Finally - GRINDHOUSE in it's entirety!
Following an earlier tweet by Edgar Wright that was then later confirmed by High Def Digest - the infamous financial flop that was Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez's 70's style exploitation Grindhouse double-bill - is finally getting a home video release in it's entirety (Planet Terror, faux trailers, and then Death Proof) on Oct. 5th in the U.S. It's Blu-ray is up for pre-order on Amazon for $27.99 right now, with no standard DVD transfer expected. It is not yet known when it will be released in the UK. Previously, unless you wanted to buy an expensive Asian import - both the Grindhouse films were only available as separate releases; and the faux trailers themselves only via pirated youtube. That's because The Weinsteins scrambled around to make as much money back as they could after the surprise box office failure, by releasing the features as separate entities - so you were essentially paying twice for what you really should have only had to pay once. Although it's two years too late, we are delighted by this news but there's still questions that need answering here. Will the set include the full-length, Cannes cut of Death Proof, the superior of Tarantino's two versions (it includes the lap-dance sequence, and a few other things) or will it stay true to what originally played on U.S. screens? Will the whole Grindhouse experience be presented, uninterrupted, on one disc - because it kind of defeats the object if you have to get up off your ass and switch discs half-way through. Having experienced the complete Grindhouse showcase with my own eyes, including the fake trailers (Eli Roth's "Thanksgiving," Edgar Wright's "Don't" and Rob Zombie's "Werewolf Women of the S.S."), it's a sin quite frankly, that we haven't been able to enjoy this saga as originally intended for so long. And in truth, Edgar Wright's hammer-horror parody trailer Don't is probably worth the price of this transfer alone;
Disc 1: Death Proof (Extended Film) -English DTS, English DD, Japanese dub -Japanese subtitles -Japanese Theatrical/TV trailers -Staff/Cast Profiles (Text) -What is Grindhouse? (Text) Disc 2: Planet Terror (Extended Film) -English DTS, English DD, Japanese dub -Japanese Subtitles -Rodriguez commentary -International/Japanese trailers -Staff/Cast Profiles (Text) -What is Grindhouse? (Text) Disc 3: Death Proof bonus materials -Special Message to Japan from Tarantino -Staff and Cast interviews on Death Proof -Stunts on Wheels: The Legendary Drivers of Death Proof (20:39) -Introducing Zoë Bell (8:59) -Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike (9:34) -Finding Quentin's Gals (21:14) -The Uncut Version of "Baby, It's You" Performed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (1:48) -The Guys of Death Proof (8:16) -Quentin's Greatest Collaborator: Editor Sally Menke (4:38) -Double Dare Trailer (2:36) Disc 4: Planet Terror bonus materials -10-Minute Film School (11:52) -The Badass Babes of Planet Terror (11:50) -The Guys of Planet Terror (16:32) -Casting Rebel (05:34) -Sickos, Bullets and Explosions: The Stuns of Planet Terror (13:18) -The Friend, The Doctor and The Real Estate Agent (6:42) Disc 5: Grindhouse (191 minute theatrical cut) -English DD, Japanese dub -Japanese subtitles Disc 6: Japanese only Grindhouse bonus disc (106 minutes) -Grindhouse - US Trailer -2006 San Diego Comicon -Tarantino Interview (About the homages in Death Proof, About Planet Terror, Use of Music, Possible Sequel to Death Proof) -Staff/Cast comments -The Directors of the Fake Trailers -Coments on past Grindhouse Films -Making of Planet TerrorRodriguez's Machete, birthed itself by the faux Grindhouse trailer, hits America on September 3rd 2010 (I don't seem to be able to find a UK release right now).