note: haven't seen the US full feature of Grindhouse because here in Europe the 2 films were released separately.
That's why I'm doin' 3 reviews:
one for "Death Proof", one for "Planet Terror" and one for the fake trailers.
one for "Death Proof", one for "Planet Terror" and one for the fake trailers.
DEATH PROOF
Alternate Title:
Quentin Tarantino's Thunder Bolt!
German Title:
Death Proof - Todsicher
USA, 2007
Director: Quentin Tarantino
7/10
Alternate Title:
Quentin Tarantino's Thunder Bolt!
German Title:
Death Proof - Todsicher
USA, 2007
Director: Quentin Tarantino
7/10
It may be not Tarantino's best film but it's at least a really fun and worthy tribute to all the 70s carsploitation flicks. Though it's much too long and filled with waaay too many dialogue scenes, I pretty much enjoyed it. It's packed with loads of great settings, cool-looking cars and stunning performances from terrific actors (most notably Zoe Bell, Kurt Russell, Vanessa Ferlito and Tracie Thoms). Like in every QT movie, the soundtrack is just fabulous (incl. excellent songs from The Coasters, Joe Tex and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich), the camera work's wonderful and the editing's just brilliant (R.I.P. Sally Menke).
Highlights: all the deliberate errors (jump cuts, sound errors, the replaced title insert...), Stuntman Mike's first appearance, the outstandingly brutal and gory car-crash kill, the black-and-white scene and the awesome car-chase finale.
PLANET TERROR
USA, 2007
Director: Robert Rodriguez
8/10
Wiki ~ Imdb
USA, 2007
Director: Robert Rodriguez
8/10
Hell yeah, "Planet Terror" totally delivers. It's a wonderful tribute to all the 70s and 80s zombie movies (especially to the European ones, like "Nightnare City" or "Hell Of The Living Dead"), action-packed, fast-paced and extremely entertaining.
It's packed with gallons of glorious over-the-top gore, tons of kills, executions and disembowelments, and loads of ugly and really nasty zombie-creatures. It's fun and thrilling, but also quite atmospheric (incl. a few cool Carpenter-like fog scenes). There are many great dialogue lines and one-liners
("Where's... the... shit???" / "It's go go, not cry cry." / "I like the way you say 'fuck'. - "Good. Fuck you." / "I'm gettin' my dick wet." - "She's only got one leg!" - "Easier access." - "Oh, that is a good point!" ...),
the cast is pretty great (Rose McGowan, Josh Brolin, Jeff Fahey, Bruce Willis, Tarantino...), the kinda-80s synth soundtrack is just fabulous and the whole look of it (grainy pictures, deliberate errors, scratches...) is just awesome.
Highlights: the machine gun leg, Willis' and Tarantino's deformations, every single gore scene, the boy who kills himself, the syringe scene, the 'balls' collection and the amazing finale.Wiki ~ Imdb
The FAKE TRAILERS
MACHETE
Terrific and fun trailer for a Mexploitation flick from Rodriguez who later turned it into a real full-length film.
WEREWOLF WOMEN OF THE SS
Rob Zombie's fabulous tribute to all the obscure 70s nazisploitation films.
DON'T
Brilliant homage to the hammer house films and the giallo genre, from Edgar Wright.
THANKSGIVING
Eli Roth's outstanding teaser for some kinda holiday-based slasher-gorefest.
HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN
The winner of Rodriguez' SXSW Grindhouse trailer contest, an extremely cool trailer for a violent revenge film (from Jason Eisener).
9/10
Overall I'd say: the whole Grindhouse package is absolutely delightful and highly enjoyable; exploitation fans get their money's worth here.
8/10
Posts
Planet Terror has so much great visual points, that it makes Tarantino's picture look worse..but eh, it's a good package 8/10 is right.
ReplyDeleteI have both on DVD, and just waiting for the NFL season to end to view for the fisrt time. GO STEELERS!!
ReplyDeleteI loved PLANET TERROR but only really liked DEATH PROOF. There was just too much dialogue in that middle section. I don't mind that, but when I'm not interested in what the characters are discussing, I tend to tune out. Still, it has great moments [especially the last act]. And the trailers are awesome. THANKSGIVING is being made apparently. Can't wait for that one.
ReplyDeleteI hate the fact that they called this 'grindhouse' and then hired big name actors and spent millions on special effects, but that aside, Tarentino's entry is expectantly filled with self-serving dialog and pays off with some sweet carsploitation. PLANET TERROR would have been a sweet guilty pleasure of mine if it didnt have that pretentious Grindhouse title added to it. Neither films are true grindhouse, so it is a failed experiment IMO.
ReplyDelete@Fred: although I hope that Eli's not directing (not a fan of him), I'm definitely pumped for 'Thanksgiving'
ReplyDelete@Carl: I understand what you mean. It's definitely not true grindhouse, but more of a tribute to grindhouse
I really liked Planet Terror.
ReplyDeleteI watched Death Proof with my Father and he loved it! ( ya never know) I enjoyed the music, and all the characters were believeable, except I thought the girls from Tenn acted like they were from Los Angeles!! Anyhow, great crash scenes! 9/10
ReplyDelete