Dr. Manhatten
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- Jul 4, 2003
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In case anyone was interested, I just finished watching the "Uncut and Extended" edition of Death Proof. I got it a few days early due to my employ at Blockbuster. I saw the original version from the theaters and can honestly say that the Director's Cut is worse than the theatrical cut.
Yeah, I know.
A bit of history on it: I loved Planet Terror, the first of the 2 movie double feature when Grindhouse was in theaters. I'd always thought that Rodriguez was overrated but there was a certain something about his movies that usually meant I owned'em eventually. His commentary tracks and his great behind the scenes features usually help, even though I was underwhelmed with Sin City, the Desperado series, and everything else of his that I saw. But I loved PT.
The 2nd movie was Death Proof and I can say that i was immensely disappointed. While I've loved some of his movies, there's usually a few scenes in each I always skip, and rarely ever see the full movie. Mr. Orange's whole story in RD, the Okinawa bar scene in KB Volume 1, Bruce Willis' whole story in PF, and others. I just get bored and skip. There were a few scenes in the theatrical cut that I figured I'd skip if I ever bought the movie (more on this later).
The theatrical cut was really really boring IMO. It was better to split them up since I feel that they're completely different and really have no use being paired up after all this time (I was a big proponent for keeping them together on other boards). The theatrical cut had way too much dialogue and talking scenes and the movie moved at a snail's pace. It's an incredibly long lead up to an underwhelming car chase and for all that time invested, I felt cheated.
I couldn't shake off all the negatives I had about the dialogue, which is weird for a Tarantino movie. The dialogue felt completely unnatural to a lot of the actors and even that aside, it wasn't memorable or move the story along at all. It really did feel like some film student's attempt at recreating a Tarantino script as opposed to being from the deity himself. Not to mention they go through all that effort to establish the main group of girls in the first half, end that, then start over with another series of girls and go through the exact same rounds of dialogue to establish them. the movie's pacing is a joke and frustrated me to no end.
That was just the theatrical cut. Add 30 minutes more and you get my frustration in spades.
There are no major additions, no major action/thriller scenes, just more talking, an even worse sense of pacing, and just a lot of false promises.
Below are some of the newer scenes, but I might be missing some since I don't remember all of what was different. It was mainly talking anyways, but here're the notable bits:
-The strip tease was put back in but for whatever reason, it was shot mainly in wide shots so it's not like you get anything good to look at. The girl who did it coulda been a stunt girl for all I know. Maybe the actress didn't like Kurt Russel, I don't know. But I'm a red blooded american male, and if I got the opportunity, I'd give a lap dance for Russel. But it might've been for the best since the actress herself still looks like Chyna's ugly stepsister.
-An extended opening scene for the 2nd group of girls at a convenience store. For some reason, it was in black and white, and didn't serve much purpose. It was also loooooong and the scene after it established the girls and Kurt's pursuit of them a lot faster, so it was completely unnecessary.
-An extended conversation with Eli Roth and his lackey in the bar. I think. Just more talking but there was a funny line about Kurt coming out of a time machine. It might've been in the original movie, I'm not sure.
-A lot of close ups on Zoe Bell in the car (during their first conversation in the car) showcasing her horrible facial expressions and attempt at being funny and endearing. It was probably in the original version to, but I remember being impressed with her when I first saw the movie, but watching this version made me turn against her. It was weird.
-A few more scenes with Pam, played by Rose McGowen. They were fine and you actually learned a bit about her.
One thing I was really disappointed in was that they kept saying there'd be more scenes about Kurts character and they were gonna give him some depth, but they screwed the pooch on that one. He has about the same amount of time as before but now has two increasingly more boring groups of girls to kill in the movie.
In all, I thought this was a terrible, terrible, pull-my-hair-out failure on the part of Tarantino. Just so much wasted potential and terrible decisions that really sank the movie for me, and if you didn't like the original Death Proof, this one won't change your mind I don't think. I know a lot of people preferred this to PT and I just scratch my head to that. Just a terrible example of QT's fetishes getting out of control.
