AfroPixFlix:

A mark of a distinctive filmmaker is that rarely can one discuss a film by Quentin Tarentino without mentioning his name within the first few seconds of the discussion. He has created his own imprimatur that instantly tells you what type of film you are in for when you sit in your seat and the curtain goes up. This one will not disappoint. Enough gore to fill several back haulers; over the top graphics that literally point you to key screen elements (like "this is a bad guy"); larger than life characters that are even larger than larger than life; funky mood music; a departure from the usual three act cinema experience; and Chester Gould-like use of bold, primary colors. All of this is wrapped up in a long movie that entertains like a good comic book. Oh, the storyline. The only thing that historically matters is that the setting is the Nazi occupation of France during WWII, and it involves a band of Jewish Nazi-hunters who endeavor to execute a brilliant scheme to topple the Third Reich and end the war early. Enough pseudo-history, it's a bad guys versus good guys thing. Guess who wins?

Jeremy Thomas:

After the commercial failure of Grindhouse and the long-delayed development of the script, Quentin Tarantino had a lot to prove with Inglorious Basterds. To say he delivered is an understatement. The film is quintessential Tarantino by melding all the genres that he loves, crossing authenticity to the language and the era with the director's outlandish style in a seamless melding. The plot is quite dense and features some excellent performances, particularly Christoph Waltz and Melanie Laurent as the villain and heroine, respectively. Waltz plays a wonderful Nazi monster, alternately charismatic and vicious while Laurent smolders as the victimized woman hell-bent on revenge. The film is wonderfully made and has some of Tarantino's best dialogue to date. The climax is a surprise because you don't see it coming and has one of the most iconic images in a movie this year, with a certain face projected on smoke. This is a movie that not all filmgoers will like due to the subtitles, the heavy dialogue and the fact that the marketing machine portrayed a different kind of film, but those who can handle these will greatly enjoy it.

DfwForeignBuff:

Talk about an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth. In Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked new film-Brad Pitt ; his merry band of Jewish soldiers bash Nazi soldiers' heads with a baseball bat collect their scalps in a bid to avenge their people stop the Holocaust. At its roots, Tarantino's World War II fantasy ; its orgy of violence are little more than cartoonish savagery perhaps a cathartic experience for some Jewish viewers. It's a sort of reverse form of sadistic enjoyment: Jews giving Nazis the ultimate taste of their own medicine. The film also represents a growing genre of Jewish-themed films in which the victims become the victors. Anne Frank is no longer hiding in the attic; the fate of Judaism no longer depends on benevolent Gentiles like Oskar Schinkder. The main theme of the film is revenge. Gives us an alternate history of the Second World War in which the entire top leadership of Nazi Germany, namely Hitler, Goering, Goebbels ; Bormann attend a film premiere in Paris celebrating the exploits of a German sniper who had managed to kill 300 American soldiers in Italy. Most of the film's time frame is set in early June 1944, after the D-Day landings but before the liberation of Paris. The film tracks the separate attempts to kill Hitler by two disparate forces. The Basterds have a method whereby each man must cut off the scalp of a dead Nazi soldier, with orders to get 100 scalps each. The Basterds allow one German soldier to survive each incident so as to spread the news of the terror of their attacks. However, the Basterds carve a swastika into the forehead of that German. The other force concerns Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent), the only survivor of a Jewish family killed by the Jew Hunter, who plots her own revenge on the Nazis. The Basterds Shosanna remains unaware of each other throughout the film. To me this film appeared mostly as a farcical comedy. Brad Pitts accent is so horrible. The film is well constructed with great sets cinematography etc. 4 stars

hug 75586:

Is it too much to ask that this will conclude Tarentino's slide? Sophomoric, self-indulgent, and self-referential -- perhaps that's what you've come to expect from this director. But without story or character, this is the worst waste of money and talent I have seen in a long time. Cute, sporadically clever, but dreadfully boring.

DeafAtheist:

This is easily Tarantino's best work since Pulp Fiction. Seriously. Christoph Waltz was absolutely brilliant in the supporting Role of Col Hanz "The Jew Hunter" Landa and was well deserving of the Oscar & Golden Globe he won for his role. Brad Pitt was perfect for his role as Lt. Aldo Raine as well. Brad is almost always a pleasure to watch in his films and this was no exception. This is a film that grips from the opening scene and doesn't let go until the end credits roll. It's too bad World War 2 didn't really end this way because it makes for a very satisfying ending to the tyrannical rein of the most hated man in history. This isn't a movie for people who don't like foreign language films with English subtitles as at least 3 different languages other than English are spoken throughout the film. While the main language is English, German, French, and Italian are also spoken throughout, and it's done brilliantly especially with the opening scene where Col Landa is speaking with a French dairy farmer. The scene starts with them speaking French, then Landa admits that his French isn't as fluent as his English so he asks politely if they can switch to English. Then at the end of the scene He recommends switching back to French. He has a specific reason for this, which obviously is not the reason he gave because he was quite obviously fluent in French, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't yet seen the film. But it was well written with excellent dialog and the best scenes in the film were done brilliantly. Every actor and actress played their parts with brilliant realism. This film is a definite MUST SEE.

beeswax:

Under normal circumstances I might have reviewed this DVD, but when NetfIix implemented the new DVD page design they removed friends' ratings, top 10 lists and the ability to send movie notes. That made it harder for me and others to find movies we'd like to see. If you are reading this, please call NetfIix at 1-866-716-0414 and ask them to give us the community features back. Thank you, and I apologize for this non-review.

