50/50: Inglourious Basterds

Well, I did it. I managed to get through my first official 50 films list.

Within the next few days I will have a recap of the 50 films, but first let's get to my final film - and boy was it worth the wait.

I don't know why I have waited so long to get into Quentin Tarantino films. I watched Jackie Brown in the theaters when it first came out, but that was my first and only film of his I had ever watched. And, although I enjoyed it, is quite possibly his worst film.

I'll tell you one thing, I will definitely have a hard time picking which of his films is my favorite - because I absolutely loved Inglourious Basterds.

The film is basically an alternate version of Nazi takeover in Paris, France.

First, we meet Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), or 'The Jew Hunter' as he has been named for his outstanding ability to locate the Jewish inhabitants - which he is now doing in Paris.

On the other side of things we have 'The Basterds', a band of Jewish-American military men led by Lt. Aldo Raine, or 'Aldo the Apache'. His motto is to kill every Nazi in uniform that they find - and every man is to bring him 100 Nazi scalps.

So those are the main characters, but we are also introduced (sort of) to Shosanna (Melanie Laurent) in the very first scene with Col. Landa. She is the only one to escape a mass murder and ends up as the owner of a theater.

What is so relevant about this? Well, it just so happens that her theater is now the home of 'Nazi Night', where a new film by Joseph Goebbels (Sylvester Groth) will be shown - and a ton of Nazi officials will be in attendance. So, it's obvious that 'The Basterds' will do their best to hit this theater and take out as many Nazis at once as they can.

But, what actually happens is pretty interesting.

First off, just amazing acting all around. Two standouts, however, as Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz were just downright spectacular. Laurent, who I had never heard of before, was also a standout as Shosanna.

Second, Mike Myers was in this film. Yeah, that Mike Myers. You know, Wayne? Schwing?

And, you know what. He was great in his small role. It actually gave me hope that Myers could do something outside of comedy (the cameo reminded me a lot of Cruise in Tropic Thunder, but just not as long).

I was worried a little about the blood and gore factor in this film, as I had heard it was a little more than in his previous films - but it wasn't too bad. Nothing was too much for me to handle.

The only true question I had coming away from the film was where was Samm Levine's character at the conclusion of the film? Levine played Pfc. Hirschberg, part of 'The Basterds'. But, at the conclusion - when I believe everyone has been accounted for, he is missing. I just found it odd that he was introduced, but lost at the end.

So, there you have it. My final film - and I am glad I went out with a bang. If you haven't seen it, make sure you do.

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5/50: Shrek Forever After

OK. I have stated before how much I love the Shrek franchise. The first Shrek is one of my favorite cartoons of all time. And, I have liked each additional Shrek along the way as well - probably each a little less than the previous.

I think it is good that this last one was, in fact, the last Shrek. Shrek Forever After was decent. I laughed a few times and it was sort of cool to see what exactly would have happened had Shrek not rescued Fiona. But, it sort of fizzled out and didn't have that certain special something that the other films had before it.

In a look back we see that Fiona's (Cameron Diaz) were about to make a deal with Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn) that would give him their castle and rule if he could have their daughter rescued. But, before they signed on the dotted line, they get word that their daughter has been rescued - by Shrek (Mike Myers) of course from the first film.

Back in present time it is the ogre babies birthday party and Shrek is really freaking out. He loves his family and friends, but he longs for the days that he was feared and was a normal ogre. After freaking out at the party, Shrek starts walking home and gets picked up by Rumpelstiltskin - he makes him feel at home and gets him to sign an agreement that would give Shrek one day as his old ogre self and all he would have to give up is a day from his past - so Shrek agrees.

Well, it turns out that the day Rumpelstiltskin got rid of was his birthday - so Shrek was never born. And, in this new world, Rumpelstiltskin is now the ruler and witches terrorize everyone. Fiona and other ogres are trying to lead a rebellion against Rumpelstiltskin; Puss In Buss (Antonia Banderas) is a fat cat; and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) is singing and pulling a wagon for the witches.

There is only one way to break the spell and it is up to Shrek to figure out what it is before the day is over - or things will remain this way forever.

Like I said, not a horrible film, but compared to the Shrek's before it there is really no comparison. Also, I am not sure who this Walt Dohrn is. Did they run out of money on this film? Why could they not get a well-known voice for the part? Also, I think it would have been a fun idea to have Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) return when everything changed - it would have been a great way to tie all of the movies together.

Grade: