The films on their own are almost semi-formed. The storylines are super simplistic, action-packed but feel shorter than they are… well.. they’re Grindhouse movies, pure and simple. After watching Planet Terror I was pretty much just warmed up.. and then it hits you with Death Proof. It works beautifully as a fully formed film, and I honestly don’t think I would have enjoyed it half as much if i’d watched it as two seperate pieces.

Cutting it in half… AND releasing it at different times I think is a big mistake.

Now, granted, it is a film directed by Rodriguez and Tarantino but ultimately this film is going to have a minority audience because of its roots.

Tarantino, certainly, is becoming the director of his influences and therefore his box office appeal will degrade.

This is not a reflection of their progression as directors. They are both finer than they have ever been and are being afforded the money to make exactly what they wish which is a marvellous situation for any film maker.

The problem is, as stated in the article; Weinstein. Surely he should have had the intelligence to anticipate that this would not have a large appeal to a mass audience before he green lit them. With that he should have provided budget’s he thought necessary. At the same time, he is a producer and head of a studio. He didn’t get there without figuring out his finances etc. Therefore I think it is odious of him to not honour the vision of the film makers that he showed faith in.

It isn’t as if they are making a debut feature.

Now, instead… believing he is making the film mass markatable, he is alienating the audience that WOULD go and see them.

What’s more, they may very well be out on DVD stateside by then. That is another thing… why is the BO so important nowadays when so much revenue is generated by DVD releases.

sigh… it is simply another case of studio egos thinking they know better. Will they ever learn?!