The Grind House is the closest thing to Time Travel that exists...I turn myself over to Tarantino/Rodriguez

Rating: 10/10 (8 April 2007)

I have spoken a splurge of hatred towards director Quentin Tarantino before and honestly I don't know why. I think it was a personal thing...he seems egotistical, and goes out of his way to make what he thinks is his own personal 'art' and has to make everything unique and blah blah blah...but the funny thing is I have really yet to see a Tarantino film produced, directed or otherwise that I didn't like. I loved the Kill Bill Series, Reservoir Dogs, Sin City, etc etc. (I have yet to see Pulp Fiction believe it or not.) Well The Grindhouse, and his entry into that series (Death Proof) makes me drop to my knees and surrender to the Tarantino spell. Grindhouse is brilliant and I will review each film independent of each other because they must be. They are that different. Grindhouse truly, without hesitation or pranks or anything else provides TWO feature length, completely stand alone worthy films back to back completely with faux exploitation trailers in the middle as comic relief. If film is art then Grindhouse takes it to a new level because Tarantino and Rodriguez capture an era long gone of 70's sleaze, exploitation film and make you feel like you're sitting right there in the Grindhouse.
PLANET TERROR---Now for entertainment purposes I did enjoy Planet Terror more than Death Proof. It's your stereo typical slasher zombie flick with blood and gore like you would not believe. But the plot and story is good!! Everything falls into place and Planet Terror makes the Land of The Dead look like a joke, it's that well made. Rodriguez actually made a campy, slapstick horror but made it the best possible way...like it was dead freakin serious. It's hard if not impossible to create that "so bad it's good" feel to it and he pulls it off. With everything going on to make it campy and hilarious, everyone on and off screen take it dead serious making it the best horror film to date of the year. Freddy Rodríguez is brilliant as the shot gun toting hero that will stop at nothing to save his band of survivors. He is downright awesome!! Rose McGowan is equally strong (in the first thing I've ever seen her in where she performs well) as Cherry, the former go-go dancer who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and quickly adapts to being a soldier with a killer leg. Josh Brolin, in a smaller role is easily iconic and brilliant as Dr. Block, the disturbed and angry Doc who wants to kill his wife. Marley Shelton is also good as his wife. And giving what I think is the performance of his career is B-Movie actor Jeff Fahey as JT, the rough and gruff BBQ cook that likes the action. Enter some amazing cameo performances by Michael Biehn, Naveen Andrews (of TV's Lost), Stacy Ferguson (Black Eyed Peas), and the one and only Bruce Willis (who is not credited) and you've got a killer horror flick...huge 10/10.
DEATH PROOF--- is perhaps (in true Tarantino style) far more cult like and artistic than Planet Terror. Tarantino spends far more time establishing his seemingly stereo typical characters (both victims and main characters) but still creates this iconic serial maniac story about a stunt man who for some mysterious reason likes to stalk and murder young girls with his 'Death Proof' car but suddenly finds himself on the other side of things when two stunt girls fight back against him and basically annihilate him. Kurt Russell is in full form as the aging maniacal and likely iconic Stuntman Mike. The cast of girls are all very good...and although seemingly 70's exploitation stereo typical they all do a great job. Rose McGowan, Vanessa Ferlito, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Zoe Bell (making a unique and very good stand out performance playing herself), Tracie Thoms, Rosario Dawson, Jordan Ladd and I wish I had the space to go into details about some of these performances. The action is far lighter except for the beginning and the end and the middle is all about establishing the characters of these girls. Brilliant!! Zoe Bell is brilliant and funny, as is Tracie Thoms as the equally strong and outspoken black woman.
I don't have near the space to go into detail about how brilliant Grindhouse is. From cameo appearances, to two performances by Tarantino himself, to Nicholas Cage, to the amazing exploitation trailers, to the gritty look of Planet Terror and the 'missing film reels' of Death Proof and the retro 'coming attractions' and 'feature presentation' graphics. Grindhouse is an experience you MUST see in theaters. I may even go see this film again which is something I rarely do. The film clocks in at a phenomenal 3 1/2 hours and you'd never know it because it is that good and truly a double feature by all standards. It is the most unique and brilliant film of this year and possibly the last few years. Brilliant!! 10/10