Inglorious Basterds

GoldenRivet · 09-05-09, 01:45 AM

Here be Spoilers

So read on only if you are interested

when it comes to movies, particularly world war two movies, im a big historical accuracy buff. The guns have to sound right, the synchronization with historical events have to jive, etc.

It is my realization that anachronisms, name changes and fictionalization of events is impossible when a film is made for entertainment purposes but it is also based on real events. however these things should be followed as closely as possible whenever possible.

so that aside.... there are things i liked about basterds and things i didnt like about basterds.

firstly, if you are going to see this film based on some expectation of seeing a "behind enemy lines" action flick like the dirty dozen or where eagles dare just stop right there... its not that in the slightest sense.

if pulp fiction had sex with oceans eleven and they have a baby that grew up to have sex with the dirty dozen with more blood, and less drugs... inglorious basterds would pretty much be the offspring produced.

Quinton Tarantino's direction is the stuff of cinematic genius... there is no doubt about that, however he is no world war two film director.

one thing i liked about the film was the little details. The opening scene was particularly gripping... slow... but gripping.

the SS Colonel is conducting an informal interrogation of a french dairy farmer suspected of hiding Jews. now when you think of an interrogation, a certain image comes to mind.

this scene is not that image, the SS colonel is portrayed as a very sinister individual who hides underneath a veil of civilized conduct. This makes him all the more frightening, because you just know that right in the middle of the skillfully guided conversation / interrogation he is just going to go nuts and kill someone.

The opening scene is drawn out, almost too long, you the viewer pretty much know whats coming, you almost want to warn the dairy farmer and his hidden Jews... but you cant.

another neat attention to detail was in the sound score of the movie.

there are two references to the 1933 film King Kong (if im not mistaken)

first, when playing the guessing game at the bar with the SS officer, his card says "King Kong"

Second, when the black film projector operator goes back stage to light the fire which is meant to consume the theater and kill the German High Command, the theme song to the 1933 film King Kong plays.

another sound score used in the film was that of the film Kelly's Heroes. During the scene where Brad Pitt's men begin to take their position to carry out their execution of the operation, the suspenseful song "Tiger Tank" from Kelly's Heroes is played.

quinton skillfully places these musical pieces into the film where they probably wouldnt be noticed by the average war film veteran.

Now for the bad news:

This film... from a historically accurate standpoint is an absolute train wreck.

Not only did the basterds prove victorious in their plot to kill every single member of German High Command in the most brutal fashion possible in some cases.

But

Adolf Hitler, Oberster Kommandant das wehrmacht und Allen das deutschland... and all of his highest commanders, generals, and staff went... in secret... to Paris, France... to see a fricking movie... during the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare which was taking place only about 70 miles away!!!!

absolutley inconcievable!

if you are looking for a real time waster on a friday night... its an okay film.

if your looking for a ww2 espionage flick... spend the money on liquer and a decent woman... you will get more bang for your buck

09-05-09, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

Quinton Tarantino's direction is the stuff of cinematic genius...

Personally I never really agreed with this. I saw Pulp Fiction in the movies when it came out and it has a nice 'flow' of the scenes. However the scenes that often just seem to be geared towards eliciting a chuckle from the adolescent-minded and nothing else. The sum of Tarantino's movies always seems to be less then the individual parts, just MHO.

Yes I know that it's about personal taste but I think it's been mostly the commercial US media that has touted Tarantino as a 'genious' and European media has been quite a lot more critical about him.

Aramike · 09-05-09, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

Personally I never really agreed with this. I saw Pulp Fiction in the movies when it came out and it has a nice 'flow' of the scenes. However the scenes that often just seem to be geared towards eliciting a chuckle from the adolescent-minded and nothing else. The sum of Tarantino's movies always seems to be less then the individual parts, just MHO.

Yes I know that it's about personal taste but I think it's been mostly the commercial US media that has touted Tarantino as a 'genious' and European media has been quite a lot more critical about him.

I had to skip the first post in the thread because of spoilers but...

Wow, I actually totally agree with you for once, OTH. To add, I think Tarantino is a terrible story-teller. Even one of the only films of his I like, Reservoir Dogs, was completely about the visceral experience versus the story.

