"I think this might just be my masterpiece."

It’s difficult to know what to expect from a Quentin Tarantino film these days. I know he’s more than capable of making some of the best cinema around, but then I’m also painfully aware that he’s capable of making stuff like Jackie Brown or boring me to tears with the uber tedious, dialogue heavy scenes in the likes of (the enormously over-rated) Kill Bill.

In fact, Kill Bill Volume 2 was the very reason that I didn’t watch Death Proof when it was released – I just couldn’t face sitting through more of his long winded self-indulgence. And still, five years on from Kill Bill – I very nearly didn’t watch Tarantino’s new film: Inglourious Basterds, because of that very same reason too.

But I’ll have to admit that I’m VERY glad I did – otherwise I would’ve missed one of the best films of the year. Ok, yes, it’s also extremely dialogue heavy (shock horror), but from the very first scene you quickly get reeled in by the more serious subject matter and the supreme acting from the Jew Hunter – Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), who steals the show within the first 15 minutes with a fantastic blend of humour and Nazi menace.

The Inglourious Basterds are a crack team of Nazi hunters, who have been killing their way across Nazi-occupied France. When they hear of an opportunity to bump off Hitler and some other top Nazi henchmen, they can’t afford to pass it up. But they’re not the only ones with that idea…  someone else with a score to settle is out for revenge.

You probably have to be in the right mood to watch Inglourious Basterds – some of the scenes are VERY drawn out, but it’s still a cracking film – funny in places and most of the acting is top notch. Plus Tarantino’s version of World War II features a somewhat different ending to the real life one – and you’ve just got to like his alternative that much better. 9/10.