How can you hate it?

Rating: 10/10 (15 August 2006)

Quentin Tarantino's first feature length film. What's not to like? Let's run down the list, shall we? The blunt "I'll explain it later" nosedive into these criminals' lives... QT's self-delivered "Like a Virgin" monologue... Mr. Pink's refusal to tip... Deadpan comic Steven "The Guy on the Couch" Wright as the DJ for K-Billy Super Sounds of the 70's... Possibly the best opening title sequence ever ("Little Green Bag")... QT's refusal to let the audience actually see the heist go wrong... The mounting paranoia after the heist goes wrong... The unsettlingly quiet and laid back Vic Vega/Mr. Blonde... The assigning of the code names... Oh, and of course, an officer's torture (courtesy of Blonde and a razor) to the tune of "Stuck in the Middle With You." The list goes on and on, but I wouldn't dare spoil the many creative twists for anybody. I will say my favorite scene (or maybe scenes, since it's kind of long and scattered about) is Mr. Orange's memorizing and execution of "The Camode Story;" maybe it's the actor in me that relates... Reservoir Dogs is truly a must-see. Everyone in the cast is at the top of their game (especially Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi, and the recently deceased Chris Penn). Clearly, Tarantino knew early on the secret weapon of a suspenseful drama: comedy.