Tarantino Tales: Episode 6 - Death Proof

It was a long time since I saw that movie so I went in Dawnrazor's edit almost like it was my first time. And it felt complete and coherent. I could not remember anything that was missing from the original. Of course I went back to the it afterward and scrubbed through it to compare the two versions and I think I can say Dawnrazor's edit it pretty good at removing the superfluous and unnecessary stuff! Job well done on that front! Both versions feel like two episodes of a series stitched together and that remains as well. I was bothered by the visuals being different from one "episode" to the other, but that is also how Tarantino did it so nothing wrong here. I'm the kind of guy who thinks perfection is not from this world, so I took one point down from enjoyment because I did not like the addition of the "Missing Reel" card. I guess it was added to cover the clothes change scene missing but it was a bit goofy and took me out of the experience.
it's an otherwise very good episode of TTT. I recommend it. and can't wait to see more.

I've always had a suspect appreciation of Tarantino's rather indulgent digressions in his films as they are generally well-written and acted and add nuances to the films. But he lately hasn't know quite when to stop, especially the last 3 or 4 (not including ...Hollywood which I consider near perfect). Of course Death Proof seemed like ground zero for this tendency: a grindhouse film with a thin plot and sequences that went on way longer than needed even if the details were generally delightful.

Dawnrazor here has distilled the spine of Death Proof down: it's really a 65-minute film at heart and he still preserves the charm of the exercise, the menace and backstories (such as they are) of the girls in danger and of Stuntman Mike, a sense of the in-joke "inconsequential" details intact, and the dynamic of the car sequence at the end (which is the whole raison d'etre).

Gone is the languid stuff in the opening bar sequence which foregrounds Mike's appearance and menace; transition to the second half is cleaner; we get to know the second group of girls in the car without the diner sense of "oh no we have to sit thorough all this again?"; and the thing just moves. Nice use of Abba music as a unifier.

Many small edits that are invisible and make things move along. As jasonflippy says I can't believe he cut 50 minutes out of this with no apparent harm. Very much recommended as a third variant after the theatrical cut and the padded extended cut.

Amazingly you cut the bulk of the chitchat away without really any noticeable impact on the plot at all. I honestly can't think of a single line that's missing other than some quick conversation about Chartreuse. The characters all feel really developed and you get a chance to really know the girls before the attacks start happening. Seeing that there was almost an hour cut, I'm shocked, because it really feel all-there.

Personally, I would have included the deleted scene of Mike jerking off in the upside-down car. It really makes him seem even more insane and adds a layer to why he's doing this, outside of just being your standard murderer with a gimmick. This cut is perfect in every other regard, and I won't hold that deleted scene against you, so this gets a full 10/10 from me.

This is in my Top 3 Tarantino Tales, along with Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, and well deserved!