@@thebatman4279 judging by his conflict with Denzel on Crimson Tide, I highly doubt Tarantino is the kind of guy to get confrontational with people face-to-face.
I've just seen the film. I definitely enjoyed it more than Kermode but he's absolutely right about Tarantino's inability to reign himself in. Parts of the film feature some of his best work but other parts go on and on and on. It's much better than Kill Bill or Death Proof but it would've been 10x better if he had cut it down to 100 minutes.
Everything after Jackie Brown he's continued to make his movies self absorbed where he cannot help himself. Django and Hateful Eight suffer the same problems.
Well he has said that Jackie Brown is his best film to date precisely because it's the only Tarantino film that goes beyond paying homage to a genre. With Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, there was something fresh and exciting about his style. But with Kill Bill and Death Proof, it demonstrated that all the wit and invention was gone. What Kermode really wants for him to make more films like Jackie Brown, and personally I agree with that.
Dear Mark, thank you so much!!! I agree with every word you say. He could be a great director, but he is just a big kid with too much freedom and nobody to tell him, when he fucks up.
Critics like Kermode seem like they don't even really like movies. It's like he goes out of his way to dislike a movie. It's like he walks in disliking it and will find every reason to dislike it and his interest in criticism seems less about genuinely deconstructing and understanding, and perhaps appreciating art and more-so just a launching pad for his own persona and waffling opinions. Critics like Mark just want to be celebrities, this review is disingenuous.
A great artist is one who can challenge him or herself with every new work, even if they return to the same themes over and over again. Imagine if P.T. Anderson was still making ensemble films like Boogie Nights; we'd never have the masterpiece that was There Will Be Blood. All Tarantino needs to do is step out of his comfort zone and he could become a truly brilliant filmmaker.
although I adore kermode's reviews, and i do, i feel his tarantino reviews reflect a personal agenda that are disguised by arbitrary comparisons with other films and personal attacks on his character
I read somewhere (from QT himself I think) that the original script for Inglourious Basterds came out to 6 hours long and that he had intended to make it into a miniseries, however Luc Besson had convinced him to make it into a film. So what we have is a film with scenes that have the pacing of a miniseries, but have been crammed into 2.5 hrs instead of 6 hours
I can see how that can be a problem for some, but for me it makes the work far more rewatchable. If it were a miniseries I'd just watch my favorite scenes on RUclips.
Quentin's movies are not for everybody, nor should be - any piece of unique, individualistic art. IF you enjoy dialogue, IF you enjoy suspense and IF you enjoy a thrilling movie experience and all of those things individually, and as a combination and overall effect - I am banking that you will or will have gotten a deeply lasting kick out of this movie. People who think the dialogue is boring or too long clearly dislike or have a less interesting or less caring ear, for crackling dialogue.
I can't say I find his fan boying as something bad, I remember when Kill Bill came out and it was part of the reason I took a interested in Japanese live action films that are not Kurosawa's. The down side often is when you know most of what he's steeling from, you realize what doesn't fit. He uses the theme music from Battle Without Honor or Humanity in kill bill, the theme is played if I remember right just before the big fight scene with the 88, The problem is that theme was originally played over images of the atomic bomb and it's aftermath in a film series based on real gang wars that has deeply nihilistic tone. He takes things without always understanding what they are, This is also shown when he takes the Lady Snoowblood's theme song and drops a mention of Lone Wolf and Cub, both are dark violent revenge stories.It's a problem that more I watch other films the more I notice.
I used to think that Kermode was too hard on Tarantino.....then I finally saw Kill Bill [1&2] a few years ago and everything he said finally made sense to me. Having said that, I liked Inglourious Basterds a bit more than him - primarily because I thought Diane Kruger was fantastic. It is [for all intents and purposes] a spaghetti western set in WW2 [although pretty much all Tarantino's movies are some form of spaghetti western so that's not a surprise]. My favorite scene involves Kruger, Michael Fassbender and the Basterd when they're undercover in a tavern.....it's somewhat similar to the opening scene that Kermode eludes to but I preferred it. He is absolutely correct that the film is totally ill disciplined - it is really a series of bits revolving around one setting rather than a rigorously coherent narrative. Also, I kind of feel that making a film episodic is quite lazy. I'd love to see if he could actually make a film that's around the 90 minute mark again.... The film's good fun though :)
I love Tarantino and I don't regret going to the cinema to see the film and I don't regret buying it on DVD but about an hour of the film is Tarantino poking his own arse over how great he thinks he is culminating in the subtle as a sledgehammer ' "this may be my masterpiece" A film by Quentin Tarantino' ending. Kermode hits the nail on the head once again.
