Posts by Christian Taylor3

Anthony Smith3 said:The voices of the "nine"...

Multimedia, give me multimedia, because there's just no solace to be found in still images alone... 😁

Voice Acting Sessions from Tim Burton’s animated ‘9′

By the way, you can also find this on the same link...

Next, for some background, here’s Producer Tim Burton talking about the elements he found successful in the film '9' as well as taking his inspirations from horror movies and reinventing the medium so it feels real plus the challenges of giving non-human characters a personality.

And then...

Finally, see it all come together as #8 (voiced by Fred Tatasciore), #9 (voiced by Elijah Wood), #7 (voiced by Jennifer Connelly), #1 (voiced by Christopher Plummer), #5 (voiced by John C. Reilly) and #6 (voiced by Crispin Glover) attempt to save themselves from a terrifying pterodactyl like machine.

Emily Thomas3 said:I lowkey love it when girls swear 🤷

I don't want to come off like some kind of Boy Scout here, but my absolute dream woman would have to be Mercedes Ruehl or Anna Napolitano in "The Fisher King" (specifically that line, "You are a sick fuck, you know that?"). Personally, I'm more of an Amanda Plummer or Lydia Sinclair type of guy, definitely.

Anyway, getting back to the actual topic... Quentin Tarantino's 5 most insufferable female characters. Honestly, if I had to pick, I’d say Vernita Green played by Vivica Fox in "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" takes the cake for me.



YUM! 🙂

hiddenhound3 said:Good heavens, man, you are being quite dramatic... 🙄 I was very explicit about which specific films I find to be rubbish. Besides, if I recall correctly, Emily Thomas3 wrote that charming little post advocating for Q as if he were just some wide-eyed boy. And yes, that is precisely the case. A boy hungry for action, chaos, and excitement. That is exactly the type of cinema he crafts. I hold no grudge against him for that; I am simply stating that his list does not appeal to me. I am equally certain that my list would not sit well with him either. However, I see absolutely no reason for all this theatrics. In my view, it is entirely possible to discuss matters of taste in a civilized manner. Just observe how gracefully I am handling it 😁 😍

You're right, of course—it's not like we're dealing with the legacy of Oscar Schindler here where we can't poke fun at, criticize, or disagree with the list (by the way, word on the street is even old man Schindler was a heavy drinker, a total rogue, and a bit of an exploiter—nothing in life is ever purely black and white 😁). I’m not the world’s most enthusiastic defender of Quentin Tarantino... Look, I value your opinion, I was just trying to bait a little concession out of you: Come on, The Insider isn't actually that bad. Can you forgive me? 🤣 Btw, your new avatar is über cool; looks like your dad has good taste too—lovely.

Rachel Sullivan2 said:I'm telling you, you're just like QT—one tiny insult and you just snap😢

Hold up... are you seriously using box office numbers and glowing reviews as proof of someone's genius while we're talking? And 😕
what the hell is 😕

Another list, just like the last one... Thrilling. For instance, just a few days before (that list for HBO) he put together something similar yet different for "EW": Quentin Tarantino: 20 Movies There, maybe that one won't disappoint you... Maybe you can watch all those movies, scrape some cash together, make a better film than Reservoir Dogs, and become his female counterpart 😁 We can hardly wait...

And I see this list isn't quite as special to you as it was a couple of days ago either 😁

Look... QT doesn't move the needle for me at all, ever. He might have been cool when I was a kid, but never enough to sit around debating his "genius"
Jackie Brown, for example, is great, and that's where I saw he actually knows how to get the job done, and the die-hard fans usually lose their minds watching that one... especially the hardcore crowd 🤷
Personally, I'd rather die than have to have a civilized conversation about someone else's taste 😁
And hold on... Reservoir Dogs is treated like the ultimate benchmark for everything 😕
Man... I'm just not feeling it. But fine... I'll admit the soundtrack for RD is a masterpiece ☕