Peter Olafson:

The incredible first scene equals or exceeds in power much of what Tarantino has previously put to film. And then Inglorious Basterds goes curiously flat and stays more or less flat until the end. This revenge fantasy appears to be a classic case of a sketchy screenplay with brilliant headlights that was pushed into production before it was ready -- before Tarantino as screenwriter could feel his way past the golden moment (which probably captures the birth of the idea) and extend and expand its power into a larger narrative. The result is an oddly stringy movie full with talk and theatrical violence but offering virtually no satisfactions. The talk feels inconsequential -- but for the scenes with Christoph Waltz, there's a sense of marking time -- and the violence lacks the satisfying tang of revenge. In other words, two more reminders the movie wasn't all there.

tntbaker1:

My actual rating on this would probably be 3.5 stars. This movie portrays various sequences (in a "chapter" format) of nazis and then a group fighting the nazis known as the basterds. This is a Tarantino movie so there is a fair amount of language and (at times grusome) gore. The acting is well done pretty much all around. Christoph Waltz & Brad Pitt stand out a bit from the others. I really liked this movie but I do not see myself re-watching it much. Fully recommend a viewing/rental.

robowriter:

Quentin Tarantino rocks again as Inglorious Basterds takes a cinematically grounded yet fresh approach to a kill-the-Nazis theme. Our story begins with an intriguing premise: What if, had history gone differently, a crack team of American Jews took surgical, bloody, insurgent revenge on hundreds of Nazis in France and ultimately succeeded in assassinating Hitler, Goebbels, Goering, and Bormann in a propaganda premiere turned conflagration? The characters and low-key (if often lethal) comedic developments make this story pop and sizzle (esp. as Hitler and his murderous ilk get what's coming to them). Brad Pitt is Lt. Aldo Raine, a vowel-chewing soldier from Atlanta who recruits a deadly squad of American Jews and demands 100 Nazi scalps from every one of his men. Diane Kruger plays his would-be co-conspirator in a plan of attack that's beyond his means. (Foreign dialects are his downfall, esp. I-talian.) Melanie Laurent is Shosanna, his ultimate co-conspirator who fills the bill (literally and hauntingly). Stellar in this film though is Oscar winner Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa, the urbane, witty, and deadly Nazi officer known as "the Jew Hunter." (He hates the nickname but prattles on about it as he plays with his victims like a cat with a mouse.) Most of the movie's grisly moments and wounds are all but bloodless -- scalping should be quite a bit messier than shown, for just one example -- thus avoiding the trap of splatterporn. Besides, Tarantino loves to push the boundaries of violence while drumming it for comedic effect -- and he does this very well. All caricatures aside, you may find yourself cheering as the Nazis meet their demise. The best scenes, however, are detailed, character-based, and full of fun (esp. anything with Christoph Waltz in it and Aldo's unraveling plan in the bar). Have a sense of humor and enjoy! A film buff co-worker already owns this movie and so will I. 5 stars. (7-17-10)

Walt D in LV:

Everything you expect in a Tarentino movie: Chaptered storylines, Long mesmerizing bits of dialogue, action, violence, HUMOR, and it is all absolutely fantastic! Not enough good things can be said for Chistoph Waltz' performance (he won Best Actor at Cannes for his role) and Brad Pitt: They are both simultaneously scary and hilarious! A must-see for Tarantino fans, of course, whether in theaters or on DVD/Blu-ray. 8/22/09

Stubbendeck:

This isn't my favorite Tarantino film but it could very well be his finest. It's impressive in every way, great acting, great screenplay and superior direction. The story follows several plot lines and keeps the viewer enthralled throughout. Christoph Waltz deserves an Oscar nomination and should bring home the trophy for his portrayl of Hans Landa aka "The Jew Hunter". Pitt's character says, "you know something, I think this might just be my masterpiece." I think Quentin will be saying the same about this one in the years to come.

Firewater:

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS was a Quentin Tarantino tour-de-force. I'm a QT fan and his imprint is apparent here. This movie has intelligent dialogue, graphic violence, and that one shot that is pointing up into the faces of the actors. The cinematography and set design are also top-notch. But, it is the story that is the star here. After VALKYRIE I was afraid that I was in for another WWII assassination caper that could only end in one way. Without ruining the movie for you, let me say that I was pleasantly surprised. At nearly 3 hours, this movie does take some commitment to watch all the way through, but you will find that it moves quickly enough. I bought this one for my QT collection, and I recommend it. [12-26-2009]

DfwForeignBuff:

Talk about an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. In Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked new film Inglourious Basterds Brad Pitt and his merry band of Jewish soldiers bash Nazi soldiers' heads with a baseball bat and collect their scalps in a bid to avenge their people and stop the Holocaust. At its roots, Tarantino's World War II fantasy and its orgy of violence are little more than cartoonish savagery and perhaps a cathartic experience for some Jewish viewers. It's a sort of reverse form of Schadenfreude: Jews giving Nazis the ultimate taste of their own medicine. Yet the film also represents a growing genre of Jewish-themed films in which the victims become the victors. Anne Frank is no longer hiding in the attic; the fate of Judaism no longer depends on benevolent Gentiles like Oskar Schinkder Fast-food-loving hit man Vince Vega (John Travolta), his philosophical partner Jules (Samuel L. Jackson), a drug-addled gangster's moll (Uma Thurman) and a washed-up boxer (Bruce Willis) converge in this sprawling, comedic crime caper. Their adventures unfurl in three stories that ingeniously trip back and forth in time. Director and co-writer Quentin Tarantino uses whip-smart dialogue to propel the most audacious and imitated movie of the 1990s

Nick :

Tarantino rewrites WWII and pretty much turns it into a comic book. Here's what I liked. The writing. The directing. The acting. Here's what I did not like. The violence and the ending. It just did not work for me. The excessive violence was gratuitous and unnecessary. Unlike Kill Bill Vol I and II, where I felt the violence was appropriate for the story, Inglorious Basterds is more like a snuff film disguised as a movie, which is pretty tasteless.

SC 946432:

I can't believe I gave this five stars, but I did. It's got a silly plot, ham-fisted acting, and some violent scenes I found hard to watch. Nevertheless, it's one of the most entertaining movies I've seen in a long time. Tarantino keeps you guessing; no scene is predictable. It's got great extended dialogs that ratchet up the tension in every scene. And it's fun to try and pick out all the plot and character name references from old B movies that are thrown in for good measure (Aldo Raine??). Also, among the extra features, don't miss the "documentary" of the making of the Nazi movie-in-a-movie, Nation's Pride, straight from the German Propaganda Bureau. It's got interviews with Goebbels, as well as with its director (who looks suspiciously like Eli Roth), and even a review by Hitler himself!

JJ 852710:

Meh. This just solidified my general distaste for Tarantino. But I'll concede, he knows what the masses want though and he serves it up in a trough. There was some nuance and a bit of panache to his early films whereas IB seemed sloppy and lazy at times. He wraps overexposed plot elements and tired dialogue around the same hunk of bloody Kenucky Ash that his golem uses to dispatch unidimensional Nazis and bludgeons the viewer into submitting to this overlong pastiche that would have worked better as a Zombie flick. Christopher Waltz was brilliant however. That he could work at all , much less excel under Tarantino's direction is an amazing commendation of the Actor's talent. I look forward to seeing more from him.

moviesorfilm:

Was this the best of Tarantino? No--but it certainly was entertaining and that's what I have been waiting for and wanting to see. Historically accurate? Heck no! But, in this historical fantasy the good guys win in a spectacular way. Tarantino does prove that he still has great style when it comes to script and execution but there are still quite a few scenes that go on a bit long and spoil the pacing. Not normally a huge fan of Brad Pitt he was the best part of this movie--funny, extremely charming and wholly watchable as Aldo Rey, the leader of the Basterds. Too bad the rest of the crew didn't get more screen time and attention. Waltz was perfectly slimy and seductive as the "Jew Hunter" and he decidedly deserved his Oscar win. Lots of action offset by lots of talking brought this rating down to a 4 for me. Great film that should be seen at least once, especially for Tarantino fans.

JHiott:

Not since Raiders of the Lost Ark have Nazis been disposed of with such gore and glee. Tarantino surely can write dialogue but overall the story is sluggish. There are some interesting twists and an immensely satisfying climax. Pitt's accent is forced and is one of the few flaws. Again, in true Tarantino style, music is used to great effect as is homage to other films and filmmakers he presumably admires.

Marillion:

The opening scene of Inglourious Basterds is pure dynamite, tense, dramatic and vintage Tarantino. Unfortunately it goes downhill from there and never reaches the same intensity again. That being said there are scenes in the movie that work well and keep you interested enough to make the movie watchable, but certainly not enough to make the "great" or even very good in my opinion. Maybe one of the things that bothers me the most about this film is that it takes a serious subject (Nazi atrocities against the Jews) and rewrites history in an effort to somehow provide some kind of revisionist justice for the Jews. While the sentiment may not have meant to be degrading, it somehow feels cheap and completely unnecessary. Now I know Tarantino supporters will talk about it being a WWII based Spaghetti Western, fantasy blah blah blah but frankly there are just some subjects that just do not work in that context and the Holocaust happens to be one of them. On the bright side Christopher Waltz is absolutely brilliant a sadistic SS officer and Brad Pitt is better than I expected in his role. Maybe had this movie gone a different path it could have been special but it didnt and thus its just plain ordinary. Inglourious Basterds gets 2.5/5 stars

mja 1345133:

The film isn't for every everyone. It exemplifies good old fashioned patriotism and solving problems the way America used to do it back when we won wars, a message that isn't accepted by everyone anymore. I hope we have secret squads like that out there fighting Al-Qaeda. I enjoyed the film except for the foul language and some of the graphic blood. I think the film could have been as good without it and made a PG-13 rating.

the rockwoods:

I'm a fan of QT's work, but this was a trite, self-indulgent waste of time. I kept waiting for it to get better - and it never did. Very disappointed.

raddevon:

A supremely satisfying ending casts of the restraints of historical accuracy and expertly caps off this violent and hilarious movie.