ive disagreed with kermode before, but this is the first time ive thought less of him for a review. i dont get the bitter, personal attacks. i know its not on the same level (nothing is), but inglorious reminded me of once upon a time in the west. the. brutality, tension, rich colour palette, one liner dialogue, and general vibe all struck me as sergio-esque. and there aint no higher compliment than that.
ive got mates who are the same way with nolan. once theyre settled on the idea that something is rather overrated they hyperbolize how bad they are to a ridiculous degree just to get the point across. often see certain bands getting excessive criticism in a similar manner. its fine for a guy on the street to love to hate something, but a professional film critic should have some objectivity. marks repeated claims he wants to like tarintino films are so clearly b.s
Yes, yes, hear, hear! Did QT turn Kermode down for a interview? Piss on his rug? Steal the family cat? There is something in his reviews of recent QT films that seem almost personally subjective ,stemming from something aybe behind the scenes that we don't know about? One major complaint of his for INGLORIOUS BASTERDS & DJANGO is that they are too long. I must disagree with that. I would rather have much film of that quality than 100 shorter and less interesting films.
bathasleftthecave It isn't personal attacks, it's the truth. And of course Inglourious Basterds reminds you of Leone's work, Tarantino has ripped it straight off... Sergio Leone was a fucking genius of cinema, Quentin Tarantino is a fanboy who's dependent on other peoples work.
lol once upon a time is the biggest rip off compilation ever made. i don't have a problem with directors wearing thier influences on thier sleeves. if it's a good movie i don't care where it drew inspiration. serg and tarintino are both directors i would place in the very small club of guys who make "artful" blockbuster films
bathasleftthecave "If it's a good movie I don't care where it drew inspiration" - That I agree with, but, Inglourious Basterds is not a good movie in my opinion. The writing is awful and lacks focus, the directing and constant references to other films reminds me of movies I should be watching instead, and, well, the whole thing is just overly long, tedious and boring. Sure, some scenes are really good on their own, but as a whole the film is pretty damn bad - a joke compared to Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown. Castellari's Inglorious Bastards is way, way more entertaining. Mindless exploitation with no pretentions of being "artful".
@viralfunnies Does that mean you would never be critical of Justin Bieber, Manson or Hilter until you've either made an album, started a cult or taken over a country?
It almost sounds like Mark Kermode is jealous. I understand what he says about a director being a fanboy instead of making a "real" film, but i dont think thats the case when it comes to this one. I mean, he brought up Mike Myers as a "fanboy" way of casting. Whats wrong with Mike Myers. He does a good job. creates an interesting character. Whats wrong with that? I think Kermode is angry because Tarantino does what ever he wants to do, and for some reason it pisses him of.
I think criticism is a vital part of any person ever being talented and making... whatever. Criticism has a two-fold role; a) it allows the talented person who's doing something an "from the side" look at their work, thus showing them where and how they could be even better, and b)it educates the audience to apply critical thinking and discriminatly consume better products. I think this is very important.
Mark's impression of Tarantino proves how mature his film critism and depth of understanding even by just the attitude and speaking style of movie makers.
@Transformers2themax I think the biggest mistake Tarantino did during pre-production of Basterds was watching Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood", and loving it. TWBB was a masterpiece of minimalism where although some scenes seemingly went on forever, they all served a purpose in telling an epic story rich with themes. Tarantino took that concept and applied it profusely to his own project, except his is long-winded, empty, and at times down-right boring.
Dude, you miss the point. Tarantino is the best “cover” director of all time. He makes supremely entertaining films, great dialogue, great everything, but disposable. He likes trash and pulp fiction, and is the best at it.
Kermode looks up to lots of individualistic directors (Nolan springs to mind immediately), I think it's more that he feels Tarantino never questions his decisions and makes films without the discipline he feels they need.
It is an attack but what he's saying is true. I was bored to tears at times during Inglorious Basterds. It's overly long, indulgent and doesn't do what it says on the tin.
@Transformers2themax You said earlier "Your average German soldier at that time was neither a member nor a supporter of the Nazi Party". Well maybe, but Saving Private Ryan does NOT suggest otherwise. Hell, there's even a scene where a German soldier yells "Fuck Hitler!" If all this comes down to you objecting to taking sides in the war, that's your opinion, but it seems silly to me. The Nazi empire was so obviously evil, the American one wasn't. (Not at that stage, anyway.)
True but generally he likes to balance out his projects and explore other areas of storytelling. For instance, he made Cape Fear and The Age of Innocence in between those two films. Even now, he has just followed the cop/criminal thriller The Departed with the gothic psychological horror movie, Shutter Island. He's much more willing to step out of his comfort zone.
I love the impression of Quentin and Eli. "Stop it. STOP IT!" shouts Kermode with reference to Tarantino's self-indulgence. -"I feel like that when you are doing impressions."
