Inglourious Basterds

From the moment I knew that Quentin Tarantino was making a new film, I was instantly intrigued. But, being the history lover that I am, I almost leapt with joy upon hearing of the plot of the film.

The movie opens to Nazi occupied France, 1941, and all seems innocent as we watch a young girl hang her freshly washed linen out to dry. The echoing of a car buzzing down the dusty farm road raises alarm to her father, she is told to go inside. The car pulls up and Nazi official's stand before him. Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) approaches him and an interrogation scene ensues.

Never before have I viewed a movie and felt so nervous and terrified that I couldn’t place one piece of popcorn in my mouth. The scene is so gripping and well acted that you are immediately sucked into it and forced to feel what the characters are feeling.

Colonel Landa finds out that the father, in the scene, is hiding Jews under his floor boards, and after ordering his men to shoot them, one girl, Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent), escapes after seeing her family die right next to her. She later comes to own the cinema, in which an important Nazi premier is being held, and has her own plans on seeking revenge.

The 'Basterds', a group of 8 Jewish American soldiers, come into play soon after, with Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) leading them. It is their job to kill as many Nazis as they can, owing a debt of 100 nazi scalps to Raine, himself. But, it is through their first attack on the Nazis that we see the brutality of their beatings with Sgt. Donny Donowitz (Eli Roth), known as 'The Bear Jew', beating a Nazi to death with a baseball bat. Don't be repelled by the violence, however, it does not take over the film, but instead leaves its bloody trace throughout it, dealing out just the right amount.

Britain also plays a part in this wonderful tale, in the form of Lt Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender). He is sent in, by none other than General Ed Fenech (Mike Myers), to blow up the cinema in which important Nazi officials are attending a premier. And so, with 'The Basterds' in tow, he is set to meet the famous German actress, Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) who is secretly working for the Britain, in order to receive details about the premier.

As the movie continues, we are taken on a journey of plotting, killing, clever quips and swastikas. With the genius mind of Quentin Tarantino, it is very hard to see any wrong in this film. Everything from casting, to directional skills adds to the magnificence that is, 'Inglourious Basterds'.

'Wunderbar!'