It is everything you were wishing it would be, and more.

Rating: 10/10 (13 April 2007)

With action, comedy, romance, drama, suspense, mystery, satire, horror, sci-fi, political commentary, thrills, and also a plethora of nods and references to previous works and previous genres; Grindhouse is a package full of everything and anything you can think of. Not only does it contain all that (and more), but also it has easily emerged as one of the best films in a very long time. Tarantino has finally met his match as Rodriguez has perfected his skills. Overall this film is just way too much fun to miss. Granted it is not for those easily sick or easily offended, those who can take the heavy content will leave the theater with a smile on their face guaranteed. Welcome, to the Grindhousereview.
The review will run in order of the films and trailers presented. The tone is set with the hilarious and action-packed "Machete." Featuring Danny Trejo as a tough-looking renegade, the fake trailer is full of guns, action, and fun one-liners to repeat time and time again. We make our way into the first major motion picture, "Planet Terror." Planet Terror is the best part of the movie without a doubt. With fast pacing, a lot of action and terror, superb acting, fantastic direction, and enough gore to please zombie fans of any kind, Planet Terror is a horror fan's dream come true. To add to that, the make-up and the special effects here are beyond startling, and definitely not like the B-movies that Rodriguez is paying homage to. Robert Rodriguez has done some great work in the past; but this is him at the peak of his game. Not only does he continue the choppy/quick-paced editing and hardcore uncut thrills, but he also brings in a hefty dose of emotion not seen in his recent pictures. Also serving as the composer, he has a nice soundtrack to top it all off with the help of his band Chingon.
After the trip of ecstasy that is Planet Terror, we get a few more trailers. The second trailer is directed by Rob Zombie, which is a bit weird but has a cameo that more than makes up for it. The mastermind behind Shawn of the Dead directs the one after that, and his trailer comes off as a hilarious treat. Topping them all however is the most disturbing movie trailer in the history of cinema, but also one of the funniest and most rewarding. Eli Roth (maker of the sadistic Cabin Fever and Hostel) is behind the camera on that bizarre and sick gem. After the trailers sicken the audience we then get a very mixed bag from Quentin Tarantino with his film, Death Proof.
Unlike the approachable Planet Terror, Death Proof is proof (pun intended) that Tarantino cannot craft a mindless action film, or a film with little dialogue. Even with the little running time he is allowed, he still writes a doozy of a script in his segment. In this film, we follow the lives of several women as they enter a city that is haunted by the presence of a serial killer that uses a unique tactic of killing his victims: his car. But, unlike the previous flick, the buildup is quite slow, as character development is happening slowly but surely. The pacing is pretty much a quarter of the length of Planet Terror.
Some people actually left the theater in the middle of Death Proof, which shows that they have not seen a Tarantino flick. If you like his previous stuff, then you will appreciate his usual blend of action and dialogue. Otherwise, do your best to stick around, because the payoffs are fantastic. Stating the genre that he is paying homage to would actually spoil the surprise, as it becomes blatantly obvious--but only in the end. Nonetheless, we get one of the best car chases filmed this decade, and also one of the funniest yet anti-climactic endings of its kind. The true beauty of Death Proof lies in the fact that you cannot predict where the story is going, nor can you predict where, when, and how it's going to end. Patience is a virtue, and the fruits of rewards come with the final segments of Death Proof. Despite all this, Tarantino actually provides the weaker of the two movies, which comes off as a surprise considering his track record (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill Vol. 2).
Grindhouse's look and style is authentic and only adds to its appeal that is already present. Besides all the raw footage with so much blood that you'll be checking your clothes from time to time, Grindhouse also has missing footage, unsynchronized audio and video, bleeding colors in the film, and a lot of dirt and dust all over the place. Don't worry; the films are still viewable, even if there are some times in which the missing footage comes at all the worst moments. The effort and time spent in this project is shown with all the little details all over the place. Finally, we have nods and references to not only films of the 60s and 70s, but movies from the directors themselves; including Desperado and Pulp Fiction. The die-hard fans will get the most out of Grindhouse, but the average moviegoer can and will get a kick out of this too.
Bottom Line: Watching this movie is not a request, but a requirement. It is strong; it is violent and rough, but unbelievably entertaining. Everything about Grindhouse was spectacular, from the directing to the editing to the content to the extra goodies to the details to the acting to even the musical score. We have two of among Hollywood's best minds combining to deliver one heck of an experience that is refreshing and jaw-dropping at the same time. Both films are totally different, but almost equally ridiculously compelling. Grab some popcorn, and prepare to be dazzled.