Great, unorthodox, WW2 movie

Rating: 9/10 (13 October 2014)

Tarantino's back, and it was worth the wait. Great WW2 movie, though very unorthodox. From rewriting history to the use of David Bowie's "Cat People" (one of my favourite songs, by the way) in a scene, there is nothing conventional or reverent about this movie, but Tarantino makes it work.
Great action, and great plot. Does drag at times, as Tarantino sketches the background and builds the suspense. ("Jackie Brown" had that problem too).
The use of French and German, and not just English, plus subtitles both adds and detracts from the movie. Many of the scenes rely on French or German being spoken, so there's the plus. The minus is that it stunts the usual witty and swagger-filled dialogue that is Tarantino's trademark. Reading the subtitles isn't the same as hearing it in English. Plus, while you're reading the subtitles, you're missing some of the action.
Though Brad Pitt is billed as the lead actor, the star of the show, for my mind, is Christoph Waltz as the cunning and sadistic SS Colonel. Superb acting on his part. Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent and Diane Kruger are also very good. Eli Roth was unconvincing, though.
Overall, not as good as Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs (though nothing is) or either Kill Bill, but very entertaining and certainly worth watching.