Comments on: ‘Inglourious Basterds’ – Genius deferred

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:29:58 +0000

First of all, I disagree with Jon F. I personally have a VERY hard time reading an article on the web all the way through but this one kept my attention. AND I was impressed by your rhetoric I must, however, disagree with your assessment of the movie. I loved it! I was thoroughly entertained and grossed out in a way that only Tarantino can do to me. You may wonder why I’m writing this 9 months after your original article. It’s because I just saw it this weekend and wondered…WWT think?

By: Genius Deferred

Genius Deferred — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:40:01 +0000

I recently saw “Inglourious Basterds”, and I could say I’m a “Tarantino fan” of sorts, given the fact that I loved “Pulp Fiction” but haven’t seen “Reservoir Dogs”. I’ve seen a few other Tarantino flicks, and I surmise that his true “signature style” is weaving an interesting, rarely-seen tail with lots of violence in an RIDICULOUSLY LONG length of time. I, too, found myself looking at my watch during the film, but despite is 150 minute run, I didn’t feel as if all that time was completely wasted as I have at other 2.5 hour cinematic venues I’ve attended. Overall, I think it was a good movie, despite the fact that Brad Pitt’s fake accent gave me a headache! Thus, I’m not yet ready to accept IB as “Genius Deferred”. I think it’s still GENIUS, but people just haven’t learned to truly appreciate it yet. Give it a bit more time, and I think we’ll see another cult-classic type of film emerging here.

By: cftoto

cftoto — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:06:44 +0000

Jon F. – I appreciate your thoughts – and for keeping your comments clean!

I wish you could give me specific examples where you feel the review lacked … whatever you feel it lacked.

My style isn’t for intellectuals or academics. It’s for movie lovers – and that’s the approach I take.

I read it over a few more times and I think the review as written is clear and concise. It’s a bit shorter than some reviews, but this is the web and attention spans tend to be spare.

By: Jon Foley

Jon Foley — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:17:49 +0000

I’m sorry to say this, but this is a terribly written review. I’ll hold back my opinion of the film based on my comments, but you have to do better. My god, you’re writing about an art form, you have to actually go home and take it into consideration, think about it and critically analyze the form, what it means to you and somehow intelligently communicate those feelings. You have done not of that. And the worst thing is… there are many critics out there doing a far worse job. Think about the film. Use your mind. You sound like a high school student checking their cell phone for texts during the inconvenience of the film you’re supposed to be reviewing. Stop being lazy.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:26:17 +0000

Tarantino did this film about Jews hunting Nazis so the money would continue to flow for him. Tarantino has not made a good film since Pulp Fiction. If Hollywood was not producing so much “straight to Blu-Ray”, this film would be as irrelevant as ‘Death Proof’. A film about angry Jews collecting Nazi scalps? This is a blatant attempt to raise favour with Hollywood.

By: Grofe

Grofe — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:11:08 +0000

As I left the theater yesterday I had to admit that I really liked this movie. Was it great? No. It could have been cut down a bit. But the opening scene reflects a maturity in Tarantino’s work that was clearly lacking in the horrible Death Proof. I was squirming from the get go. Christoph Waltz is a major talent. If you’re running to see this because of Brad Pitt, slow down. This is not a star driven film. But worth the price of admission.

A couple of random thoughts. B.J. Novak seemed miscast, as did Eli Roth. There was a mention of ‘terrorism’ that seemed to be crammed in there for no reason. Did that term even exist in the 1040’s? The farmer in the opening season was wonderful. And as you might expect, the dialogue was over the top and at times momentum breaking.

If I got paid for this, and posting on this site is payment enough, I’d give it 3 out of 4 starts.

By: James Frazier

James Frazier — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:18:52 +0000

Tarantino’s films have all had the same theme: the exhilarating joy of pop movie making. And with the exception of “Death Proof,” he has always done it right.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:31:23 +0000

admittedly, i am a huge fan of tarantino’s other movies. This one was completely pointless, but amazing. Don’t go in expecting any kind of theme, and you will come away satisfied.

By: James Frazier

James Frazier — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:30:22 +0000

I really enjoyed this. It’s wonderfully shot and brilliantly acted, with that sort of crackling pop dialogue deftly fitted into a WW2 context. It’s certainly imperfect, but it’s the kind of imperfect that’s so idiosyncratic and energetic that I enjoy it more than a work which is more conventionally accomplished.

I was also pleasantly surprised that it really wasn’t a war film at all, but more of a (very talky) action fantasy. Tarantino hasn’t really done a “straight” film since “Reservoir Dogs,” and since all but one (“Death Proof”) of his films have been good, it was a relief for me to see he didn’t allow any sort of temptation to conform to genre bother him.

Especially pertinent for me was the film’s treatment of film. It’s often pointed out that Tarantino relentlessly cribs from other directors (even though his assembly is unique), so it was cool to see characters who were cinephiles and a plot set in motion by a film, be it a nod to his own roots, an indulgence of his own interests, or both, it coalesced with so much verve and ingenuity.

One thing I don’t see noted very often: this film is suspenseful. During scenes such as the Colonel’s opening discussion with the farmer and the meeting at the French bar, I found my heart racing long before the payoff. You and others find it a bit tiresome, but it just wound up me up even more, making the Bang! feel earned.

I’d heard about the ending, but avoided everything else, and am glad I did. That’s about it for my rave!

By: Jim Lakely

Jim Lakely — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:59:18 +0000

Watching the trailers — both in the theater and on TV — I started to get sick of Brad Pitt’s “southern fried” affectation. “We’re in the Nazi-killin’ bidness.”

What is it about actors deciding to drag out the Southern accent every time they interpret their character as goofy, or mindlessly violent, or mindlessly goofy and violent? “Look here, Pa! We caught ourselves one of them Nazis in our possum trap!”

I still want to see this movie, but I haven’t seen the script … but how many Jews with peerless assassin skills in the 1940s talked like a slightly less retarded Slingblade? Can that possibly be in the script?