Malygris on 1/10/2007 at 16:48
Another thumbs-up for Grindhouse, minus the Tarantino masturbation-fest that seems to grow more embarrassing everytime he tries it.
Ko0K on 2/10/2007 at 05:29
Complacency happens to everyone, and some people just know how to hide theirs better than the others. Those people retire from active roles and become creative consultants before people start noticing they're outdated. :p
I think Tarantino is a savvy film-maker, and I'm betting he'll eventually bounce back. It's difficult to impress the audience these days. Maybe he thought some key concepts and visuals would be enough to carry this movie through his typical female-empowerment plot. It would've been better to format Planet Terror like a TV show, with Death Proof shortened, chopped up, and peppered throughout PT like a mock ad campaign, as with the fake previews. Well, at least that's what I would've done with it, since it's someone else's movie. I guess one way to put it is that I clearly lack his perspective on this.
Scots Taffer on 2/10/2007 at 05:32
I think the lack of perspective falls squarely into Tarantino's camp personally. It's true that the audience has to adapt to a directorial vision when watching their film, but the director is supposed to have the audience in mind while directing and it's not supposed to be solely them.
Fafhrd on 2/10/2007 at 07:11
I'm apparently the only person on earth who liked Death Proof more than Planet Terror. Of course, I saw it in the combined GRINDHOUSE manner, so maybe the uncut version is significantly worse.
It just felt like Rodriguez's standard over reliance on shoddy, but slick looking, CG missed the whole ultra low budget idea that was the backbone of the experiment. His whole thing of taking a thousand dollars and making it look like a million backfired, imo, since Grindhouse films are supposed to take a thousand dollars and make it look like ten dollars, except for the climactic set piece.
Tarantino shooting everything practical and having only one big wad blowing action sequence fit the aesthetic more.
Quote:
I think the lack of perspective falls squarely into Tarantino's camp personally. It's true that the audience has to adapt to a directorial vision when watching their film, but the director is supposed to have the audience in mind while directing and it's not supposed to be solely them.
Not really a valid criticism, I think. Tarantino and Rodriguez were pretty open about how they were making Grindhouse for themselves. If the audience dug it, cool, but ultimately they were meant as excercises in self-gratification. (And the box office certainly seemed to reflect that. Don't hold your breath for Machete.)
Aja on 2/10/2007 at 07:17
I agree. Tarantino's film was excruciating at times, but I couldn't even breathe during the last half hour. I'll admit that I've never seen a real grindhouse film, but after Death Proof I have a good idea what to expect.
That being said, Planet Terror was still awesome.
Scots Taffer on 2/10/2007 at 09:55
Quote Posted by Fafhrd
Not really a valid criticism, I think. Tarantino and Rodriguez were pretty open about how they were making Grindhouse for themselves. If the audience dug it, cool, but ultimately they were meant as excercises in self-gratification. (And the box office certainly seemed to reflect that. Don't hold your breath for Machete.)
Not a valid criticism if you're suggesting the aim of two profitable and marketable directors was commercial failure. Why release at all if that's the sort of arrogant attitude towards filmmaking on display? I'm sure Quentin could have shown the movie to his fellow Austin cinephiles and received a similar critical reaction.
I hope to get around to Planet Terror tonight.I never miss.Holy fuck, that rocked. Proper review pending.
Scots Taffer on 3/10/2007 at 05:42
Proper Review: She fucking rocket jumped.
Game over, man. Game over.
