'Inglourious Basterds' rewrites history as its heroes kill Nazis

Quentin Tarantino rewrites history in his latest film, "Inglourious Basterds," about American soldiers on a killing spree during World War II.

Brad Pitt stars as an American officer who leads a team of soldiers brutally killing Nazis in occupied France in the days after the D-Day landings in Normandy. The team hatches a plot to kill Hitler and other Nazi elite after learning they are supposed to attend a film premiere in Paris.

Tarantino is noted for violence in his films, especially the squirting blood that coats Uma Thurman after she hacks her way through Lucy Liu's samurai army in "Kill Bill." This time, the violence is appropriate. "Basterds" is a war movie, after all. It's also a revenge movie, which in Tarantino's case always ends in lots of bloodshed.

Tarantino is not the first filmmaker to target Nazis. Hitler and his kind were real-life monsters. They make great screen villains.

World War II films often focus on real-life exploits, such as Audie Murphy's life story as a soldier in "To Hell and Back." Some films tackle actual incidents, such as the specially-made bombs used to destroy German dams in "The Dam Busters."

Other movies about the war in Europe are about ways the Allies got back at the Germans. Some are serious, such as Frank Sinatra leading a prison escape aboard a train in "Von Ryan's Express." Others are just silly, such as Sylvester Stallone's "Victory," about a soccer match between a German team and a team of Allied prisoners.

Sometimes movies are about soldiers looking out for themselves, such as the caper film "Kelly's Heroes," with Clint Eastwood leading a platoon on a mission to knock over a bank filled with German gold.

A lot of World War II movies are about secret missions. "Operation Crossbow" is about infiltrating the base where German scientists are working on rockets. "The Guns of Navarone" is about a mission to blow up a German gun defending a sea lane in Greece.

Not all World War II films are about the Allies. James Coburn is a German officer fighting a losing battle against the Soviets in "Cross of Iron." Peter O'Toole is a highly decorated but sexually disturbed German officer suspected of murdering a prostitute in occupied Poland.

Here are six films available on video and DVD that are all about "killing Nazis," as Brad Pitt's character claims in "Basterds." Be warned: They are violent.

"The Dirty Dozen" (1967) -- The grandfather of killing Nazi movies. Lee Marvin is assigned to train a dozen condemned prisoners and then unleash them on a chateau of Nazi officers in the days before the D-Day landings. Other stars include Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Telly Savalas, Charles Bronson and Donald Sutherland.

"Where Eagles Dare" (1968) -- A British officer (Richard Burton) and an American officer (Clint Eastwood) try to free a captured American general being held at an impregnable mountain castle. Also stars Mary Ure.

"The Keep" (1983) -- Nazis occupy a Romanian castle and free an evil force that starts killing Germans. The SS then has to work with a Jewish scholar who knows what evil has been released and a Greek guardian who has come to recapture the evil. Stars include Scott Glenn, Alberta Watson, Jurgen Prochnow and Gabriel Byrne.

"The Heroes of Telemark" (1965) -- Norwegian resistance fighters try desperately to destroy a Nazi plant building heavy water for use in the German atomic bomb program. Stars include Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Ulla Jacobsson and Michael Redgrave.

"Defiance" (2008) -- Three real-life Jewish brothers decide to fight back when the Nazis invade Belarus. In addition to killing Nazis, the Bielski brothers save more than 1,000 Jews from the death camps. Stars include Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Mark Feuerstein and Jamie Bell.

"Play Dirty" (1968) -- British soldiers set out to cross North Africa to blow up Rommel's fuel dump not knowing that they are being betrayed at almost every turn. Stars include Michael Caine, Nigel Green, Nigel Davenport and Harry Andrews.