😁

It wasn't an insult, who's getting angry? (though my mom might be 😁). Speaking of which, my dad won a gift card from $167 at the Walmart sweepstakes yesterday—he spent the whole day treating us (he ended up dropping a solid $150! 😵). Long Story Short, he happened to stumble upon this thread today (typical guy, obsessed with QT and his flicks) and saw your post: The drugs must be calling your name. Being the dad he is, the worried fool probably thought his only son was out there doing hard drugs... Are you smoking?! -No, I'm not! Yes, you are!!! (In the heat of the argument, I accidentally let slip: Go screw yourself!). Now he won't take me to see "Inglourious Basterds"—instead, he wants to introduce me to this machine 🤣

Rachel Sullivan2 said:I don't know, man... you're low-key giving off the vibe that these drugs are actually obsessed with you. 😁😁
So why the hell did you even bother posting that list? I don't get it. 😕
Like, the whole squad is out here preaching about how brilliant Quentin Tarantino is and acting like he's some kind of god. 🤷

Personally, that list was a total letdown 😢... but hey, I'm no authority on the subject. In my book, the best thing QT ever touched is Jackie Brown. 😁😁

Your taste in movies is just straight-up weird. ☕

Thanks for those lovely "compliments."☕ Why did I post it? Well, presumably so you could feel free to tear it apart like this (by the way, what a charming vocabulary for a lady, I envy you...)👍 Exactly, the whole squad is out here raving about how brilliant QT is and they're totally obsessed. 😁 And why shouldn't they be? After all, this says enough about QT's genius; "IB" is getting stellar reviews, everyone agrees Christoph Waltz is a lock for an Oscar (and probably QT for Best Original Screenplay, too)...



It’s just another list in a long line of lists... thrilling, I know. For instance, just a few days before (the list for HBO) he put together something similar yet different for "EW": Quentin Tarantino: 20 Movies There, maybe that one won't disappoint you quite as much... Maybe if you watch all those films, scrape some cash together, and manage to shoot something better than Reservoir Dogs, you'll become his female counterpart.😁 We're all just waiting with bated breath...

What kind of bile-spilling are we talking about here? Who, where? 🤷 Again, you're right—arguing over someone else's taste is basically a waste of breath. But... we aren't really debating QT's taste, are we? By commenting on Quentin Tarantino's list, we're actually just revealing our own preferences, aren't we? Jebomipas, I'm clearly a genius 😵

northerncrane4 said:What do you mean? Both "Memoirs of a Murderer" and "The Host" are right there on the list.

As for "Lost in Translation"... was Sophia being catered to during production, before, or after? 🤔

Holy cow, I somehow managed to miss those too 😲 (I wish there was an emoticon for just flicking ash off my sleeve). Man, my knowledge is pretty fragile... I guess we can't all be Mr. Smoogj, right? 👍

northerncrane4 said:What do you mean? Both "Memoirs of a Murderer" and "The Host" are right there on the list.

As for "Lost in Translation"... was Sophia being catered to during production, before, or after? 🤔

Around the time of, well, Sophie's Oscar—before or after, whatever.

"As for Sofia, she has great taste in director dating material. She, Jonze, and QT should have an epic threesome, mixing their creative efforts (and bodily fluids) to create The Ultimate Director offspring." 😁

hmmm... maybe QT is a much bigger ladies man than we originally thought... I can only imagine what it would be like to actually watch him work: Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! 😂

ruggedridge22 said:I’m not particularly surprised by this list; it makes perfect sense given how much Quentin Tarantino was influenced by grindhouse cinema and East Asian cult classics growing up. You’ll find a mix of hits and misses here, but there are several undeniable modern masterpieces included—films like *Boogie Nights*, *Fight Club* (though I have a slight soft spot for *Se7en*), *Lost in Translation*, *Unbreakable*, and *The Insider*. In my opinion, *The Insider* is actually the standout achievement on this entire list, though I can't help but feel *Heat* really deserved a spot here too.

