Five Quentin Tarantino Movies to Watch Before You Die

Quentin Tarantino talked about his retirement plans after making 10 movies. He is presently working on his eighth movie "The Hateful Eight." Samuel L. Jackson who acted in the movie asked Tarantino what he would do after retirement. The 51-year-old director said that he would go gracefully into his "tender years."

It is interesting to note that, even though Tarantino has made seven films until now while he is working on his eighth, there are at least five of those which are a must watch for any movie fan. Tarantino created an entirely new style of making action thrillers in Hollywood. Several directors find him as an inspiration while making movies in the genre he has mastered himself. Here are five Tarantino movies you must watch.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Tarantino could have debuted with "My Best Friend's Birthday" as a director but the partially lost movie was never released. This 1992 crime film was his debut as the director. Empire magazine called it the "Greatest Independent Film of all Time." The movie introduces Tarantino elements to Hollywood: nonlinear narration, profanity and violent crime. The ensemble cast included Tarantino himself. The movie became more popular after his second movie had been released and become a cult film.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

This movie established Tarantino as the master of the crime genre. It got the Palme d'Or at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival. The movie was successful both critically and commercially. John Travolta was nominated for the Academy Awards for his role in the movie. His costars in the movie, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman, were also nominated for the Oscars. The movie presents an ironic mix of violence and humour. The movie, nominated for seven Oscars, won it for the Best Screenplay.

Kill Bill Volume I (2003)

This action film reestablished Tarantino's collaboration with Uma Thurman who plays the protagonist in the film. The original movie was scheduled to release in one part but was divided in two parts as the length became more than 4 hours. The movie presents a mix of Japanese and American cultures as it gets its inspiration from the 1973 Japanese movie "Lady Snowblood." The movie gives several references to Japanese elements.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Tarantino rewrote the end of the World War II with this movie with an ensemble cast of Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger and Eli Roth. The alternate history portrayed in the movie shows the planned assassination of the political leadership of Nazi Germany by Jewish soldiers. The movie was a huge commercial success as it grossed more than $321 million. It was nominated for eight Oscars. Waltz won the Academy Award for playing Hans Landa in the film.

Django Unchained (2012)

This was Tarantino's most successful movie till date. The movie, made with $100 million, grossed more than $425 million all over the world in theatres. The western movie stars Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson and Kerry Washington. Waltz won his second Oscar for this film. While some critics did not like the use of too much violence in the film, it was still highly appreciated among critics as well.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au