World War II movies tend to be either one of two things: incredibly depressing, or incredibly inspiring. It can be a sensitive subject to tackle, depending on the approach of the filmmaker, and with Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino takes us on a somewhat cathartic journey right down the middle. Starting out in Sergio Leone fashion with a title card that says “Once Upon a Time…. in Nazi-occupied France”, Tarantino immediately sets the tone for the majority of the film – …
Grindhouse
Wow, what a ride. Yes, I am referring to Grindhouse, the double-feature tribute to exploitation films by directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. These films are not meant to be high-art, and will undoubtedly only appeal to a niche audience. But oh, I fit right into that audience, and this movie (or should I say, movies) was a blast! After a fake trailer for Machete (directed by Rodriguez), along with retro vintage movie theater bumpers, we’re treated to the first …
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Saw Kill Bill Vol. 2 tonight, with Matt who drove in from Riverside. We worked our way to the Arclight, and hit up Amoeba Music beforehand. The film is actually a much better one than the first volume. Of course, that is because this one has more plot-driven scenes, filled with Tarantino dialogue. It’s more of a Segio Leone spaghetti-western than the kung-fu slasher flick from the first Volume. The overall style is well done – there’s a noir edge …
Kill Bill Vol. 1
Last night Matt and I went to the Arclight to see Kill Bill, the 4th film from