Django is a totally Tarantino historical revenge movie.

Rating: 9/10 (30 January 2013)

Although billed as a Western the movie takes place in the southern states of America and is referred to as a "southern" by Tarantino. Regardless, elements of classic Spaghetti Westerns are present in Django Unchained.
Jamie Foxx plays Django, "the D is silent," a slave freed by a German bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). In exchange for his freedom and $75, Django helps Schultz collect a bounty on three outlaws that Django is familiar with. Django is a natural who Schultz partners with, developing Django in to a proficient bounty hunter over a winter.
During that time it is revealed that Django was forcibly separated from his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), who is now owned by Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Schultz agrees to help reunite Django with his wife as he feels somewhat responsible for the fate of Django but the quest they embark on will not be an easy one.
The movie has many of the classic elements that one can expect from a Tarantino movie. There are the long shots, the colourful characters, and the excessive violence. It is definitely not a movie for the faint of heart. That being said, there are some scenes that feel a little out of place. A scene featuring Jonah Hill as Bag Man #2 adds some comedic value but seems disconnected from the feel of the majority of the movie. Perhaps some of these differences can be attributed to Django Unchained being the first feature film directed by Tarantino that was not edited by Sally Menke, who passed away in 2010.
Fortunately the acting throughout is top notch. DiCaprio convincingly takes on the role of a villain giving the audience a character that is all too easy to love-to-hate. In one scene, DiCaprio's hand is cut while filming but he remains in character and that is the take that was used. Jamie Foxx starts a little slow but gains momentum as the film progresses, eventually playing the role of Django like it was written for him. Waltz also puts in a strong performance with good on screen chemistry with Foxx.
The movie has its hiccups but delivers a film that is full of new surprises mixed with homages to a genre of film that we see so rarely in present times. Franco Nero makes a cameo approving this new take on his old character. In that spirit, I approve this new take on a classic genre film.