"Grindhouse" *** (out of four): The Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino three-hour tribute to the exploitation films of their youth is undeniably fun, but it's as choppy and uneven as the films it reveres.
“Grindhouse” – the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino three-hour tribute to the exploitation films of their youth – is destined to divide audiences. Do you like your movies traditionally linear and intelligible or do you prefer fanboy throw-backs to the 70s? Within that second group, do you like your low-rent exploitation movies zombie-rrific or female-empowered? Whatever the case, you’d better like violence and excessive bloodshed. “Grindhouse” – named for the moviehouses that would “grind out” films of this ilk - is fashioned as a double feature with each director contributing a full length movie. While there are moments of gleeful brilliance in Mr. Rodriguez’ gory zombie flick “Planet Terror”, Mr. Tarantino’s relentlessly talky, serial-killer-in-a-car vehicle (pun intended) “Death Proof” left me with road rage. And like the double features of the grindhouse heyday, “Grindhouse” comes complete with faux previews. So, respecting the structure of the film, I thought it best to address the film’s parts before tackling the whole. But first, the previews…
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A lot of reviewers seem to be saying that one half of Grindhouse isn't quite as good as the other half. But there's some disagreement about which half is which. I guess that's better than if people were saying that the two parts were too similar.
I'm actually looking forward to this one, despite the fact that the biggest hack on earth, Eli Roth, was allowed to participate. I wish he'd just go away.
(and BTW, it's "grisly", not "grizzly", just for the record.)