I think every individual scene is brilliant on its own but the movie itself is far too long and drawn-out. I agree with Kermode that it's ill-disciplined, but I think I enjoyed it more than he did because there were enough extraordinary moments to keep me interested. I gave it a 7/10.
@Transformers2themax I hate to break it to you, but Germany during the Nazi period was a rather negative place to be. It's hardly surprising that movies should use that fact for dramatic purposes. "...Actually just propaganda, but folks consider it realistic." I think it's safe to say that most SS men and concentration camp guards were deeply unpleasant people and those are the ones movies focus on. German civilians and Wehrmacht soldiers are very rarely demonized in movies.
Kermode is so out of his mind. He has a personal problem with Tarantino and that's it. He says the same ridiculous shit anytime he gets the chance to "review" a QT film...every character sounds like Tarantino..completely untrue. This time it's " he's undisciplined, doesn't understand scores/soundtracks" Eli Roth ruined it, Mike Myers ruined it...Mike Myers scene was an homage to fucking Austin Powers? Is this guy serious? I don't like Myers at all, but in no way did his presence ruin the film.
@Transformers2themax Listen to the review again -- he makes a very, very good point about the degeneracy of Tarantino's recent work (recent meaning post-Jackie Brown).
@TulseLuper i agree. i got the same impression when i saw the film. the film had a tight head start then it started to wander into tarantino's film geek rather than a consistent premise.
Fair enough. And hey, I'm not interested in starting flame wars like a lot of users here. You don't have to agree with Kermode; hell, I disagree with him quite often. He likes Paul Haggis' Crash!
1. His use of pre-existing music is clearly a minor criticism of the film. 2. The tricks he used in Pulp Fiction were fresh and original at the time, and Jackie Brown was an obvious step forward in maturity. The problem is that Tarantino is relying on the same old tricks. You don't see Scorsese or P.T. Anderson making the same movie over and over again. No, they take risks.
i completely agree with kermode. im afraid im a tarantino fanboy so i have that hilarious impression. for me the big problem was it was called basterds. and the basterds were only in half of the movie. and then half of them go missing at the end with no explanation. quentin needs to hire woody allen to edit teh movies of future so they are all 50 minutes long haha
Your point about the self referencing is an interesting one. I've only seen the film once and missed it. Maybe that’s his get out clause but ultimately, because as you say the average minded viewer will fail to pick up on this grim irony, the film serves a nefarious purpose.
He loved Star Trek and is a big champion of the Harry Potter franchise. He was the one critic who refused to join in on the Slumdog Millionaire backlash just as it was becoming the hit that it is. And maybe QT did cut a lot out of his screenplay; in my opinion he still could've cut more out of it. He's a critic expressing his own point-of-view. Why is it that fanboys love to personally attack anyone who disagrees with them? Who are the real snobs here?
Tarantino's movies are getting worse. Self indulgent, juvenile wish-fulfillment twaddle. He needs to get back to story telling and be less obsessed with trying to get approval from black gangsters.
Rudi Leandro It's a shame. Reservoir Dogs, Pulp fiction and Jackie Brown were plotted masterfully and had great characters. He's crap these days - it annoys me that the fan-base lap it up and are less critical.
K Russell The 'Tarantino' fanboys/girls are the most stubborn group of worshippers I've ever come across. They're convinced that their glorious Tarantino is a God of film making, one of the greatest of all time, and anything that he makes (regardless of quality) is an absolute masterpiece. I truly think he's the most overrated director of all time... I'm not saying he's bad, he just doesn't deserve all the ridiculous praise he gets.
@TulseLuper Well, Kevin Spacey almost made him cry by just joking around. If people had the attention span to acually listen and watch movies anymore, they might understand what a good movie is all about. Not just trash talking like they are the Gordon Ramsey's of film-making.
I never did get why people love obvious references so much, does it make them feel smarter that they get them? I always loved The Simpsons (golden age anyway), but when all other fans were really up in their arms about an episode, I'd usually be thinking something like, "Okay, so they took The Shining/Cape Fear and summed it up in 10 minutes and added some twists, I get it. It had a good laugh or two, but really, what elevates this above other Simpsons episodes?"
Go back and watch all of the reviews for the twilight movies. You'll notice that he only said the first one worked, he didn't praise it, he said that it worked. That, I agree with 100%.
@Transformers2themax I'm not really interested in debating the merit's of the Tarantino canon. I like some of his Work Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill even Death Proof were fresh enjoyable films. What annoys me about Tarantino is his lack of daring. Jackie Brown demonstrated a maturity as a director but was not commercially successful and so he reverted back to making safe fanboy films.
@terratrema Lask of content duly noted. You've not substantiated any of your minimal counter arguments, answered any of my questions or explained what I have said that indicates that I am a Trotskyite.
He never said the movie was crap. He said that the film had great things in it but the film as a whole is baggy and overlong and over-indulgent. Makes sense to me.
