free counter with statistics Pajiba Love 03/15/07 | Pajiba - Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People

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Pajiba Love

This is it, folks. The official theatrical trailer for Grindhouse. Go ahead. Wet your britches (step away from the keyboard first). (Agent Bedhead)

Not satisfied yet? Here’s a 25-minute featurette on the film. (Popoholic)

Nutjob lady likes the taste of boric acid. And she’s ravishing. (QuizLaw)

Drew snakes herself a new hipster man: Spike Jonze. (Evil Beet)

Dan’s embarrassing admission: He loves “Buffy.” (Slowly Going Bald)

Britney got herself a man in rehab. And if you’ve read James Frey, you know where this is going. (IDLYITW)

The folks like the nice, Molly. And what’s nicer than adoption? (PopSugar)

But, here’s someone who should never be allowed to adopt: Jessica Simpson. (Celebslam)

Wil Wheaton meets “William Fucking Shatner.” Part I and Part II. (Suicide Girls)

Picking up on yesterday’s Love comments, if you’re curious, this is what a Pajiba gossip blog would look like. (Click Here)

Pajiba Love | March 15, 2007 | Comments (22)


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Comments

LOL at your gossip blog. Anyone over there wanna help write for my nascent politics blog, WhatsASenator.com? Hee hee hee ...

Posted by: Evil Beet at March 15, 2007 3:48 PM

Seriously, I'm not really digging the Grindhouse trailer. I was laughing a little, here and there, but I didn't feel the sweaty-palmed, weak-kneed, panty-moistened excitement I had hoped to feel.

Posted by: Well,,, at March 15, 2007 4:06 PM

You know, if the Grindhouse comments are hijacked with prententious, "this movie supports the degradation of women" or some such bullshit, I'm gonna be pissed. I had my fill for the year with the political metaphors and historical accuracy complaints of a movie based on a fucking comic book.

Posted by: Daphne at March 15, 2007 6:54 PM

And how would your blog not be any better then Perez Hilton?

Posted by: ScarletKnight at March 15, 2007 9:06 PM

I know, not in anyway related to the lovin' above - but has 'Hot Fuzz' crossed the Pajiban radar yet? Saw it last night (in Australia btw) and is the funniest film in recent memory. Stars that Pegg fellow from 'Shaun of the Dead'.

I would LOVE to see the Pajiba verdict.

Posted by: starry at March 15, 2007 10:49 PM

That Wil Wheaton link has made this the best Pajiba Love ever. Imaginig Data calling Picard "old baldie" and Worf threatening to kick Captain Kirk's ass has made this day so wonderful.

Now I have another place on the internet at which to waste my time.

Posted by: Vermillion at March 15, 2007 11:16 PM

Also, to Daphne: Stop teasing me with such posts. You already expressed your desire for Spartan man-meat. How am I supposed to compete with that?

Posted by: Vermillion at March 15, 2007 11:20 PM

If liking Fergie more and more is wrong, well, I don't want to be right.

I feel shame.

Posted by: Molly at March 16, 2007 12:32 AM

I've always really disliked the character of Wesley Crusher. In fact, I remember shouting "Hit him again, Bev!" during the episode where Dr. Crusher smacks him for some reason. I think there was an anomaly.

Anyway, I suddenly have a newfound respect for Wil Wheaton (who I've never disliked, despite Mr. Crusher), and The Shat is pretty much everything I figured he'd be. Plus-Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn offering encouragement? Could I love them any more than I already do? I think I do.

Posted by: zambonigirl at March 16, 2007 12:46 PM

Right. Well, I think I'm in the minority, but... can anyone tell me what's appealing about the grindhouse thing? I mean, OK, she has a gun for a leg, I guess that's kinda cool, but I dunno, nothing else there seemed even remotely new or interesting. And apologies to Daphne, I'm so not trying to bring up politics, I just don't get how blatant s/exploitation flicks are interesting. It's not that I'm offended-- I'm vaguely annoyed at best-- I just...don't see the appeal. Wasn't this all done in the 70s? Is there anything to add? Am I looking for too much? Honestly not trolling, just feeling left out and curious.

Posted by: isabelle at March 16, 2007 2:49 PM

isabelle-I agree with most of what you've said. I've given up on pointing out everything that's sexist or degrading to women. There are other things that I like about the site. Most of the writers and posters are not complete idiots.

