Finally! The Grindhouse DVD release you’ve been waiting for!
Dec 28th, 2007 by Bryan White
If you’re like me, then you were a grouchy motherfucker about the way the Tarantino/Rodriguez experiment, Grindhouse, was handled on R1 DVD. You know the story, both movies were extended, with their missing reels put back into continuity and then released individually. This drove me fucking crazy! I swore them off until someone would do it right and I thought I would wait forever. That is, until now.
Dread Central reported last night that a six disc edition of Grindhouse is coming down the line on March 21st. Here are the specs:
Disc 1: Death Proof (Extended Film).
- English DTS, English DD, Japanese dub
- Japanese Theatrical/TV trailers
- Staff/Cast Profiles (Text)
- What is Grindhouse? (Text)
- English DTS, English DD, Japanese dub
- 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 (1:4Cool
- The Guys of Death Proof (8:16)
- Quentin’s Greatest Collaborator: Editor Sally Menke (4:3Cool
- 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 (13:1Cool
- The Friend, The Doctor and The Real Estate Agent (6:42)
- 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 Terror
Now that is a DVD release!
Grindhouse is on my best of the year list for 2007. I enjoyed it immensely and I loved the idea behind the whole thing. I don’t think I really need to go into details and it’s a shame that it performed so poorly because it was a lot of fun.
But here’s the rub.
This set is only being released in Japan. If you’re a smart cinemaphile, you eschewed the notion of a domestic DVD player in favor of a region free player. Over the years, Japan has been the place to import domestic DVDs. Particularly in the case of Quentin Tarantino. A friend of mine imported the first Kill Bill, which was released there uncut with the House of Blue Leaves fight left with color intact and even more violence in the mix. I imported the Dawn of the Dead remake months before it was released here and found that the Japanese R2 cut is even more uncut than the domestic uncut release (if only by a little).
I’m sure this set will cost a fortune as many Japanese DVD imports tend to do, but you can’t put a price on a set like this.
Although I already own the two domestic releases, I may just splurge and get this damned set. Especially if there are bonus goodies thrown in, a la the Kill Bill set. I think (think!) that Grindhouse is finally coming to the US in June.
Wow, that’s awesome news! I’m definitely down for that. Makes me really glad I REFUSED to buy the US releases. And honestly, considering how expensive dvds often are in Japan, I’m surprised it’s only ￥7,382 (about $67). Often, one Japanese dvd alone is about $50. I’m totally pre-ordering this!
Yeah, Dave. That’s a solid pack and the price is right. I can’t get over that. I remember the Japanese R2 of Kill Bill 1 was something like $45 and that was only one disc.
The only thing that bums me out is that there’s no cooking with Robert extra like so many of his movies have. I made the breakfast burittos thing from the Sin City special edition and it was freakin’ delicious!
Y’know, I just realized I don’t have a single Robert Rodriguez movie on dvd. I’ll have to do something about that. I’m not a new years resolution-type person, but this year I vow to pick up some more dvds than usual. This is a good place to start. I’ve already asked my friend to pre-order for me. I’ll be curious to see what import dvd retailers end up charging for it. I suspect they’ll take the higher retail price, tack on a premium and charge around $100. Hopefully I’m wrong, but I’m not waiting to find out.