Comparisons to Kubrick are way off the mark! Kubrick was making a film critiquing the de-humanisation of man through the military. Tarantino made a film that celebrates militaristic dehumanisation, dehumanising the protagonist’s their foils and the audience that consumes it.
What an intelligent, eloquent and insightful rebuttal that was. It doesn't speak of rampant fanboyism at all. Anyway, Eli Roth does suck. Tarantino was great in the 90's but he went off the rails with Kill Bill and Death Proof. I will see Inglourious Basterds and keep an open mind as I have disagreed with Kermode often in the past but he knows what he's talking about.
What I hate is Kermode constantly referring to Tarantino being ill disciplined and his films being too baggy - but then not specifying where exactly this occurred. I realise that he was probably avoiding spoilers, but I'd like to know where others think it should've been cut back. I watched it for the umpteenth time last night on telly and was as engrossed in it as I was the first time I saw it on the big screen. Never once was I bored. Oh and is it only me that gets the irony that Kermode's reviews are totally ill disciplined and baggy? Happy to provide specifics if required.
@Transformers2themax "He likes subtle, generic, straight-to-the-point films." That statement is self-contradictory; are you sure you didn't mean "simple" instead of "subtle"?
People should stop seeing Kermode as a God. He is just a film critic and his words are just his opinion and he only just manages to stay on he right side of pretentious.
Just got back from the cinema and I'm with Mark 100% of the way on this one. I just wish he wouldn't disrespect Enzo G. Castellari but not having the patience to actually pronounce his name correctly.
@terratrema Errr sorry but I have covered that; because Inglourious Basterds is dealing with world defining themes i.e the Jewish question those other films are not. That is not to say I'm not critical of his other work. Whilst I did enjoy the other films I still recognise that they promote and celebrate drugs, guns and violence. your second point on 'tough jews' seems to insinuate that perhaps I'm anti-semetic. If that is the case come out and say it!
I've never been able to watch this film all the way through even after all these years, I honestly don't know what happens in the final 3rd because I've been bored absolutely senseless with a film stuck up it's own arse. This film totally bores me into a migraine headache.
now thats a very accurate impression of Tarantino
I'd love it if Mark Kermode and Quentin Tarantino got stuck in a lift together.
+Scruffy P Quentin: 'So, Mark....i hear you did an impression of me?'
@@thebatman4279 'Yeh. Nah. It's supposed to be Leo Getz. Don't know where you heard that from bro.....'
@@thebatman4279 judging by his conflict with Denzel on Crimson Tide, I highly doubt Tarantino is the kind of guy to get confrontational with people face-to-face.
@@thebatman4279 I have nothing to add, I just wanted your username to appear again.
Would like to hear him interview Tarantino
Hilarious Tarantino impersonation by Kermode
His impression of Tarantino is hilarious.
"i feel like that about you doing impressions" was my favorite thing ever
Any other normal human would have dropped dead on the spot if that was said to them. A big win for Mayo with that one.
That's a fair assessment of Tarantino. And a great impression, by the way.
I've just seen the film. I definitely enjoyed it more than Kermode but he's absolutely right about Tarantino's inability to reign himself in. Parts of the film feature some of his best work but other parts go on and on and on. It's much better than Kill Bill or Death Proof but it would've been 10x better if he had cut it down to 100 minutes.
Feels like some accurate assessments of the film but also some really nonsensical whining as well.
KB and DP own this. never rewatch this one. its such a gimmicky film.
This comment applies to all his films in the 13 years since it was made
Lmao at Kermodes Quentin impression :-P
"You're over 18."
"Well. Sometimes I get asked and it's embarrassing."
This is perfect.
"Yes, but that was before Eli Roth became this monster"
"Just shut up and make a proper film like you did before..."
Summaries my views on tarantinos films better than I ever could.
Jackie Brown is his best movie because he consciously reined himself in. Kermode is spot on.
seb moore Good movie, but I wouldn't watch it more than 5 times in my lifetime. Still good for a few though.
Everything after Jackie Brown he's continued to make his movies self absorbed where he cannot help himself. Django and Hateful Eight suffer the same problems.
No pulp fiction is his best because it ends with redemption instead of violence
Wow that Tarantino impression is priceless!
He's basically begging Quintin to focus on the movie and how great it can be, not massaging your own ego.
These vids on Tarantino have made me love Kermode even more than before. Spot on.
Still a great impression.
Well he has said that Jackie Brown is his best film to date precisely because it's the only Tarantino film that goes beyond paying homage to a genre. With Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, there was something fresh and exciting about his style. But with Kill Bill and Death Proof, it demonstrated that all the wit and invention was gone. What Kermode really wants for him to make more films like Jackie Brown, and personally I agree with that.
