Tarantino's Basterds

Fresh off his Oscar nomination for his lead role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt has shifted gears from David Fincher to Quentin Tarantino. The two have teamed up for what is set to be one of this summers most successful films. Set to release in late August, Inglorious Bastards will take WWII to a new level of comedic criticism. Or will it? Although Tarantino is known for his originality and style, this film is in fact a remake. Although I am sure they are none in the same, the original film was directed by Italian filmmaker Enzo G. Castelleri in 1978, and was titled Quel Maledetto Treno Blindato (That Damned Armored Train) later changed to Inglorious Basterds when released in the US.

The original film has a premise that saw a group of American Soldiers in the process of being shipped to a military prison, when their convoy is struck by a German air attack. Five survive, and embark on a trek to reach the safety of neutral Switzerland. But along the way they end up volunteering for a mission to steal German military prototypes, with the help of the French underground. They have to do so without getting arrested by the French or the Germans.

Tarantino has decided to add a bit more purpose and passion for his soldiers, by creating a film from the perspective of Jewish-American soldiers. In this German occupied France, a young woman, Shosanna Dreyfus, witnesses the execution of her family, but is able to narrowly escape to Paris. Elsewhere, Lt. Aldo Raine (Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted attacks of retribution against the Third Reich, joining forces along the way to take down major leaders in the party. Fate, passion, and a single shared goal converge in this WWII film, of which I am sure will spare no blood. Here is a sneak peek...