Everything 'Grindhouse'

Everything You Need to Know about Robert Rodriguez & Quentino Tarantino's 'Grindhouse' 

It all began four years ago in Quentin Tarantino’s Hollywood Hills home. Close friend and fellow director Robert Rodriguez was over. While there he happened to notice a familiar movie poster to the 1957 double feature ‘Dragstrip Girl’ and ‘Rock All Night’ on the floor. A short time later that day he told Quentin how we had always wanted to do a double feature. It was then he proposed the idea that they each make a movie and put the two together as such. Quentin immediately responded with, “…and we’ve got to call it Grindhouse!” Now it’s 2007 and that idea has been made into a reality. Inspired by the films containing extreme amounts of violence, explicit sex, & crazy storylines that were popularized the 70’s, ‘Grindhouse’ is now looking like it will be among the best films of the year.

It’s three hours and twelve minutes long, so before you take your seat be sure to get the extra-large bucket of popcorn along with your choice of beverage. (Dr. Pepper owns all by the way.) After that you’ll be more than ready for the first half of ‘Grindhouse’; Robert Rodriguez’s ‘Planet Terror’. It stars Rose McGowan as Cherry Darling, the kickass woman shown in the trailer with a machinegun leg. She and her boyfriend El Wray, played by Freddy Rodriguez, lead a group of people against the threat that has struck. Them and only them are the planets only hope for survival. Sounds tantalizing right? Yes…no…maybe? Even if you won’t admit it, you know it’s awesome.

After that prepare yourself for Quentin Tarantino’s thriller ‘Death Proof’. It’s all about a stuntman named Mike, played by former badass Kurt Russell, who’s a killer. His next target, Lee, an up-and-coming actress and her entourage. His weapon of choice, a souped-up ’71 Chevy Nova that’s, here it comes…death proof. NOW THE TITLE MAKES SENSE, you’re thinking to yourself. So there you have it without giving too much away, the basic storyline of the two featured films. If you’re not excited about ‘Grindhouse’ yet from reading that, then please proceed to check your pulse. You obviously are dead. Maybe some further details will bring you back to the land of the living. So here goes…

In order to really go all out for the making of ‘Grindhouse’ Tarantino and Rodriguez made sure they did a few extra things to make the viewing experience as amazing as possible. One of which being the scratching of prints and addition of dirt to the films. This makes them look like they are indeed straight out of the 70’s. Missing scenes were normal in the original grind house style films so to further simulate the original feel, reels were purposely edited out. No, that’s not all though! The other and probably most interesting thing cooked up are the fake trailers that will be shown before and between to the two flicks. Two are done by Tarantino and Rodriquez themselves titled, ‘Cowgirls and Sweden’ & 'Machete'. The directors of the others include Rob Zombie (‘Werewolf Women of the S.S.’), Edgar Wright (‘Don’t’), & Eli Roth’s which is called ‘Thanksgiving’. That one was actually released this past Friday on iGN.com. You can watch it below, but be warned, it’s pretty damn great. 

Now I know you’re excited about it so don’t deny it. Hopefully you’ll take that excitement and some of your friends to your local theater and see ‘Grindhouse’ today now that it’s finally in release nationwide in just over 2,500 theaters. Gore, sex, & more. What else could you possibly ask for? Well I suppose that’s all for now. Be sure to watch for the premiere of The Weekly Reel, by me on Saturday. Until then, see ya.