Dear Mark, thank you so much!!! I agree with every word you say. He could be a great director, but he is just a big kid with too much freedom and nobody to tell him, when he fucks up.
‘I’m watching someone waste and squander the discipline that they ought to have’
Perfectly said
Critics like Kermode seem like they don't even really like movies. It's like he goes out of his way to dislike a movie. It's like he walks in disliking it and will find every reason to dislike it and his interest in criticism seems less about genuinely deconstructing and understanding, and perhaps appreciating art and more-so just a launching pad for his own persona and waffling opinions. Critics like Mark just want to be celebrities, this review is disingenuous.
"You gotta read four pages of trivia of films that it's referring to" is spot on
A great artist is one who can challenge him or herself with every new work, even if they return to the same themes over and over again. Imagine if P.T. Anderson was still making ensemble films like Boogie Nights; we'd never have the masterpiece that was There Will Be Blood. All Tarantino needs to do is step out of his comfort zone and he could become a truly brilliant filmmaker.
Quentin should make a sci fi.
although I adore kermode's reviews, and i do, i feel his tarantino reviews reflect a personal agenda that are disguised by arbitrary comparisons with other films and personal attacks on his character
I just hear more frustration. I think he believes that Tarantino's movies can be so much better.
I read somewhere (from QT himself I think) that the original script for Inglourious Basterds came out to 6 hours long and that he had intended to make it into a miniseries, however Luc Besson had convinced him to make it into a film. So what we have is a film with scenes that have the pacing of a miniseries, but have been crammed into 2.5 hrs instead of 6 hours
I can see how that can be a problem for some, but for me it makes the work far more rewatchable. If it were a miniseries I'd just watch my favorite scenes on RUclips.
Quentin's movies are not for everybody, nor should be - any piece of unique, individualistic art.
IF you enjoy dialogue, IF you enjoy suspense and IF you enjoy a thrilling movie experience and all of those things individually, and as a combination and overall effect - I am banking that you will or will have gotten a deeply lasting kick out of this movie.
People who think the dialogue is boring or too long clearly dislike or have a less interesting or less caring ear, for crackling dialogue.
Kermode does an amazing Tarantino impression
love IB itself, but he is right on w the problem w QT overall.
but then he loves david lynch's inland empire in which lynch literally made the movie up as he was going on
I can't say I find his fan boying as something bad, I remember when Kill Bill came out and it was part of the reason I took a interested in Japanese live action films that are not Kurosawa's. The down side often is when you know most of what he's steeling from, you realize what doesn't fit. He uses the theme music from Battle Without Honor or Humanity in kill bill, the theme is played if I remember right just before the big fight scene with the 88, The problem is that theme was originally played over images of the atomic bomb and it's aftermath in a film series based on real gang wars that has deeply nihilistic tone. He takes things without always understanding what they are, This is also shown when he takes the Lady Snoowblood's theme song and drops a mention of Lone Wolf and Cub, both are dark violent revenge stories.It's a problem that more I watch other films the more I notice.
I used to think that Kermode was too hard on Tarantino.....then I finally saw Kill Bill [1&2] a few years ago and everything he said finally made sense to me.
Having said that, I liked Inglourious Basterds a bit more than him - primarily because I thought Diane Kruger was fantastic. It is [for all intents and purposes] a spaghetti western set in WW2 [although pretty much all Tarantino's movies are some form of spaghetti western so that's not a surprise].
My favorite scene involves Kruger, Michael Fassbender and the Basterd when they're undercover in a tavern.....it's somewhat similar to the opening scene that Kermode eludes to but I preferred it.
He is absolutely correct that the film is totally ill disciplined - it is really a series of bits revolving around one setting rather than a rigorously coherent narrative. Also, I kind of feel that making a film episodic is quite lazy. I'd love to see if he could actually make a film that's around the 90 minute mark again....
The film's good fun though
:)
what does Mayo add!?
I LOVE mark kermode impressions, they're either so good or so bad it's so funny.
I love Tarantino and I don't regret going to the cinema to see the film and I don't regret buying it on DVD but about an hour of the film is Tarantino poking his own arse over how great he thinks he is culminating in the subtle as a sledgehammer ' "this may be my masterpiece" A film by Quentin Tarantino' ending. Kermode hits the nail on the head once again.
ive disagreed with kermode before, but this is the first time ive thought less of him for a review. i dont get the bitter, personal attacks. i know its not on the same level (nothing is), but inglorious reminded me of once upon a time in the west. the. brutality, tension, rich colour palette, one liner dialogue, and general vibe all struck me as sergio-esque. and there aint no higher compliment than that.
