Inglourious Basterds: A Screenplay

I finally read a full script to see the difference between page to screen and I loved it so much

By far the best product of Quentin. The plot-characters integration is unbelievably complex yet easy enough for the reader. If you enjoyed the film, do yourself a favor and read the screenplay, there is much information and story that didn’t make the cut and make the experience so much better.

"Inglourious Basterds" was one of my favorite films of 2009; since Tarantino's idiosyncratic screenplays are always fun to read - and frequently enlightening - I could hardly wait to get a copy. Now that I have it, I wish I'd gotten it long ago. The screenplay is as good as I remember it, and reading it lets me really explore the rhythms, the structure (Tarantino never gets as much credit for sound structure as I think he deserves)and the character notes. The 'stage directions' are also illuminating, and sometimes wickedly funny, as they comment on not only the action, but the likely audience reactions at times. Plus, as with most published screenplays, there are several deleted scenes and even some altered scenes. Some of the latter are particularly telling, as the published version of the conflagration at 'Operation Kino' is quite different and, in my opinion, not nearly as effective as what Tarantino ended up filming. (I won't spoil it for those who want to read it now!) If you didn't like the film, and you're not a film student, there's not much need to buy this. But if you're a fan, or looking for insight into how to write a less-than-formulaic screenplay, rush out and get it!

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS is probably Tarantino's best film since PULP FICTION, and certainly is most ambitious in terms of theme and subject matter. The ahistorical World War II drama is at once a darkly humorous revenge fantasy and a criticism of revenge fantasies as a genre. It points out the audiences' similarities to the villians whose death the audience cheers. The script has some interesting differences from the final film. Some scenes are shorten or removed. Others play very differently because of some minor changes in dialogue or staging. What comes through clearly, both in print and in film, is Tarantino's gift for wholly artificially, but enthralling dialogue, and his incisive feel for character and scene.

I love this screenplay--and I hope that Tarantino eventually takes all 500-some-odd pages he wrote originally and turns it into a novel. It's all Luc Besson's fault that we have to make do with a two-and-a-half hour movie instead of a two-parter or a five-part miniseries. He didn't want to have to wait so long for QT's next film!! The published screenplay offers additional characters and insights that enrich one's experience of the film, which still seems far too short. All the characters in this story beg for further exploration--Archie Hickox and Soshana Dreyfus were perhaps the least explored. Which is why I and so many others write fanfiction about them. If you write fanfiction, this screenplay is your bible. But if you just want to read superbly written dialogue, it offers the chance to truly luxuriate in the greates of Tarantino's talents. I can't recommend this more highly!

We really liked this play. We didn't think we would, but the subject matter intrigued us, so we gave it a try. We're glad we did. Frankly, we couldn't put it down. Reading a script isn't normally what I would enjoy, so I doubt I'll do it again, but yeah, this was very entertaining -- with some great surprises! My only criticism -- if you call it that -- is the little humor that the author threw in was so good, he should have thrown in a lot more. Now I want to see the movie!

Studying the master himself to write my own movies.

As a huge fan of the movie, Inglourious Basterds, I just had to get the screenplay. It was great reading it and learning about some of the scenes that were cut from the movie. Reading this book is a great way to get inside of Tarantino's head.