Inglourious Basterds
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Is it age appropriate?
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Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Tarantino's World War II epic is both bloody and talky.
Themes in this movie include: physical abuse, revenge
Why We Rated This 
What to watch out for
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of Inglourious Basterds was written by James Rocchi
Parents need to know that, like all of director Quentin Tarantino's work, while this World War II adventure starring Brad Pitt is full of food for thought, it's also brutally violent, bloody, and full of harsh language. Expect cringe-inducing beatings, shootings, and more, plus a non-stop barrage of words like "f--k" and "s--t," constant smoking, and plenty of drinking. The film also takes lots of liberties with history and is very talky -- meaning that teens who watch might alternate between being bored to death and shocked by the gory parts.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about the movie's violence. What's the impact of the brutal scenes? Does it make the violence feel surreal or more honest and authentic?
- Are there limits on what soliders will and won't (or can and can't) do in the heat of the moment during wartime? Do soliders who participate in a genocide like that of the Nazis against the Jews deserve any mercy?
- What does the movie say about the role of filmmaking, press/public relations, and storytelling as part of war? What role does film have in wartime? How can it be manipulated to meet those ends?
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More on Inglourious Basterds
What’s the Story?
Set in 1944, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS follows two parallel stories that quickly converge. In the first, an American group of Jewish soldiers called "The Basterds," led by hard-bitten Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), carries out terror attacks against German troops in occupied France. Meanwhile, in Paris, a theater owner (Melanie Laurent) is approached by a heroic soldier (Daniel Bruhl) to host the French premiere of his propaganda film; what he doesn't know is that she, hiding her Jewish roots to keep safe, is also part of the resistance. As the American Basterds, the French resistance, and the German high command converge on the theater, it's going to be a premiere everyone will remember ... if they survive.
Is It Any Good?
Bizarre, bold, and bloody, there's no denying that Inglourious Basterds has all the vim, vigor, and excitement of Quentin Tarantino's other films. Detractors will call it an empty exercise in style over substance, and they won't be entirely wrong. But it's also a glorious exercise in style over substance -- a Valentine to the very acts of moviemaking and moviegoing, with the Nazi high command wiped out in spectacular fashion in a movie theater as the action playing out up on the screen begins to pale in comparison to what happens inside the theater.
Tarantino has said that the film is his fantasy of "how cinema can save the world," and while that's a naive sentiment, it's one that's played for action and laughs here. Pitt gives a blood-soaked comedic performance as the grunting, grim Raine, and he's matched by Christoph Walltz's Col. Hans Landa on the Nazi side. Featuring long, loopy conversations punctuated by brief bursts of bloody violence before culminating in a incendiary -- in every sense of the word -- finale, Inglourious Basterds ultimately has to be enjoyed as a piece of pure moviemaking energy. Fans waiting for Tarantino to make a film with the moral and artistic complexity of Jackie Brown or even Pulp Fiction will be disappointed, but those who know what they're in for won't be let down.
Movie Details
Studio: Weinstein Co., Director: Quentin Tarantino
Run time: 152 minutes
Theatrical release: 8/21/2009, DVD release: 12/15/2009
MPAA Rating: R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality
Run time: 152 minutes
Theatrical release: 8/21/2009, DVD release: 12/15/2009
MPAA Rating: R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality
Our Members Say
See 42 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title off for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
It's one of Tarentino's best. Yet it dosen't lack in any violence. From throat slashing to getting beaten to death by a baseball bat this movie is full of graphic violence. Most notable the scalping scenes. Most of the violence however is either brief or seen from a distance. If you want to see this movie you have to have a pretty good gag reflex for blood and in one scene gore. There is blood spurts from people when they are shot.
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
Great for mature people! :)
Okay, honestly, the cussing wasn't THAT bad. They probably didn't cuss anymore than what the people in The Breakfast Club did. The violence might disturb some viewers, but I think this movie is definitley worth watching!
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
pass it by
a real snooze fest the scalping of the german soldiers is a bit graphic for some but just a boring movie overall worst ww2 movie I ever saw
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
very well made movie
i like this movie. some people may not like it be cause it is mostly talking but it goes by quick. there are a lot of subtittles too but i barely noticed. it has 1 scenne thats about 4 seconds long of a woman and a man having sex. there is also a small amount of graphic violance. and a lot of language
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Ratings at a Glance
| 76% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 62% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 38% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 29% | of parents say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking |
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