Before the lame but necessary discussion on how Quentin’s film has performed at the box office, let’s talk about what really maters to us. The film itself.
I adore this movie, everything about Inglourious Basterds plays to my yearnings for movies that are about something tangible and real. This movie has so much heart and feeling. So much of a director’s passion and soul spewing out in it’s refreshingly larger than life characters and situations.
Quentin gave me everything I could have ever imagined and more from his tale of World War II. A World War II I can relate too, enjoy and feel comfortable with. A WWII with a happy ending, a one with real heroes, villains and everything in between. These are people I have thought about many times in the month since I first saw the movie. I’ve been thinking about their backstory, how they ended up where they did, what their true motivations were, what adventures they had before and after the movie.
It’s something Quentin has done with EVERY movie he ever made. He gives you characters, but never feels like he needs to tell you everything. That’s why they feel so huge. I’ve got questions in my head like what happened to Hans Landa in between the first scene and when we catch up with him again? Where did Aldo get his scar from? How did she come to own that cinema (though I do know that answer from reading the script).
In this era of safe studio choices, of uninspired pitches (Lego: The Movie – need I say more?), of lame reboots, sequels to tired franchises… Quentin made an audacious movie that leaves you with much, much, much to talk about.
As I’ve said many times. It cost you the same price to see this movie as it did to see G.I. Joe and Transformers 2. Just remember that when you try and tear this movie down.
14 Comments
Just saw it. I thought it was Tarantino’s BEST film since Pulp Fiction. Man, that was enjoyable. Good on ya mate.
It’s one of those movies that you have to leave for a bit in your mind and settle. Walking out of the cinema, I couldn’t quite figure whether I enjoyed it or not. But after thinking about it, I realised it was one of the best films Taratino has come up with since Pulp. It certainly gives Pulp Fiction a run for its money’s worth, and the performances (particularly Chris Waltz who in my opinion is this year’s equivalent of Heath Ledger’s Joker from last year) sizzle. I mean, how many other films have you watched featuring a 20 minute nazi bar scene where King Kong’s mentioned? Only Tarantino can pull off something like this and the bizzare thing is that it WORKS! Granted, it’s a little talky in places but this is Tarantino doing what he does best – a must see for any Tarantino fan!
read the script first, saw the movie second. I liked it alot and its one of Tarantino’s best definitely. it seemed slow at certain points, but the acting and direction and film overall was all superb
To be honest, I had extremely high expectations for this movie (probably the highest of any movie all summer) and was still blown away. I can not recall being literally “on the edge of my seat” for many movies, yet there were multiple scenes where I found myself in this position. Tarantino is a master at creating such a tense air in his scenes, and his characters are so real, that I feel actually concern (not many movies can do this), creating turnmoil within, wondering how or what they will do (the bar scene in particaular). Not to only mention the incredibly dramatic scenes of the movie, the comedy is superb. I cannot recall laughing as hard or as long as when Pitt/Roth/Other-dude are introduced as Italian stunt/camera men. Genius. This is Tarantino’s best since PF, and one viewing is not nearly enough to digest it all. I intend to see it at least again, very soon.
After my 3rd view of ‘Inglourious Basterds’ few minutes ago, and with a more calm mind (the midnight screening was somehow a cheering to the screen fest) the movie started to show me the themes and layers Tarantino used to tell the story of this “WWII fairy tale”. I must confess I was quite uneasy when I started listening to the rumors about a “war epic” Tarantino was working on, what came to mind was Saving Private Ryan, and cliché war movies, but never Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill, and even sitting at the movie theater when the “Basterds” were on screen for the first time I was having flashbacks of those war movies where the group of guys will pretty much end up dead by the end of the movie and History following its normal course.
I obviously overlooked how Tarantino opened Chapter One: “Once upon a time…” and just after that we were treated with the opening scene which is nothing but a great homage to Sergio Leone; and of course the appearance of Col. Landa, who seems to be the first time I saw a “bad guy”a real antagonist in a Tarantino movie, alright… Bill , Stunman Mike, Ordell Robbie, Marcellus Wallace, and Nice Guy Eddie.. are somehow “bad guys” but they all are surrounded by characters who wont be the perfect definition of “heroes” and you really know they could go down at any moment during the movie and you really don’t even care to hate them, but with Landa you cant help but to root with the “Basterds” and really wish he gets what he deserves by the hand of the “good guys” in this case Lt. Aldo Raine, they couldn’t be more opposites, Landa educated German Officer, polyglot ; and on the other hand Lt. Aldo who only speaks English with this exaggerated southern accent, you couldn’t find a more satisfying confrontation of “good vs. evil”; it really feels that Quentin had so much fun with Landa as a bad guy. But the real hero of the movie is the one Landa underestimated from the beginning Shoshanna, who is there to be the “Giant Face” who ends up the war by the “power of movies”; in a way is what Quentin does with this movie, giving up the finger to History twisting it the way he wanted to creating his own alternate Universe, and in the process giving us characters we will be taking about for years to come, in the same way we still have conversations about Mr. Blond… we will be talking about The Bear Jew.
The movie makes its way up to the 3rd act which opens with a montage sweetened by “Cat People (Putting out the Fire)” by David Bowie and possibly the best montage in a Tarantino movie to date, in which he is showing up all his cards and letting you know you are about to go for a ride, where you are gonna laugh , you are gonna feel for the characters… and you will cheer your guts out.
And well, the heroine is dead by the end of the movie, and good part of the “Basterds” as well, but not before changing History the Tarantino way, and he knew it… or as Lt. Aldo said it… “You know something Uitivich, I think this just might be my Masterpiece.”
Yes, it just might be indeed…
Not an enjoyable watch. If you people actually think this is better than Jackie Brown…give up on life…seriously.
I absolutely loved it. And best of all: I didn’t think I would.
Definitely not his best since Pulp Fiction. Maybe as good as Kill Bill.
Just got in from seeing Basterds and I must say I was very impressed. The opening to Basterds at the farm was the best, most tense opening sequence I have seen in a movie in a very long time. The bar scene was also extremely well done. The dialogue in Basterds was phenomenal from start to finish.
The best part I really think about the whole thing though was that you know that’s not how everything happened, but at the same time it felt completely plausible. That’s what makes this movie amazing to me, is that Tarantino altered history with this film, but it didn’t really feel like he did if that makes any sense. This could have easily been a reality.
i had the highest expectations and i still came out the theatre completely blown away! i just can’t believe that tarantino has managed to do it again. my expectations for his films are always sky high and still (still!) i had to stand up and applaud this amazing work
QT did a fine fine job. I was very very happy with BASTERDS. Some of the best acting I’ve seen all year. Even Eli Roth didn’t annoy me. Still not sure which moment I enjoyed the most. I liked It all. My only minor complaint is, the subtitles were racing across the screen. There were several times, I missed key pieces of dialogue because I couldn’t keep my eyes off the actors face. Which is a good thing. My most memorable moment might be Col. Hans Landa, laughing at Hammersmark when she tells him she broke her leg climbing in the mountains.
It was an hilarious scene. 5 out of 5 for me.
Hmmm … so Matt … what exactly does this film mean??? What is it about exactly??
The film has absolutely no point other than to indulge Tarantino’s bizarre revenge-plot and foot fetishes.
i lovvvveee brad pitt.
what a thought provoking mind blowin erection giving thrill ride
i would do unforgivable things to that man.
Ray when you watch a movie do you relly think what the movie does for the director not for you? BTW. Both of the things mentioned are pretty popular ;)