Post by SwampFire on Sept 25, 2007 13:15:54 GMT -5
[glow=red,4,300]Death Proof (2007)[/glow]
I had heard much ado about this film, coupled with Planet Terror, and offered on the silver screen as a two hit combo called "Grindhouse". I'm a dyed in the wool Tarantino fan but managed to miss this in the theaters when it came out. Since then I've been waiting for months for the DVD and was more than a little disappointed when i realized that the "Grindhouse" double feature was being released as two seperate DVD's. I hope Planet Terror comes with the fake movie trailers that were shown between the two films. I'm really dying to see Zombie's "Wolf Women of the SS" trailer.
Okay, on to the movie.
Firstly, as with anything Tarantino, I had really high expectations of this film. I read the reviews and was a bit worried that this one wouldn't do it for me as the reviewers as well as the Tarantino fan base weren't enthralled with the film's merits.
The basic plot is very simple and if you've read the synopsis I won't spoil anything for you. Stuntman Mike, played by Kurt Russell, is a homocidal maniac who commits murder with his car. He cruises around the country and selects victims as they catch his eye. His past work as a stuntman plays heavily into why and how he does what he does but I ain't gonna be the one to tell you too much.
As with most Tarantino offerings, the dialog is heavy and prolonged. To me, this is a blessing as I love dialog and the witty turn of phrase only attributed to the most clever of writers. it seems a majority of people were put off by the banter and conversation but to me it's foreplay and quite delicious at that. It does take a bit of time for the action to commence around the set up and dialog but in my mind it made for some good character development and in some cases some really outstanding and unexpected results (particularly around Russell's character). There is a definite turning point in the film and once the action starts it's blinding in its fury.
I am and always was a 'car' guy. I love cars, particularly the vintage models, and I have alway loved car chase/car crash flicks like Vanishing Point, Bullitt, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry etc so i should perhaps preface my comments with that on the table. The action/chase scenes in this movie are absolutely the best on film. The latest Dukes of Hazzard and the old Smokey and the Bandit flicks were respectable in their own right but Death Proof trumps them all. There was one scene in particular where two cars, one following another, collide in mid air. It was breath taking especially if you pop in the 'making of' DVD and check out how they made it. Just brilliant.
The characters and acting were top notch. Kurt Russell has always been a favorite of mine ever since he snarled "Call me snake" in Escape from NY. I know, I know, he was great as Elvis and in all the old Disney flicks but he wasn't an official favorite of mine until Escape from NY and The Thing (Awesome flick too). Rosario Dawson is awesome as always and I will be keeping my eye on both Vanessa Ferlito and Sydney Poitier (the daughter) as they both did an outstanding job in this movie.
Can't say too much more without giving it away, remember it's a simple story with a lot of great dialog and tons of action. if you're looking to be intellectually stimulated go elsewhere. If you want some raw action and a whole lot of fun watch this one.
I had heard much ado about this film, coupled with Planet Terror, and offered on the silver screen as a two hit combo called "Grindhouse". I'm a dyed in the wool Tarantino fan but managed to miss this in the theaters when it came out. Since then I've been waiting for months for the DVD and was more than a little disappointed when i realized that the "Grindhouse" double feature was being released as two seperate DVD's. I hope Planet Terror comes with the fake movie trailers that were shown between the two films. I'm really dying to see Zombie's "Wolf Women of the SS" trailer.
Okay, on to the movie.
Firstly, as with anything Tarantino, I had really high expectations of this film. I read the reviews and was a bit worried that this one wouldn't do it for me as the reviewers as well as the Tarantino fan base weren't enthralled with the film's merits.
The basic plot is very simple and if you've read the synopsis I won't spoil anything for you. Stuntman Mike, played by Kurt Russell, is a homocidal maniac who commits murder with his car. He cruises around the country and selects victims as they catch his eye. His past work as a stuntman plays heavily into why and how he does what he does but I ain't gonna be the one to tell you too much.
As with most Tarantino offerings, the dialog is heavy and prolonged. To me, this is a blessing as I love dialog and the witty turn of phrase only attributed to the most clever of writers. it seems a majority of people were put off by the banter and conversation but to me it's foreplay and quite delicious at that. It does take a bit of time for the action to commence around the set up and dialog but in my mind it made for some good character development and in some cases some really outstanding and unexpected results (particularly around Russell's character). There is a definite turning point in the film and once the action starts it's blinding in its fury.
I am and always was a 'car' guy. I love cars, particularly the vintage models, and I have alway loved car chase/car crash flicks like Vanishing Point, Bullitt, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry etc so i should perhaps preface my comments with that on the table. The action/chase scenes in this movie are absolutely the best on film. The latest Dukes of Hazzard and the old Smokey and the Bandit flicks were respectable in their own right but Death Proof trumps them all. There was one scene in particular where two cars, one following another, collide in mid air. It was breath taking especially if you pop in the 'making of' DVD and check out how they made it. Just brilliant.
The characters and acting were top notch. Kurt Russell has always been a favorite of mine ever since he snarled "Call me snake" in Escape from NY. I know, I know, he was great as Elvis and in all the old Disney flicks but he wasn't an official favorite of mine until Escape from NY and The Thing (Awesome flick too). Rosario Dawson is awesome as always and I will be keeping my eye on both Vanessa Ferlito and Sydney Poitier (the daughter) as they both did an outstanding job in this movie.
Can't say too much more without giving it away, remember it's a simple story with a lot of great dialog and tons of action. if you're looking to be intellectually stimulated go elsewhere. If you want some raw action and a whole lot of fun watch this one.