Tarantino's Must See List

Here we have the sometimes brilliant, usually bizarre, and always interesting Quentin Tarantino dropping science about his favorite films since 1992. With "Inglorious Basterds" coming out on Friday, there no doubt will be a PR blitz of all things Tarantino. So, with the upcoming onslaught on the horizon, I wanted to share this video (via the amazing website /film) with everybody because it provides an very atypical list of films since 1992. For those of you who don't want to watch the whole video, here is the list

Battle Royale (TPG)
Anything Else
Audition
Blade (TPG)
Boogie Nights
Dazed & Confused (TPG)
Dogville
Fight Club (TPG)
Friday (TPG)
The Host (TPG)
The Insider (TPG)
Joint Security Area
Lost In Translation
The Matrix (TPG)
Memories of Murder
Police Story 3
Shaun of the Dead (TPG)
Speed (TPG)
Team America (TPG)
Unbreakable (TPG)

I have put a little TPG next to the films that I have seen (yeah I haven't seen "Boogie Nights" or "Lost in Translation", relax all you hipsters and film elitists, I'll get to them one day). I have to say I really agree with many of the films on his list. Tarantino was famously a video store clerk before he became famous, and his love of cinema is reflected on this list.

Many of these movies are notable because they started a trend. An example of this would be "Shaun of the Dead" which kickstarted the whole screwball comedy horror genre (see the upcoming "Zombieland" as an example). So, while this list can be a little daunting, I would recommend that you watch "Unbreakable" before any other film on this list. It's an incredibly interesting and mis-understood movie. You go see that and I'll see "Boogie Nights." Deal?

Surviving Without Seeing G.I. Joe

I want to see G.I. Joe. There I said it, I feel like a massive weight equal has been sliced with a glimmering katana from my shoulders. You see by all accounts G.I. Joe looks like a pretty damn fresh movie to me. It's got one of more of the following items which usually peaks my interests regarding a summer movie

Explosions

Exotic Weapons

Tantalizing Babes

Whiz Bang POWWW Gadgets

Ninjas! Ninjas! Ninjas!

Sword Fights

Cool Special Effects (or so it appears)

The Destruction of Paris

I'm just kidding about that last one, but you see like on paper it sounds like it would be right up my alley. When I try to process why I didn't see it at midnight I think back to the words of a wise old prophet in Hollywood

 

"Son, once you get out of the demographic, nothing's the same." 

Damn, that wise old sage with maroon beard was correct, I'm out of the demo for G.I. Joe. It's strange this feeling of growing up, but I think it's natural.

Sorry Joe, maybe, I'll, umm, see you around, , on a rainy Saturday afternoon, you'll be on HBO, and I'll be bored, and well, I've said to much. Go play with your accelerator suit.

Face Melting Awesomeness: Inglorious Basterds Trailer

Damn, this trailer is bringing it. This looks as good as the script, which was insanely awesome. Brad Pitt looks as cool as I hoped, and I'm digging the spaghetti western style of the whole thing.

Valkyrie: Is it ok to root for Nazis?

Between countless "Call of Duty" video games, history books and classes, Academy Award winnings films, and historical visits around Europe, I have learned that Nazis are pure evil.

So wrap your mind around this: if the Nazi's which so vile, why is a movie coming out where they are the good guys? In "Valkyrie" the Nazis are trying to kill the supreme evil Nazi Hitler, but I still wonder, was everyone involved in the plot 100% good.

A quick wikipedia session on the Clau Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) reveals he was a pretty decent guy who hated almost every aspect of the party. However, the plot was multi-faceted and it's tough to imagine that everyone involved was as noble at Stauffenberg.

Maybe I am just old fashioned, I just like seeing Nazi's meet justice's wrath for all their terrible actions. If anybody is getting back at the Nazi's, it's not other Nazis', it everybody else. For this reason, I'll be seeing "Defiance" before "Valkryie."