Great start, damp end

Rating: 8/10 (22 November 2009)

This movie promised to be one of Tarantino's best.. with the exquisite beginning (the subtle tension, the gradual build-up of the charming Colonel who chillingly transforms into the hunter - fabulous job from Chris Waltz), the intriguing middle part with its mysterious and haunting scenarios, the introduction of the exquisite Shosanna (Melanie Laurent) in her new avatar as cinema-owner, the Basterds themselves on their glorious vengeance trail (Brad Pitt deserves particular mention as a great character actor in this part of the movie), and Diane Kruger in all her beauty playing a rather nervous but credible role (the only in- credible role being that of the person who played Hitler himself).. despite the great build-up, however, this humdinger of a movie collapses into farce in the end, leaving one wondering what exactly was the director's intention..with such a tremendous start and accelerating suspense combined with some of the most divinely-cinematographed sequences, one is led to expect a great denouement.. what one gets however is a typical, Pulp-Fiction, Quentin Tarantino ending which is completely meaningless and indeed comical. All said and done however, a great effort and a movie well worth the watch for its many many memorable moments and characters.