3/10
Yeah, I know.
A bit of history on it: I loved Planet Terror, the first of the 2 movie double feature when Grindhouse was in theaters. I'd always thought that Rodriguez was overrated but there was a certain something about his movies that usually meant I owned'em eventually. His commentary tracks and his great behind the scenes features usually help, even though I was underwhelmed with Sin City, the Desperado series, and everything else of his that I saw. But I loved PT.
The 2nd movie was Death Proof and I can say that i was immensely disappointed. While I've loved some of his movies, there's usually a few scenes in each I always skip, and rarely ever see the full movie. Mr. Orange's whole story in RD, the Okinawa bar scene in KB Volume 1, Bruce Willis' whole story in PF, and others. I just get bored and skip. There were a few scenes in the theatrical cut that I figured I'd skip if I ever bought the movie (more on this later).
The theatrical cut was really really boring IMO. It was better to split them up since I feel that they're completely different and really have no use being paired up after all this time (I was a big proponent for keeping them together on other boards). The theatrical cut had way too much dialogue and talking scenes and the movie moved at a snail's pace. It's an incredibly long lead up to an underwhelming car chase and for all that time invested, I felt cheated.
I couldn't shake off all the negatives I had about the dialogue, which is weird for a Tarantino movie. The dialogue felt completely unnatural to a lot of the actors and even that aside, it wasn't memorable or move the story along at all. It really did feel like some film student's attempt at recreating a Tarantino script as opposed to being from the deity himself. Not to mention they go through all that effort to establish the main group of girls in the first half, end that, then start over with another series of girls and go through the exact same rounds of dialogue to establish them. the movie's pacing is a joke and frustrated me to no end.
That was just the theatrical cut. Add 30 minutes more and you get my frustration in spades.
There are no major additions, no major action/thriller scenes, just more talking, an even worse sense of pacing, and just a lot of false promises.
Below are some of the newer scenes, but I might be missing some since I don't remember all of what was different. It was mainly talking anyways, but here're the notable bits:
-The strip tease was put back in but for whatever reason, it was shot mainly in wide shots so it's not like you get anything good to look at. The girl who did it coulda been a stunt girl for all I know. Maybe the actress didn't like Kurt Russel, I don't know. But I'm a red blooded american male, and if I got the opportunity, I'd give a lap dance for Russel. But it might've been for the best since the actress herself still looks like Chyna's ugly stepsister.
-An extended opening scene for the 2nd group of girls at a convenience store. For some reason, it was in black and white, and didn't serve much purpose. It was also loooooong and the scene after it established the girls and Kurt's pursuit of them a lot faster, so it was completely unnecessary.
-An extended conversation with Eli Roth and his lackey in the bar. I think. Just more talking but there was a funny line about Kurt coming out of a time machine. It might've been in the original movie, I'm not sure.
-A lot of close ups on Zoe Bell in the car (during their first conversation in the car) showcasing her horrible facial expressions and attempt at being funny and endearing. It was probably in the original version to, but I remember being impressed with her when I first saw the movie, but watching this version made me turn against her. It was weird.
-A few more scenes with Pam, played by Rose McGowen. They were fine and you actually learned a bit about her.
One thing I was really disappointed in was that they kept saying there'd be more scenes about Kurts character and they were gonna give him some depth, but they screwed the pooch on that one. He has about the same amount of time as before but now has two increasingly more boring groups of girls to kill in the movie.
In all, I thought this was a terrible, terrible, pull-my-hair-out failure on the part of Tarantino. Just so much wasted potential and terrible decisions that really sank the movie for me, and if you didn't like the original Death Proof, this one won't change your mind I don't think. I know a lot of people preferred this to PT and I just scratch my head to that. Just a terrible example of QT's fetishes getting out of control.
3/10
