Inglourious Basterds

I had been meaning to write a preview on this film before I inevitably went to see it, but I guess my real life workload took precedence. So now here I am writing more of a review after seeing Inglourious Basterds last night. Right off the bat, you have to enter a Quentin Tarantino movie knowing that it's going to have gratuitous violence and a quirky plot. This film didn't disappoint in that regard. Overall, the film could have been a lot better, but in saying that, it could have been a lot worse as well.

Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War 2, the story centres on the plight of a group of American soldiers sent into the country to kill Nazis with brutal force in order to strike fear through their ranks. Basically, the plot is about killing Nazis. Pretty simple and often gory. Along with the various subplots which combine pleasingly, the story winds its' way down to an inevitable violent climax and mass shoot-out. From the very start of the film however, there is a tense air. Several parts of the movie have you on the end of your seat, unsure as to where the scene will travel and just who has an ace up their sleeve. Excellent as it is, this does not convey to the rest of the film.

Indeed, although the film has a fair amount of action and peaceful drama alike, they don't seem to mesh as well as they should. Edited in a peculiar way, the film is quirky and different to what even I am used to viewing, leaving you wondering if you really enjoyed the film or not long after you exit the theatre. However Tarantino is a black sheep and he makes films by his own book, so in a way, which ever way you feel about Inglourious Basterds is a success. And this film definitely brings out the shock factor and mixed emotions which Tarantino is successful, and infamous, for.