Worth your money, if you enjoy cinema

Rating: 8/10 (5 April 2007)

Rodriguez & Tarantino together for a film that glorifies grind house cinema. Only the pair that brought you Miramax Films and Dimension Films, the Weinstein brothers, would dare to fund a dream this large.
And Grindhouse works. It doesn't work in an, "omg this is the best movie ever!" way. Rather, it works as a homage to schlock seventies cinema. A solid tip of the hat, from 2 masters, having fun at what they do. Providing a nice touch of atmosphere throughout the movie, are trailers and little easter eggs. Complete with missing frames and grainy aging filters applied to the film print.Grindhouse isn't meant to be taken serious or as serious work from either director.
Anyone that goes into this experience expecting Pulp Fiction or Sin City won't have fun. The overall effect is just short of brilliance. As it was intended to be.
Rodriguez's "Planet Terror" seems to have fared the worst of the two pictures in early reviews. Those reviews are flawed. Planet Terror is a hell of a ride for anyone that experienced the splash & splatter films of the late 1970 to mid 1980's. Rodriguez uses laughs and gore and absurd images to assault your senses. If you've ever recited dialog from a cult movie when among friends, this movie is for you.
Tarantino decided to take on the road exploitation film. "Death Proof" falls a little short of the mark. The first act either misses the mark entirely or runs a hair long, that will just depend on your viewpoint. The pacing during the first act can be slow. Strap in for the last 2 acts, you will get intimately acquainted with Death Race, Duel, Vanishing Point, and Gone in 60 seconds. Not the remake, the 1974 version.
Death Proof is filled with Tarantino dialog that makes the process worthwhile. Deliberate and intentional with methodical pacing this vehicle idles at times. And throttles to the floor at other times. Kurt Russell steals the scenes in bursts.
Grindhouse as whole might be a little much for the average film goer to absorb in one sitting. Rodriguez & Tarantino aren't for the average film patron though. And you certainly aren't the average film patron. Otherwise, why would you read an article about Rodriguez & Tarantino, hosted on a site devoted to theater? Break out your wallet and prepare to get retro, if for only 3 hours.