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the first half of FROM DUSK TIL DAWN

post #1 of 79
9/12/07 at 5:04pm
Thread Starter 
Anybody else love this movie until the vampires show up? Discuss.
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post #2 of 79
9/12/07 at 5:11pm
The first half was almost a different movie. When the vampires show up, the silly factor is amped up and the dark beginnings almost go right out the window.
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post #3 of 79
9/12/07 at 5:12pm
I used to feel this way. Now I love it when the vampires show up. It's a drastic, insane tonal shift, and I think it works. Yeah, yeah, they could just have kept on with the whole Gecko Bros. storyline, yadda yadda, but other than some amalgam of "Pulp Fiction" meets "Reservoir Dogs" with a splash of "desperado", I don't know what more they would really have to do with that. The vampire sequence is hilarious, and perfectly capitalizes on everything they did in the first half. I like it.
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post #4 of 79
9/12/07 at 5:15pm
Nick Hexum raised the same point in the "Man I Love *FILM* but" thread. Pretty much everyone who commented agreed with you.
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post #5 of 79
9/12/07 at 5:15pm
Thread Starter 
I think the vampire fighting action feels somehow inconsistent. It's not really fun to watch them tear through the vampires. Making their skin "mushier" was a lame move.
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post #6 of 79
9/12/07 at 5:17pm
Love the whole thing. Favorite Rodriguez flick after DESPERADO. Fred Williamson's Vietnam flashback alone is enough to dig the second half.
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post #7 of 79
9/12/07 at 5:17pm
"I may be a bastard, but I'm not a fuckin' bastard. " Is the best part of the movie.
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post #8 of 79
9/12/07 at 5:24pm
Salma is the best part of the movie, but the first half is a close second. I can't think of another movie that so abruptly changes tone though.
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post #9 of 79
9/12/07 at 5:41pm
How is the second half worse?

"C'mon, Sex Machine."
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post #10 of 79
9/12/07 at 6:39pm
It's certainly one of the most bizzare twists for any movie ever to take, but I think it works--you're just as caught off guard as the characters when suddenly everyone turns into vampires. And Clooney rocks the shit in the second half. He kicks ass the entire movie, but it's the second half that gives us "And I don't want to hear anything about "I don't believe in vampires" because *I* don't believe in vampires, but I believe in my own two eyes, and what *I* saw is fucking vampires! "

I love the second half because of how much it doesn't fit with the first half.
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post #11 of 79
9/12/07 at 7:00pm
I love the shit out of the entire thing. Still my favorite Rodriguez movie by a long mile.
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post #12 of 79
9/12/07 at 7:02pm
I dont remember what my expectations going into the theater were for this one, but I'm sure I knew there were vampires. The way they were thrust into the movie was very jarring though & that is preferrable to a lot of monster/horror flicks that kinda give you the playbook beforehand.
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post #13 of 79
9/12/07 at 7:03pm
Totally agree. I would have loved to see the ending of the first half of the movie.
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post #14 of 79
9/12/07 at 7:52pm
It's like the first run-through of Grindhouse, with the first half being the Tarantino part that focuses more on chracter, and the 2nd half being the Rodriguez part that's more of an over-the-top genre-exploitation film.
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post #15 of 79
9/12/07 at 8:00pm
This movie is what gave me a man-crush on Clooney. When he reveals that tattoo down his whole arm - when I first saw it - it was so badass. If I didn't have a regular job, I'd get that tattoo.

I agree with Stew above. The more I see this movie, and maybe because I am getting older (33 now) - I "get" this movie and enjoy it more.
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post #16 of 79
9/12/07 at 8:12pm
When this movie came out, there was a theater near me that offered free showings on its opening night. This was one of six that they were showing, and I hadn't heard anything about it, but it sounded the most interesting.

No joke, about 20-30 people walked out within a 10 minute span of Salma turning into a vampire. They were complaining about how it was 'good until it turned into a stupid horror movie'.

I'm not the biggest fan of horror, but I thought the sudden change was pretty great. Most of the people that stuck around must have thought so, because the theater got kinda lively after the turning point - probably people who don't usually go to see horror movies, but ended up seeing one anyway...

Also love the little exchange between Cheech and Clooney at the end.

