Django Unchained [Blu-ray] [2013] [Region Free]

Quentin Tarantino is firing on all cylinders with this blistering western. Snappy dialogue, great characters and a cool soundtrack all help to make this one of Tarantino's best genre bending films.Django is a slave who is desperate to rescue his wife. A chance meeting with Dr King Shultz sets him on his path of retribution. As bounty Hunters they travel around following wanted posters and collecting their rewards whilst edging closer to Django's ultimate target.Christoph Waltz is simply stunning in the film and is fully deserving of his second Oscar. King Shultz surpasses his Lang in Inglorious Basterds. He is funny, scary, soulful and witty all at once. The only disservice is that he is classed as a supporting role when he practically carries the film.Waltz is backed up by some other superb turns. Leonardo Di Caprio is, as always, a joy to watch. He has real presence and imbues his character with a simmering hatred that is felt in every scene. It is also refreshing to see Samuel L Jackson get a role that requires some actual heart felt acting. In a character that requires him to be conniving, untrustworthy and slippery, he succeeds on every level and deserves just as much credit in a supporting roil as Waltz. It also makes a change to see him without and eye patch!But all this is moot without mentioning Django himself. Jamie Foxx gives it his all and creates a hero really worth rooting for. He has the right level of emotion and action prowess to balance the story in a very understated and un-showy role.And the Oscar for best screenplay goes too..... none other than Tarantino for his trademark zippy, snappy dialogue. He is on superb form and even the slightly saggier moments of the film crackle with whip smart conversations. As a result the film is often quite funny and the characters all feel three dimensional.Bemoaning the violence is a pointless exercise. This is Tarantino, if you are watching then surely you know what to expect. Overblown, gratuitous and bloody, the violence is just a small part of this exceptional film.A pounding, modern soundtrack and a great story also help to make this one of Tarantino's best. Well worth watching.

Superb film. Typical Quentitn Tarantino. Basically a love story set in America's era of slavery. Christoph Waltz as the bounty hunter is superb...as is Jamie Foxx. A really excellent film. Acting/direction is all first class. Really one of the best film of recent times.

Lots of pompous critics have tried to undermine this film as historically inaccurate or exploitative. They have said it is too violent, or too long. Well let me say they're wrong on all counts. This film grips for every minute (I hope the rumoured longer version is released), the dialogue is intelligent and hugely entertaining. Dr Schultz is one of the best movie characters I have ever seen, played brilliantly by Christoph Waltz. As for historical accuracy; it is a Western, a movie. Did these people complain about the accuracy of Inglorious Basterds? The fact it is a film with slvery as it's central theme has caused a number of people to get on their high horse. However this film is all about empowerment for the slave, and revenge. The white plantation owner (played brilliantly by DeCaprio) is portrayed as inhuman and lacking in intelligence in a few subtle and not so subtle ways, so in no way could this film be described as racist (as some have tried to). The KKK raid (actually not KKK but similar) is hilarious making them all look like utter fools. Finally the violence... this film has very little. It isn't gratuitous at all, so it is a myth to suggest it is. Certainly no worse than a million other films out there. So I suggest ignroing the critics, enjoying the fact that there is a mix of moderm and genre music in the soundtrack, loving the dialogue and unfolding storyline, and appreciate that Tarantino can entertain like very few others. The bottom line is he doesn't care about the critics, he makes movies primarily he would enjoy, and by extension many of us. One of his best films yet, arguably his best. Five out of five.

A lot has been said about this film. First - the deal - this is a good value package, blu ray and DVD copy plus some nice production extras as bonus material. Now - the film. Let's leave aside the debate about the use of the 'F-Word' and the 'N-Word'. Tarantino - through sheer brute force and controversy but being very sure of his own abilities too - has carved a niche as one of the most important contemporary film makers. I have followed his work since Reservoir Dogs in 1992. I would probably accept now that he is one of the greatest living directors. It is impossible to ignore his work. The production, direction, cinematography, acting and screenplay in this film are superb. It is his first foray into Westerns but also deals with slavery - something that even now, Hollywood is reluctant to engage with. There are the usual Tarantino trademarks - irreverent and sometimes seemingly irrelevant dialogue, visual shock, theatrical violence, meticulous character development and a extracting commending performances from his actors. But there are differences is this later Tarantino style. This is a serious film, on the whole (it may be brilliant but it is difficult to call Pulp Fiction a serious film). There is a strong narrative that is broadly linear (just the occasional flashback). The 'F' and 'N' words are there but seem less intrusive. The theme could be thought of as 'vengeance and retribution' (a black slave gets his own back and rides off into the sunset with his sweetheart at the end) but this is probably the least important theme. This film needs to be re-watched to appreciate its nuances - always the sign of a good film. Highly recommended.