On Monday, the latest film by Quentin Tarantino was released on DVD and Blu-Ray. On Tuesday, I made it my mission to go out and purchase this DVD. I am struggling to think of a recent new release which I have bought within days of its release. Having seen the film twice at the cinema, I decided it was one which needed to be purchased. There are also very few new releases which make me say "i love this film". The Hurt Locker was a genius film, and This Is It was damn good also (granted, I'm a fan of Michael Jackson's music, so I guess that swayed me a little). I hope to purchase both of these at some point, but will not rush to get them, like I did Inglorious Basterds.
After watching it at the cinema, it was clear to me that this was one of the best films I've ever seen. It had a home in my list of favourite ever films along with The Dark Knight, Fight Club, Inside Man, The Green Mile, Phonebooth, Bad Boys 2, Sin City, and of course, Pulp Fiction. There is so much about the film which makes me smile, laugh and feel nervous about. In particular, the SS Colonel Hans Landa is one of the best characters I've seen in a movie for a long time. This character made me smile (by smoking a comically big pipe in a serious scene), made me feel nervous (when he discussed with the opening character about hiding jews and when he met with Shosanna) and laugh (when conversing with Lt. Raine about american expressions - "Thats a Bingo!"). The film keeps me hooked throughout with its powerful ending of Shosanna's plan and the Basterds plan coming together (albeit independently) and wiping out the Nazi Govt. The ending is also superb, with the evil Landa getting his comeuppance and getting his forehead carved with a swastika. Indeed, it is Raine's masterpiece...and perhaps Tarantino's.
for the TL;DR people of that last paragraph, there is a lot about the film which I love. One problem with a man like Quentin Tarantino is whenever he releases a new film, it is naturally compared with its predecessors. Where does it fit in with his other films? My personal order is this:
1. Pulp Fiction
1. Inglorious Basterds
3. Kill Bill Vol. 2
4. Kill Bill Vol. 1
5. Reservoir Dogs
6. Jackie Brown
To say a film is better than Pulp Fiction is a bold statement. In my all time favourite list of films, there are only two with permanent spots which are Fight Club (at no1) and Pulp Fiction (at no2). Inglorious Basterds is such a good film, but is it Tarantino's best? Personally, I feel that the two films are as good as each other. I don't hesistate to place Inglorious Basterds on top of the other films Tarantino has made, but better than Pulp Fiction? Its a very tough call. I need to watch the two films back to back to make a proper decision. Aside from that being a great day for movie watching, it will help decide.
For now, the two films are level. However Inglorious Basterds is starting to get its nose out infront. I've watched it each day since buying it, and am still not getting bored of any moment in it. The desire to watch Pulp Fiction is always there, but not on a daily basis like Inglorious Basterds is. If you have not seen this movie, go and rent/buy it. If you have, then chances are you'll agree with my sentiments and know what I'm saying.
To summarise. Inglorious Basterds is an amazing movie. Kudos to Tarantino for making yet another brilliant movie.
