Entertaining, not as good a script as expected

Rating: 6/10 (26 December 2012)

One of the early reviews for this film lists it as 10/10, "another Tarantino masterpiece" but I totally disagree. I think this movie, while entertaining enough to get a moderate thumbs up, is neither as funny, as unpredictable, as original, or as exciting as his earlier films.
It may be as violent, but the violence is, like the use of the 'N' word, a bit over-done. Tarantino, in a brief cameo, is the only one that avoids using the 'N' word (calls Django "black") which seemed a bit cowardly IMO, given that he gave the word multiple times to his other characters.
The other annoying element- something he does in all of his music but almost too much here- is placing pop music in scenes for an added punch. I just felt that it seemed less effective here.
Again, all that said, it's still entertaining enough. The acting is good, and the story moves along pretty well. I'm not sure if the Tarantino formula is getting old. I just think this script is not one of his best. I've seen all of his movies first run in the theater- this one may be my last.