Coarse Gold:

Quentin Tarantino is THE master at creating films which tread that fine line between taut suspense and black humor. His ear for dialog is apparent in the opening 20-minute conversation between the "Jew Hunter", Colonel Landa, and a French family farmer who has a secret to keep. Alfred Hitchcock could not have built the suspense better. And speaking of Colonel Landa, Christopher Waltz's Academy Award-winning portrayal of the charming but malevolently clever SS officer was certainly the best performance of the film -- even though Shoshanna (Melanie Laurent), the young Jew with a score to settle with Colonel Landa, comes in a close second with her sympathetic performance of the revenge-driven beauty. Brad Pitt, with his exaggerated Tennessee drawl, was not so good as the leader of the Basterds -- but he certainly initiated the bulk of Tarantino's black humor. The film is set in Nazi-occupied France during WWII and the locations and sets are all colorful and realistic. It is so beautifully put together that I didn't notice the length of the film (over 2.5 hours!) I only wish Mr. Tarantino would get over his fetish for brutal, graphic violence. I can stomach violence in a war film, but many of the scenes here seemed to be a glorification of violence -- hence this cannot receive my fifth star.

Walt D in NLV:

Another fun Tarantino film exploring a different 70s genre. Lots of long dialogue, violence, quirky characters, and plenty of humor. This even has a bit of female nudity, which is welcome, but different from most any other Tarantino film. A different tale than the original, not really a remake. Brad Pitt creates another iconic memorable character as he has in films like 12 Monkeys, True Romance, and Snatch. This is spaghetti western done right, like no one else today can. If you enjoy Tarantino films, you should enjoy this just as much. 9/14/09

Jason Bonnema:

Okay, for those of you who just want to know if the movie is fun, and don't really care to dig too deep: yes, the movie is a lot of fun. It's everything you expect from Tarantino , the great dialog, memorable characters, references to obscure pop culture trivia (my favorite this time being one character using the alias Antonio Margheriti look it up), near perfect use of music, and of course the crazy, over the top violence and action. Basterds is a great movie about the power of film, specifically in the form of propaganda. Lest anyone say they weren't warned, large portions of this film are in various foreign languages with subtitles. If you're illiterate I can understand this being a problem, but since you're reading this review I can only assume that's not the case. Suck it up and read a little. Also, there are some extremely gory and violent scenes in this movie. If you've ever watched a Quentin Tarantino movie before, this should come as no surprise. P.S. The performance Christoph Waltz gives as Colonel Landa is superb.

tjz 224257:

Tarantino is about the most self-possessed and self indulgent film maker of the age. A shame that he hasn't matured as a film maker one bit in all these years. As a comedy, it's simple not funny. As a drama, it's simply not engaging. As WWII history, it's a laughing stock. And sorry Quintin, you're no Sergio Leone; not by a long shot! I have to admit that the film gave me one long belly laugh. That was the rock song during a scene where Laurent was putting on her makeup. A rock song in 1944 Paris? Now that was hysterical!!!

DJMann79:

Without a doubt, Inglourious Basterds may stand as Quentin Tarantinos definitive statement on the power of cinema. How films excite and infuriate us. How they captivate and involve us. And how dangerous they can be, down to the actual material that makes up a film print can in itself be a lethal weapon. Quentin has always brought his own sensibility and interpretation to the classic genres of cinema (Heist movie, gangster film, blackspoitation, Revenge/Samurai), and within the context or a war/western epic, his accute eye for scene composition and his elaborate almost musical dialogue (Listen sometimes to his dialogue passages, the rythyn of the speeches make them almost musical numbers without music). And with a cast that is perfectly suited to their roles (Tarantino has rarely cast a role that upon refelction one could picture anyone else embodying), including Brad Pitt, who has the thankless task or portraying what would appear to be a one-note character. But Aldo Raine isnt one-note/dimensional, he is merely a man who cannot be anything but who he is. True to his word down to the fact that when he TRIES to be someone else, its a total misfire. At first glance this might appear to be a joke but upon analysis reveals itself to be a great display of character depth. My personal choice for Best Film of 2009, and quite frankly with each subsequent viewing, one of the best films of the last decade.

BlueVoid:

Quentin Tarantino has nitched out his own special brand of movies, creating a style that is all his own. He sucks you into his own world and you are just there for the ride. And what a fantastic ride Inglrious Basterds is. The trailers for the film were decieving. They would have you believe that the entire film is going to be about the Basterds killing everything in sight. While this is of coure a part of the film, it was a surprising small part. I did want to see more of the Basterds, explore their origins, and see some creative death scenes, but in the end that movie would have been too thin. Adding the primary storyline adds weight and makes this a more fulfilling film. This is a revenge film through and through, and the Tarentino captures the powerful emotion perfectly utilizing every bit of his creative freedom to pull the strings of the viewers own emotions and reveal anger and lust for revenge over the Holocaust. More than just a revenge film though, this is a film about films. Tarentino is one of the biggest film fans around and he borrows and pays homage to countless films that influenced him. It's more than just meaningless movie trivia however. Tarentino works these references seamlessly into his work enhancing it. Above all, this is a beautiful film. There are only a handful of scenes, and each is very long, carefully crafted and brilliantly acted. Christoph Waltz was amazing in the film as Hans Landa, creating one of the most compelling movie villains in film history. Hans Landa is charming, intelligent and someone that you love to hate. He and the rest of the cast allowed Tarentino to craft impacting scenes. Scenes where eye candy, wonderful dialog and meaningful symbolism all mesh together to create high quality cinema. Inglorious Basterds is a powerful, funny, insightful and just plain fun movie which goes down as one of the better revenge fantasy of all time.

