious teens hollering and giggling, sticky floors, sticky seats, funky smells, BO from the hobo in front and cellphones from the sorority girls in back.
about 8 years ago
Yes, I certainly noticed the red dots that popped up in the middle of a fucking black and white fight scene. Color against B&W certainly does stand out.
What a disgrace.
about 8 years ago
If they distract you so much I’m surprised you have enough concentration to sit through an entire movie. Gimme a break!
about 8 years ago
You goddamn Communists complain about the effects of your piracy, but what good movies did your beloved Soviet Union produce? That’s right, none, because creative works get produced and widely distributed only if the people neccessary for the production and distibution get paid.
Zephyr
about 7 years ago
Cap codes suck. I saw them in a movie today–they are completely obvious.
They show up in the MIDDLE of a scene, and are incredibly visible if the background isn’t redish to some extent; also they appear for at least 5 seconds.
It’s a rediculous idea at best. At least do it off to the side in a corner or something.
about 7 years ago
they’ve had those for at least 2 years, if not many more. hell, i should know, i’m a projectionist. and it distracts me more and more as i hear about the increase of stuff being done in this war on piracy (hah, like they’ll ever win). maybe if they paid those greedy stars and studio execs less and paid everyone ELSE in the food chain more, including us theater workers, we’d care more and not let people cam movies. (not that i do or anything ^_^ i’ve got too many bills to pay to get fired) but no, the money all stays at the top of the food chain.
but yeah, i’ve noticed them for quite a while but never knew concretely that they’re being used to track movies (i’m still not *completely* convinced, but damn close)
about 7 years ago
they’ve had those for at least 2 years, if not many more. hell, i should know, i’m a projectionist. and it distracts me more and more as i hear about the increase of stuff being done in this war on piracy (hah, like they’ll ever win). maybe if they paid those greedy stars and studio execs less and paid everyone ELSE in the food chain more, including us theater workers, we’d care more and not let people cam movies. (not that i do or anything ^_^ i’ve got too many bills to pay to get fired) but no, the money all stays at the top of the food chain.
but yeah, i’ve noticed them for quite a while but never knew concretely that they’re being used to track movies (i’m still not *completely* convinced, but damn close)
about 7 years ago
they’ve had those for at least 2 years, if not many more. hell, i should know, i’m a projectionist. and it distracts me more and more as i hear about the increase of stuff being done in this war on piracy (hah, like they’ll ever win). maybe if they paid those greedy stars and studio execs less and paid everyone ELSE in the food chain more, including us theater workers, we’d care more and not let people cam movies. (not that i do or anything ^_^ i’ve got too many bills to pay to get fired) but no, the money all stays at the top of the food chain.
but yeah, i’ve noticed them for quite a while but never knew concretely that they’re being used to track movies (i’m still not *completely* convinced, but damn close)
about 7 years ago
Zephyr: I’m pretty sure the Soviet Union has made some pretty damn good movies over the years… Vertov and Eisenstein come to mind… by the way, we have Eisenstein to thank for the editing theory behind nearly all action movies today. Learn some stuff before you dismiss entire countries.
about 7 years ago
Zephyr: I’m pretty sure the Soviet Union has made some pretty damn good movies over the years… Vertov and Eisenstein come to mind… by the way, we have Eisenstein to thank for the editing theory behind nearly all action movies today. Learn some stuff before you dismiss entire countries.
about 7 years ago
@Troy A: you’re on crack, they show up for at MOST 2 frames. also, if they put it on the side, groups could just crop. nope. they have to be in the most conspicuous, annoying place.
@mikey: what sucks is i doubt most big budget producers even care if their movie is marred by cap codes once their paycheck is comfortably in their pockets.
@Arthur: they’re placed either at random places in the movies from what i hear, or at least in random-seeming configurations. i’m not sure i remember those dots at the bathroom scene…
oh, (i guess to clarify first post) cap codes have been in most wide released movies. so have fun noticing them now! >:)
about 7 years ago
I noticed it, also thought it was a Tarantino gimmick and was distracting enough to google it and end up here!