<img src="http://img1.abload.de/img/inglourious_basterds_pf2zl.jpg" class="left" />

Tarantino's long awaited WW2 flick may not be entirely what people expected (a breathless, fun action film) but it is Tarantino through and through.

The movie geek among today's directors doesn't care about viewing expectations (especially about who has to die and when) and delivers a two and half hours movie with long conversations, few but pretty graphic violence scenes and a rather unexpected body count, to say the least. He is not interested in showing things as black and white, the Americans are just as bad and stupid as the Germans, the French just as revengeful.

The script splits the film in five chapters, all of which are typically Tarantino and yet stress different aspects and styles of film history. It's Sergio Leone, it's "Where eagles dare", it's French arthouse as well as Italian war-B-movie.
Particularly awesome: chapter 4 in the pub basement, a scene that should be taught on film schools as far as direction, acting and turning the excitement screw are concerned. It's just a pleasure to watch Tarantino's (and Brad Pitt's) take on the problem of undercover spies speaking the language of the people they want to infiltrate.
The choice to have native speakers fill the roles of the different nationalities is both necessary and a big asset of the film, making it feel more real than most other WW2 movies.

The cast is outstanding. A lot has been said about Christoph Waltz' eloquent, smart and unbelievably threatening "Hans Landa" and all the praise was deserved. But the cast of the 4th chapter, "Operation Kino", should be mentioned as well, particularly August Diehl as "Major Hellstrom" and Michael Fassbender as "Ltd. Hicox" are excellent, so is newcomer Melanie Laurent as revengeful jewish cinema owner.

Too much of the ending has been spoiled by the internet yet, everyone still able to watch this film with an unspoiled mind should go and enjoy it.
But be prepared: chapter 3 could have been a lot shorter, the violence is pretty much in your face and nothing goes quite the way you expect it.
Still, Tarantino remains the most unique director of our time. No one else could have delivered a piece like that and gotten away with it.
Unbelievable.

8 out of 10 Nazi scalps.