JLo:

As a friend of mine said, this is a Tarantino film but at the same time it isn't. It's a pastiche of genres, referencing films (even in the title), incredible to look at and full of over-the-top violence, acting and bombastic anachronistic music. And I have to say, I liked this more than both Kill Bill movies. I do think it fits in nicely with a revenge series by Tarantino. Not since Heath Ledger's Joker have I seen such a wonderful, fun-to-watch villain in Christop Waltz's Colonel Hans Landa. Tarantino doe something in this movie basically allows history and circumstances be prop pieces in a story that he wants to tell. To heck with what we know of history; this is about story and characters. In a way, I felt like this film hearkens back to Jackie Brown when it comes to telling stories with utterly fascinating characters. One gripe: I liked Eli Roth's Bear Jew better with his mouth shut. I hope I don't affect anyone's perception of the movie, but Roth's character was adequately dreadful and horrifying as he hit his baseball bat on the palm of his hand and smirked at his next victim. When he opened his mouth, well, I will let you be the judge. Each scene is drawn out with interesting dialogue and incredible tension. Aside from the very first scene with Christoph Waltz, my second favorite scene was at the movie theater when three of the basterds acted as if they were out of a Marx brothers movie. Funny stuff.

The Ben man:

best Q.T film ever. I have never been a huge fan of Q.T but after this I am forced to revisit all his older films Inglourious Basterds was incredible start to finish.

BloodyShadows:

If you had any doubt that Quentin Tarantino was America's best director, Inglourious Basterds will assure you that yes, he CAN do anything. Basterds is a brilliant and inspired story that reminds you that you can only love a story if the author loves the story. Quentin does and we get to benefit in its delight. Simply put, some of Tarantino's greatest scenes and dialogues can be found in Basterds. I couldn't help but noticing how incredibly obvious Tarantino's love for cinema is. Not that I ever questioned it, but it seems every frame in this film was created with purpose, inspiration, and a complete disregards for expectations. There are two story lines here: 1) Shoshannah, whose parents were killed by a character named "The Jew Hunter" and her plot for revenge and 2) the Basterds, who as described are Nazi hunters. The two stories are tied together by the best performance by any actor in a Tarantino film: Christoph Waltz. If you're a lover of cinema, you must see this film.

Harry Badface:

Like all Tarantino films since Pulp Fiction he uses 150 minutes of screen time to tell 90-110 minutes of story. A number of characters superfluous to the main plot exist. The one that really stuck out was German actress Bridget Von Hammersmark. Speaking of Col. Landa, while Christopher Waltz¿s performance was quite good, I fail to see the grand appeal in this character. After 50+ years of representations of Nazis in film, among many, many other media, it takes more than a man skilled at detective work to impress me as a particularly notable villain. The complicated multiple plots leading up to the dynamic conclusion of the film suit his storytelling style quite well, though they do take a long time to finally wrap up. The subplot featuring famed German marksman Frederick Zoller hitting on cinema owner Emmanuelle Mimieux meant next to nothing, save allowing a dramatic standoff, an extra kill and introducing the necessary film subplot, which didn¿t need him to come about. The film also loses track of the eponymous Basterds for a long stretch, which is a shame because, at the risk of their act growing repetitive, their sequences are the most energetic and captivating. A few more scrapes with German patrols could have livened up some of the longer stretches of the film. All of this does lead up to an unbelievable conclusion, making the getting there quite worthwhile. The visuals of the theater scene are incredible and the action really explodes off the screen at this point. Toys like glove-guns made me wonder how many more of the Basterds trick we missed out on in the meandering subplots. I wanted much, much more of that. I suppose I wanted an action film with gritty, pulpy touches instead of the pulpy sort of heist film with action touches provided. Still, even though I believe Tarantino made a very good film out of a great one again, it is that very good film. 3 ½ stars full review@ harrybadface.com

Niners Fan:

Inglourious Basters is one of my favorite movies of 2009. From the amazing directing by Tarantino, who directed and wrote the screenplay for the movie, to Christoph Waltz's amazing performance as an SS Lieutenant, this movie rocks. I was very entertained while watching this movie. Each scene builds up so much tension and then unleashes at the end, resulting in climatic action sequences, which never disappoint. I hope Christoph Waltz gets nominated for Best Actor, since he is very deserving of an award for his role, and with the Best Picture nominations increasing to 10, I see no reason why this should not get nominated for Best Picture. Do yourself a favor and go see this movie!

LB 785677:

Unless you like to READ your movies stay away from this Revenge of the Jews. Brad Pitt's Tennessee accent didn't require the dumbing down he put into it and therefore sounded ridiculous. There is nothing sophisticated about this movie. It is sad to see anyone make a comedy no matter how dark about the atrocities of the Nazis during WWII.

