Ground Out

[thehefner]

While I promise to write about something else here soon, I have at least one more bit of GRINDHOUSE news.

So I read this article today that was concerned that GRINDHOUSE bombed at the box office. And then the actual numbers came out, revealing that, holy shit, GRINDHOUSE fucking bombed at the fucking box office.

With the runaway successes of films like NORBIT and WILD HOGS, I don't think I have ever been so disappointed in the American film-goer. I mean, I am honestly shocked that more people didn't flock to see this film. I really thought that this would be a geek film that had mass audience appeal, like 300 on crack. I mean, 300! That was a huge fucking sucess of a geek film, and GRINDHOUSE blows it away on every conceivable level!

This breaks my heart, man. It really does.

Sigh. Ah well. I'm sure Tarantino and Rodriguez will bounce back, even if it's not with the Weinsteins. Will they ever make a film that surpasses this kind of joyful geekstravaganza again? I surely hope so. In the meantime, I'm absolutely going to see GRINDHOUSE at least once more in the theatre while it lasts. Actually, I have an even better idea, inspired by Harry Knowles' review at aintitcool.com:

If I have a single complaint about GRINDHOUSE – it is that Robert and Quentin cut their films short to make a tight 3 hour package. Had these films been 40 minutes longer each – had 5 times the trailers and had added HOT FUZZ as a third film – it’d be closer to perfect. However, what we did get was two wildly different films, perfectly in keeping with the GRINDHOUSE theme.

So here's what I going to do in a week or two. I'm going to find a theatre that's playing GRINDHOUSE and HOT FUZZ, with comparable enough showtimes that I'll be able to see the former first, and walk right over to see the latter for the first time.

Who's up for it?

Comments

[pondering-duck.livejournal.com]

1) Wait a minute! Hot Fuzz is out in theaters already! Why didn't anyone tell me!

2) I'm totally up for it!

[scarydavedc.livejournal.com]

No, but I'm seeing the sneak preview on Tuesday.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I totally would be too (I got a pass), but I'm performing open mic. And besides, I'm more than happy to give HOT FUZZ my money, just as I am with GRINDHOUSE.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

No no, it's either this or next weekend.

We totally should. Let's get a group and do it. Five hours of ass-kickery.

[little-dinosaur.livejournal.com]

Fuckin' what?
Oh, right, geeks are geeks because while we have taste, we're necessarily in a minority. How depressing.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I really didn't think GRINDHOUSE was going to be a cult movie. I mean, I thought it was going to be a loving recreation/tribute to cult movies, but with mass audience appeal, so that your average person could go into it and go, "Hey, I'm a real film buff now, de-hyuck!"

sigh.

[civilbloodshed.livejournal.com]

I suppose people didn't want to sit through two whole movies in one go, which is funny because a lot of people I know sneak in to another movie after the one they paid for is over to make up for the exorbant prices. I for one, considered my $14 well spent, and I didn't even get kicked out for sneaking into another movie.

And hey, I have time off in May. Maybe we could see it, or 28 Weeks Later if I can bum a ride.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Hey, rock! Let me know.

If it's still playing, we should totally do it. 28 DAYS LATER... I'm torn! On one hand, neither the writer nor director are involved (although Danny Boyle said he did some second unit directing in places, and had a blast), but on the other hand, Robert Carlyle!!! I'm a huge fan of RAVENOUS.

Also, when's SPIDER-MAN 3 coming out? Between GRINDHOUSE, HOT FUZZ, and SPIDER-MAN 3 (also, isn't PIRATES comin' out around then as well? But it's at the bottom of my priorities above), it's a pretty great couple months for geeks.

And also also, at the very end of the month, I'll be starting my run playing the lead in FAUSTUS. So there's that too. /shameless self-pimpery.

[civilbloodshed.livejournal.com]

28 Weeks Later has a high probability suck factor, but whatevs. Pirates, too, for that matter.

I'd love to see that, what version are you doing? I know Marlowe did a play or something about Faust, but the only one I'm familiar with is Goethe's Faust. I had a thing for Rainer Maria Rilke and it sort of spilled over into other German things (like really old silent German films).

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I feel like the only person in the world who prefered PIRATES 2 to the original. I just... it... CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! I'm a sucker for it, and pretty much everyone but Jack had it. And PIRATES 3 will have Geoffery Rush, whose mere presence in a film instantly bumps even the suckiest film up one letter grade.

We're indeed doing the Marlowe version, which I think is one of the earliest surviving stage productions of the legend. Earlier, anyway.

[lairdofdarkness.livejournal.com]

Not sure when Grindhouse is out here in Blighty but as the Grindhouse style of movie is a uniquly American concept, I do not have high hopes for it doing great business here...this sucks as I like the concept massively and cant wait to see it. In certain European countries they are showing the films seperately...this is just stupid.
Hot Fuzz IS GOOD
its just not brilliant, certainly not as good as Shaun.....us brits have had it since mid Feb and its doing better moneywise that Shaun did.
It will be interesting to see what the American take on it is though.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

That probably explains why they're doing it separately, because all three hours is about the grindhouse experience. Separately, they've now been expanded to include the "missing reels."

I... I will be really curious to see how well PLANET TERROR and DEATH PROOF will view on their own accord.

[tazira.livejournal.com]

It's odd; my reaction to this one is really mixed. There's so much about Tarentino's writing I really enjoy tremendously. Sharp, incisive, genuinely riveting patter between thugs. The deliberately sleazy side of life. I guess I've been wondering for a while how long he could get away with playing that card before we started getting bored with it and he got relegated to the fringe. Indie films in arthouse theaters. I hate to say it, but it seemed inevitable. And it's hard to feel sorry for him. He's making movies. Creatively, he's doing exactly what he wants to do. And he's got a following. Lucky bastard.

For what it's worth, Grindhouse is one I might actually go see, even though it's getting more and more difficult to drag me to blood-and-guts fests as I get older.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I... would be very, very interested in your take on both films. Well, mainly Tarantino's, as PLANET TERROR is all flash and no substance, and gloriously so. But DEATH PROOF... well, you may need a cup of coffee to get you through some of it, but I think it's the superior film. I'm *still* thinking about it. I think it's his most original film to date.

This is decidedly different from normal blood-and-guts. Think of it as a comedy, first and foremost.

If... if you'd like to go with, I am absolutely up for seeing it again sometime. Maybe get a group together and hit up HOT FUZZ after.

And I think you're right about Tarantino. But as long as he keeps doing what he wants to do, then good for him. Lord knows I'd hate to see him become just another studio tool.

[gore-whore-5.livejournal.com]

I'm totally up for Grindhouse and Hot Fuzz. I'm willing to shell out the money to support Grindhouse even though I'm way broke because I love that movie so much. I'll tell you what I think fully when we can talk in person or over the phone. It's too much to type.