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Death Proof
posted by tmdb43517851STAFFMOD on May 4, 2018 at 12:19 PM
As promised I have decided to make a separate entry for Tarantino's contribution. That being Death Proof. Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) is a woman hating psychopathic stuntman. (Yes I know that is redundant for all intensive purposes considering his name). Out of the two full features this is the one I liked the least. Basically a slasher film only this time the killer uses his car as his weapon. I know Tarantino likes to shock and provoke the audience and thrives on controversy but really? Come on Quentin, you can do better than that. Death Proof just seemed cheap and unoriginal. Something that John Waters might do but not the director of such classic gems as Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs. But perhaps masked behind the lurid plot line, excessive violence, and unabashed sexism lies a cautionary tale of sorts. Don't trust strangers and be leery of strange men in bars. Especially if you are a woman. Tarantino seems to be warning his female audience members that this could happen in real life so be weary and ready for anything. Unlike Planet Terror which was fun but unrealistic there have been far too many real world incidents to be comfortable. But again I digress from the subject. I didn't intend this to become a review rather it was intended to be an opinion piece and critique. While shock value and controversial subjects have their place within the cinema world I felt that this time around Tarantino pushed the envelope a little too much. I will say however that the cars were cool and the music was enjoyable especially Down in Mexico by the Coasters. Just so there is no mistake I am not attacking Q.T. I do believe he is a brilliant director with a unique vision and a gift generally speaking however his choice of subject matter on occasion does seem poor and lacking in his usual brilliance. I could go on and on with examples of Kill Bill, etc but that really should be a different column. My suggestion unless you are a car nut or enjoy road revenge movies skip Death Proof and stick instead to Planet Terror.
Reply by JustinJackFlash
on May 4, 2018 at 2:23 PM
Undoubtedly my least fave Tarantino flick. He seemed to betray his own intentions as well. The first half and second half are shot very differently. His intention was to make a film in the tradition of Grindhouse. The first half does this. It looks cheap and cobbled together with 70s looking actresses and old, messy film stock. Then the second half is filmed clean and glossily with flawless looking movie stars. I did quite like the first half but the second half sucked. I found the dialogue in it quite forced and unnatural too.
Thought Planet Terror and all the fake trailers were a lot better.
Reply by ComputerBlue
on May 4, 2018 at 9:09 PM
I've watched Death Proof only once and will probably never watch it again, it's a very mediocre movie. Planet terror on the other hand was really fun.
Reply by tmdb43517851
on May 4, 2018 at 9:14 PM
Exactly. Death Proof seemed rushed and unbalanced compared to Tarantino's usual films. It was as if Quentin was just phoning it in.
Reply by movie_nazi
on September 25, 2019 at 11:55 AM
Yep, I agree 100%.
Reply by jorgito2001
on September 25, 2019 at 3:39 PM
Wow, I'm surprisingly in the minority, I think Death Proof is a simple story, but BRILLIANT. Pays homage to the car chase craze of the 60s & 70s (Vanishing Point mentioned by name a few times).
Although not close to being QT's best, I admire his use of NO CGI...all practical effects and the scene with the stuntwoman on the car was intense!
Planet Terror & Death Proof compliment each other very well. In fact, we used ot have EPIC convo's as to why one was better on the old MDB site
Reply by VHS-VANDAL
on September 25, 2019 at 5:56 PM
FULLY AGREE.I OWN THE GRINDHOUSE BLURAY.I CONSIDER THE TWO HALFS AS ONE WHOLE..ALWAYS WATCH THEM TOGETHER ALONG WITH THE ADD INS.
Reply by movie_nazi
on September 25, 2019 at 6:28 PM
Death Proof wasn't a complete POS but I think I have watched it maybe twice while Planet Terror I have watched many times. It's funny as shit.
Reply by VHS-VANDAL
on September 25, 2019 at 6:32 PM
THEYRE TWO HALVES OF THE SAME FILM..SEPERATING THEM WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE THE STUDIO EVER MADE.
Reply by catmydogs
on September 25, 2019 at 11:39 PM
The best things about Deathproof were the cars, the chase and stunts, and most definitely Mary Elizabeth Winstead!
Reply by JustinJackFlash
on September 26, 2019 at 6:52 AM
I watched it twice as well. First as part of Grindhouse and then Tarantino's longer solo version with the missing reels put back in. I thought the longer version was much better as it had more of the trashy first half and was more in the spirit of Grindhouse. I wish they'd put that version in the full Grindhouse double bill.
Reply by movie_nazi
on September 28, 2019 at 6:53 PM
Oh wow, I don't believe I have watched that longer version. I believe I will check it out.
Reply by JustinJackFlash
on September 28, 2019 at 8:12 PM
You probably have. It's just Death Proof when it's not part of Grindhouse. See, here in the UK they didn't release Grindhouse because it flopped in the US. They just released the two films separately in cinemas. But they put the missing reels back into Death Proof. I remember there's a dancing scene in the first half of it that wasn't in the Grindhouse version. If you've ever seen Death Proof on it's own then you've probably seen the longer version.
Reply by jorgito2001
on October 3, 2019 at 9:51 AM
Yes, do that, if only for the VERY hot and steamy lapdance Vanessa Ferlito gives Kurt Russell in the extended cut! Wheww...that girl is that GOOD thicc!
HERE it is on YT
Reply by VHS-VANDAL
on October 3, 2019 at 11:05 AM
THE GRINDHOUSE BLU RAY HAS ALL THE BELLS,WHISTLES AND BEATS.
Reply by tmdb53400018
on October 4, 2019 at 2:27 AM
^ This. The crash that (SPOILER) kills Jungle Julia and her friends is awesome and terrible, and Tarantino's choice to do it totally practical shows his unabashed love of cinema, especially for some of those older films.
Jorgito: Vanessa Ferlito's lap dance was hot, indeed, but my main eye candy in this film was Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Sidney Poitier's daughter, Sydney.
There was a good variance of women in this film; the black chick in the second story stood out as QT's near recycling of Sam Jackson's Jules character. That laugh of hers was so annoying...!