Mr.Movies:

The WORST Tarantino movie to date! I turned it off simply from the over use of gore and distastful violence. I like Band of Brothers, I like Saving Private Ryan... I am not someone who is easily bothered by gore and violence. I turned this off shortly after watching Nazis getting scalped. I lasted 20 minutes.

pace.:

It was fantastic! This is probably Tarantino?s most interesting work, visually speaking, and it?s great that a subtitled, World War II film is the number one flick in America. Also, Christoph Waltz puts in a stunning performance and outshines his more famed co-stars.

gqd 1154323:

Though Brad Pitt's "nat-zi" lines in the trailer may draw crowds, the film is based around a number of characters. There are five chapters and each has its own style, a QT signature. There are many powerful scenes where there isn't a Basterd to be found. The opening sequence is perhaps the best 20 minutes ever put onto film and the tension is phenomenal. QT's style is dominant from the opening titles, lending flare and zest to the font selection, yes the font selection, of various actors in the film. Music plays a dominant role in every scene containing an ounce of tension (which nearly all do) and the dialogue is mind blowingly captivating, perhaps QT's best to date. There are scenes written into IB that are some of the best I've ever seen and cinematography is perfectly orchestrated throughout. Narration during a few select portions of the film is even carried out by Samuel L. Jackson, a nice touch. Brad Pitt once again proves he is flat out awesome and Christoph Waltz should be honored with an Academy Award for his performance as Hans Landa, The Jew Killer. The biggest flaw in the film is that Basterd deaths are treated with far less attention than their colorful characters deserve. Some notable characters bite the dust and aren't given near the pomp and circumstance they received with their cinematic introduction. After I saw the film, my wife called me to see what I thought. I am an enormous fan of digesting films for at least a few hours before giving a truly thought out opinion. The one thing I said with certainly a mere minutes after it wrapped was "it was probably the most entertaining film I've seen in years". I stand by that statement and add that now, hours after viewing it, I am thinking back to numerous scenes and completely in awe of what I just witnessed. It is a QT masterpiece, one or two rating points lower than Pulp Fiction and deserving of a repeat visit with certaintly. I honestly cannot wait.

qqy 288628:

First off, I really enjoyed it. For a movie that is 2.5 hours long, I wanted more. I was disappointed that it ended. For all the talk about how the violence was slow to come, but when it came it was intense. I sort of feel different. I felt that the tension created in almost all of the chapters was so great that it was more unnerving than the violence. However, I must say that Tarantino did it again. He made me laugh out loud at horrific moments.

Brier Patch:

My primary service as a reviewer of Inglorious Basterds would have to be my recommendation for those who liked this movie to watch Black Book by Paul Verhoeven (director of Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Starship Troopers, etc.). It is another lurid, thoroughly engaging tale of Nazi resistance by a director with a rock 'em, sock 'em style. I found it more dramatically satisfying, with a broader appeal than Inglorious Basterds. But there was plenty to like in Tarantino's latest. I was particularly impressed by how much tension he and his actors generated in their scenes. Although there is plenty of action (often gruesome), this is not an action movie. Character interaction and dialogue are what make this movie tick. Tarantino's script give the actors plenty to work with and the good acting, along with an audacious score and superior dressing, lighting, and direction, make for a very entertaining night at the movies... at least for those numbed to brutality and up for very dark humor.

Milkbone:

This is QT's best film since pulp fiction, it automatically grabs you from the start with Christoph Waltz's performance as Hans Landa. Brad Pitt, Melaine Lauren, and Diane Kruger are also great. However because of the subject, i feel that it gets a little to crazy/goofball, which might put off a good amount of people. It didn't bother me personally but you sort of shake your at a little at some of the things that go on. Also the ending leaves a little bit to be desired, but i'll still give it a 5/5. It's so great to see QT back at it again.

drk.prizm:

First, let me tell those people that I read complaining about subtitles...this movie IS NOT for you. Fifty percent of it is spoken in German or French, and just for good measure, some Italian. With that said...I LOVED this. Ingenious. This is filled with all those "Tarantinoisms" we all know and love. From the gratuitous violence of Reservoir Dogs to the characteristic music and chapter styling of Kill Bill. Tarantino also uses his clever wit to channel the comedic atmosphere of Jackie Brown, along with the opening credit font of Pulp Fiction. Julie Dreyfus is here, (Sophie from Kill Bill) and Samuel L. Jackson has a short narration. It seems Tarantino has run the gamut and shown us how much he has accomplished thus far. He is even going as far as letting us know who is behind the camera on the cinematography side. Brad Pitt is also phenomenal. This is not the typical Brad Pitt we are used to seeing. If you believe, like some people I have spoken with, that he is always "just himself" and not really the character he is playing, I would suggest you see this. He really acts! I didn't see one thing that reminded me of his past work. The only commonality was his face. His attitude, speech and even his mannerisms spoke of the character he was playing and not of him. Overall, all of these things MAKE me recommend this movie.

gln 835689:

Tarantino is a sophomoric, adolescent, whose writing is reminiscent of a secret society of 12 year olds. Dialog is absurd and characterizations are beyond weird. We are wondering when the rest of the world will become aware that this fellow is an enfant terrible more than anything else. Enjoy something more entertaining than this.

