The Good, The Bad, & The Bottom Line of 'Grindhouse'

Usually when you go to see a film, you don't hope to see scratched prints, missing reels, & hear the sound popping.  However, in the case of 'Grindhouse' it's those things that are the appeal.  The film, helmed by directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino is a throwback to the films of the 60's and 70's that played in the grungy theaters that share the same name as its title.  Grindhouses played non-stop blocks of movies filled with large amounts of violence and sex accompanied with over-the-top plots.  In Rodriguez's 'Planet Terror' a toxic gas is released into the air causing everyone to become what are known as "sickos".  The remote Texas town where chaos now ensues has only a slim chance of survival.  All hope rests on the shoulders of hot shot El Wray (Freddy Rodriguez) and his machine gun leg wielding ex-girlfriend Cherry Darling; played by Rose McGowan.  In the double-features wrap-up 'Death Proof' (from Tarantino) Kurt Russell plays the one and only Stuntman Mike.  A killer whose weapon isn't a knife nor gun.  All his vicious murders are done with his indescribably awesome Chevy Nova.

 

The Good
-  Unrelenting puns in 'Planet Terror' are sometimes just funny, but a lot of the times they're just plain hilarious.

- 'Death Proof' offers the most thrilling and entertaining car chases possibly ever seen.

- The overall storyline of 'Planet Terror' is so completely outrageous, it's that level of insanity that makes it all work together seamlessly.

- 'Death Proof' features surprisingly intelligent dialogue that is point on in keeping up with the films it's giving homage to.

- Fake trailers (including 'Machete' & 'Dont!') are extremely witty and just among the many additions that bring the experience of the film to great heights.


The Bad
- Going by grindhouse genre standards, hardly any nudity is present.  In most of the old films, about 30-40% of the scenes had some form of it; and depending on the type of exploitation film being shown, that number could be much higher.  (i.e. 'I Spit On Your Grave')

- The use of cellphones and references to pop culture drop the level of the period feel immensely.

- 'Death Proof' strays from the grindhouse approach after its first twenty minutes.  The frequency of scratches, popping, etc. fades from little to none.

- Having characters overlap from one film to the other is annoying.  It was common for the same actors to be seen in old double-features, but you hardly ever saw characters back to back.


The Bottom Line
From the jelly-blood splatters to the edge of your seat excitement 'Grindhouse' is by far the best film of the year thus far.  Rodriguez and Tarantino didn't just take something old and make it new, they made it great.  It's debatable now exactly how much money the film will profit given it's disappointing opening, but one thing is sure: it's an event not to be missed.  There's but one place you'll have as much fun this spring, only at...the grindhouse. 

 

OVERALL RATING: 
 

---

Starring: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell & Rosario Dawson Directed by: Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino Written by: Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino Produced by: Sandra Condito, Shannon McIntosh, Bob Weinstein, & Harvey Weinstein Rated: R for strong graphic bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, some sexuality, nudity & drug use.

(click the play button to watch the trailer)