"So, what, were they psychos, or..."
"Did they look like psychos? Is that what they looked like? They were vampires. Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits them, I don't give a fuck how crazy they are!"
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post #17 of 79
9/12/07 at 8:13pm
Didn't mind the vampire part at all.

I wonder if any of you knew about the sudden tone change before seing this movie for the first time? Somehow I managed not to read anything about it nor did I see any trailers (did they have vampire stuff in them?) way back when it came out, so I was very much suprised to say the least.
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post #18 of 79
9/12/07 at 8:16pm
Are the sequels worth watching?
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post #19 of 79
9/12/07 at 8:20pm
I'm sort of on the fence here. I really like the first half better, and desperately wanted to see the end of that story. However, I think the sudden tonal shift was very clever and funny and I admire what they did there.

I love the whole movie and I don't wish it had been done any differently, I just secretly wish for a Gecko brothers spin off.
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post #20 of 79
9/12/07 at 8:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by englebert
Are the sequels worth watching?
I'd say no. But you should watch FULL TILT BOOGIE. It's a good ducumentary on the making of DAWN that was originally released on its own, but now can be seen on the DAWN DVD.
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post #21 of 79
9/12/07 at 8:32pm
This was a good film the first half. And then Vampires showed up. And then it became a great film.


Seriously, this film's purpose was to be a ride on an escalator marked "Over the Top". By the mid-point of the film, the only way to exponentially up the absurdity factor was to crack open a house full of stripper vampires. I had the joy of walking into the film completely blind, so got the full shot-gun effect of the change. Being a horror fanatic at what I thought was a non-horror film, that moment remains one of the most entertaining times I have had out at the movies.

And any heterosexual male who doesn't cite the Salma Hayek snake dance as one of the most draw-dropping erotic moments in film history needs to seek professional psychiatric help immediately.
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post #22 of 79
9/12/07 at 8:36pm
Ever show this to someone who knows nothing about the movie? It's a lot of fun.
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post #23 of 79
9/12/07 at 8:44pm
Strangely timely thread for me. I watched the first half while treadmilling last night.
Still love the whole thing, but the first half is better.
Strange how young everybody looks in it.

John Hawkes!
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post #24 of 79
9/12/07 at 9:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Death Surge
And any heterosexual male who doesn't cite the Salma Hayek snake dance as one of the most draw-dropping erotic moments in film history needs to seek professional psychiatric help immediately.
I haven't seen this in years, but I recall being disappointed by the lack of nudity. Desperado set the bar pretty high and I was young enough that seeing boobs was important.
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post #25 of 79
9/12/07 at 9:37pm
I know OUT OF SIGHT is commonly cited as the film where George Clooney went from being a TV star to a movie star (with "This your first time being held up? You're doing great." the most commonly cited moment within that film), but, Dr. Doug Ross hair and all, I think he made the transition for me in this one. The monologue Greg mentioned about "what I saw was fucking vampires" is one moment, but my favorites are "Richie, here is the peace in death I could never give you in life" and when he unloads on Tarantino -- "I am a professional fucking theif! I do not kill people who I do not have to!"
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post #26 of 79
9/12/07 at 10:35pm
Yeah it would've been neat to see the end of the first part of the film especially with Ritchie's violent urges, but I really enjoyed both halves.

It was worth it just for Tom Savini's character.

The second one was terrible no matter how you look at it. It's not even fun as a B movie. The third one I kinda liked.
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post #27 of 79
9/12/07 at 10:50pm
All I needed to buy in for the full ride, whatever it may have been

All right, pussy, pussy, pussy! Come on in pussy lovers! Here at the Titty Twister we're slashing pussy in half! Give us an offer on our vast selection of pussy, this is a pussy blow out! All right, we got white pussy, black pussy, Spanish pussy, yellow pussy, we got hot pussy, cold pussy, we got wet pussy, we got smelly pussy, we got hairy pussy, bloody pussy, we got snappin' pussy, we got silk pussy, velvet pussy, Naugahyde pussy, we even got horse pussy, dog pussy, chicken pussy! Come on, you want pussy, come on in, pussy lovers! If we don't got it, you don't want it! Come on in, pussy lovers!


If you can find pussy for less......FUUUUUCK EEEET.