Sure, some people will say that such an experience is good, but the problem comes in when you realize that there are directors that can produce BOTH a story as well as the visceral experience. Tarantino only does will with half of that equation, and that makes him a subpar artist in my eyes.

XabbaRus · 09-05-09, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Adolf Hitler, Oberster Kommandant das wehrmacht und Allen das deutschland... and all of his highest commanders, generals, and staff went... in secret... to Paris, France... to see a fricking movie... during the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare which was taking place only about 70 miles away!!!!

Yes but I think that can be forgiiven as it isn't meant to be a wwII flick is it. AS Aramike said it is classic Tarantino in WWII setting.

AS for story telling I though Pulp Fiction was good and Kill Bill

REservoir Dogs never did it for me. Pointless to the extreme.

I will wait for Basterds to come out on DVD over here and then watch it.

Jimbuna · 09-05-09, 08:27 AM

I'm actually looking forward to it.

Wish I'd never read your post now GT

Torplexed · 09-05-09, 08:33 AM

If you can suspend historical knowledge and common sense for 2.5 hours, you're in good shape with this movie. I mean, the final chapter at the French movie theater felt as if it were written by a junior high school student. Hitler protected by only two guards?? Absolutely nobody on guard at ANY of the theater exists??

Also, it seems as if Brad Pitt gets more mediocre as he gets older. He just came across as a one-dimensional hillbilly stereotype that seemed too stupid to figure out how to tie his own boot laces. I was hoping to see a second layer to this character that suggested he knew his stuff backwards and forwards. Him and his basterds made the film seem like Hogan's Heroes; The Movie. I would love to see Tarantino make a smart movie that has some semblance of plausibility. Jackie Brown and True Romance were screenplays that dealt with a nice ration of intelligent plot turns and character development. Seems like Tarantino just wants to concentrate on explosive individual scenes with his last three movies.. And it also sucks that he enjoys reminding his audience that they're watching a piece of Tarantino kitsch art as opposed to a good story about WWII. The modern day vernacular, the new wave Bowie song, the funky 1970s font throughout the movie, Sam Jackson with his hip, cool narration...I guess I didn't find those things as charming as Tarantino does.

GoldenRivet · 09-05-09, 09:05 AM

100% agreed.

with the fullest respect to the Jews and Tarantino... and no disrespect to anyone involved in the film or its making etc i have to say...

... with as many Jewish producers, writers and actors as there are in Hollywood, i think any film piece written by any 5th grader in American which deals with the delusional fantasy of killing Hitler and his goons would go straight to the theaters.

furthermore, my mildly dyslexic wife hated the film, lost interest and caught a good nap due to the endless stream of fast paced sub titles being machine gunned in her direction.

poor girl

GoldenRivet · 09-05-09, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

Yes but I think that can be forgiiven as it isn't meant to be a wwII flick is it. AS Aramike said it is classic Tarantino in WWII setting.

Tarantinos own words

"Yes... it is a world war two film.... just a different type of world war two film."

that is a direct quote from an interview

how can it be that it isnt meant to be a wwII flick when the director says "it is a world war two film"

im confused

Torplexed · 09-05-09, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

how can it be that it isnt meant to be a wwII flick when the director says "it is a world war two film"

im confused

It's Quentin Tarantino's World War Two movie, which means it has more to do with World War Two movies than with World War Two itself.

Oh well, David Lynch became a parody of himself with the Twin Peaks movie and was able to make a come-back a few years later. Now, Tarantino and Tim Burton have become cartoonish parodies of themselves as well and they're STILL the critics' sweethearts. I'm sure they'll continue to do well and sell well.