Movies good enough to eat

Meryl Streep delivers another great performance as celebrated French chef Julia Child (at right) in the new film "Julie & Julia," while Amy Adams co-stars as the real-life housewife who sets out to cook every recipe in Child's first cookbook.
"Julie & Julia" bounces back and forth between Child's time learning to cook while in France in the 1950s with her diplomat husband (Stanley Tucci) and a few years ago when an American woman decides to blog about her experiences trying to make all the recipes in Child's first French cuisine cookbook.
The Southland's own Jane Lynch also co-stars as Child's sister, and she's getting a lot of buzz and even some Oscar talk for her performance.
Hollywood loves to make movies about working people, but cooking is one of those occupations that filmmakers have broached only occasionally.
There have been lots of movies about restaurants, such as "My Dinner with Andre," but the focus wasn't on the food or the cooks.
The Whistlestop Cafe is central to the story in "Fried Green Tomatoes," there was too much other action to call it a movie about cooking.
"Waiting" is a funny comedy about the goings-on at a trendy chain restaurant but again the food was secondary.
"The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover" has a lot of elements of a cooking movie including an incredible cannibalism scene but doesn't quite make the cut.
If cooking or food is your passion, here are six films available on video and DVD that I think you'd like. Bon appetit!

"Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe" (1978) -- George Segal and Jacqueline Bisset star in this timeless whodunit about a killer who is bumping off the great chefs of Europe. Robert Morley steals the movie as a food snob. I don't think you'll figure out who the killer is until he (or she) is revealed.

"Tortilla Soup" (2001) -- Hector Elizondo is a master Mexican food chef raising three daughters (Jacqueline Obradors, Elizabeth Pena and Tamara Mello) and coming to grips with the realization he will eventually lose all three. Other stars include Raquel Welch.

"Spanglish" (2004) -- Adam Sandler is a great chef who just wants to run his restaurant but his insecure wife (Tea Leoni) scrambles things for everyone when she hires a Mexican woman (Paz Vega) to be their housekeeper. Other stars include Cloris Leachman.

"Big Night" (1996) -- Two brothers (Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci) in 1950s New Jersey pin their hopes for saving their Italian restaurant on a special dinner for singer Louis Prima in this underrated gem. Other stars include Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossalini, Liev Schreiber and Allison Janney.

"Chocolat" (2000) -- A small French village will never be the same after a single mother (Juliette Binoche) moves in and opens a chocolate shop. Other stars include Johnny Depp, Alfred Molina and Judi Dench.

"Caffeine" (2006) -- A battle of the sexes breaks out among the staff at a London cafe in this under appreciated British comedy. Stars include Marsha Thomason, Mena Suvari, Katherine Heigl and Breckin Meyer.

Aliens are among us

The new aliens-among-us movie "District 9" scored surprisingly big at the box office over the weekend taking in more than $37 million.

In "District 9," a South African cop becomes the hunted after he is assigned to move a couple of million alien refugees from one slum into another and is accidentally infected with alien DNA.

Reel-life alien visitors to Earth often are treated badly even when they aren't trying to take over the planet through global warming, as in 1996's "The Arrival" with Charlie Sheen.

And who can blame humans for shooting at extraterrestrials trying to wipe us out in alien invasion movies such as "Independence Day" or "War of the Worlds."

Not all aliens are bad, however. Some are just looking for a good time, such as in "Earth Girls Are Easy" or "Mars Needs Women."

Some alien visitors are here to help, such as Starman sent to protect Earth from Nazi-type invaders in the Japanese camp classic "Attack From Space."

Still other alien visitors land here by accident, such as the black alien being chased through Harlem by outer space bounty hunters in "Brother From Another Planet."

Sometimes alien visitors want our help, such as the alien seeking water for his dying planet in "The Man Who Fell to Earth."

Here are six films available on video and DVD that feature aliens among us. Do you know who your neighbor really is?

"Men In Black" (1997) -- Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith (pictured above) work for a government agency that tracks alien visitors to Earth. Their job becomes a lot harder when an alien killer (Vincent D'Onofrio) shows up and threatens to start an interstellar war. Other stars include Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub and Linda Fiorentino. More aliens visit Earth in the sequel "Men In Black II."

