Uh, yeah. Saw Grindhouse for the second time last night, and my suspicions were correct: I rated the film overall too low, and I especially rated Death Proof too low.
I have edited my original review, bumping the film from a 7 to an 8.5, changing the Planet Terror and trailer scores ever-so-slightly, and, most importantly, bumping my Death Proof score up 2 whole points, from a 7.5 to a 9.5. Everything that I had been mulling over in my head about the film the past week just clicked perfectly upon seeing Death Proof again. I hate to throw this word around, especially for a film that has been so split between love and venomous hate, but I think Death Proof just might be a god-damn masterpiece. I would rank it just a hair below Jackie Brown and Pulp Fiction in QT's filmography, above Reservoir Dogs, and leagues above Kill Bill 1 and 2.
What my second viewing really affirmed for me though is this: Death Proof is far too good for Grindhouse. This movie should not have been cut from 2+ hours down to 90 minutes, and should have been released on its own as a full-length feature film. I think its the most vital thing QT has done in years, and strikes me as being brilliant on so many levels. And I am admittedly somewhat anti-QT, so I know he truly delivers when I find myself gushing over his work.