As for *The Matrix* and *Speed*, those are two stellar examples of genre filmmaking. Even Tarantino's nods to his Far East inspirations, such as *Kill Bill* or *The Host*, are certainly worth watching, though personally, I think a film by Takeshi Kitano would have been a more fitting addition.

Vote ruggedridge22 for President! 🙏 Honestly, the biggest pleasant surprise on QT’s list has to be The Insider. It’s kind of nice seeing him include that Mann flick, even if it doesn't exactly scream his usual style—there isn't a shred of pure "entertainment" in The Insider. And holy crap, where is Heat? 😲 Leaving Heat out is definitely rubbing some people the wrong way. I guess he didn't want to repeat himself, and as the esteemed David Price5 so eloquently put it: David Price5: He did it so that no single director takes up two spots... maybe that's actually a good thing, given how many directors there are and how little space we have here... Still, choosing between The Insider and Heat is a tough call...

Emily Thomas3 said:But why even take it personally? Is it because of snobbery? Or some high-brow view on art? Maybe it's because movies shouldn't just be made for those little boys living inside men even when they hit their 20s? You have no idea how many memories can be triggered by that goofy scene where Keanu Reeves is on a skateboard trying to defuse a bomb. Forget Proust and his madeleines! Tarantino has dedicated a huge chunk of his career to chasing lost time, and he does it with a genuine love for his characters that you rarely see from any other director.

I don't mind if you aren't into Tarantino's "pre-teen" action flicks, but don't dismiss them so easily. They actually mean something to people. For some, it's just ninety minutes of mindless fun, but for others, it's a massive connection to their childhood.

brightridge59 said:It’s been a while since I’ve come across such a beautifully written and concise post. 🙂 👍

I know, I'm being boring and childish, repeating myself and quoting things unnecessarily—please forgive me, Emily Thomas3 and everyone else on the forum, especially the veterans... Props to 🙏 Hebiga, I just can't help myself—this is one of those posts you only stumble upon once every few years. By the way, I'm actually planning to print out that "ridiculous scene" from Speed: huge poster for my office and pair it with Emily Thomas3's exact comment right next to it. 🙏

northerncrane4 said:Maybe it’s just me—but pulling off the jump from a 22-minute TV format to a 90-minute feature film this smoothly, without it feeling like a "stretched episode," is a massive achievement. I'm not certain if anyone else has pulled that off before or since. Plus, BLU is arguably much more subversive than that polished, hyper-explicit Team America.

But clearly, Tarantino's brand of explicitness works. To hell with Jan de Bont.

And then there's Roger Ebert
😁

Speaking of the devil, a little off-topic moment (which it really isn't): just yesterday, a review for Inglourious Basterds popped up on Roger Ebert's website: "To hell with the history books, this is Tarantino's own war".

"After I saw “Inglourious Basterds” at Cannes, although I was writing a daily blog, I resisted giving an immediate opinion about it. I knew Tarantino had made a considerable film, but I wanted it to settle, and to see it again. I’m glad I did. Like a lot of real movies, you relish it more the next time. Immediately after “Pulp Fiction” played at Cannes, QT asked me what I thought. “It’s either the best film of the year or the worst film,” I said. I hardly knew what the hell had happened to me. The answer was: the best film. Tarantino films have a way of growing on you. It’s not enough to see them once."

🙂 👏 🙂

p.s. Look, one single Roger fuckin' Ebert isn't going to dictate my taste; who even is this guy? Most of it holds water, though, so my apologies in advance to anyone who thinks I'm trying to push a specific opinion on them regarding a movie (the "critics" would probably chime in: Oh, he gave Speed four stars but only three and a half to The Insider—old bastard, absolutely crucified him!). That's not the point; Ebert is one of a kind. When a legend like him finally kicks the bucket, a huge chunk of objective, relevant film criticism is going to die right along with him. Again, that's just my two cents.