ive got mates who are the same way with nolan. once theyre settled on the idea that something is rather overrated they hyperbolize how bad they are to a ridiculous degree just to get the point across. often see certain bands getting excessive criticism in a similar manner. its fine for a guy on the street to love to hate something, but a professional film critic should have some objectivity. marks repeated claims he wants to like tarintino films are so clearly b.s
Yes, yes, hear, hear! Did QT turn Kermode down for a interview? Piss on his rug? Steal the family cat? There is something in his reviews of recent QT films that seem almost personally subjective ,stemming from something aybe behind the scenes that we don't know about? One major complaint of his for INGLORIOUS BASTERDS & DJANGO is that they are too long. I must disagree with that. I would rather have much film of that quality than 100 shorter and less interesting films.
bathasleftthecave It isn't personal attacks, it's the truth. And of course Inglourious Basterds reminds you of Leone's work, Tarantino has ripped it straight off... Sergio Leone was a fucking genius of cinema, Quentin Tarantino is a fanboy who's dependent on other peoples work.
lol once upon a time is the biggest rip off compilation ever made. i don't have a problem with directors wearing thier influences on thier sleeves. if it's a good movie i don't care where it drew inspiration. serg and tarintino are both directors i would place in the very small club of guys who make "artful" blockbuster films
bathasleftthecave "If it's a good movie I don't care where it drew inspiration" - That I agree with, but, Inglourious Basterds is not a good movie in my opinion. The writing is awful and lacks focus, the directing and constant references to other films reminds me of movies I should be watching instead, and, well, the whole thing is just overly long, tedious and boring. Sure, some scenes are really good on their own, but as a whole the film is pretty damn bad - a joke compared to Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown.
Castellari's Inglorious Bastards is way, way more entertaining. Mindless exploitation with no pretentions of being "artful".
Inglorious Bar Stewards 2?!
Was there a 2?
@viralfunnies Does that mean you would never be critical of Justin Bieber, Manson or Hilter until you've either made an album, started a cult or taken over a country?
Kermode's Tarantino/fanboy voice is hilarious
Kermode sounds like Jimmy Valmer from South Park when impersonating Tarantino.
If Adam Sandler actually played The Bear Jew as originally intended, this would've been Tarantino's masterpiece by far.
Yes Sir. Absolutely. Eli Roth is the reason I don't love this film.
It almost sounds like Mark Kermode is jealous. I understand what he says about a director being a fanboy instead of making a "real" film, but i dont think thats the case when it comes to this one. I mean, he brought up Mike Myers as a "fanboy" way of casting. Whats wrong with Mike Myers. He does a good job. creates an interesting character. Whats wrong with that? I think Kermode is angry because Tarantino does what ever he wants to do, and for some reason it pisses him of.
Exactly
I think criticism is a vital part of any person ever being talented and making... whatever. Criticism has a two-fold role; a) it allows the talented person who's doing something an "from the side" look at their work, thus showing them where and how they could be even better, and b)it educates the audience to apply critical thinking and discriminatly consume better products. I think this is very important.
Tulse, thanks for your uploads. Just been getting into The Good Doctor, and even though I frequently disagree with him I love his work.
Mark's impression of Tarantino proves how mature his film critism and depth of understanding even by just the attitude and speaking style of movie makers.
i thought mike myers was great in the movie,
@Transformers2themax I think the biggest mistake Tarantino did during pre-production of Basterds was watching Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood", and loving it. TWBB was a masterpiece of minimalism where although some scenes seemingly went on forever, they all served a purpose in telling an epic story rich with themes. Tarantino took that concept and applied it profusely to his own project, except his is long-winded, empty, and at times down-right boring.
Dude, you miss the point. Tarantino is the best “cover” director of all time. He makes supremely entertaining films, great dialogue, great everything, but disposable.
He likes trash and pulp fiction, and is the best at it.
I thought that Inglourious Basterds was Tarantino's most entertaining film since Jackie Brown.
@Xenda I agree. I was more on Kermode's side first time around, but it grew on me and now I really love it.
@Transformers2themax
What exactly is wrong with portraying the Germans of WWII in a negative light?
Kermode looks up to lots of individualistic directors (Nolan springs to mind immediately), I think it's more that he feels Tarantino never questions his decisions and makes films without the discipline he feels they need.
Less of a review and more of an attack on Quentin tarantino.
phiddel grieson Tarantino desperately needs some attacking to whip him back in shape.
zxbc your opinion
It is an attack but what he's saying is true. I was bored to tears at times during Inglorious Basterds. It's overly long, indulgent and doesn't do what it says on the tin.
@Transformers2themax
You said earlier "Your average German soldier at that time was neither a member nor a supporter of the Nazi Party". Well maybe, but Saving Private Ryan does NOT suggest otherwise. Hell, there's even a scene where a German soldier yells "Fuck Hitler!"
If all this comes down to you objecting to taking sides in the war, that's your opinion, but it seems silly to me. The Nazi empire was so obviously evil, the American one wasn't. (Not at that stage, anyway.)
