What going to the movies should be like!

Rating: 8/10 (16 April 2007)

Grindhouse seems like an experiment in film-making; although, as I understand it, back in the day, this is how movies used to be screened (or at least certain kinds of movies this film is trying to emulate). But, talk about a bargain, two movies for the price of one. You definitely need to find a free day to view this picture because they don't cop out; these are two full length feature films, and you will be in your seat (possibly on the edge of it at times) for a good 3 hours.
The first segment is called "Planet Terror" and is written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It's basically a standard zombie flick, complete with sexy chicks, bad ass heroes, crazy doctors and sadistic military goons. Not to mention a gore level that will delight any fan of the genre. Certainly, this movie is to be taken purely at face value, but that is how one is to be able to enjoy it. With over the top action, characters and situations, this splatterfest will really entertain.
In Quentin Tarantino's segment "Death Proof" we find Kurt Russell as a psychotic ex-stuntman out to ruin some feisty females' fun. Aptly named, Stunt-man Mike is well fleshed out by Russell and steals every scene he is in. I like the idea of this movie: a crazy motorized maniac in a deathproof car, but Tarantino doesn't really do much with it. This movie is just another chance for Tarantino to introduce a bevy of over the top characters and have them converse for 80 percent of the movie with over the top dialogue. While I enjoyed it for it's new take on character development and frank nature from his first few flicks, it just was boring to me this time around. I mean, i had just sat through an hour and a half of blood and guts and explosions, and now I had to watch a total of about 8 women (who could have been interesting, but instead seemed to walk right out of Pulp Fiction), talk about pretty mundane stuff. I'm all for strong women figures and heroines in movies, but it just wasn't believable for me. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be, but when all the characters have this "I'm too cool for school" attitude the entire time, it's just boring. Not to say that "Death Proof" doesn't have it's moments, it can be quit suspenseful at times, but I'm just kind of tired of the whole "witty cursing every other word Tarantino talking about nothing" stuff. Can't he do something else?
Also worth mentioning is the "Coming Attraction" segments between features. These little trailers for crude and exploitive flicks are worth seeing the movie alone. Don't know if such movies can stand alone, perhaps in Grindhouse 2, but humorous and thoroughly repulsive. Eli Roth's "Thanksgiving" trailer really hit the mark on what a Grindhouse movie truly is. Stupid, cheap, offensive, and very entertaining. Check it out!