MOVIE REVIEW: Grindhouse (AKA: Why Tarantino Still Rocks the Cashbah)

[luciazephyr]

Short Version: Go see this movie.

Long Version: Go see this movie now.


Now, for anyone who hasn't caught one of the five hundred trailers out there, you may be asking, "Auntie Lucy, what is Grindhouse?"

Well, I'll tell you. See, in days of cinema yore, when the drive-thru was the coolest thing in the world, before the MPAA gripped cinema with it's mighty restrictions, there were Grindhouse Films. They were the cream of the crap- guns, sex, explosions, and zero plot. It's also called Exploitation Media. For a great rundown of the genre, Rotten Tomatoes has a A to Z Guide here. You'll need it to get all the references in Grindhouse.

Anyway. Grindhouse films are soft-core porn, zombies, revenge, ninjas, camp, and the very definition of gratuity, made on minimal budget.


"So, it's a B-movie?"

So much more. It is two awesomely bad-but-good cliche films (one by Robert Rodriguez, the other by my boy Quentin Tarantino), four fake movie trailers (each by a guest director), and an extremely 70's presentation. This is schlock, but it's meant to be and it's filled to the brim with pandering and in-jokes and fourth-wall breaking references. I went to see it with Mum and Mum says that anyone over thirty should especially love it. It'll make you all nostalgic. Also, for me, it was the best film experience I ever had. We ended up in a theatre with only about twenty other people and most of them hardcore movie fans. It was great, and there was a comaraderie that made it special. The guy who yelled "Best movie ever" after Planet Terror (Rodriguez's film) is my new best friend.

Also, you might want to see it just so you can say you saw the Academy Award winner for Best Editing. It's a special type of editing to make it look bad and still be good at the same time.


Grindhouse is blood, guts, sex, boobs, balls, and Tarantino cameos. And it's in slot three for best film I have ever seen. And number one is Pulp Fiction. Oh yeah, baby.


According to Mum, you guys need to be told a few things before running out to see it.

1. DON'T eat or drink five hours before going to see the movie. Thirsty? Chew gum.


2. DON'T leave at any point in the feature. Not even between Planet Terror and Deathproof. You will miss the best part of the film. Yes, I know that's +3 hours of sitting. Deal.


3. DON'T eat anything during the movie. No popcorn or candy at all, especially for Planet Terror. Trust me on this. It can only end it tears.


4. DON'T bring kids. And by "kids", we mean anyone under the age 16. And it had better be a really goddamn mature 16 year old.


5. DON'T go to this movie if you are faint of heart, can't handle excessive gore (think high-octane Kill Bill, minus Tarantino's clever self-censorship), or if you don't have a sense of humor (preferably warped).


6. DON'T be shy. After each of the two movies end, you better applaude.

That should be all. And, for the record? I liked Machete the best. Mum liked Thanksgiving. (You'll get it once you see it.)

WHOO HOO! *pumps air* I can't wait to see that again!

-Luce

Comments

[fofomazuzu.livejournal.com]

I wanted to see this since the previews during The Riches. Want to see it more now. Thanks for the review.

Figured I should say hello...

[odetteisodile.livejournal.com]

A group of my questionably sane friends and I are going to see this within the next week or two. Awesome reveiwing!
Also, I figured I should say hey before randomly friending you. So, hey. What I've seen so far is great, I totally downloaded Suits Without Makeup, and I love your banners. The fact that they are from basically all my fandoms made my rabid fangirl squee. That and the fact that you are one of the few who, like me, is of the agegroup and geeky-maturity level to love Aron Sorkin and started watching West Wing while in middle school. Also, as a Canadian residing in Texas, the only American news I really watch: Comedy Centeral Satire, Anderson Cooper 360, and Keith Olbermann. Therefore, you are love and I'll shut up now.

Re: Figured I should say hello...

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

You are totally friended. Enjoy the crazed fangirling and the bouts of RPS. *hugs*

*gives you the usual tea and scones* Welcome!

Re: Figured I should say hello...

[odetteisodile.livejournal.com]

Ah, RPS, how do I love thee, let me count the ways, one-onethousand, two-onethousand... on that note, I spent all day on your journal reading and there are no words. I'll stop messing with the actual topic of this thread now.
*hugs* I love you like a crazed stalker *shifty eye*

Re: Figured I should say hello...

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad! Feedback makes me squeal. *gives you more scones*

WHOA!

[eh-notsomuch.livejournal.com]

That was MESSED. UP.

It was brutal, gross, gory, and totally upchuckable.

It was awesome.

I'm torn between "Werewolf Women of the SS" (Rob Zombie is my pal), "Don't!!!" (hilarious) and "Thanksgiving" (I have a new respect for Eli Roth).

Dude, we're doing Jaeger shots!!!

Re: WHOA!

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

IT WAS MADE OF AWESOME!

