Thomas Bowler (TomBowler)

This is one of tne of the funniest films I've seen in a long time. I sat, open mouthed, as Borat explained the corellation between a car breaking down and his 12 year old wife hitting puberty to a car salesman with phrases like 'wizard sleeve.' I was rolling around on the floor (not literally, that's undignified) as he admired the dinner party fo letting a 'retard' join the table. It only makes it funnier when you think about the fact that most of the cast were unaware of their involvement in the film. But the film itself is a very close look at America itself, their many different cultures, societies and belief systems. As Borat travels across the entire country we get to see all different types of people, from college boys to homosexuals to rednecks.

Freeeeeeeedom! Real review coming later when I feel like it

It's difficult to follow an act like Reservoir Dogs. Either you make a film so brilliant that it becomes legend, or you never make anything ever again. Quentin Tarantino made Jackie Brown, a film which didn't quite showcase his directing and writing skills to their fullest extent and left critics in doubt as to his brilliance. Then he made Pulp Fiction. With an incredible cast of almost forgotten actor John Travolta, uber cool Samuel L Jackson, the undisputed master Harvey Keitel and relatively new Tim Roth, Tarantino wrote one of the most groundbreaking scripts for its time, filled with dizzying monologues, intense back and forth and a lot of swearing. The reason that Pulp Fiction is so highly regarded by critics around the world is the fact that it changed the way that films were made everywhere and brought into light an entirely different segment of society. In one film school, the story goes that after Pulp Fiction, 90% of the film assignments that were handed in featured hitmen, drugs or a lot of swearing, often a combination of all three. One film involved two hitmen sitting in a diner talking about the idiosyncracies of the Brady Bunch before shooting each other. The strength of Pulp Fiction lies in Tarantino's brilliant script and incredible instinct for the weird and wonderful. Some of the strangest scenes (see Jack Rabbit Slims) have now become some of cinema's most recognised worldwide. The reason that many people don't understand this film or don't see the point is because today's films have conditioned them to do so. Michael Bay, I'm talking about you. Many of today's directors prefer to leave their audience nothing to assume and nothing to figure out for themselves, dropping the biggest hints they can so that you will understand. Tarantino, on the other hand, trusts his audience to fill in the blanks or to wait until the moment of revelation, forcing you to pay attention throughout the film's entirety. Some of the sets and scenery in this film are amazing in their own right (once again, see Jack Rabbit Slims) but are modestly glossed over by Tarantino. Unlike Kubrick who wants his viewers to experience his location choice or set design to its fullest capacity, and with good reason, this plays second fiddle in a Tarantino film, showcasing instead the almost poetic dialogue, and giving the audience an intimate viewing of the characters, forcing them to sit through "uncomfortable silences" and drawn out war stories. Even though this may sound uninteresting, there is never a boring moment in the film. But whether you love it or hate it, and many people will hate it, there is no denying the impact this film had and still has upon the entire world. Incredible film. Defining Scene: There's always the 'bring out the gimp' scene but my favourite has always been the hamburgers scene, closely followed by Mia's OD'ing fiasco.

Quentin Tarantino is one of my favourite directors. His great blend of violence, swearing and drugs always manages to create a darkly comic film which leaves you apalled at yourself every time you laugh. Reservoir Dogs is the perfect example of Tarantino for me. It brings together a whip smart script, a seasoned ensemble and a macho gangster tale and creates a film which takes you from one extreme to the other in the space of a few seconds. After laughing in disbelief at the opening "Like a Virgin" sequence and the inspired slow motion walk to "Little Green Bag," you are suddenly plunged into a sympathetic, almost shocked state as the sounds of Tim Roth wailing about being shot slowly fade in over the sounds of the Hits of the 70s on the radio. Similarly, the flashback sequnces are included without any great aplomb, prefaced by a quick title card and then getting straight down to business. This style of narrative, with questions first and answers later, is much more rewarding than a linear narrative and much more satisfying. The cast's performances are also brilliant, with the close to death Tim Roth shining out brightest. Steve Buscemi is fantastic as well, speeding through lines like, "somebody stuck a red hot poker up our asses and I wanna know who's name is on the handle" at a breakneck pace. Harvey Keitel diplays and movingly genuine performance as gangster turned father figure Mr White, from the "You're gonna be okay!" scene to beating Buscemi's ass all up and down the rendevouz. Michael Madsen is as believable as it is possible to be when playing an ear hating psychopath while dancing to Stuck in the Middle WIth You. The fact that Tarantino's debut added renewed vigour to violence in film debate only goes to show the impace that this movie had worldwide. Great film. Defining Scene: The final mexican standoff. Absolutely incredible and the perfect finish to a nigh flawless film.