Peter Reed70 said:Just finished watching Audition.
Man, that beginning was such a drag—seriously, I almost fell asleep! Just when things finally start getting weird and interesting, the movie wraps up. Honestly? Kind of a letdown.

I have to agree, unfortunately... I actually gave it another watch just yesterday...

northerncrane4 said:Exactly. Se7en is an absolute masterpiece—flawless—whereas Fight Club is just a visually flashy, narratively clunky attempt at adapting Palahniuk’s work. Personally? I'd argue The Game carries way more weight than Fight Club.

EDIT: Also, "Bigger, Longer & Uncut" is a much more powerful, impactful film than "Team America."☕

You. You. You're very good... It's hard to argue with you there (regarding The Game)...

So, here's my heavy-hearted list...

1. Battle Royale 🙄 Watching it again tomorrow...
2. Anything Else 🙂 🙂
3. Audition 🙂 Please, Audition is nothing compared to Oldboy!
4. The Blade ☕ That's where Oldboy could have easily fit in.
5. Boogie Nights - I guess you could say that.
6. Dazed & Confused - That explanation sold me on it, it all makes sense...
7. Dogville - meh
8. Fight Club 🤷 Still loses to Se7en, obviously.
9. Friday - give me a break
10. The Host - meh
11. The Insider - I absolutely love this one.🙂
12. Joint Security Area - I really need to rewatch this too...
13. Lost In Translation - meh
14. The Matrix - meh
15. Memories of Murder - meh
16. Police Story 3 - come on, really?
17. Shaun of the Dead - meh
18. Speed - meh
19. Team America 😕 No, I'm not being deceptive—TA is great, but... "Bigger, Longer and Uncut" feels like a more logical choice for QT. By the way, I prefer BLU too.
20. Unbreakable - meh (mostly because hardly anyone seems to get it)

Karen Smith9 said:That movie is absolute garbage... seriously... just drive, speed, drive, drive, drive... and that's the whole plot. It's easily one of the biggest pieces of trash released in the last thirty years—I mean, I don't know anyone who actually thinks that movie is good. Keanu Reeves? Please...👎

Well, I certainly do 😍 (since we're looking at Tarantino's list, it's hardly surprising Speed made the cut). For instance, Roger Ebert (and yes, you read that right—four stars. For those of you who struggle with clicking links, or for anyone looking to defend QT's honor or our very own Jan De Bont against Karen's blistering critique, I'll just lay Ebert's review of Speed right here alongside her take):

Karen Smith9 said:That movie is absolute garbage... seriously... just drive, speed, drive, drive, drive... and that's the whole plot. It's easily one of the biggest pieces of trash released in the last thirty years—I mean, I don't know anyone who actually thinks that movie is good. Keanu Reeves? Please...👎

"Speed is like an ingenious windup machine. It's a smart, inventive thriller that starts with hostages trapped on an elevator and continues with two chases—one on a bus, one on a subway—so that it's wall-to-wall with action, stunts, special effects and excitement. We've seen this done before, but seldom so well, or at such a high pitch of energy. Films like 'Speed' belong to the genre I call Bruised Forearm Movies, because you're always grabbing the arm of the person sitting next to you. Done wrong, they seem like tired replays of old chase cliches. Done well, they're fun. Done as well as 'Speed,' they generate a kind of manic exhilaration. The director, Jan De Bont, has worked as a cinematographer on many action classics, including 'Total Recall' and 'Die Hard.' Here he shows his own mastery, in a great entertainment."

Karen Smith9 said:That movie is absolute garbage... seriously... just drive, speed, drive, drive, drive... and that's the whole plot. It's easily one of the biggest pieces of trash released in the last thirty years—I mean, I don't know anyone who actually thinks that movie is good. Keanu Reeves? Please...👎

"Keanu Reeves has never had a role like this before. In fact, in his previous film, he played the mystical Prince Siddhartha, and generally he tends toward dreamy, sensitive characters. That's why it's sort of amazing to see him so cool and focused here, a completely convincing action hero who is as centered and resourceful as a Clint Eastwood or Harrison Ford in similar situations. He and Bullock have good chemistry; they appreciate the humor that is always flickering just beneath the surface of the preposterous plot. And Hopper's dialogue has been twisted into savagely ironic understatements that provide their own form of comic relief."

