So … last night David and I went on a movie date to see Inglourious Basterds. I have to preface this whole post by clearly stating for the record that I hate Nazi movies. While I understand that WWII and all the horrible things associated with it is an important part of world history, I cannot express how much I loathe the mere sight of anything Nazi -related. While I liked Inglourious Basterds, I must confess that I was far too stressed out for the entire duration of the film to “enjoy” it … inasmuch as one can “enjoy” a film about Nazis:
While it is true that the main focus is on the Basterds, American Jews who went into Europe for the sole purpose to find, kill and scalp Nazis, I can’t say that I reveled that much in their success. Revenge and death is just not appealing to me. I know that the audience is supposed to cheer when the tops of Nazi heads are sliced off with huge bowie knives or when their heads are bashed in with baseball bats or when they are riddled with bullets or when they are burned alive but … I just can’t cheer. As far as Quentin Tarantino films go, this is one of his good ones. His trademark style is all over this film, including his adept use of music. I guess I don’t really understand the point of a fictionalized story like this. BE WARNED A HUGE SPOILER POINT IN THE FILM IS COMING SO DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN UNSPOILED … in this film, the monster Adolph Hitler is brutally killed by the Basterds before he and his closest Nazi underlings are burned and blown up. The fact that his never happened in history seems … weird. If people get comfort from seeing this, then I’m all for it (I understand the term for this kind of film is Kosher Porn). The man was a disgusting waste of flesh but I guess the fact that his death didn’t happen like it was portrayed in the film is what bothered me more. Again, murderous revenge is rarely appealing to me but … I think I would’ve felt much better about what I saw on screen if that’s actually the way that piece of shit met his end. Again, I did like the film … but the stress of all that grotesque inhumanity really took its toll on me.
Not sure what’s on deck for today … David and I have a lot of food shopping to do so we’ll prolly take care of that today. Other than that, it looks like it may be a lazy Saturday afternoon for us.
This review seems really odd coming from someone who told us all to go watch Hostel II before it left theatres.
@Trillian — Yeah, I see where you are coming from … but I tend to not have a positive time processing the heinous atrocities that really happened rather than that of complete fiction. It’s not so much the gore, I see a lot of gory films, it’s the fact that these horrible people (the Nazis) actually did these horrible things and I really don’t like seeing them reenacted for entertainment. Also, you will note I never said don’t see it.
I have no intentions of watching this movie. Doesn’t sound appealing at all and definately not my type of movie. Way too violent. Ack
I REALLY liked this movie..I thought that Christoph Waltz, who played Col. Landa, was amazing!
I see no problem with making a fictionalized story based iduring WWII. None of the characters really existed, so what was the problem with having Hitler actually killed…. Story was fiction so Tarantino took free reign with it. I think he did a superb job telling a really interesting story.
People in my theater laughed when Nazis were being scalped. I hate the Nazis, having family who were killed in the Holocaust, but I didn’t laugh when they were scalped. I don’t think it’s funny when scalps are being cut off.
That being said, I haven’t decided how I felt about it. “The Bear Jew” was the best nickname ever.
I thought the story line was strong. But I agree with Trent. I was mortified at the torture and scalping regardless of who’s side youre on. I found it so disturbing that so many people were laughing during the film. The whole film made me uneasy.
the bear jew rocked!
@julie@kristi i’m glad i wasn’t the only one who felt that way. i heard really ugly comments leaving the theater too. its so strange how one person can find something hard to watch and another finds pure amusement!
This review was… weird to read. Sheesh. This movie by no means should be taken lightly but also shouldn’t be taken THAT seriously, as evidenced by the title. That being said, I loved this movie; probably the best movie I’ve seen this year. The story and characters were amazing, and the acting just stunning.
The thing to remember with this movie, the Basterds, although on the right side, aren’t “good” guys, and they aren’t supposed to be. The German who was a Nazi killer before joining them was a psychopath, he just happened to be on our side. That doesn’t mean someone who dislikes the movie is wrong or overly sensitive, everyone’s different. But it seems like a lot of people who dislike movies like this (really, all of Tarantino’s films are similar in that regard) don’t really take that into account.
I’d say it’s in the top five films of the year, with Star Trek, Watchmen, and Ponyo. I’ll have to figure out what number 5 is later.
Also, has Eli Roth always been Zachary Quinto’s doppleganger?
My stepmom’s mom was in Bergen Belsen for two weeks before it got liberated and she also saw Hitler in person during one of his marches or something. Pretty creepy. I read the spoiler because I have no interest to see this movie simply because it looks weird and all over the place. Oh, but Trent, stuff like in Hostel does happen in real life whether we know about it or not. A lot of people who go to foreign places sometimes never return and who knows what happens to them. A lot of it is associated with sex trafficking but I’m sure there’s a lot other horrible stuff that happens to them as well.
I don’t plan on seeing this movie for two reasons a) Don’t care for Tarantino b) I have no interest in war movies, they bore me.
I completely agree with you. Everyone is so hyped up about this movie and loves it to death…
But really, I feel like by making up a fictional story where the good guys beat the shit out of the bad guys to the point of their ultimate destruction is just bizarre. We’re very much acting the way the Nazis were portrayed in the film. They wanted to watch all of US killed, which was horrible. And yet, it’s supposed to be entertainment for us?
I guess I can understand the appeal. Hitler was entirely evil. But still…
Bizarre movie.
loved this movie! Great performances all around
Yeah, I completely agree with Libby. If I need to watch a movie that portrays the evilness of Nazis, I’ll watch Schindler’s List.
I loved the movie.It is weird and disgusting that someone like you Trent that goes to all the gore and blood and really disgusting movies and writes that review.Could it be that you do not like Bradd Pitt rather that the movie?.
@Oscar — No it’s not about Brad Pitt, as I said I don’t like Nazi movies. How is what I wrote disgusting? Please enlighten.
Violent movies are fun! :-)
I was puzzled at first, but I think I know where Trent is coming from. Titanic for example – that movie was so sad to me because it was based on something that really happened and I kept thinking of the reality of the situation. The Poseiden (sp?) Adventure – you know it’s totally made up..just not a tearjerker. Also maybe it’s just unappealing to see “our” side act as barbaric as the Nazi’s? That little saying about two wrongs don’t make a right? Idk, I haven’t seen IB yet. Just a thought.
Oh!! And lastly, those gross gore fests that Trent likes – aren’t they usually SO out there that they are borderline hilarity? I personally don’t like them, but I’ve seen some parts where you’re like “c’mon…..”
Why the “check mark” if you have such not-so-nice things to say? I, too, thought it was one of the best movies I’ve seen all summer…lots of suspense, GREAT acting and tense scenes, and all in all, aren’t the majority of Tarantino films revenge-flicks (i.e. “Kill Bill”)? This movie was called a WW2 “Tall Tale” in Entertainment Weekly and I couldn’t agree more. It was not – nor was it supposed to be – historically accurate in any way. I’m no hyper-conservative, NRA-lovin’ gal, but I wish the Inglorious Basterds existed in Afghanistan right now, going after the Taliban extremists! Just a thought.
@Alicia — “Why the “check mark” if you have such not-so-nice things to say?” because, as I stated clearly in my post, that I liked the film despite the fact that I hate Nazi films.