I read what I like and ignore the rest. Can I bitch about the boobs and buns mouse pad? Sure she's (hopefully) making money from exploiting herself, but I don't really see the appeal (besides the t & a). But then that's pointing out something that I don't really need to...so I'm breaking my own "rule." But more importantly, it makes the site harder to read at work.

Publisher's Note: Isabelle and Anikitty; I'd just like to point out, should you decide to check back on this thread, that a lot of us on staff are really trying to pick up on feminist themes and explore them as thoroughly as a site dedicated to scathing reviews allows. And we may do so again with Grindhouse. And, as for the ads -- man, I don't know why those people advertise on this site. I'm not sure what it is about Pajiba that attracts us to advertisers like that, but we have to pay for movie tickets, DVDs, and hosting fees, so we're in no position to reject those ads. And we're not about to give into overtures from corporate America, as did our brethren over at TWoP. So, the best I can do is to encourage anyone that is bothered or offended by our ads to install ad-stripping plugins into your browsers.

Posted by: anikitty at March 16, 2007 3:40 PM

Also, to Daphne: Stop teasing me with such posts. You already expressed your desire for Spartan man-meat. How am I supposed to compete with that?

LOL, Vermillion.

And apologies to Daphne, I'm so not trying to bring up politics, I just don't get how blatant s/exploitation flicks are interesting. It's not that I'm offended-- I'm vaguely annoyed at best-- I just...don't see the appeal.

No need for apologies, Isabelle. To be honest, I have no desire to see Grindhouse. Just not my type of film. Based on the trailers, though, I'm pretty sure it's not gonna be "female empowerment central," and I don't expect it to be. This might sound crazy, but I'm okay with movies that are "in your face" about certain concepts. I guess I have a grudging respect for some filmmakers who knowingly create/recreate films with some anti-PC themes and just don't give a damn. Doesn't mean that I intend to watch said movie(s) or agree with the message, but I've always respected a certain measure of dissidence, what can I say? More annoying for me are those who know full well what they're walking into, go see it anyway, and then complain. It's mind-boggling to me, as I wonder, "Sooooooo, you knew that (insert anti-PC theme) was present in the film, but you paid to see it anyway, thereby financially supporting it, thinking said theme wouldn't be prevalent? And THEN complaining about it? The hell?" I'm probably not explaining myself very well, as I'm not as eloquent as others on the site, but I hope my point made a little bit of sense.

Posted by: Daphne at March 16, 2007 7:57 PM

I give everyone (except maybe tvwhore--does that boy not get any?) props for exploring feminist themes. It is better than when I started reading. So again lots of props to everyone.

Posted by: anikitty at March 16, 2007 11:29 PM

I totally understand your point, Daphne (though my heart is still broken). It is basically the hot coffee principle, which often leads to stupid lawsuits.

1) Person purchases coffee, with the full knowledge that it is hot. If the steam rising from the top and the warmth emanating from the cup aren't enough, usually the server will tell you that the coffee is hot.

2) Person spills said hot coffee, which proceeds to hurt, because hot things tend to burn you.

3) Person bitches that the coffee was too hot to be spilled on oneself. Other people with more sense roll their eyes.

You are in full knowledge of what the movie contains. The filmmakers have practically shoved their heads into your ears and screamed that the movie will be offensive and over the top with its violence and attitude. If fact, that is why they are making it. So for someone to whine about the very attributes of the film that were put on display as if they were a big damn shock is idiotic.

Is that about it?

Posted by: Vermillion at March 16, 2007 11:32 PM

(Daphne, as usual you were very eloquent.)

And then there are weird-ass people like me who are highly political and gender-aware (read, "feminist" and ready to reclaim the word from the dung-heap it's been assigned to), and yet can still enjoy such films and even seek them out when the maggot bites.

I sometimes find myself trying to figure it all out--other times I just want to hang my brains and tits at the door, and roll out. I'm looking forward to Grindhouse and fully expect the Pajiba review to tease out the nuances (feminist and/or otherwise--whatever tickles the writer's fancy at the time), as they so often do in these here parts.

Posted by: ranylt at March 17, 2007 9:27 AM

Hey, so long as nobody writes "Hey, isn't feminism [the result of decades and decades of serious sacrifice and work on the part of women] all about women having choices to do what they want to do, such as having huge fake tits, without ever being questioned or criticized for it?" That kind of thing drives me batshit.