(Wait, what? Speed actually snagged some awards? It probably just swept the Razzies. My mistake, that list is way too long).

We could really dive deep here: what did Spielberg, Lucas, and Coppola have to say about Speed (it’s almost hard to believe); how it stands as Keanu Reeves' only decent role besides Matrix; plus, if we ignore that tiny cameo in Crash, it's the only legit performance from Sandra Bullock; and of course, the consistently great Dennis Hopper (back then he was drifting through all sorts of low-budget B and C-list productions, when he wasn't being great, that is)... Last but not least, all my friends seem to think Speed is a pretty okay or even great movie...

Off-topic:

Okay, so Seven isn't there—but Fight Club is! (either way, northerncrane4 would probably recommend a hospital visit 🤦). No Oldboy—but we've got South Korea! We have Speed, so does that end the debate? Or is everything included and nothing is actually good? (hiddenhound3, you broke my heart—what about Michael Mann's The Insider??? Good grief, where in the 21st century have you seen something like this, such a massive breakdown of how and why America sold its soul?).

Personally, looking at that famous Quentin Tarantino list—at least from my uneducated perspective—I don't think Speed is a true interloper. Brothers and sisters, let's find the real intruder! Singular, plural, whatever. Squawk, scream, call 911—which title on Quentin's list hits your stomach, your liver, or your nerves the hardest???

p.s. as for me, the sequel—who in their right mind even watched that?

wiredbison82 said:He will likely keep making them as long as he views himself as a seasoned postmodernist—or perhaps a pop-modernist. It seems to me that without those flashy stylistic flourishes and those constant nods to his favorite cinematic icons, Tarantino wouldn't be the filmmaker we recognize today.
In other words, once he finally attempts to make a film that isn't fundamentally *about* movies, I suspect the result will feel forced, pretentious, and ultimately unwatchable.
The Coen brothers proved along their journey that there is another way to work—one that can be different, if not better, or at least just as good—but that is a separate discussion entirely...

Spot on. And the comparison to the Coens is pretty sharp—it's basically quantity versus quality. The Coens hit hard, shake everything up, and then settle back into a sort of (boring?) routine: cranking out two or three films a year. Sure, every single one of theirs is distinct, more or less its own thing, but... we'll probably be waiting another decade for the next "Fargo" or "No Country for Old Men." I know there's no magic formula, but one thing seems clear to me: they were offered the chance first, they had the shot to adapt and direct/produce McCarthy's The Road, and they passed. QT won't even consider hitting a quota of one film per year (that's just unthinkable to him). He loves his status; he knows his name alone is enough to guarantee producers a return on their investment... As for the actual quality of the film? He couldn't care less (he's still stuck in that phase).

As for making a movie that isn't about movies...

Laura Palmer25 said:Regarding the bolded part: what makes you think a Tarantino film that doesn't lean so heavily on references would be unwatchable? Or worse, "forced"? That seems like a massive underestimate to me. My take is that you can't live off recycling forever; eventually, it just stops being interesting. But I truly believe he's a director with massive potential. I'm waiting to see his next big move—his third real one, since Reservoir Dogs was the solid start—just to see him build another tight, celluloid micro-world like the one in Pulp Fiction. Something impactful, self-contained, and memorable. How many movies from the 90s can actually say they stuck with people like that? Very few.

