You have to be tuned into this one in order to enjoy it.

Rating: 7/10 (7 April 2007)

This movie (or movies) is an odd beast. There does not seem to be an obvious (to me at least) "point" to it, so everyone looking for a message or closure will likely not get much enjoyment out of this one. Neither will those that insist on a tight narrative, or complex character studies. That's just not what this is.
But what is it? Maybe it's like Kill Bill, but without the plot. It's a lot of action, a lot of self-aware and reflective toying with genres and viewer expectations, a lot of violence and gore, a lot of references, and a thimble-full of plot and characters. That's kind of what this is. Twice. With trailers.
And, of course, it's done very, very well. Technically and artistically. It's original, inventive, visually striking, funny, gross, exciting, sexy, etc. etc.
But is it good? That is, as always, in the eye of the beholder, but it seems to be even more true for this work than for most others. I loved it, chuckled, laughed hard, indulged in the visuals, and basically enjoyed this the way I would enjoy a roller coaster: you never know what's around the corner or past the dip, but you are prepared to have fun with it whatever it may be.
My company did not. I suppose if you tend to sit in a movie with specific expectations, whatever they may be in this case, and measure the movie by the degree to which it manages to fulfill them, you are bound to be disappointed by ¨Grindhouse¨. Oddly, I find it difficult to say that it is a ¨good movie¨, not so much because it isn't good, but because it really isn't a ¨movie¨ the way a roller coaster ride is not transportation---it kinda is, but transportation is not the point.
So I guess that's really the best way I know how to describe it---as a cinematic roller coaster ride. If you are in the mood for something like that, go and enjoy, otherwise maybe not.