True but generally he likes to balance out his projects and explore other areas of storytelling. For instance, he made Cape Fear and The Age of Innocence in between those two films. Even now, he has just followed the cop/criminal thriller The Departed with the gothic psychological horror movie, Shutter Island. He's much more willing to step out of his comfort zone.
I love the impression of Quentin and Eli.
"Stop it. STOP IT!" shouts Kermode with reference to Tarantino's self-indulgence.
-"I feel like that when you are doing impressions."
I think every individual scene is brilliant on its own but the movie itself is far too long and drawn-out. I agree with Kermode that it's ill-disciplined, but I think I enjoyed it more than he did because there were enough extraordinary moments to keep me interested. I gave it a 7/10.
Finally got around to seeing this movie.
Kermode is right.
Does anyone know what artist he is referring to? It sounds great, but I can't find anything on it
@Transformers2themax
I hate to break it to you, but Germany during the Nazi period was a rather negative place to be. It's hardly surprising that movies should use that fact for dramatic purposes.
"...Actually just propaganda, but folks consider it realistic."
I think it's safe to say that most SS men and concentration camp guards were deeply unpleasant people and those are the ones movies focus on. German civilians and Wehrmacht soldiers are very rarely demonized in movies.
Kermode is so out of his mind. He has a personal problem with Tarantino and that's it. He says the same ridiculous shit anytime he gets the chance to "review" a QT film...every character sounds like Tarantino..completely untrue. This time it's " he's undisciplined, doesn't understand scores/soundtracks" Eli Roth ruined it, Mike Myers ruined it...Mike Myers scene was an homage to fucking Austin Powers? Is this guy serious? I don't like Myers at all, but in no way did his presence ruin the film.
@Transformers2themax Listen to the review again -- he makes a very, very good point about the degeneracy of Tarantino's recent work (recent meaning post-Jackie Brown).
@eveningtsar There may yet be time to find out. Trallagh hath been shown. Are the maymard trees in bloom?
Dr. K knows that. His point is that he wants Tarantino to evolve his talent and grow up, which isn't happening.
I think this movie has aged great.
Agreed
I still love it.
@TulseLuper i agree. i got the same impression when i saw the film. the film had a tight head start then it started to wander into tarantino's film geek rather than a consistent premise.
Did you listen to the first part? It's absolutely a review; one small portion of him doing a Tarantino impression isn't the focus of it.
Yes! Mentioned the Exorcist right at the end. I have Kermode bingo
You just say bingo
Well this is just personal taste. he doesn't like films with fat on them
There's clearly more to it than that
One of the great movies. Kermode doesnt appear to know what he is talking about.
Fair enough. And hey, I'm not interested in starting flame wars like a lot of users here. You don't have to agree with Kermode; hell, I disagree with him quite often. He likes Paul Haggis' Crash!
THANK GOD FOR THE GOOD DOCTOR
1. His use of pre-existing music is clearly a minor criticism of the film.
2. The tricks he used in Pulp Fiction were fresh and original at the time, and Jackie Brown was an obvious step forward in maturity. The problem is that Tarantino is relying on the same old tricks. You don't see Scorsese or P.T. Anderson making the same movie over and over again. No, they take risks.
I can't help but read the Tarantino-fanboy comments in the Kermode voice =D.
The only good Tarantino film is Reservoir Dogs, imo.
Nameless Paladin And Jackie Brown!
+Blue Whovian And Django Unchained.
Kevin Serrazine Don't be ridiculous. Those films are idiotic.
bbkingzor how so?
Django Unchained is a masterpiece.
i completely agree with kermode. im afraid im a tarantino fanboy so i have that hilarious impression. for me the big problem was it was called basterds. and the basterds were only in half of the movie. and then half of them go missing at the end with no explanation. quentin needs to hire woody allen to edit teh movies of future so they are all 50 minutes long haha
@ryand76 In what way? Kermode was clearly joking with Spacey at the end of that interview.
Your point about the self referencing is an interesting one. I've only seen the film once and missed it. Maybe that’s his get out clause but ultimately, because as you say the average minded viewer will fail to pick up on this grim irony, the film serves a nefarious purpose.
He loved Star Trek and is a big champion of the Harry Potter franchise. He was the one critic who refused to join in on the Slumdog Millionaire backlash just as it was becoming the hit that it is. And maybe QT did cut a lot out of his screenplay; in my opinion he still could've cut more out of it.
He's a critic expressing his own point-of-view. Why is it that fanboys love to personally attack anyone who disagrees with them? Who are the real snobs here?
Tarantino's movies are getting worse. Self indulgent, juvenile wish-fulfillment twaddle. He needs to get back to story telling and be less obsessed with trying to get approval from black gangsters.
The fuck are you babbling on about?
Totally agree... Although I dislike all of his films apart from Resevoir Dogs.