Totally cool flick. LOVED the band.
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post #28 of 79
9/12/07 at 11:13pm
What makes that scene even better is, I believe that it was improvised.
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post #29 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:02am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moltisanti
Fred Williamson's Vietnam flashback alone is enough to dig the second half.
Nailed it. One of the best scenes in the whole movie, let alone the 2nd half.
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post #30 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FreeRobotSex
Ever show this to someone who knows nothing about the movie? It's a lot of fun.
Yep. His reaction when the vampires showed up was a hysterical laugh with a "What the FUCK is going on?"
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post #31 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by le Stephanois
Nailed it. One of the best scenes in the whole movie, let alone the 2nd half.
What's great is how Clooney, Keitel, and the rest just stand there watching silently as Williamson makes all of his stabbing motions.

It's a small part but I love Kelly Preston as the reporter in the first half. The joy in her face as she describes all the deaths the Geckos have caused is hilarious.
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post #32 of 79
9/13/07 at 3:59am
The first half of the flick is great, and the second half is almost as great. I dig the shift from badguys on the run from the law, to vampire flick, and Tom Savini's character and Fred Williamson's character are totally worth seeing the flick.

Seeing this thread is pretty funny, as this movie's been on my mind since this past weekend. I need to see my dvd again soon.
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post #33 of 79
9/13/07 at 4:07am
My problem is that the first half is never resolved. It's one thing to make a huge tonal shift, but you're still under an obligation to pay off what you've set up. Clooney's conflict over his brother never gets paid off, because the brother dies the second the vampires show up. And then Clooney never seems to have any feelings about that. This problem is amplified by the fact that Tarantino has never been so believable on screen. It's the only job of actual acting I think I've ever seen him do. I'd just like to see the end of that movie, and find out whether Clooney eventually has to take out his own brother out of self-interest.

My feelings about this film aren't helped by the fact that I personally hate the continued pussification of the vampire in film. This movie completely went along with that trend. Somebody needs to save the vampires. And no, giving them guns doesn't count.
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post #34 of 79
9/13/07 at 12:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David
Somebody needs to save the vampires. And no, giving them guns doesn't count.
30 Days of Night, hopefully.
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post #35 of 79
9/13/07 at 12:30pm
Doubtful. The source material is shit.
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post #36 of 79
9/13/07 at 1:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert K.
Didn't mind the vampire part at all.

I wonder if any of you knew about the sudden tone change before seing this movie for the first time? Somehow I managed not to read anything about it nor did I see any trailers (did they have vampire stuff in them?) way back when it came out, so I was very much suprised to say the least.
I knew and expected a vamp flick going into the theater (based on a trailer), so was really confused when it took so long for any to show up. Since then, I've become a big fan. Glad to own the 2 disc DVD, with the great feature length doc. Wasn't a fan of the sequels, but I'm considering a revisit.

And yeah, I would watch a Salma prequel in a heartbeat.
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post #37 of 79
9/13/07 at 1:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8
I knew and expected a vamp flick going into the theater (based on a trailer), so was really confused when it took so long for any to show up. Since then, I've become a big fan. Glad to own the 2 disc DVD, with the great feature length doc. Wasn't a fan of the sequels, but I'm considering a revisit.

And yeah, I would watch a Salma prequel in a heartbeat.
Same here, I was like thirteen when I first watched it so I practically slept through the "boring" beginning. Too much talking, no tits and guts. I enjoy the first half a lot more now, but the mayhem at the end is pretty fun. Say what you want but it takes huge brass balls to make this movie.
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post #38 of 79
9/13/07 at 1:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David
My problem is that the first half is never resolved. It's one thing to make a huge tonal shift, but you're still under an obligation to pay off what you've set up. Clooney's conflict over his brother never gets paid off, because the brother dies the second the vampires show up. And then Clooney never seems to have any feelings about that. This problem is amplified by the fact that Tarantino has never been so believable on screen. It's the only job of actual acting I think I've ever seen him do. I'd just like to see the end of that movie, and find out whether Clooney eventually has to take out his own brother out of self-interest.
Yeah, but that's exactly what did happen.