In the article I linked, there's a bit about "Isla, She-Wolf of the SS" which is what Zombie's was based off. And did you yell at That One Part of "Thanksgiving"? 'Cause I so did. OW, MAN, NOT COOL. I hate cheerleaders, but OMG.

I fucking love Quentin. He totally gets off on being the evil perv. He was a robber, Jimmy the Nice Ex-Mobster, Clooney's rapist brother, and now these cameos. I just love him. He likes saying the dirtiest lines in each movie. *clings to his arm* I still love the meta-discussion of the inner meaning of "Like A Virgin". Oh, Tarantino, you music geek.

Now. The real question: Planet Terror or Death Proof? MAKE YOUR DECISION.

Re: WHOA!

[eh-notsomuch.livejournal.com]

I laughed more at Planet Terror, but I think I got more wrapped up in Death Proof. You know that part when Julia, Butterfly, and their other two friends are driving? I was really affected after that.

And I'm so buying the soundtracks. I just discovered they're on iTunes. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha.

Re: WHOA!

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

Planet Terror was awesomely bad. **SPOILERS AHEAD**


I really loved the missing reel thing. How it's all "okay, they're having sex! And now... THE BUILDING'S ON FIRE!" And some of the lines were so, so lame. "She's only got one leg!" "Better access!" and the ultimate groan-out-loud-it's-so-bad line, "I never miss". OMG.

But, god, I hated Tarantino for killing those girls. And after they gave him the lapdance too! *sadface* Oh, Butterfly. How I secretly shipped you and Mike for the ten minutes before you got your face ripped off. Ew.

Personally, I loved the second half of Death Proof, but maybe just because I loved Kim (that gal from RENT?) being the most hardcore, bad-ass chick and ZOE BELL! OMG, the blonde stuntgirl, that's her real name and real history. She's a huge stuntwoman and Quentin basically just wrote her into the movie. OH OH OH OH and how the scene in the diner with them discussing past jobs and the ditch story? Almost the exact same cinematography as the infamous Resevior Dogs opening, when the guys were discussing the deeper meaning of Madonna's "Like A Virgin". Oh god. *geekgasm*

Did you know that there was no special effects in that car chase? And I mean none- it was even filmed with the car going high-speed rather than using the usual method of running the film faster to make it look quick when you playback. None of it- QT wanted it made in true Grindhouse style. Dangerous. Guh. I love that man.

*paws at you* You're gonna get the soundtracks? You have got to lemme know if they rock. I had Pulp Fiction's once, but I literally listened so much that it stopped working. T.T Woe.

Re: WHOA!

[eh-notsomuch.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm t0rrenting them right now. (Search on www.scrapetorrent.com RIGHT NOW and you will find them too. Effin' sweet.)

Yeah, that's what I mean, about RR's movie being more of a parody. But goddamn hilarious!

WHY has no one ever thought to put Michael Biehn and Jeff Fahey together in a movie before, much less as brothers??? EXCELLENTE.

Tracie Thoms. KICK. AZZZZZ. MAJOR SPOILER: When Zoe bounces up, "I'm OK!" Oh my God.

Oh, and "Gulp." Hilarious!

I so wanted to see Jasper's face when they brought the Challenger back. XD

Re: WHOA!

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

Groovy!

(Reading Tarantino's wiki entry: you know that RR did Kill Bill's soundtrack scoring for one dollar? And then Tarantino turned around and directed a piece of Sin City for the same price. ♥ *so having RPS-y thoughts*


Jesus, I almost started crying when she did her little "I'm okay!" bit. OW, MY HEARTSTRINGS. And then she straddles the car and they ride off, ready to shiskabob Mike. WHOOO! GIRL POWER!


OMG. POOR LEE, left with evil Jasper. And, god, they fucked that car up good.

Re: WHOA!

[eh-notsomuch.livejournal.com]

When she hopped on the door, I'm like, "Girl, get INSIDE THE DAMN CAR!!! Haven't you had enough for one day?!"

I commented to Younga Brudda, "Isn't it nice that Rodriguez and Tarantino found each other?" They are truly effed-up soulmates.

And I haven't even mentioned my darling Naveen Andrews, doing his pretty British accent (not his own, which is an affront to the ear). Mmm, sweet, sweet boy.

Re: WHOA!

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

I TOTALLY KNOW. And Rosario's little, "ha, yes, of course you are". GAH! GIRLS, I LOVE YOU.

I love you. I'm so glad I'm not alone in this. They are so cute! *loves on wiki's entry on them* They're all calling each other, "I have a thing for us to do" and they always work together... it's a bit like Danny and Matt! Oh, god, I want to a fly on the wall when QT was acting for RR. Oh, that'd be phenom...

HE WAS A TOTAL FREAK. GAH, you know he looked at the script, read the line "This guy collects people's testicles" and said, "I don't need to read another line. I'll do it." SO GREAT.

Re: WHOA!

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

OMG, QT and RR interviewed each other!