Movies Seen in 2010

[JacksonArcher]

Out Of My Vulcan Mind wrote:

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You're looking for Ed Zwick moments in a Tarantino film, JA, and it wouldn't work at all.

An adept comparison since he directed Defiance, another Nazi-themed film. I rather enjoyed it, even though Inglourious Basterds exhibited better craftsmanship. Despite my numerous problems with that movie, it has some of the best sequences featured in a movie of last year, including the prologue with Hans Landa questioning the dairy farmer, which was Hitchcockian in its slow, progressive build of suspense.

[CaptainCanada]

JacksonArcher wrote:

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[Sure, but the film does little to give any depth to any of the Basterds. They are caricatures, driven only by their pure and unadulterated hatred for Nazi's and Germans alike. Which is why they are no better than the Nazi's. They gleefully exterminate the Nazi's with as much relish as the Nazi's would exterminate a Jew. So how does that make them better? Yes, the film sparingly humanizes some individual Nazi soldiers, but it gives barely any character development or humanization to any of the Basterds themselves, making them hollow and vapid.

Furthermore, it would have been nice if perhaps one of the characters eventually had some type of emotional epiphany for senselessly killing so many people without a single thought or hesitation. It would have added depth and humanized some of the Basterds a bit, but no, there is no second's thought or any sign of remorse or hesitancy. They are stock standard, one-dimensional characters and they are boring and listless because of it.

But the film's not really about the Basterds; for most of the movie, in fact, they're not in it.

[JacksonArcher]

CaptainCanada wrote:

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But the film's not really about the Basterds; for most of the movie, in fact, they're not in it.

Yes, another point which I touch upon. For a movie about Nazi killing there's sparsely any Nazi killing. So even on that level it fails.

[Kegg]

JacksonArcher wrote:

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Yes, another point which I touch upon. For a movie about Nazi killing there's sparsely any Nazi killing. So even on that level it fails.

It's more about people talking about killing than it is about killing.

This is Tarantino, after all.

[JacksonArcher]

Kegg wrote:

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It's more about people talking about killing than it is about killing.

This is Tarantino, after all.

Another reason why I don't like Tarantino. Film is a visual medium. That's why there's the adage "Show, don't tell".

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

If the Nazi killing was more frequent then the scenes of Nazi killing wouldn't pack as much punch as they do. And Tarantino is one of the most gifted directors around in terms of mise en scène. His visuals are impeccable. And when you add his flair for dialogue into the mix it's a potent combination.

[Kegg]

Out Of My Vulcan Mind wrote:

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If the Nazi killing was more frequent then the scenes of Nazi killing wouldn't pack as much punch as they do. And Tarantino is one of the most gifted directors around in terms of mise en scène. His visuals are impeccable. And when you add his flair for dialogue into the mix it's a potent combination.

Indeed. There doesn't feel like there is a single wasted moment in the film.

We don't need to dwell on the Basterds any more than the film does, and the scenes we do get are plenty amusing. The film isn't just about Nazi killing and the Basterds, they're merely one part of a rather elaborately woven plot.

I do think the advertising for the movie was a little deceptive in that regard. I went in expecting a kind of Seven Jewish American Samurai slay Nazis sort of movie; but I did love what I got.

[CaptainCanada]

JacksonArcher wrote:

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Yes, another point which I touch upon. For a movie about Nazi killing there's sparsely any Nazi killing. So even on that level it fails.

That's not really the story he's telling, hence, why he doesn't centre on it. The trailers certainly present the film that way (probably because it's the most marketable angle and the only plotline that has characters talking without subtitles).

Kegg wrote:

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Indeed. There doesn't feel like there is a single wasted moment in the film.

Some parts of Part 4 I thought were a bit flabby; I'd have cut most of the scene with the British officers talking about the operation. I've gone back and forth on the bar scene between whether it's overlong or pretty much perfect; I lean toward the latter.

[Kegg]

CaptainCanada wrote:

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Some parts of Part 4 I thought were a bit flabby; I'd have cut most of the scene with the British officers talking about the operation.

Eh, I liked that bit because of all the silly British-ness of it, and, obviously, as a fake-out (it's implying that these guys and any of this will have relevance later), but yes, not the best scene in the film.

I've gone back and forth on the bar scene between whether it's overlong or pretty much perfect; I lean toward the latter.

I think it's overlongingly perfect.

[JacksonArcher]

I like Pulp Fiction and to a degree Kill Bill. I wanted to like Inglourious Basterds. I even like black comedy. I guess I'm just defunct.

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Have you seen Jackie Brown, JA? It's probably the Tarantino film that would best fit your sensibilities.

[JacksonArcher]

Out Of My Vulcan Mind wrote:

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Have you seen Jackie Brown, JA? It's probably the Tarantino film that would best fit your sensibilities.

I was bored out of my mind watching Jackie Brown. I guess I've just never been able to connect with any of Tarantino's movies. I only enjoy Pulp Fiction on a superficial level. Same goes for Kill Bill, even though I think Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is pretty good in certain areas.

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

JacksonArcher wrote:

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I was bored out of my mind watching Jackie Brown. I guess I've just never been able to connect with any of Tarantino's movies.

Ah, well, I guess he's just not your cup of tea then.

[JacksonArcher]

Out Of My Vulcan Mind wrote:

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Ah, well, I guess he's just not your cup of tea then.

I think I like more psychological and emotional stories. That's why I've always enjoyed Christopher Nolan and Bryan Singer's movies. They aren't overly dominated by style, like Tarantino, and they have a really good balance of story and character.

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

That's why I thought you might connect with Jackie Brown since it has more focus on characterization and emotion than other Tarantino films, but alas...