fuhr:

Loved it. Moves to number 2 on my Tarantino movie list behind Pulp and just ahead of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill 2. Although they are the title characters, the story revolves just as much, if not more, around Mélanie Laurent's Soshanna than it does the Basterds. Quentin has always liked his strong female characters and Soshanna and Bridget von Hammersmark deliver. Pitt is great in his role as well. The real scene stealer is Christoph Waltz as Hans the "Jew Hunter". Honestly feel a best supporting actor nod is warranted for him. Tarantino's cinematography and suspense building pacing had me on the edge of my seat during Hans interrogation scenes and he still splashed in enough violence and comedy to keep it moving. A

SuperShortReview:

This is an incredible movie on so many levels, the plot is not at all what you'd expect (in a good way), the violence is way, WAY over-the-top, even secondary characters are fully developed, and it is gorgeous to look at, but the thing that makes this film Tarantino's best since 'Reservoir Dogs', is unquestionably the perfect, PERFECT I tell you, performance of Cristoph Waltz, who plays a Nazi who is at times, evil, bloodthirsty, relentless, and yes, laugh-out-loud funny!

Agorante:

I was surprised to read here in the user reviews that this is a long movie. It didn't seem long to me at the time. I also had no trouble with the subtitles. On the whole I thought it was fascinating just as Tom Cruise's film on a similar topic was mind numbingly dull. Brad Pitt is currently the funniest man in movies. He is almost as funny here as he was in Burn After Reading. Just a few years ago with Troy I thought he was going after the Arnold Schwarzenegger type roles. Nope. He has turned toward the Steve Martin roles. Pretty versatile for a guy who was once considered just pretty.

Jayson Berray:

Brad Pitt has come to be somewhat of a personal hero of mine. Somewhere deep down I've always felt that it would be amazing to be able to experience an acting career. A career even just SIMILAR to Pitt's could be that of covetousness. Regardless, his performance in this particular movie--along with the superb directing, writing, and acting on the part of others--is enough to stand alone. This is a woefully entertaining film that--as far as Tarantino is concerned--is a wonderful change of pace in terms of incorporating another language. The storyline and character background is enough to keep one deeply engaged.

PROZAC:

Quentin is back and this 2 1/2 film ends before you know it. The violence is expected but not as much as you might think. This is a Tarantino film and what you get is intense and orginal dialouge. Inglourious lived up to all the hype and you will either love it or hate it. Many will soak in all the insanity that takes place and will want to revisit the Basterds for repeat viewings.

BunnyKing:

Most definitely Tarantino's best film; perhaps even alluded to via Pitt's final line. I can't say for sure if it was Tarantino's direction or the actors' great skills, but just watch these masterful, emotional scenes where, for instance, a German soldier stares knowingly into the eyes of a French dairy farmer. Chills run up your spine because you just know what he's feeling, and you're terrified because you know what's going to happen next. Or the way Tarantino uses sudden bouts of music-noise to suddenly throw your stomach into your throat as a girl runs from Nazi guns. Tarantino is also excellent at creating an almost comic-book reality for his characters in which they play larger-than-life roles (albeit not invulnerable) and as such, you're rooting for people, even sometimes out loud, because you're able to quickly bond with them. The storytelling here is masterful, and although history is obviously inaccurate, the fantasy and emotion, as well as the spirit of the facts are all so overwhelming that you can't necessarily disagree that this couldn't have happened. The acting, by far, is amazing. The story is also top notch. I've not been a huge Tarantino fan in the past, but this film is surely his best yet. Moreover, this is definitely a 5 star film well worth owning!

Giga:

Not quite close to his earlier masterpieces, Basterds is a cool film that is classic Tarantino. The dialogue is tremendous although I wonder how well it is written for German. The characters, plot, acting are over the top as it should be. The action was ok. But some truely memorable scenes where Tarantino masterfully builds tension and anticipation. Overall, a great movie experience. It is not nearly as refined as say...Kill Bill... but still a solid recommendation for any educated film goer.

GaB:

Its not as strong as other Tartino work but its a fun ride of disbelief. There is a really beautiful moment towards the end like a toe dip into an ole french film. But, then made sure it finished with the big bang to retain its B style. If B movies are your style, you will love this film.

teddyKGB:

Almost a decade and a half in the making, Inglourious Basterds is one of the best movies of 2009 and director Quentin Tarantino's finest film since 1994's Pulp Fiction. More than anything, Basterds is a brilliantly written feast of words. Smart, exciting, and humorous dialogue have always been the trademarks of a Tarantino script but in this movie his words are delivered by an entire cast of superb actors. Christoph Waltz steals every scene as SS Colonel Hans Landa. The movie contains some very gruesome sequences but they last for only 10 seconds at most and make up around a total minute of the film's 153 minute runtime. This movie is a must-see. I was on edge the entire time I watched it, there is never a dull moment in this masterpiece but for the action-packed A.D.D. Michael Bay fans out there, this will not be a movie for you.