Posted by: Samantha T at March 17, 2007 11:11 AM

Thank you, Vermillion and ranylt. I was afraid of being completely incoherent.

Vermillion, please don't be heartbroken! I do appreciate the male form, and am sometimes overzealous in my expression about it. Particularly when it's on display as in 300. Do not let your heart be troubled....

And just to be clear, I don't have any problems reading discourse on feminist themes. Most of the time, I agree, and look forward to seeing the Pajiba reviewer's perspective on it with regard to Grindhouse. But that's part of the review, and completely different than someone using the movie (which is completely unapologetic about what it represents, IMO) as a soapbox. Be intelligent about it, and at least provide such commentary on a film where it isn't completely obvious.

I hope I don't sound condescending by admitting this, but I enjoy reading men's commentary on feminist themes, particularly when they get it right - as I figure, if ONE guy really gets it, perhaps there is hope for most men.

Posted by: Daphne at March 17, 2007 11:42 AM

Word, Sam T. Seems like on Salon.com, you can't criticize a female's "choice" to do ANYTHING, from porn to infanticide, without twenty women flaming you for being "anti-feminist." It's hilarious, really. Anyway, the problem I have with this Grindhouse business is the total bleedin' obviousness of the whole "wink-wink-nudge-nudge-we-KNOW-we-are-exploiting-women-but-because-we-KNOW-we-know-and-YOU-know-we-know-we-know-and-besides-all-this-was-done-in-the-Seventies-before-we-KNEW-it-was-"bad" (wink wink NOW we KNOW they love it (("Girls Gone Wild")) now, don't we?) -to-exploit-women-it's-all-just-for-fun-ha-ha" thing. I mean, didn't we all go through that retro-70's stuff 10 YEARS AGO? The whole, "wouldn't it be cool to remake 'Faster, Pussycat, Kill Kill?'" thing? Cue "Charlie's Angels", etc, etc. It's OLD, dudes. We GET it, already. It's just not terribly CLEVER, is my problem. It would be at least a little cooler if they started spoofing those old cheesy-good early 80's movies like "Looker."

Posted by: Bitch at March 17, 2007 2:57 PM

Oh Pajiba, I love you. And I have noticed the feminist themes. The writing here has always been impressive, and this just adds a welcome new layer. It hasn't diminished the scathing, quite the contrary, and it's fantastic.


Anyway, it looks like my commentary got away from me. I didn't want to bring up the politics bc that wasn't what was bugging me. It's the giant hooplah over stuff that seems to me to be so effin' boring. Bitch, my dear, you said it exactly right. Thanks.


These filmmakers, Tarantino et al., remind me of Marilyn Manson's teen fans. They think they're so Different and Shocking. But they're just trite. And it's not what they do that annoys me (I myself love both Portrait of an American Family and Pulp Fiction) it's the "Honk Honk Look at how Shocking and Offensive I am!" attitude. Bah.

Anyway, thanks for listening, O Great Pajiba Editors. Much love and admiration :)

Posted by: isabelle at March 17, 2007 3:48 PM

Oh, THOSE paragraph breaks. Dammit. Sorry!

Posted by: isabelle at March 17, 2007 3:50 PM

It's just not terribly CLEVER, is my problem.

Hmmm, good point. I do wonder, though, if such films were just ignored altogether, would they continue to be made? It's harder to be "shock, awe, and possibly offend!" if no one's paying attention.

Posted by: Daphne at March 17, 2007 7:43 PM

I'm looking forward to 'Grindhouse,' but not so much so that my clothes are wet or anything. I admit, though, the first time I saw the trailer I was hopping up and down in my chair.

As for the "degrading to women" stuff, well, none of us has seen the movie yet; but I did run across a description of the Kurt Russell half, and that story seems to be about a serial killer (Russell) who gets his comeuppance from a group of badass (but smokin' hot) women. Sounds like it could be very empowering.

I think most of us here may be too young to really remember the old grindhouse theaters and the "exploitation" genre. Those movies exploited EVERYTHING exploitable--violence, gore, race, and of course sex--and it was all just to get asses in seats.

Folks, the exploitation that wears its label on its low-cut chest is far less harmful than the day-to-day de facto sexualization and dismissal of women that mostly seeps in under the radar and is in our faces nearly every minute of every day. Open your eyes a little wider and you'll see a lot to get angry about.

Posted by: Jerce at March 18, 2007 9:23 AM