Movies - "Grindhouse" Split on DVD

Via: FilmWad

"Lets be honest, Grindhouse just didn't get treated the way it should have. It did poorly it's opening weekend, and the Weinsteins freaked, pulled out their Freddy Kruger gloves and started cutting the hell out of anything that got in their way. What we ended up with was the two films split from their original context, robbing them of their intended purpose (the, ahem, GRINDHOUSE experience) and making the experience of viewing the films less enjoyable.

Many thought the Weinsteins would fix this problem on DVD, but alas, 'twill not be the case. Reports are coming out that The Weinstein Co. and Genius Entertainment will distribute the films separately starting with Tarantino's Death Proof on September 18th. Surely this'll be the bloated extended cut of the film, which isn't entirely a bad thing. No word on Rodriguez's Planet Terror, but expect it to drop within the following month.

Also to expect? The fact that both these DVDs will have one featurette and a trailer and will cost over twenty dollars. Three months after the release of Planet Terror Weinstein will release a statement about pleasing the fans and then release the inevitable stacked DVD with both films in their original formats. God. Damn. Double. Dips. "

Fucking WOW. This really sucks for the people who missed the film as the full "double feature" in theaters, and it still sucks for people who were planning on buying Grindhouse on DVD, expecting it to be both movies. Now I wasn't getting my hopes up for a 'holy shit' edition DVD for the first release, but I was atleast hoping for it to be both movies played back-to-back with the trailers included. It's nice that they're probably going to be decking out the individual DVD releases with extras as well as the extended, and maybe "restored", versions of the film atleast (*crosses fingers*), which means I'll probably end up buying them even if I have to double-dip later on for a better 'definitive' DVD. If it's nearly bare-bones, without the extended and restored versions of the films, there's really no reason at all to purchase it, but surely Rodriguez and Tarantino won't disappoint.

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Movies - Eli Roth Talks "Grindhouse" Sequel

Slashfilm spoke to "Hostel" director Eli Roth about a possible sequel to "Grindhouse," which would be a feature length film based on his "Thanksgiving" faux trailer.

"It would be something I'd do in between projects, but I'm actually writing it with my friend Jeff just to have it ready," explained Roth. "The first Grindhouse cost almost 70 million dollars. So I'm like, we should do it like Dogma 95 and call it Dogshit 2007, where you get half a million bucks and six days and no rehearsals. We'd have to list out crazy rules but we still want to do it. I've talked about doing it as a 45 minute movie with just so many missing reels."

"And I talked to Quentin and Robert. They said 'We gotta f*cking do that man, that will be great!'," added Roth.

Whether this will ever become reality is unclear, but a low budget "Grindhouse" sequel is sure to make its money back, even as a straight to DVD release.

This is a really great idea. It's sad the original Grindhouse movie did so poorly at the box office, and I can see studios being weary about funding another one for that much money, but any studio would greenlight a film like this for two million dollars or so; it's basically guaranteed to make its money back.

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Movies - Kurt Russell Hates the "Grindhouse" Split

Via FilmWad:
"Tarantino and Rodriguez's Grindhouse is really turning in to a debacle of epic proportions. First it was the nasty, nasty bomb it made at the box office, underperforming far worse than anyone could've imagined. Then it was old Harvery Scissorhands jumping and demanding that the film be sliced in half for a second theatre release as well as the DVD release, as always undermining the concept and idea behind the project to scrape up a few more dollars.

Now its Kurt Russell, star of Tarantino's 'Deathproof', voicing his dissenting opinion on the Weinstein's decision to hack the film in two:

"I'm disappointed for any audience that they won't get the Grindhouse experience. … These [two] movies are going to go out there by themselves and they'll live their own life, but my prediction is that 20 years from now, you'll want the Grindhouse experience."

And he's right. This movie was made to emulate a much loved way of filmmaking from the 1970s. It isn't called Grindhouse for nothing. Tarantino and Rodriguez, students of this kind of film, had a fantastic concept (and from what I've heard a great execution) that was marketed poorly, and now the studios are scrambling to save their asses, in the process draining the artistic merit from the film.

I'm sure both movies play just as well on their own, but the experience is gone. Sitting in a dark theatre for three hours. Seeing two films, completely different from each, chock full of gore and sex and exploitation. Leaving the theatre absolutely stuffed with film love. That's gone."

I'm going to have to agree with Russell on this one. It sucks that European audiences are going to have to see the "double feature" as two separate films entirely at theaters, and it sucks even more that a lot of Americans missed out on the Grindhouse experience.

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Movies - "GrindHouse 2" by Eli Roth and Edgar Wright

"Despite problematic box office results, fans are still clamoring to see the fake trailers from "Grindhouse" as feature films. Edgar Wright has plans to expand "Don't," and Eli Roth thinks his "Thanksgiving" would make the perfect double feature.

"I already talked with Edgar Wright about Edgar doing 'Don't' and me doing 'Thanksgiving,'" said Roth. "We're talking to Dimension about it. I think they're still trying to figure out 'Grindhouse 1' before we think about 'Grindhouse 2,' but I've already been working on the outline for it and I would do it in a heartbeat."

An aficionado of '80s horror films, Roth would do it old school style. "The catch is that me and all my friends who are in our 30s, we all have to play high school students, because that's how they did it in '80s horror movies."