WideStance:

You've got to hand it to Quentin Tarantino. Whatever your opinion of the "fictitious history" on display in Inglourious Basterds, the director has made one of the most insanely original and unpredictable war movies of all time. A bold, swaggering movie that tosses the history books right out the window. So if you go into it expecting to see a certain mustachioed megalomaniac meet his end in a bunker with a pistol and a cyanide pill, you're in for a big surprise. I'm completely comfortable calling the exhilarating Inglourious Basterds Tarantino's best movie to date.

f7900cff98:

Forget that its directed by Tarantino (hard as it may be) and this movie is great for no other reason than Christopher Waltzs calculated portrayal of one of the movies great all time villains. The opening scene alone is Oscar worthy and I guess well find out tonight whether or not the Academy agrees with me (generally not the case). Any way you slice it, this is a great movie.

mithrandir:

"Boo!" That's what I was shouting at my TV screen while watching Inglourious Basterds. While Tarantino films are known to be violent, IB ventures into the repulsive. The film provides uncomfortable displays of cruelty and malice toward other human beings that I find abhorrent. We are supposed to think it's all "OK" because the afflicted are Nazis but it merely reduces "our side" to appear like animals who justify such behavior simply because the other side is doing it. What's the moral lesson, what are we supposed to take away from this? If you watch an atrocity on screen but it merely reflects a real event of the past then you must set aside any discomfort and not cower from the truth. But IB is a fantasy and that's the problem. It's not "enjoyable", it's garbage, offensive without offering any redemption. Lest you think I don't like violence on screen, let me offer that I found much entertainment value from another "Nazi" film: Dead Snow. DS is a total splatterfest serving up somewhat-shocking amounts of gore yet it doesn't take itself seriously. It's just "fun". Inglourious Basterds OTOH, while technically proficient, serves no purpose other than making one feel shameful about the human condition.

gtu 15662:

I just can't wait for those three copies of this movie that Notflix has to get around to me to see. I placed it in my que in December 2009 and is now mid May. I can understand the need to budget your money but your in the video rental business. I'm glad a saw Avatar in the movies I don't know how many more years I have left.

Frank W:

Inglourious Basterds is a funny film. It's also bloody and offensive. But most of all it's an extremely sad movie sure to make us all stop down and contemplate a web of conflicting thoughts and emotions. In a testament to Tarantino's brilliant writing, the film's 2-hour plus runtime never drags in spite of the fact that it's made up of mostly dialogue. Inglourious Basterds is definitely Tarantino?s best work since Pulp Fiction, and time will tell if it becomes his best piece of art to date.

isc 95082:

The acting and scenery were good. Honestly if I knew it was Quentin Tarantino I wouldn't have rented it. I don't like his attention to violence, he must be a one sick puppy. Story is ok, but just too comicly handled without any substance.

ForeignMovies:

There are certain movies that I enjoyed very much and will remember for a long time. This movie is one of them.

Supercords:

Not exactly the movie I anticipated going in. I was looking forward to more of a gorilla warfare killing spree between the Basterds and the Nazi?s. Instead, the plot was much more involved, with very little action scenes by the rebel squad. It?s a drama, first and foremost, with extremely violent intermissions. As a Tarantino loyalist, it hurts me to say that I wish the film had gone in the direction I expected. More run and gun, less plot and intrigue. I would have liked to learn more about the various members of the band, how they got their nicknames, where they are from, how they came to be recruited, and the various interactions among them as they cut their way through he Nazi lines. We got one solitary scene of that. It?s not a bad movie, just not the one I was hoping to see. Rating: B-

pickled gristle:

Wow I didn't realize there were so many Tarantino fans that are illiterate. Maybe you guys should put down the movies and subscribe to netbooks.com for a little while instead. Once your reading skills have improved, come back to film and you will be ready for Kurosawa, Tarkovsky, as well as more modern directors like Chan-wook Park. Yeah I know, I know; go ahead and mark this "unhelpful" :-)

Mandark XX:

I will try to be short and sweet with this review. I am a big Tarantino fan and was looking forward to seeing this movie. Unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations. Although filmed beautifully, the pace of this film is incredibly slow and the payoff for waiting is less than satisfying. Additionally, the film is about 66% subtitled. Although I admire Tarantino for creating a mood of authenticity by having all characters speaking in their native language, trying to read so many subtitles at breakneck speed (this film is dialogue heavy) was unexpected and grew to be tedious. As previously mentioned, Tarantiono did shoot this film beautifully. It really shows how much he has grown as a filmmaker. Also, I agree that Christoph Waltz does give an amazing performance. His ability to make this character so threatening while showing nothing but geniality is truly the treat of this movie. One more thing for Tarantino fans... If you are used to his usual ultra-violent, over the top, Peckinpah-esque film making, you will be in for a huge disappointment. Although this film does have some violent scenes, they are far and few between.

Peter Childs:

I have been waiting for this movie since November of 2008, I know everything there is to know about this movie. I have read the screenplay (illegally) online, and if Quentin does it right I can confidently say five facts. It will be in my top fifteen favorite movies, it will be considered one of the top 10 best war movies ever, it can be better then Pulp Fiction, if the Academy isn't in the same mood they were in last year (not nominating Dark Knight) then this can win best supporting actress Melanie Laurent best actor Brad Pitt (if the Curious Case why not this) and best picture, and finally the fifth thing I promise "Inglorious Basterds" will do is be the most kick a$$ movie of 2009.