EXCLUSIVE: Harvey Very Disappointed; May Re-Release 'Grindhouse' As 2 Pics
Not surprised at all. And while many will complain, the films will come back together in their original visions on DVD. Europe and other countries are just getting fucked, but what Weinstein is doing isn't even that bad. Even back in the 1970s, if a cut was poorly received by the audience the studio would not only re-cut the film, but come close to destroying the original print. Some filmmakers had to go extreme measures to ensure their version would not be lost to a vault where it was likely to age and disintegrate at a very quick pace.
I'll be curious to see if they do come back together on DVD. Everything I've read seems to indicate that the video rights to each title were sold individually. I think, eventually, they might release them on DVD together, preserving the double feature feel.... but definitely not at first. I'm fine with that, too. Because, at home, you make your own double feature. Hell, make it a triple feature. Make it whatever you want.
I think splitting them up theatrically, however, is absurd. It exemplifies every stupid fucking decision Weinstein and Co. have already made with this film... from the lack of publicity, to releasing it Easter fucking weekend.
Lazy audiences who didn't give a shit about it the first time certainly aren't going to give a shit about it split in two and rereleased to them. Weinstein seems so disassociated with the logic behind what he does and what actually works. It's just scrambling to mkae money.
But, fuck it, I saw it twice last weekend, I got my fix... now I just want to see how all this plays out. Either way, it's going to be the most interesting theatrical release in years.... especially if they go through with this rerelease...
Which, I'm guessing, they won't. No matter how deluded Harvey is... he's got lots of people that can show him cold, hard numbers of what the two films will make a second time around.
I dunno...
At least he let them make it at all, really, and stands by it as a film (kind of.) Not that he'd tell either of those guy "no" to anything.
I'm a bit bummed that we probably won't see a theatrical sequel. I'm sure Weinstein will use the title, give Tarantino and Rodriguez Producer credits and milk some shitty direct-to-DVD sequels out of the whole thing. Which will be fun and all, but the fun it could have been.
And, if the rerelease does happen... I probably will skip seeing Planet Terror again, but a longer Death Proof will be right up my alley.