Thoroughly entertaining and funny

Rating: 9/10 (7 February 2010)

This is the most enjoyable and original of Quentin's movies to date and a pretty good war movie even if it is an all out fantasy.
I have not always been a Quentin fan. Too much violence and too many unpleasant images. But here everything comes together in perfect proportions. There are moments of great hilarity especially between the French cinema owner played by Melanie Laurent and the German Officer who is attracted to her. The scene in the tavern is both tense and darkly funny at the same time too. The inventiveness of these scenes alone deserves an Oscar for best screenplay. There are some moments of unexpected humor like when Christoph Waltz is negotiating at the end. And the over the top violence is appropriate to the story for a change, especially the feel good ending.
The casting - especially the European cast is excellent and their acting spot on. Melanie Laurent is fascinating. Diane Kruger is totally perfect. Bruhl and Fassbender are well cast too. Christoph Waltz is memorable and deserves all his awards. With this cast you don't depend on Brad Pitt who often can be too obvious and self conscious with his exaggerated expressions. The only thing is you wish more of them had lived at the end.
Definitely worth seeing more than once.