09-05-09, 01:45 AM	#1
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Inglorious Basterds Here be Spoilers So read on only if you are interested when it comes to movies, particularly world war two movies, im a big historical accuracy buff. The guns have to sound right, the synchronization with historical events have to jive, etc. It is my realization that anachronisms, name changes and fictionalization of events is impossible when a film is made for entertainment purposes but it is also based on real events. however these things should be followed as closely as possible whenever possible. so that aside.... there are things i liked about basterds and things i didnt like about basterds. firstly, if you are going to see this film based on some expectation of seeing a "behind enemy lines" action flick like the dirty dozen or where eagles dare just stop right there... its not that in the slightest sense. if pulp fiction had sex with oceans eleven and they have a baby that grew up to have sex with the dirty dozen with more blood, and less drugs... inglorious basterds would pretty much be the offspring produced. Quinton Tarantino's direction is the stuff of cinematic genius... there is no doubt about that, however he is no world war two film director. one thing i liked about the film was the little details. The opening scene was particularly gripping... slow... but gripping. the SS Colonel is conducting an informal interrogation of a french dairy farmer suspected of hiding Jews. now when you think of an interrogation, a certain image comes to mind. this scene is not that image, the SS colonel is portrayed as a very sinister individual who hides underneath a veil of civilized conduct. This makes him all the more frightening, because you just know that right in the middle of the skillfully guided conversation / interrogation he is just going to go nuts and kill someone. The opening scene is drawn out, almost too long, you the viewer pretty much know whats coming, you almost want to warn the dairy farmer and his hidden Jews... but you cant. another neat attention to detail was in the sound score of the movie. there are two references to the 1933 film King Kong (if im not mistaken) first, when playing the guessing game at the bar with the SS officer, his card says "King Kong" Second, when the black film projector operator goes back stage to light the fire which is meant to consume the theater and kill the German High Command, the theme song to the 1933 film King Kong plays. another sound score used in the film was that of the film Kelly's Heroes. During the scene where Brad Pitt's men begin to take their position to carry out their execution of the operation, the suspenseful song "Tiger Tank" from Kelly's Heroes is played. quinton skillfully places these musical pieces into the film where they probably wouldnt be noticed by the average war film veteran. Now for the bad news: This film... from a historically accurate standpoint is an absolute train wreck. Not only did the basterds prove victorious in their plot to kill every single member of German High Command in the most brutal fashion possible in some cases. But Adolf Hitler, Oberster Kommandant das wehrmacht und Allen das deutschland... and all of his highest commanders, generals, and staff went... in secret... to Paris, France... to see a fricking movie... during the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare which was taking place only about 70 miles away!!!! absolutley inconcievable! if you are looking for a real time waster on a friday night... its an okay film. if your looking for a ww2 espionage flick... spend the money on liquer and a decent woman... you will get more bang for your buck __________________ Last edited by GoldenRivet; 09-05-09 at 02:45 AM.

09-05-09, 08:27 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,461 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I'm actually looking forward to it. Wish I'd never read your post now GT __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

09-05-09, 09:05 AM	#7
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	100% agreed. with the fullest respect to the Jews and Tarantino... and no disrespect to anyone involved in the film or its making etc i have to say... ... with as many Jewish producers, writers and actors as there are in Hollywood, i think any film piece written by any 5th grader in American which deals with the delusional fantasy of killing Hitler and his goons would go straight to the theaters. furthermore, my mildly dyslexic wife hated the film, lost interest and caught a good nap due to the endless stream of fast paced sub titles being machine gunned in her direction. poor girl __________________

09-05-09, 08:33 AM	#6
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	If you can suspend historical knowledge and common sense for 2.5 hours, you're in good shape with this movie. I mean, the final chapter at the French movie theater felt as if it were written by a junior high school student. Hitler protected by only two guards?? Absolutely nobody on guard at ANY of the theater exists?? Also, it seems as if Brad Pitt gets more mediocre as he gets older. He just came across as a one-dimensional hillbilly stereotype that seemed too stupid to figure out how to tie his own boot laces. I was hoping to see a second layer to this character that suggested he knew his stuff backwards and forwards. Him and his basterds made the film seem like Hogan's Heroes; The Movie. I would love to see Tarantino make a smart movie that has some semblance of plausibility. Jackie Brown and True Romance were screenplays that dealt with a nice ration of intelligent plot turns and character development. Seems like Tarantino just wants to concentrate on explosive individual scenes with his last three movies.. And it also sucks that he enjoys reminding his audience that they're watching a piece of Tarantino kitsch art as opposed to a good story about WWII. The modern day vernacular, the new wave Bowie song, the funky 1970s font throughout the movie, Sam Jackson with his hip, cool narration...I guess I didn't find those things as charming as Tarantino does.