Rudi Leandro
It's a shame. Reservoir Dogs, Pulp fiction and Jackie Brown were plotted masterfully and had great characters. He's crap these days - it annoys me that the fan-base lap it up and are less critical.
K Russell The 'Tarantino' fanboys/girls are the most stubborn group of worshippers I've ever come across. They're convinced that their glorious Tarantino is a God of film making, one of the greatest of all time, and anything that he makes (regardless of quality) is an absolute masterpiece.
I truly think he's the most overrated director of all time... I'm not saying he's bad, he just doesn't deserve all the ridiculous praise he gets.
Djangos Unchained his latest outing, and it is very very strong, probably his best film.
@TulseLuper Well, Kevin Spacey almost made him cry by just joking around. If people had the attention span to acually listen and watch movies anymore, they might understand what a good movie is all about. Not just trash talking like they are the Gordon Ramsey's of film-making.
I never did get why people love obvious references so much, does it make them feel smarter that they get them? I always loved The Simpsons (golden age anyway), but when all other fans were really up in their arms about an episode, I'd usually be thinking something like, "Okay, so they took The Shining/Cape Fear and summed it up in 10 minutes and added some twists, I get it. It had a good laugh or two, but really, what elevates this above other Simpsons episodes?"
@eveningtsar The portentions of Max Branning have yet to be shorn asunder. Have they been?
Go back and watch all of the reviews for the twilight movies. You'll notice that he only said the first one worked, he didn't praise it, he said that it worked. That, I agree with 100%.
@Transformers2themax I'm not really interested in debating the merit's of the Tarantino canon. I like some of his Work Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill even Death Proof were fresh enjoyable films. What annoys me about Tarantino is his lack of daring. Jackie Brown demonstrated a maturity as a director but was not commercially successful and so he reverted back to making safe fanboy films.
It's true, this would have been his best film if he just stuck to the plot xx he will never beat his trinity of directorial debuts.
@terratrema Lask of content duly noted. You've not substantiated any of your minimal counter arguments, answered any of my questions or explained what I have said that indicates that I am a Trotskyite.
He never said the movie was crap. He said that the film had great things in it but the film as a whole is baggy and overlong and over-indulgent. Makes sense to me.
Comparisons to Kubrick are way off the mark! Kubrick was making a film critiquing the de-humanisation of man through the military. Tarantino made a film that celebrates militaristic dehumanisation, dehumanising the protagonist’s their foils and the audience that consumes it.
Kermode's Tarantino's impressions are hilarious...
What an intelligent, eloquent and insightful rebuttal that was. It doesn't speak of rampant fanboyism at all. Anyway, Eli Roth does suck. Tarantino was great in the 90's but he went off the rails with Kill Bill and Death Proof. I will see Inglourious Basterds and keep an open mind as I have disagreed with Kermode often in the past but he knows what he's talking about.
What I hate is Kermode constantly referring to Tarantino being ill disciplined and his films being too baggy - but then not specifying where exactly this occurred. I realise that he was probably avoiding spoilers, but I'd like to know where others think it should've been cut back. I watched it for the umpteenth time last night on telly and was as engrossed in it as I was the first time I saw it on the big screen. Never once was I bored. Oh and is it only me that gets the irony that Kermode's reviews are totally ill disciplined and baggy? Happy to provide specifics if required.
None of it, in it's essence, is original. He is just very good at re-packaging the source material.
@Transformers2themax "He likes subtle, generic, straight-to-the-point films." That statement is self-contradictory; are you sure you didn't mean "simple" instead of "subtle"?
Where does he say that?
I took it that he didn't want to disrespect Castellari by butchering the pronunciation but fair enough.
I LOVED Inglourious Basterds, but I agree with you on having enough of the 70's exploitation shtick.
People should stop seeing Kermode as a God. He is just a film critic and his words are just his opinion and he only just manages to stay on he right side of pretentious.
Just got back from the cinema and I'm with Mark 100% of the way on this one.
I just wish he wouldn't disrespect Enzo G. Castellari but not having the patience to actually pronounce his name correctly.
@terratrema Errr sorry but I have covered that; because Inglourious Basterds is dealing with world defining themes i.e the Jewish question those other films are not. That is not to say I'm not critical of his other work. Whilst I did enjoy the other films I still recognise that they promote and celebrate drugs, guns and violence. your second point on 'tough jews' seems to insinuate that perhaps I'm anti-semetic. If that is the case come out and say it!
lmao at his QT impressions..
Kermode is right, its just sheep that constantly applaud QT's crap movies (everything since Jackie Brown).
I've never been able to watch this film all the way through even after all these years, I honestly don't know what happens in the final 3rd because I've been bored absolutely senseless with a film stuck up it's own arse. This film totally bores me into a migraine headache.