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.

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!!!