not a great tarantino film
Added 11/13/2009
I always watch tarantino's movies because when he's good he's great (pulp fiction, reservoir dogs) unfortunately this is just not one of his great movies. I was okay but not what I anticapated.
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One Helluva Joy Ride!
Added 10/28/2009
I had no idea that this was ever released as a double-feature with Planet of Terror. Of the two, I thought this one was better. I loved the concept, (70's exploitation car movie), loved the plotline twists and loved the action. The only place that I felt that the film fell short, and the reason that I gave it 4 Stars, was in the dialouge. It was too obvious at times, that the dialoug spoken by the girls was written by a guy.
Watch and enjoy!
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Regret not watching this how it was meant to, QT does it again!!
Added 8/25/2009
I recently watched this film and it has left me with such regret I didn't follow my gut and go see it at the movies. Since "Kill Bill" I fell in love with QT and his style of film making, and that alone would have convinced me to sit for 3 hours to watch this. I had no idea what exploitation films were or are and that's what I love about QT. He uses elements in his films that show people like me who are not movie buffs other styles of filmmaking and movies. Therefore, You admire a new branch of films and filmmaking you didn't know was out there. Everything was in this movie great dialogue, music, suspense, actors and there is very little I didn't enjoy. I knew all the long conversation would lead up to something I wasn't expecting and boy was I right. The car chase in the second half was also exciting and it has a very different turn out from the first half (it seems Mike is more a pussy cat than a lion as he portrayed previously) I learned a lesson from this to always follow my instinct regarding what films I choose to watch. The media is so obsessed with Jennifer Aniston, JLo, Britney crap that, that is all they talk about. There was no buzz over this film and thus my interest went from 10 to 0. I'm sure Britney was drunk driving again when this came out so the focus was on her, or maybe Jennifer Aniston was getting dumped again for the 100th time. All I have to say is watch this with an open mind because it is a very interesting and entertaining film. The fact that I'm still thinking about the film 2 days later and looking info about it online says a lot.
PS Regarding the fake trailer you can Youtube them, I did and like everyone said over the top campy and funny.
PPS Planet Terror is next and I can't wait.
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Just Enjoy the Ride
Added 8/19/2009
As I'm sure you already know, Death Proof originally served as the second half of Grindhouse and this DVD edition is an extended cut of that version. Written, directed, and photographed by Quentin Tarantino, Death Proof is a loving homage to 1970s exploitation/grindhouse cinema, not just in story but in style as well. As the film begins, we're treated to an intentionally scratched and poorly edited print...It all adds to the fun of the experience.
Initially, we meet three young women (Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Vanessa Ferlito, and Jordan Ladd) whom we'll follow for about the first 50 minutes of the movie. This serves as the set-up, also introducing Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell), the diabolical antagonist.
Grindhouse fans may be pleased to know that the "Missing Reel" has been restored and we see Arlene (Ferlito, who looks like a low-rent Angelina Jolie) giving Stuntman Mike his lapdance.
Death Proof does hit a roadblock relatively early on. Tarantino generally has a deep affection for his characters, as if his characters are his friends. However, this initial group of girls doesn't seem to have that affection. They seem less like friends than annoying acquaintances one only mildly enjoys hanging out with. That's probably why they're gone less than an hour into the movie.
14 months after meeting the initial girls, we meet four different girls; it's at this point that the scratches and other grindhouse elements disappear, along with the original tone established for the movie. The four new girls also seem to have Tarantino's affection. The characters are fun to watch and real-life stuntwoman Zoe Bell (playing herself) has a charming screen presence.
Beyond all the grindhouse elements, Tarantino also takes some time to reference his own films and Italian giallo films. It would be easy to argue that Death Proof seems more like a loosely strung-together homage than a fully-realized story...But rather than focus on that, it's a lot more fun if you just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Furthermore, Stuntman Mike is a memorable antagonist and Kurt Russell is delightfully charming and sinister. It's nice to see him taking a break from his recent family-friendly fare.
