tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37916241.post8468800956431545232..comments2023-09-01T01:29:15.314-06:00Comments on zigzigger: mznhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12336592183292185884noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37916241.post-80516933361714455902007-09-10T21:46:00.000-06:002007-09-10T21:46:00.000-06:00To say that 'flyover country' doesn't get the appe...To say that 'flyover country' doesn't get the appeal of a grindhouse-style double bill is to completely discount the drive-in tradition prevalent throughout most of the South.<BR/><BR/>What screwed over "Grindhouse" was the horrible promotion that didn't tell you anything about the films, but tried to sell you solely on Tarantino's name. The same flaw that "Land of the Dead"'s commercials had, I might add. A name might work for fans, but to get everyone else's attention you need to, you know, tell us what the movie is about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37916241.post-42408855199290155432007-04-12T20:46:00.000-06:002007-04-12T20:46:00.000-06:00Great post, Mike! Although I actually prefered PL...Great post, Mike! Although I actually prefered PLANET TERROR, which was more lively and audacious, to DEATH PROOF, which I found to be Tarantino-lite until the action started. I caught the film with 5-6 other guys and we had a great time. I'd be happy if QT and Rodriguez made one of these a year for the rest of their careers, although that's obviously not in the cards.<BR/><BR/>I think Jason is right that the films are too self-conscious (not to mention absurdly violent) to find wide success. KILL BILL and SIN CITY fashioned stronger bonds of identification with the characters, even if they're generally in the same spirit as GRINDHOUSE. But GRINDHOUSE was a helluva lot better than 300 and (cliche alert) should find an audience on DVD.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37916241.post-36997925997717696832007-04-11T06:50:00.000-06:002007-04-11T06:50:00.000-06:00I agree with everything you said, Mike, but I ques...I agree with everything you said, Mike, but I question the very premise that this counts as a flop. Flops boil down to underperforming to expectations - in this case, the expectations were wildly inflated. The film (which I too haven't seen nor plan to) is a formal exercise in nostalgia for a fringe phenomenon. It's an art film by design, although one that revels in the lack of "art." It's a film about action cinema, with the story being told about the genre/form itself, not focusing on characters & situations we're supposed to care about. Who is the target audience for that? If Harvey thought this was a potential blockbuster, he was drinking way too much of Quentin's kool-aid. I think $12 mil is a reasonable return for a film that defines itself in such meta-terms.Jason Mittellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05375428916312710022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37916241.post-44769697123265640962007-04-10T20:22:00.000-06:002007-04-10T20:22:00.000-06:00Perhaps what we have here is a "disconnect." Weren...Perhaps what we have here is a "disconnect." Weren't grindhouse films "B" movies? Did B movies do well at the box office? Better yet: did this "B" movie have the kind of budget that made those movies profitable at the time?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37916241.post-58966078383591224292007-04-10T19:53:00.000-06:002007-04-10T19:53:00.000-06:00I had a tough long work schedule last week and had...I had a tough long work schedule last week and had the option of knowing I was going to see Will Ferrell make me laugh five or six times or 3 hours plus of films that could be good or bad or who knows what. I chose the former as both me and my gal just wanted to relax. Actually, if I had a bit more energy I would have gone to see a screening of "Celine and Julie Go Boating", but I needed a laugh.<BR/><BR/>That said, Grindhouse just seemed to meta for blockbusterdom. I mean, you get to see "two movies" but the movie is called Grindhouse? I can see how someone who works a forty hour week, has kids and could give to craps about being hip would look at that and just go see Blades of Glory. Besides, Will Ferrell in his underwear is always funny. Always funny.Commanderson Education and Consultationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12558002885087968750noreply@blogger.com