GRINDHOUSE

I had no idea of what this movie was about. I just got to the cinema, and followed the lead. I mean, I was warned about it taking the worst of horror flicks and making fun of it… but since I liked Sin City, and the two Kill Bill deliveries, I didn’t question things much… There must be something good about this after all… Since I had no idea of what to expect, all that went on had a blank slate so it could be internalized. The ride was fun. It is refreshing to see that actual original flicks are still out there. I dislike funny flicks, but this was witty, sour, no holds barred humor… and I loved it. So… Overall, an interesting concept that takes so many details from horror thrillers and action flicks and makes fun of them all… Dark humor, very sarcastic, very gory. The two flicks are very different, of course, showing off each director’s different style. Loved the fake trailers. DON’T and Machete were hilarious! Nicolas Cage’s five second cameo was a treat. Three hours and a half of real entertainment… what a concept!

About each flick:



Planet Terror: With Rose McGowen and Freddy Rodriguez, directed by Robert Rodriguez. “Two doctors find their graveyard shift inundated with townspeople ravaged by sores. Among the wounded is Cherry, a dancer whose leg was ripped from her body. As the invalids quickly become enraged aggressors, Cherry and her ex-boyfriend Wray lead a team of accidental warriors into the night.”

I think this was the best of the two short films. It took many clichés from all those zombie movies that has been made, especially the virus outbreak theme a la Racoon City… but it all worked swiftly. Rose has many mannerisms left from Charm’s Paige, but gives Cherry a believable force at the right times. Corny, yes… Linear, well duh… it is a zombie movie so what you expect! But the delivery of the diverse events meshed together. Watching Bruce Willis dying hard, female power, and the lovely ending in which Cherry Darling finds her true destiny was a nice, enjoyable trip. The lesbian doctor was great, especially her skill with syringes. And I simply loved Wrey, epitome of the good guy in many horror flicks who at the end gives his life for the cause. My only complaint is why must these themes mostly be about strippers? Men and their libido… I dislike nudity and/or heavy sexual references in flicks, so sue me. It is a big reason I am not that crazy about Sin City… or about any of Rod Zombie’s works. But that detail aside, this flick is a nice tribute to oldies but goodies in the zombiefied sci-fi world. Gore, disgusting skin infections that splatters pus around, hack & slashing, nice dialogue, meaningful events, action, a machinegun-leg… See? It’s the simple pleasures in life that really counts.



Death Proof: With Kurt Russell, directed by Tarantino. “Austin's hottest DJ, Jungle Julia, sets out into the night to unwind with her two friends Shanna an Arlene. Covertly tracking their moves is Stuntman Mike, a scarred rebel leering from behind the wheel of his muscle car, revving just feet away.”

Hmm… Didn’t like Julia, didn’t like her flimsy flaky friends, the revisited theme of drugs and alcohol equals fun is not attractive to me… So I really enjoyed it very much when Stuntman Mike sent their pieces flying off the air. Don’t get me wrong, the guy was in my bad list when he killed the bleached blonde so easily and without any fun for it… besides the simple thrill of watching desperation… which was poorly depicted as a killer’s motive to do his job. I dislike Kurt Russell, so that doesn’t help his case… but the death of the bimbos in the red car was a smash in every sense. His second attempt to do the same with another group of bimbo’s was a “more of the same”, but then we get to realize that these bimbos are not really just helpless femmes (well, they did left the gullible cheerleader aside… understandably… LOL). Stuntman Mike never saw that comeback coming… LOL Insane femme power, highlighted by a lovely poetic scene of 3 ladies beating the heck out of Russell… Sweet! This flick was about action, speed and payback. Simple, linear… not too brilliant, very cliché, but fun at some points. It’s the joint smoking and the getting drunk and the emphasis on lap dances that really turns me off… but that’s me. Just like Pulp Fiction, the ode to sex, drugs and alcohol and speed are simply… not for my taste… Dark humor and the wrecks made it all bearable.