Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds follows the 'what if' school of thought asking what would happen if a band of vengeful American Jews, a Jew who escapes the massacre of her family, and a psychotic SS officer actually succeeded in killing Hitler? Many label Tarantino as a violence loving narcissistic director, and he may be that but he's also a history buff, an amazing lyricist of dialogue, and a filmmaker who gives credit to predecessors for inspiration.
He picks the perfect enemy, the Nazis. Who doesn't hate them? He lets the viewer actually cheer out loud for a bad guy everyone loves to hate. Its so rare nowadays for us to actually be happy to see someone get their head bashed in...but, if its a Nazi, everyone can cheer. Its hard to get past the stereotypes, of both the Nazis and the Jews. The stereotypical Jew would be a quiet, non-violent, almost a submissive type, these warriors are anything but. I truly appreciate how Tarantino turns stereotypes on their heads. His Jewish soldiers are inspired by Apache soldiers in their thirst for blood!
The stories are woven together with points of view from all sides of the story. Despite the fact that this is not a true story that doesn't make the viewer enjoy it any less. Tarantino has a way with characters, whether they be good or bad he give them each their own background, motivations, and quirks. Then he has the writer's skill of throwing them all in the same pot and stirring, creating an imaginary outcome to an extraordinary situation.
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