You're reading my mind... The future is irrelevant; QT already took that leap into slightly deeper waters with Jackie Brown. Honestly, for me, that's his best work after Pulp Fiction. His "just messing around" phase continues with Inglourious Basterds, but I feel like creating another one of those tight, celluloid microcosms like "Pulp Fiction" will happen immediately after that. It sounds perfect: "I am a huge fan of Simon Pegg, so I would definitely love to work with him. I also think Kate Winslet is one of the best actresses that ever lived, so I would be honoured to work with her. I am also a huge admirer of Anthony Hopkins. I would also love to work with Michael Caine. I can see them appearing in my movies, it just has to be right." Tarantino admits he already has a potential project in mind - an adaptation of thriller writer Len Deighton's spy novels: "One of the things I enjoy musing about doing is the trilogy of Len Deighton books, Berlin Game, Mexico Set and London Match. The story takes place in the Cold War and follows a spy named Bernard Samson. What is attractive is the really great characters and the wonderful opportunities of British and German casting."

Like I was saying, the best Tarantino flick hasn't even dropped yet...

Kate Torres said:I was doing some digging online and stumbled upon a list from back in 2002 where Empire Magazine ranked their top 10 films.

Here it is.

And here are a few other directors worth mentioning:

Miloš Forman
Jim Jarmusch
Michael Mann

Thanks for the link... This might sound a bit harsh, but it turns out QT is probably the absolute worst possible choice for making any kind of "best of" list. Whether it’s a Top 10, 20, or 30—it’s all the same nonsense to him. The guy genuinely loves movies, sure, but if we were looking at Tarantino's Top 100 from way back in '92, I might actually buy into it. Besides, ever since that Sight & Sound thing, he’s been repeating like a parrot that he’ll never make lists like that again. Let's not kid ourselves, though; his recent appearance on HBO was really just a one-off to promote Inglourious Basterds. And honestly, look at those picks: The Insider (which totally won me over, by the way), Dogville (he couldn't stop raving about the script), Lost In Translation... it says a lot about how he's maturing as a filmmaker. The best Tarantino is still yet to come, mark my words.

quietdriver3 said:So, wait, was that really the famous incident? 😁

What about that time when QT was out on a date, trying to defend his partner's honor, and he just accidentally clocked her in the head? 😁 I think it might have been Mira Sorvino.

That little story kind of sums up his whole filmography for me—he tries so hard to act cool, but then when he finally gets the chance, he just blows it and ends up looking like a total awkward nerd. 😁

😍 Look, whether you like it or not, that's just QT. Sure, his whole thing with Mira Sorvino was definitely peak chaos. Honestly, you have to have some serious guts to pull a stunt like that (especially on the Oscars red carpet!) and walk away without being canceled. It really comes down to this: if some Christopher Nolan (who, honestly, I find way more interesting and talented lately) did something similar, every studio in Hollywood would drop him by Tuesday. Sadly, that's just how it works... Just look at what happened to Tony Kaye after his run with "Gone Baby Gone."

So why does he get a pass for these outbursts? It's probably because from day one, he's worked exclusively with the Weinstein brothers—it's like he isn't even part of the open market; he just shoots whatever he wants, whenever he wants. He's essentially what Clint Eastwood is to Warner Bros.—the guy who owns the place. At Miramax/The Weinstein Company, the only thing that could actually kick him to the curb would be a major criminal offense (something similar happened to Roger Avary, where he killed a pedestrian while under the influence). Besides, every single time QT tries to act "cool," whether in the industry or among actors, it just falls flat—he's always been a total little nerd. And that's exactly why we love him. 😍

OT: I'd bet anything that those few obvious "outlier" titles on his Top 20 list were just a calculated marketing ploy by Harvey Weinstein. Pure free publicity for *Inglourious Basterds*. For instance, during the first US screening of *Pulp Fiction*, there was this "tragic accident"—some old guy in the audience had a heart attack (guess which scene?). Ha, ha, ha—Ha-rvey Weinstein, obviously—produced&directed by 🙏 pure panic. The screening stops, paramedics rush in to carry out the unconscious old man... Every news outlet picks it up, the movie gets a massive wave of free press, and it clears over $100 million at the box office... Original? Please. Something almost identical happened to Spielberg at the premiere of *Raiders of the Lost Ark* when someone in the crowd felt ill. It's a total copy-paste job—Harvey just recycled an old trick... 😵

