My first blog post is dedicated to my love of film. Last weekend, I watched Django Unchained for the first time with my boyfriend. I am a huge Quentin Tarantino fan, so I have been wanting to watch his newest film for a while now. I finally got around to it and I liked it! The film follows the story of Django (Jamie Foxx) and he is rescued from slavery by Dr. King Shultz (Christopher Waltz) who is posing as a dentist but is really a bounty hunter. Django and Shultz become good friends and Shultz teaches Django how to shoot a gun and how to become a good bounty hunter. Eventually, as the movie progresses, Shultz ends up helping Django find his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington). Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jonah Hill also have roles in this film. I enjoyed it overall and would watch it again but it’s not my favorite Tarantino film.

Watching Django Unchained made me think about violence in film. Tarantino is known for the violence and the gore that he puts into his films. That personally doesn’t bother me one bit. It does bother some individuals, however, and Tarantino has been vilified in the media for his use of violence. I don’t believe that violence in the media is responsible for violence in reality. I watch Tarantino’s films and I have played violent video games such as Gears of War, Grand Theft Auto, and Max Payne 3. This does not make me want to go out and relive these video games in real life. I don’t think Tarantino should have to tone down his films because I don’t believe his films or the use of violence is in any way responsible for violent acts in society. The people who go out and commit violent acts I feel have some sort of predisposition to violence. Now, of course, people may disagree with me and that’s fine. Everyone is allowed their opinion and this is mine.

That being said, I recommend seeing Django Unchained. The acting in this movie is superb and I really liked Leonardo DiCaprio in this movie. He plays Calvin Candie, the owner of the “Candyland Plantation”. He is sadistic and very thrilling on screen. My favorite Tarantino film of all time is Kill Bill Volume 1 so if you haven’t seen that for any reason, definitely watch that movie ASAP!