Five Stars: Inglorious Basterds

If I had to describe this movie in one word, that word would be satisfying. Luckily for me, nobody in their right mind would allow me to just review this movie in one word and I don't intend to. In true Tarantino fashion, the dialogue in this movie is as powerful as the imagery that follows in the later scenes. From the very first scene you are introduced to Colonel Hans Landa (played in a oscar-worthy performance by Christoph Waltz) you are stricken by fear. Fear of his quiet demeanor and unspeakable resolve. This sets the mood for what will come. You can't predict what Landa is going to do next, but you also don't know what to expect from the Americans. The Americans, here being a band of Jews led by 1st Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), that have been going through Europe with only one goal: Kill as many Nazi soldiers as possible. They have come to be known by the Nazis as "The Basterds". This movie has no intention of sparing you from the blood splatter, demolition and suffering of the war that it creates, only that the way that it does it somehow doesn't feel stale. I am personally tired of World War II, I understand how important that war was but the way that it is still being used has really tired me. Tarantino did what should have been done years ago, he re-wrote history as he saw fit. He made some decisions about what he wanted the story to say and never even bothered to look at a history book. This is not to say that he was one sided at all. The Nazis are not stupid or careless, they are calculated and human. Lando shows how they are fully behind their main objective and how they have been able to get this far with the war. It is really unsettling but at the end it leaves you satisfied. It gave me the closure that countless other WWII movies have been unable to give me all these years. Finally, I must say, knowing that 'The Bear Jew' is on my side is the only thing that lets me sleep at night. Inglourious Basterds is available today on DVD and Blu-Ray.