I saw Grindhouse tonight. Talk about a great example where you shouldn't really judge something from the previews. I thought the previews looked lame and didn't really pay attention to the hype at all. Then I found out it was a double feature with Tarantino catering a whole hour and a half to himself. I had to jump on it but last week I went to see Hot Fuzz.
For what it tries to do, Grindhouse is pretty successful. I loved the campy 70's fun, and the trailers made in between the movie were a blast.
Between Planet Terror and Death Proof, there really is no contest. Death Proof wins easily. Whoever says other wise is likely to make someone curious (likely to have ADD). Rodriguez's film isn't bad per se, it's just something we've seen time and time again in terms of premise. Even so, I liked it more than the other horror movies I've seen recently because it always knows when to have fun. "Don't point the gun at your head!" It was really just fun, and ultimately a shallow experience. But that's kinda expected when it comes to Rodriguez so no matter (although I like Sin City and From Dusk Till Dawn a lot).
Death Proof, however, is absolutely awesome. It not only a return to the dialogue heavy Tarantino, it feels..I don't know, fresh. There are probably tons of movies done like Death Proof before it, but goddamn is it just odd. The dialogue heavy scenes just don't seem like they really belong in a movie that has a premise like Death Proof. It's like a mix between...Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, in terms of Tarantino movie direction. While it has juicy dialogue, and a wonderful script, it isn't afraid to do utterly outlandish things that just don't seem to fit. There are some negatives about this though. In some scenes in Death Proof, you have Reservoir Dogs diner table introduction sequence dialogue going on...but for an upward of 5 to 10 minutes. Sometimes it seems as if it's like this just to make his part of the film an hour and a half. Aside from that, Death Proof's script is really good. The acting and dialogue just flows so naturally. It's an immersive movie. The fact that Tarantino apparently just shelled it out on a whim, without really putting much thought into like he did with Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction, makes it even more impressive.
I think Grindhouse is worth the 3 hour length, and definitely worth the price of admission for Death Proof alone. I'd see it again if it wasn't going to be pulled theaters for bombing soon. The movies contrast together and make a really experience. Can't wait for the dvd, if only for Death Proof.
Those ladies in that movie are sexy and badass.
