Trek
District 9
Public Enemies
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
The Hangover
Precious
Funny People

and that’s not even including:

Up
Up in the Air
Where the Wild Things Are
Terminator Salvation
(500) Days of Summer
The Fantastic Mr. Fox

which I suspect might be “better”, I just haven’t seen them…

The Maximus quote is a good call. Ask yourself if it would fit in “Gladiator” if there was a Stiglitz-style intro for that returning retired fighter Maximus takes on and decides to spare (MAXIMUS THE MERCIFUL!). It wouldn’t, because it’s not that kind of movie. This one isn’t, but it is, but then what is it? It’s all over the map stylistically, because Tarantino just can’t help himself from doing something entertaining and cool, even at the expense of consistency. As a viewer, that frustrates me. At least in “Kill Bill” it was obvious. Here it’s only kind of obvious, which to me makes it worse.

I actually think Tarantino takes himself quite seriously, and is not without pretension. And I found this film to be entertaining. But it was like a 40’s Bogart-style drama in parts, mixed with Zack Snyder’s “Watchmen”. It spent time being so many different things, I was never completely satisfied with any one thing it was. It was a collection of great scenes, some of which were consistent, and some of which were fraught with trying too hard to be “cool” stylistically.

He’s so anxious to borrow from so many styles and films he gets so overzealous, that, to me, it’s annoying. Again, to me. I WAS entertained. I was just also frustrated.

And I’m not entirely sure that Tarantino has any pretensions of being a coffee-sipping auteur whose aesthetic touches are discussed by candlelight in Belgian cafes. He makes what he wants to make because he likes it. I’ll get on board because it’s a damn good time and 95X better than just about everything else out there. Personally, I thought the Hugo Stiglitz intro was hilarious. Inglorious Basterds is in the 2009 top 5, and belongs there.