A lot of people have found Death Proof disappointing and, they're right, this is not a masterpiece. It wasn't meant to be though and this should not be overlooked. Finally, some have seen the ending as an anticlimax...But how else could this film have ended? An epilogue would not have been necessary. What one has to look at here is that Tarantino's loving homage does rise above it's influences. It is pretty good and it made me nostalgic for 1970s grindhouse movies, despite the fact that I wasn't alive in the 1970s. With it's faults, Death Proof is a good, exciting, and entertaining movie, inspired by movies that were never considered particularly good...That's an achievement in itself.
GRADE: B
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A Fine Return To Form
Added 8/14/2009
Though sometimes spotty in parts, Death Proof is a great return to form for what makes his movies such a thrill to love in the first place. After the silly Kill Bill (overrated) and the underrated and slow-paced Jackie Brown (underrated), Death Proof's got much of the stuff I kind of missed from Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Certainly, it's got quite possibly the most interesting plot on paper, nothing deep or insightful, but this is a geek-experience, established greatly by the homages, conversations about Vanishing Point, and British Pop Bands, and the whole look of the movie. And besides, it's a _________ Tarantino movie! I don't think you'd expect a Tarantino movie to be very boring, eh? Exacly.
Death Proof, released as Grindhouse with Planet Terror (which I have not seen), deals with a pretty absurd form of a serial killer misogynist, who murders women with a stunt car (a sick stunt car, by the way). It's a pretty stupid idea on paper, something that is pretty worthy of being a 70's grindhouse movie, and nothing else (as well as Planet Terror). But with Quentin Tarantino at the helm, it turns into a well-scripted, blast of fun, while still feeling like a drive-in Grindhouse flick. It nails the feel of the movie, the ladies are pretty hot (My favorites were Shanna and Kim), the soundtrack is another winner, exhilarating action, and it's got the inevitable way of sucking you into the world of Austin, Texas. This is a Tarantino movie, and nothing else.
In my opinion, Tarantino hasn't done directing quite like this, as I think's it's hist best so far. Sure, Tarantino is not extremely innovative or anything of that nature, but Death Proof has atmosphere, style, and cool shots everywhere galore. From adding the "our feature presentation" opener (complete with the Funky Fanfare music) to the deliberate worn-out look of this movie, it's more stylized than anything else Tarantino has ever done. Tarantino's use of close-upts gets us shots of car parts, jukeboxes, and feet. And the dialogue is expertely handled, as well as the action. I think that no one can really do Tarantino's dialogue the way he can. Tony Scott kind of ruined True Romance, and From Dusk Till' Dawn isn't lookin very good either, even though Robert Rodgriguez did a slighty better job adapting a Tarantino sceenplay.
Death Proof really is not as bad as everybody says. So see it now.
B
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FUNtastic Planet!
Added 10/13/2009
I just watched this move for second time last night. I turned my roommate on to it and he also gave it two big thumbs up and a giant satisfied grin. Robert Rodriguez directed another instantaneous classic for horror, zombie and comdey fans alike. Rose McGowan made this movie the exciting, fun and touching spectacle of enjoyment that it is. Also, Bruce Willis contributes his brand of tough guy coolness. The rest of the great cast, the effects, the zombies (etc.) make this flick safun to watch all over again. I'm looking forward to watching it for the third, fourth, fifth (etc.) times as well. Another great buy from a great sale/resale venue.
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how to melt a member
Added 9/29/2009
Excellent movie, every stripper should have a gattling gun attachment. It gets real drippy as Quentin Tarantino's member starts melting all over the place and Bruce Willis sure gets his! An interesting cast of characters make for a great viewing experience. Let's pop some popcorn and enjoy the film.
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What an awesome movie!
Action from start to end!
this is a masterpiece of
the genre of cult movies!
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