Emily Thomas3 said:But why even take it personally? Is it because of snobbery? Or some high-brow view on art? Maybe it's because movies shouldn't just be made for those little boys living inside men even when they hit their 20s? You have no idea how many memories can be triggered by that goofy scene where Keanu Reeves is on a skateboard trying to defuse a bomb. Forget Proust and his madeleines! Tarantino has dedicated a huge chunk of his career to chasing lost time, and he does it with a genuine love for his characters that you rarely see from any other director.

I don't mind if you aren't into Tarantino's "pre-teen" action flicks, but don't dismiss them so easily. They actually mean something to people. For some, it's just ninety minutes of mindless fun, but for others, it's a massive connection to their childhood.

BRAVO, I say 🙏 Emily Thomas3, you honestly just made my day—the kid in me is sending you a massive thank you, all the way to heaven and back👍

Rachel Sullivan2 said:Those drugs absolutely wrecked him, man 😢

😂 Btw, the forums are buzzing with the idea that whoever put this list together was definitely smoking something heavy. To pass the baton, "Tarantino revealed that Brad Pitt offered him a little something "green" during the filming of Inglourious Basterds. Well, to be fair: "During an open conversation on Howard Stern's controversial show (full interview here), while promoting his latest flick, QT shared how it was "totally cool" when Brad, during role negotiations, "pulled out a hash brick and offered it to him." 😂

Again, don't count Quentin out. For me, QT has always been the ultimate hero: a rebel of his kind; a gifted child who will NEVER grow up; the king of idiosyncratic style... Even after that infamous run-in with the paparazzi at Sundance (video here—I swear I've watched it over a hundred times now, best short film ever! Despite the tabloid drama, it's impressive to see how QT handles the situation. And that guy from the gutter: "Hit me, HIT me! 😂"). There’s no fake PR surrounding him, no Hollywood gloss, no sucking up to anyone—he'll tell you exactly what he thinks right to your face.

Quentin Tarantino in His Own Words.

And the movies?



He makes films purely for himself and his own pleasure; everyone else is just invited along for the ride... He could have churned out three movies a year and raked in massive amounts of cash, but he didn't... Instead, he fills his house with piles of comic books and limited edition DVDs,board games - I'm feeling pretty lucky. Probably the luckiest kid on the planet, honestly. He spent years grinding away on the script for *Inglourious Basterds*—he’s been sitting on this collection of stories since back in '93 (and now there's a Western coming from QT. Arrrrgh, the anticipation is killing me!). My god, the guy didn't even finish high school; he basically raised himself just by watching movies (!!!). Okay, I'm exaggerating, he didn't do *everything* alone... but that's really my one and only gripe with him, truly.



Two words: Roger Avary. By the way, I actually got the chance to meet him at the New York Film Festival back in '07. Roger's been going through some of the roughest times of his life lately, and QT, naturally, hasn't reached out... Honestly, if I ever find out they've patched things up and are working together again, I'll go pay for a massive donation at the local cathedral just to say thanks. 😍

hiddenhound3 said:A complete disaster. Truly dreadful. 😢

It appears my initial assessment was correct; the man possesses remarkably mediocre taste, which is clearly reflected in his cinematic choices. I mean, The Matrix? Speed? Police Story? I simply cannot fathom the appeal of such films. 🙂

😍 You aren't alone there; there's no middle ground when it comes to QT. People either worship the ground he walks on, throw a fit of rage, or swear they're boycotting his entire future filmography—just looking at some of the comments from major US film forums:

QT is basically the ultimate cool nerd. He sticks to what he loves (even if everyone else thinks it's just geeky stuff) and he isn't afraid to say it to whoever's listening. Thumbs up!