I don't the the idea that the first half of the movie doesn't have a resolution. It does - they're criminals on the run and in need of a place to hide, and they end up in the worst possible place imaginable. Vampires kill Richie, and hell breaks loose. Seth kills vampire Richie and lots of other vampires. "Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits 'em. I don't give a fuck how crazy they are!" That's the resolution. You may not like the resolution, but it's all right there for you.
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post #39 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:03pm
Beyond that, didn't Seth say something about Ritchie hopefully finding peace when he blows him away? I always took that as meaning Seth always wanted to do something to help Ritchie and was finally presented with an easy out.
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post #40 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moltisanti
I'd say no. But you should watch FULL TILT BOOGIE. It's a good ducumentary on the making of DAWN that was originally released on its own, but now can be seen on the DAWN DVD.
So true. The doc is almost as fun as the film itself. The Tarantino/Rodriguez commentary is great too. Savini used to tell people that he used the clip where Tarantio says about him something like "If we were at a Con right now, people would knock us down and step over us to get to Tom Savini" for his reel.

"Where are we going?"
"Mexico"
"What's in Mexico?"
"Mexicans."

"Everyone, be cool. You- be cool."

"Alright ramblers, let's get rambling."

I could quote this friggin' movie all day. Funny that when I first saw the flick I hated it. The second time I figured out the humor in it, and now it's one of my faves. Even with non-naked Hayek. I remember seeing Bordello of Blood around the same time and wondering what the hell was going on when the two hottest vampires in those movies are the only ones who don't get naked.
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post #41 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:31pm
If anything, I kinda wished there'd have been a Sex Machine/Frost spin-off film.
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post #42 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:36pm
BTW, this is the only movie where I've enjoyed Quentin Tarantino as an actor.
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post #43 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:39pm
I liked him in PULP FICTION. Not so much in DEATH PROOF.
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post #44 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graynadian
BTW, this is the only movie where I've enjoyed Quentin Tarantino as an actor.

See the last segment of "Four Rooms": "The Man from Rio". Playing himself if he had had a Jim Carrey type opening film made for a pretty amusing short.
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post #45 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:50pm
I forgot that I didn't think much of him in PLANET TERROR either. He was fairly amusing in DESPERADO.
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post #46 of 79
9/13/07 at 2:58pm
Part of me wonders how the film would have turned out had it not switched into a horror film. And knowing Rodriguez/QT, they probably had an idea of what would have happened...

Regardless, the switch of genres works fine for me.
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post #47 of 79
9/13/07 at 3:03pm
I've only seen it through Youtube, but I enjoyed the Top Gun monologue from Sleep With Me (in spite of the fact that he lifted the dialog from Roger Avary).
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post #48 of 79
9/13/07 at 3:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by englebert
I've only seen it through Youtube, but I enjoyed the Top Gun monologue from Sleep With Me (in spite of the fact that he lifted the dialog from Roger Avary).
Love this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHklGtW3rwU
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post #49 of 79
9/13/07 at 3:53pm
I started to hate the movie a little bit with the first sight of the Titty Twister. Even if it hadn't been full of vampires no bar like that exists in the middle of Mexico, belching flames and Vegas neon. The first half leaves some room to go "over the top" in the second half but it has some basis in reality that helps make it scary. Ritchie's brother may be a badass but Ritchie is bugfuck crazy and might be a child molestor to boot. And there is something a little "off" about the former preacher and his two "kids" in the Winnebago. What's the real story there, what's going to happen? That they suddenly turned it into a vampire movie doesn't bother me, I just didn't like that it turned into a CARTOON vampire movie.

(I will admit to liking it better on repeat viewings, but as a whole movie it'll never really work for me)
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post #50 of 79
9/13/07 at 4:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Death Surge
See the last segment of "Four Rooms": "The Man from Rio".
It's called "The Man from Hollywood." "The Man from Rio" is the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode that Tarantino references in his screenplay, and "Man from the South" is the short story on which that episode was based (its author, Roald Dahl, gets thanked in the end credits).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Death Surge
Playing himself if he had had a Jim Carrey type opening film made for a pretty amusing short.
Tarantino is flat-out embarrassing, as is the segment itself. The only interesting aspect for me was seeing how much material could be ripped off from the opening scene of Jerry Lewis' THE PATSY.
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