Roth could write a full script for "Thanksgiving," but the outline is likely to be sufficient. "We have the outline, the story ideas but part of the fun of Grindhouse is actually not having a script. I wouldn't want to write it too detailed. You've just got to work out the kills and then see who's around and grab a camera and have fun."

Regarding "Grindhouse," Roth feels that the film is too long, and that being the sole reason for its failure."

I really hope the bad box office results doesn't hurt the studio's decision to fund a "Grindhouse 2", though it probably will. It's sad Americans didn't flock to see Grindhouse and really missed out on the greatest movie theater experience of our generation.

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QT finally reveals what's in M.Wallace's briefcase from Pulp Fiction!

Carnahan & Smith pissed at America over Grindhouse

Basically it didn't do so hot in the box office for many many reasons, but mainly because it was released on fucking Easter-family-holiday weekend (people said if 300 was released Easter weekend it wouldn't have done so hot either), despite getting sick reviews. Anyway, "Directors Joe Carnahan and Kevin Smith have spoke out about their disgust at American audiences for not flocking to see something as innovative as Grindhouse." Carnahan said on his blog:

What is wrong with American moviegoers? Is there nothing NEW that they’re willing to embrace? Jesus, it’s the worst kind of erosion. We’re making dumber and dumber films and they’re becoming cash cows. God Bless ‘300′, at least it’s got balls and the director WENT for it. THAT movie is good for the business, it’s good for everybody. But some of these other flicks don’t even TRY because they know in the end, EXACTLY the age range and demographic driving ticket prices these days. Those monstrosities (the names of which I won’t mention) are pure pieces of commerce, marketed to perfection.

I hope ‘Grindhouse’ recovers. It’s an audacious idea that I wish would’ve been given a bigger break. Maybe as they separate the two films, they’ll pry some sunshine out of the situation and the Weinstein’s will save the day. It bums me the f*ck out though when something like that, a really cool idea that looks like a great time at the movies, made by real talent– can’t push past.

It’s just dead wrong kids…and we ALL pay the price when those don’t work.

Kevin Smith chipped in with his two cents…

“What’s Costner’s line in J.F.K. again? ‘God, I’m ashamed to be an American today…’”

“I’d say the problem was America most definitely was at the movie theaters this week - which is why the stuff that grossed higher than Grindhouse… grossed higher than Grindhouse,” Smith wrote. “That’s the third fantastic film of the year which has failed to attract the audience it richly deserved in its opening week. Add Grindhouse to a list that includes Black Snake Moan and Zodiac.”

I saw Black Snake Moan and Zodiac, both fantastic movies, i didn't realize they didn't do that well either. I also didn't know film enthusiasts were so pissed at box office results, great movies rarely see good box office sales, fucking "Are We Done Yet?" beat Grindhouse opening weekend, and no one with a normal IQ can tell me that movie is better than Grindhouse.
http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/movie-news/carnahan-smith-pissed-at-america-over-grindhouse.php

GRINDHOUSE

GrindHouse - Movie review:

great quick review on what Grindhouse is all about. If you were hesitant to see this movie, definitely watch this full youtube video to see what to expect and why you should see it in the theaters instead of DVD. Let me just say this...

BEST $8.75 I EVER SPENT!

It was honestly the best movie theater experience i ever had! The whole theater was cheering, clapping, screaming, laughing through the whole thing. There was so many 'omg holy shit amazing' scenes and i can honestly say it's one of the few films i have seen in theaters that i had a smile on my face through the whole thing. It was so fucking genius, exactly like the old Grindhouse films. I strongly recommend seeing it in theaters with a lot of people with a good sense of humor. I have seen it 3 times in theaters so far, with 3 different groups of friends, and i would easily pay to see it again.

Planet Terror was a more 'fun' movie, a lot of non-stop over-the-top action, but Death Proof was the better film. Death Proof stayed much more true to the slasher grindhouse movies that had a lot of dialogue in scenes, some people were turned off by it. As much as the dialogue was a bit boring, it was needed to get you to connect to the characters and realize how real they were before all hell breaks lose and their lives end. I also have to give props to the conversation they have in the dinner, i didn't notice until my third time seeing it, but the camera never cuts that entire time. That must have been extremely difficult to shoot, mainly difficult for the actresses. But the end is the best payoff EVER, well worth sitting through some 'boring' parts. One of the best car chases ever and the final seconds of the film will make you feel happier than anything. Remember that there is no CGI in Death Proof and all the stunts are real. Fucking loved it.

"Grindhouse Voted one of the Best Films of All Time"

Not only is Grindhouse one of the best reviewed wide releases of the year (the film has fallen to a more than respectable 81% on Rotten Tomatoes) but the IMDb users have voted the movie into the top 250 movies of all time. All 6,698 people who paid to see the exploitation double feature voted, giving the movie a weighed average of an 8.2. The rating places the film at #108 of all time. If the amount of votes double, the film could place higher than #79 on the list. Just another reason why you should get your butt into the theater and purchase a ticket.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/04/10/grindhouse-voted-on-of-the-best-films-of-all-time/

"Grindhouse is Best Reviewed Wide Release of 2007, So Far"

Movie critics love Grindhouse, the new double feature from Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. At the time of this posting, the sum total of 84 reviews have given the film an 84% rating on the popular film site Rotten Tomatoes (85% from the cream of the crop). This makes Grindhouse the best reviewed American wide release this year so far.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/04/06/grindhouse-is-best-reviewed-wide-release-of-2007-so-far/