***

I didn't care for the list itself, but you have to respect Tarantino's genuine obsession with film. He included two Keanu Reeves flicks. Maybe they'll team up eventually.

***

Keanu wins 2, Day-Lewis gets 0! Matrix 1, zero LOTR! Where are Kate & Cate?! Shyamalan stays, Spielberg goes! Even Jackie Chan made the cut! This is definitely the kind of list Empire or EW wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, lol.

***

Even if his movies can get a little self-indulgent, I actually enjoy hearing him ramble about cinema without someone like Eli Roth hovering in the background. He's got some pretty weird picks (Anything Else, Fridays), but also some solid, deserving ones (The Insider, Shaun of the Dead). He's spot on regarding the script for Dogville, and while I'm not sure Unbreakable is *that* legendary, it's easily M. Night Shyamalan's best work and deserves way more credit.

***

Re-reading the list: "Anything Else" is a pretty gutsy choice. It's interesting that among his fellow American directors, there's no Eastwood, Scorsese, Burton, the Coens... nothing. Again, his passion for film is great, but the list itself let me down. Aside from Woody Allen, there weren't many outliers. No deep cuts or forgotten gems. Still, it's a fun little mental exercise to sit back and wonder what my own Top 20 since '92 would look like.

***

This list really captures why I find Tarantino so frustrating. Look, I consider myself a fan; his early stuff totally captured my imagination and probably did more to turn me into a film buff as a teenager than any other director. He felt fresh, original, and had this undeniable swagger. But lately? He's kind of lost me.

(this sounds like something northerncrane4 👍 would write)

***

Where is Oldboy? I thought he was obsessed with that one.

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wiredbison82 says: And more importantly, if the guy only had about ten minutes to put this whole list together, who in their right mind could possibly remember every single great movie off the top of their head...

That was my takeaway too. Unfortunately, I was wrong. "This is a premier American movie channel, and I assume he was doing some promo for Inglourious Basterds on there and just put this together at the same time.". So, he definitely had plenty of time to get his act together... One thing is for sure: lately, I’ve found it way more entertaining to listen to him ramble on about other people's masterpieces than actually sit through his recent movies, at least if you ask me 😍

p.s. Sorry, I couldn't be bothered to translate this. But hey, if anyone's actually interested (it's all fresh and free):

Tarantino goes off about There Will Be Blood and basically loses his mind over how good it is

His take on McCabe & Mrs. Miller

Talking about Taxi Driver

Regarding that one notorious Scorsese rumor

On Danny Boyle’s ‘Sunshine’

So, during the big promotional push for Inglourious Basterds over in the UK, the crew at Sky Movies asked Quentin Tarantino if he’d just sit there and rattle off his top 20 movies of all time on camera. Naturally, he shot that down—kind of like that old joke where you ask a grandma who her greatest love is and she just says, "sailors"—and offered them this instead: his 20 favorite films released from 1992 onwards, which happens to be the year he actually started directing.



VIDEO (2009-8-16)

Source: Sky Movies

1. Battle Royale
2. Anything Else
3. Audition
4. The Blade
5. Boogie Nights
6. Dazed & Confused
7. Dogville
8. Fight Club
9. Friday
10. The Host
11. The Insider
12. Joint Security Area
13. Lost In Translation
14. The Matrix
15. Memories of Murder
16. Police Story 3
17. Shaun of the Dead
18. Speed
19. Team America
20. Unbreakable

All things considered, I'm pretty stoked—we seem to be on the same page for the most part. It was cool to see him include The Insider, and I loved how much he hyped up Dogville; he was also incredibly upfront about what The Matrix means to him, and gave such a great breakdown of Unbreakable. Honestly, nobody should hold it against him for leaving out Oldboy. Apparently, they cornered him in passing and the interview wasn't even scheduled, so he really only had about ten minutes to pull his thoughts together.
I haven't actually seen Battle Royale yet, which is a bit embarrassing 😵

What about you guys? What's your take?