The Inglorious Bastards (Blu-ray)

(Severin Films, 7.28.2009)

File under long-rumored, but we’ve just received word that Quentin Tarantino’s years-in-gestation new project is going to be an in-name-only remake of Enzo G. Castellari’s giddy WWII-set macaroni combat flick (legit subgenre, honest), The Inglorious Bastards. If this review were written when Castellari's film was initially released on DVD, it would begin somewhat like that. A year and a half later, Tarantino’s bizarrely-spelled Inglourious Basterds is the certified recipient of conflicted critical acclaim, Tarantino's best box office performance to date, a swift home video release and eight Oscar nominations. But Tarantino and Castellari's films have little in common -- other than their title(s) and their totally goofball takes on World War 2.

Featuring seventies cult icons Bo Svenson (also seen in Kill Bill, Vol. 2) and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson (also seen in From Dusk Till Dawn), Castellari’s Bastards concerns a group of soldiers detained by their American allies for various infractions. En route to an Allied prison camp in France, five of them survive a Nazi ambush from above, subsequently fleeing the scene with the intent of making for the Swiss border.

Along the way, the convicts run into all sorts of risky scenarios, ultimately finding themselves immersed in a suicide mission with the French résistance. They join forces with the French in an effort to destroy a Nazi war mechanism being transported via armored train, which results in an extended action extravaganza. This explains the film’s original Italian moniker Quel maledetto treno blindato, which translates to That Damned Armored Train.

In the same spirit as The Dirty Dozen (or if you want to get even cultier, Guy Hamilton's Force 10 from Navarone), The Inglorious Bastards maintains a fresh, rebellious tone that makes the proceedings go down a lot smoother. With five credited screenwriters (!), the plotting feels clunky by modern standards, but from the film’s nifty animated opening credits to its extremely well-executed finale, this is exploitation cinema that's crafted with care.

The excellent mono mix on Severin's 2008 DVD effectively balances music and explosions, but for those who desire the most glorious in home entertainment, I suggest the superior, non-purist 5.1 Dolby Surround on this Blu-ray. Francesco de Masi’s memorable score (included on the 3-disc Explosive Edition DVD) is clearly one of the film’s secret weapons, adding a kitsch appeal that lasts until the very end.

Transfer-wise, the Blu-ray is a solid improvement over the DVD. Dirt and scratches are minimal for a film of this age and status. If there’s anything to fault, it’s the limited production values, a shortcoming made more evident by the film’s washed-out, grainy appearance.

Like Severin's single-disc DVD, this disc includes the film’s original trailer and a 38-minute conversation between Costellari and his most animated fan, Tarantino. It’s a fairly engaging sit-down that should be appreciated by anyone not put-off by Tarantino’s overzealous verbosity –- I for one am not, but it's still worth noting. Both directors praise each other’s work and Tarantino discusses his plans to appropriate certain elements from Castellari's film (this extra was shot before Tarantino's IB re-think). It’s definitely worth checking out for fans of either filmmaker, but like Casteralli’s Bastards, this is not essential viewing for casual fans of Tarantino’s film.

The Blu-ray also includes the bonus featurettes that populated the more ambitious Explosive Edition DVD, namely Train Kept a Rollin' (a doc with the cast and crew) and Back to the War Zone (Castellari on the film's locations). If that's not enough, there's a trio of Blu-ray exclusives: Inglorious Reunion at The New Beverly, Enzo's 70th Birthday Celebration in LA and an audio commentary by Castellari.

Positioned somewhere between the raves of its biggest admirer and the neglect it has otherwise received, The Inglorious Bastards is neither a forgotten cult gem nor a sleazy B-movie dud. For those interested in uncovering the lineage of a few more obscure references in Tarantino’s filmography, I say give this a rent. Ditto for those who are even remotely curious. The same probably can't be said for Inglorious Bastards 2: Hell Heroes. -- Neil Karassik