"Alien Nation" (1988) -- Alien refugees called Newcomers are slowly making lives for themselves in Southern California until a plot is discovered that might turn humans against the Newcomers in this sci-fi thriller. James Caan stars as a human cop partnered with the first Newcomer detective played by Mandy Patinkin. Terrence Stamp co-stars as a Newcomer drug dealer.

"Superman" (1978) -- Christopher Reeve stars as Superman, the only survivor from the planet Krypton, sent to Earth by his father (Marlon Brando) to protect mankind. Other stars include Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Jackie Cooper, Ned Beatty and Valerie Perrine.

"They Live" (1988) -- A drifter (Roddy Piper) finds a pair of sunglasses that allows him to see aliens who have taken over the planet and their subliminal messages in this camp sci-fi film. Other stars include David Keith and Meg Foster.

"The Hidden" (1987) -- An alien cop (Kyle MacLachlan) in the body of a dead FBI agent hunts an alien bad guy who keeps hopping from one human host to another in this quirky sci-fi thriller. Other stars include Michael Nouri, Claudia Christian and Clu Galager.

"Cocoon" (1985) -- A ditzy boat captain (Steve Guttenberg) and a handful of retirees (Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn and Don Ameche) stumble across four aliens (led by Brian Dennehy) who are trying to rescue comrades stuck in cocoons on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for millenia. Other stars include Tahnee Welch and Tyrone Power Jr., children of Raquel Welch and Tyrone Power.

TV characters you want on your side

While watching U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon cling to life "In Plain Sight" the other night, I started thinking about what TV character I'd like looking out for me in the event I ever needed looking after.

My wife and I decided there are characters who you want on your side if you've been scammed or cheated, such as Timothy Hutton's crew of grifters in TNT's "Leverage." The grifter, hitter, hacker and thief that work with Hutton's mastermind are about evening the score. They even took on crooked bankers trying to milk the bailout in a recent episode.

We also decided that if you were a crime victim, you'd want Kyra Sedgwick's Brenda Leigh Johnson from TNT's "The Closer" on the case. She's like a pit bull once she sets her sights on solving a crime.

Those guys are tough but nice. What about the TV characters who are tough but not so nice?

The litmus test my wife and came up with was what TV cop/detective/righter of wrongs would do violence in his or her pursuit of the bad guys who did one of us wrong.

One character we decided could be violent but would try to out-think the bad guy was "In Plain Sight's" Marshall Mann. In last week's season finale, Mann tried to reason with the leader of a gang responsible for shooting his partner. If Mann wouldn't resort to violence to pry the information out of that scumbag, chances are it's just not in his character.

We compiled what we think are six of the baddest TV characters that you would definitely want on your side. All of these shows are available on video and DVD.

"NYPD Blue" -- Dennis Franz's New York City Detective Andy Sipowitz was not above using violence when he deemed it necessary. He's the kind of TV cop you'd want on your side if a relative was missing or you wanted to squeeze the information out of a suspect. Although he mellowed in later seasons, Sipowitz no doubt would have killed if someone threatened his family or loved ones.

"NCIS" -- Mark Harmon's NCIS agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a dogged pursuer but as a former Marine sniper he has the killer instinct, which he used to kill the drug dealer who murdered his wife and daughter. Gibbs would not hesitate to use violence to defend one of his team.

"Saving Grace" -- Holly Hunter's Oklahoma City Detective Grace Hanadarko is small but packs a punch. She won't abuse a suspect but she'll use violence if necessary to take down a bad guy. Even as she pals around with an Angel named Earl, you can't help but believe she'd kill someone who threatened her family, friends and fellow cops.

