Movie Review. Inglourious Basterds. (2009)
I remember that, back in 1994, I was told that there was a film that I just had to see. It was directed by someone named Quentin Tarantino and the film was called Pulp Fiction. After seeing the film, I knew that I wanted to see more film by this director. After seeing his last film, Inglourious Basterds, I am not sure that I want to see anymore films directed by him.
The film, set in German-occupied France, tells the story of two plots to assassinate the Nazi political leadership, one planned by a young French Jewish cinema proprietress, the other by a team of American soldiers called the “Basterds”. The team is led by 1st Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt)
While I was watching the film, I kept thinking, “What if this film would have been set in the present day and instead of the Nazi’s we are given Al-Qaeda or the Taliban?” This would be a very bold move. Instead we are given the same, tired plot, given that the Nazis were the bogeyman back in 1944. Does Hollywood only consider the past evil men and pretend that the present day evil doesn’t exist?
To me this was the main reason why this film failed for me. Since “Pulp Fiction”, I have asked Tarantino to always give me another great film. I do not mind the reusing of old ideas into something new but with this film, we are given a lot of recycled material, but nothing new and instead of a new classic film, I see a 2+ hour adult, anti-Nazi cartoon.
When you see the film in Korea please remember that the film is in English, French, German and Italian. I do not know if there will be English Subtitles or only Korean ones.
Please pass on this film when it opens in South Korea on 29 October 2009.
Grade: D+
Lt. Aldo Raine: You probably heard we ain’t in the prisoner-takin’ business; we in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, Business is a-boomin’.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
“When you see the film in Korea please remember that the film is in English, French, German and Italian. I do not know if there will be English Subtitles or only Korean ones.”
I comment only for the gamblers:
I went to see District 9, which is partially in alien ^_^. This got translated to both English and Korean. They maintained the English subtitles on the bottom of the screen and added Korean to the right side of the picture. I’m sure all movies have their own preference and not sure who who would make this call. The studio? Director? (probably not). Producer?
I expect if you don’t watch the digital version of the flim …the korean subtitles will exist along with the english. Since the English subtitles are actually on the film image they have to write the korean on the side. But the digital version…not sure…subtitles might be like DVD.
*EDIT: Name calling removed.* -Socius Mod
I don’t think this movie would be remotely similar if it focused on the Taliban instead of the Nazis. I, for one, would loathe it in that case. I don’t think this type of movie would be appropriate in covering a current war. A documentary would be more prudent.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews and sought to conquer the world; they succeeded in conquering much of Europe. The Taliban sucks, but not nearly that hard, nor was the Taliban responsible for the 9/11 attacks.
This is very interesting, by the way:
http://www.tdbimg.com/files/2009/10/28/-buckley-resignation-letter-10-28-09_191716516380.pdf
Good news…The Korean version shows the English subtitles in their original, uncompromised form on bottom and the Korean subtitles on the right.
As for the “same tired plot” it’s a story told in a different way. Also, harking back on old tired plots, rather than focusing on the current has its historic roots traced back through the greatest literature and films of all time, to even allude to it being a requirement to be able to put together a movie is a bit absurd. If anyone agrees with this, it looks like you can’t watch many war movies newer than Courage Under Fire or Crimson Tide.
This film received excellent reviews across the board, and like the reviewer I think I wanted something a bit better, but this is original and entertaining nonetheless. The storytelling is imaginative like you’d expect from Tarantino, it’s the underbelly of a war story you haven’t heard much about, if any, in history class. Overall probably the a top 3 summer movie, possibly behind Star Trek and/or District 9 dependent on the viewer.
For people who don’t want to rely on the above top 50 all time on imdb ranked by 80,000+ users ; A- from 13 critics on Yahoo Movies and B+ from 8,000+ users.