Although it didn't do too well in the theaters, Grindhouse was one of only a few movies I have really been looking forward to this spring. From the time Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez announced that they were going to collaborate for the film, I have been counting the days. The project, create two films that pay homage to the popular low-budget action films that were shown in theaters around the country in the '70s and early '80s. I have long been a fan of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriquez's work. Between Tarantino's bloody heist movie Reservoir Dogs and the widely popular Pulp Fiction to Rodriguez's Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn I knew that these two gore savvy directors could only take Grindhouse to the next level.So the day finally arrived, April 6th 2007, opening day for Grindhouse. Me and several coworkers managed to get tickets for the show at Mann's Chinese Theater. As we arrived the line stretched down Hollywood Blvd. and around the block. We eventually got inside and took our seats. I got up to walk to the restroom, on my way back, I thought I saw a familiar face. At first I didn't pay much attention to it, but just as I reached my seat I realized who I had just seen. Rosario Dawson! I recognized her from her role in Sin City. It wasn't until I told a coworker sitting next to me that I found out she was actually in Grindhouse. Right then, several people inside the theater stood up, looked back and started cheering. After the confusion, I turned around, looked back and to my surprise, there he was. Quentin Tarantino, himself, was walking down the theater isle with both arms in the air, accepting the warm welcome. I couldn't believe my eyes, there he was, one of my idols, walking toward me inside the Mann's Chinese Theater. As you can imagine, it was pretty surreal. And if that wasn't enough, walking just behind him was another well-known director, Eli Roth. You may know him from his extremely gory films Hostel and Cabin Fever. Mr. Roth also directed one of the many fake trailers that are shown in Grindhouse.
As we sat there I couldn't resist to walk back and take a closer look at QT and the gang. So I walked back, and got within a few feet of the man while he talked to Rosario and snapped a couple of pictures. It's funny I managed to take pictures, because moments before I snapped a couple, some guy actually walked up to QT and asked him if he could take a picture with him. Quentin replied, "Of course you can't, we're inside a movie theater, what makes you think I'll let you take a picture with me? But thanks for coming out." I laughed out loud. It was totally something he would say. The picture I took is a little blurry, but you can tell it's him.
Right before the movie began, Eli Roth ran up to the front of the theater and gave an introduction to the film. He told the crowd how this was the first movie that Quentin Tarantino has done that premiered at the Chinese Theater. It was a pretty neat experience to watch a movie with the minds that thought it up and the actors that starred in it. Grindhouse was one of the most entertaining movies I have seen in a theater in a LONG time. It was so ridiculous that it was genius. Check it out if you haven't already.
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