Grindhouse (2007) review

Blistering, bewildering and positively daffy pomo simulation of drive-in type films from the 1970's that Tarantino, Zombie and the rest of the directors hold with such high regard, repackaged with a wink and a tongue-in-cheek and duct-taped together for one three-hour plus marathon. Rodriguez's Planet Terror is indebted to George Romero's zombie pictures and Lucio Fulci; Tarantino's Death Proof is a product of Roger Corman, Gone in 60 Seconds (not the shitty Angelina Jolie one) and Vanishing Point. Though most of the people I've spoken with cherish the Tarantino picture over the Rodriguez, I think the Tarantino picture has a bit too much fluff in it, especially when the female characters transform themselves into Sex in the City clones and act like men - Rodriguez, who's been disappointing me of late, gets right into the dismemberment and bad jokes (my favorite: "This one's a no-brainer. She has no brains."). Rose McGowan's acting "style" seems perfectly suited for this (not a insult, but let's be fair); assertions that the fake trailers ("Don't," "Thanksgiving," "Machete,") are better than the features aren't completely off-the-mark. When I say this kind of thing isn't for everybody I really mean it, but if you're like me and spent your childhood getting your parents to rent Silent Night, Deadly Night, Maniac Cop, I Spit on Your Grave and Buried Alive for you on the weekends, it's a delicious treat. Extra bonus points are awarded for being one of the most downright fun experiences I've had in a movie theater in my lifetime (which will probably be lost on home video).