Death Proof - Grindhouse

I have been waiting for "Grindhouse" ever since my potato-state friend told me about it a couple of months ago. So I was a bit confused when i heard about what I thought was a name-change for the movie. The local theater added it to their "coming soon" list as "Death Proof". Wuddefok? They usually give Hollywood movies new names when they release them here...Either they translate the title to Norwegian, or they give it a new english title that is easier to pronounce. I did however find the change from "Grindhouse" to "Death Proof" a little odd. This is, untill I did a little research and found out that Grindhouse is infact two movies. Not a one-movie collaboration between Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez which I thought it was, but a double feature with one Tarantino movie and one Rodriguez movie. Apparently the double feature thing didnt work out too good, so they decided to split up the two movies at this side of the pond and make the movies a little longer instead. Hence, we got a longer version of "Death Proof", and "Planet Terror" will grace our screens next month.

Anyways, I watched "Death Proof", which would be Tarantinos contribution, last night and I really didnt have too high expectations. I had read a couple of reviews which pretty much said the movie was ok but not one of Tarantions best. I do not agree. It was more than ok. It rocks. Yes, it rocks and I am willing to admit that even if it makes me sound like a 15 year-old pimpled boy with a screaky voice. Which I am not.

I could write the synopsis here, but I prefer to let the movies I like keep their mystery. This is a different kind of movie that lets you feel like you are in a somewhat questionable theater in the mid-70s somewhere on Times Square in NYC or a back alley in a smaller town. And you end up loving the charade. The dialog which Tarantino is a master of never gets dull and who the heck new Kurt Russell could be that funny? I spent the last 30 minutes of the movie laughing my behind of to the annoyment of the people around me. Im sorry...I just couldnt help myself.

Dear Quentin. Never stop making movies. Please.

I can only hope that "Planet Terror" is equally odd and wonderful.

Alpha Dog

It took a lot of waiting...a lot of patience...before this movie finally premiered. I heard about it several years ago, so I guess I might have been waiting a little longer than the average movie goer...I had a feeling the performances would be good, although many of the actors in the movie are fairly unkown (often that alone is a good sign of quality). I had already heard that Timberlake was great, so I did not worry about a Britney Spears/Crossroads repeat.

Sooo...synopsis? Check out imdb.com...Im not going to repeat what every movie review out there have already written. Yes its based on a true story, yes the trial is still on, yes its a sad sad story. But I often find the movies based on true stories to be the scariest ones. - And this one is not an exeption. There were times when I wanted to reach my hands out through the screen and bitch-slap the BEEP out of some of those kids...Spoiled brats...

I suggest you spend your 10 bucks on this movie if you get the chance, its worth it. And if you need an additional excuse; go watch it for Ben Foster. The man is brilliant.

The Last King Of Scotland

Ive always found Forest Whitaker strangely interesting. Most of the stuff Ive seen him in has been TV productions, but I remember him well in Panic room. There is something about the way he looks that makes him seem sympathetic and kind. So I was skeptic when I heard he was going to portray Idi Amin...a person most people associate with hate and blood. Any hint of skeptisism I may have had though, was ripped off my chest (if thats where skeptisism is stored in your body...I think it is. Ok it is. I just decided it.). Forest is charming and terrifying and although I watched this movie Saturday night, I still hadnt been able to shake it by Sunday evening. I cant tell you whether it was the story, the actors or the fact that Idi Amin is a real guy who actually existed at one point...but I would guess it is a combination of all. I would certainly not be surprised if he wins an oscar for this one...and it would be well deserved. If I was wearing a hat, I would take it off for Whitaker.

Snakes On a Plane

Ok I admit it. I liked it. Snakes on a plane is the kind of movie you watch because you know it is bad. And you love it because it is bad. You find yourself enjoying the sight of a snake attached to a woman’s eye or a mans private parts...and you dislike yourself for it...but you keep watching. And you love the sight of the selfish bastard who gets swallowed by a python. And you laugh...and it is a loud devilish laugh...

The plot is simple. It is in fact snakes on a plane. The title says it all. My friend asked me last night: "What is it really about? It cant be just snakes on a plane? There has to be a side story to it. There has to be something more?" And I said; "No. It is just that...snakes on a plane full of passengers...". You already know by the title that there will be pandemonium. There will be panic. And there will be gore. And the title doesnt lie.

If you are in the mood for something simple that requires no brain activity other than the processing of images...and if you are in the mood for cheesy one-liners, then spend a couple of bucks renting this one.

"I've had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking
plane!"