"The Shield" -- Michael Chiklis' Los Angeles Detective Vic Mackey (pictured above) murders a fellow cop in the series pilot, so we know he's got the killer instinct. In fact, it's hard to keep track of all the people he killed during the show's run. Mackey would knock down doors, beat people and maybe even kill to help a friend or loved one. Just make sure you stay a friend or loved one.

"Burn Notice" -- Jeffrey Donovan's Michael Weston is the star, but Gabrielle Anwar's ex-IRA bomber Fiona Glenanne is the shoot-first character on this USA Network hit series. She'd definitely kill to protect Weston and his mom, and she'd probably not hesitate to kill to protect Sam (Bruce Campbell), even though they bicker a lot.

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" -- Chris Noth's Detective Mike Logan left the original series after punching out a New York City councilman, it's not hard to imagine he'd use violence to protect his family, friends, partner or fellow cops. He's a good cop but he'll push the envelope when needed.

Got a favorite TV bad ass? Let me know.

John Hughes comedies are ageless

John Hughes was able to tap into teen angst like no other director, which was why he was able to churn out a string of hit comedies such as "Sixteen Candles" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" during the 1980s.
Hughes died of a heart attack Thursday while visiting family in New York City. He was 59 and hadn't directed a film since "Curly Sue" in 1991.
While he stopped directing, Hughes continued to write stories and screenplays including "Maid in Manhattan" in 2002 with Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes. In fact, Hughes was a more prolific writer than director. He helmed only eight movies but is credited with writing 38 films including hits such as "Home Alone," "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Pretty In Pink" and "Mr. Mom."
He also continued producing movies including "Home Alone 3" in 1997.
But his greatest success came as a young man directing one hit after another from 1984 to 1990.
Hughes is credited with helping launch the careers of many stars including John Cusack and Molly Ringwald in "Sixteen Candles," Bill Paxton in "Weird Science" and Judd Nelson in "The Breakfast Club." Many of his frequent stars came to be known as the Brat Pack.
Hughes graduated from Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook and based most of his movies in the Chicago area. His favorite reel-life town was Shermer, Ill., based on an early name for Northbrook. Most of his hits were filmed in Chicago, as well.

Even though his movies are all at least 20 years old, they continue to make people laugh. Here are six of his best comedies. All are available on video and DVD and many are regularly shown on cable. No doubt one of the cable channels will hold a John Hughes marathon in the next week or so.

"Sixteen Candles" (1984) -- Hughes burst onto the Hollywood scene with this teen comedy about a young girl (Molly Ringwald) who is heartbroken because everyone has forgotten her 16th birthday while planning her older sister's wedding. Other stars include Anthony Michael Hall, Justin Henry, John Cusack and Gedde Watanabe as Long Duc Dong.
"The Breakfast Club" (1985) -- Hughes scored a second straight hit with this film about five high school students who discover they have much in common while serving a Saturday detention. The students (Hall, Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Emilio Estevez) bond while tormenting their teacher (Paul Gleason).
"Weird Science" (1985) -- Two nerdy students (Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith) create a woman of their dreams (Kelly LeBrock), who then helps them learn to stand up for themselves. Other stars include Robert Downey Jr. and Bill Paxton as Chet.
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986) -- Matthew Broderick stars in this Hughes comedy about a student determined to enjoy a day off of school despite the best efforts of the principal (Jeffrey Jones) to catch him goofing off. Other stars include Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey and Edie McClurg.
"Planes, Trains & Automobiles" (1987) -- Hughes made an easy transition from teen comedy to adult comedy with this film about a dedicated family man (Steve Martin) desperately trying to get home to Chicago from New York in time for Thanksgiving dinner despite a winter storm. His only companion on his trek is an annoying salesman (John Candy). Other stars include Laila Robbins and Edie McClurg.
"Uncle Buck" (1989) -- John Candy stars as a man reluctantly pressed into service by his brother and sister-in-law to watch their kids during a family emergency. Other stars include Amy Madigan, Laurie Metcalf, Jean Louisa Kelly and Macaulay Culkin.