10 Best Rodriguez/Tarantino Movies

In anticipation of Friday's release of the Robert Rodriguez / Quentin Tarantino double feature Grindhouse, here is my personal list of the top 10 films by the directors. While Tarantino is infinitely more popular, keep in mind that I personally prefer Rodriguez in all of his infinite coolness.

10. The Faculty (1998) - This film could easily have been a typical high school slasher flick. It could have been... except Robert Rodriguez is endlessly entertaining and consistently makes entertaining films. Instead of his ususal formula of large guns and spectacular stunt choreography, Rodriguez makes a classy ensemble picture with awesome special effects. Like all of his films, The Faculty never loses its sense of humor and pulls off its own absurdity with artful visualization and a tight, driving pace.

09. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) - One thing is for sure: Quentin Tarantino loves movies. This movie showcases his love for the 70s over-dramatized Kung-Fu movie era and the story of revenge with rich dialogue. Tarantino may be (very) extreme but in the loveliest way (and he isn't the one who wrote a character with a machine gun for Grindhouse). People expect Tarantino to present a mind-blowing, adrenaline-pumping film and that's what he always, always delivers.

08. Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) - Complex script? Sure. But who cares? There are action sequences in this film that will blow your mind. As the third part of Rodriguez' Mexico trilogy, it's not stale or tired in the list. Rodriguez has impeccable style. It's just not a Robert Rodriguez movie until someone jumps off a Church balcony shooting two guns! Plus, with the Johnny Depp character, you could see what was to come with the machine gun leg character. His character had no eyes for the last act, for god's sake. Brilliant!

07. Pulp Fiction (1994) - I won't argue that Pulp Fiction is brilliant and probably Tarantino's best project. Still, it's not my favorite and so don't argue with me about it's ranking seventh. I always got the feeling that Tarantino put into this film whatever struck his fancy at the time. It's not a totally cohesive film but it's still wonderfully textured enough that it doesn't really matter. This film is so intricately structured, with so many astonishing details. It really has all the characteristics we associate with great movies: fine writing, first rate acting, unforgettable characters, one of the most well-constructed narratives in years. Wonderful movie, for sure. Just not my favorite.

06. Desperado (1995) - The second part of Rodriguez' Mexico trilogy, it was the first with a budget to speak of and Rodriguez used it to build a wonderful roller coaster of a film. He takes all the best elements of El Mariachi and expands them to new levels. He is simply a genius behind the camera - giving the audience the right amount of action, drama, and comedy. He gives us a deeply rooted character hell bent on destroying a drug lord, but lets imagination run wild with cartoonish action sequences. The scenes of men flying through the air after being shot are somewhat comical, yet completely Rodriguez. Time and time and time again he successfully creates a world that is uniquely and entirely his own.

05. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) - It will probably always be a debate about which volume of Kill Bill is better. Let's end it right here: David Carradine doesn't even appear in Volume 1. This is a departure from Volume 1 based solely on tone and style. He pulls back and lets the plot breathe, rather than filling every second with a homage-cum-parody that maybe a dozen lucky fans will even get. Throughout Volume 2, the emphasis is on storytelling and Tarantino is one hell of a storyteller when he wants to be. Volume 1 is great for what it is but its flash and action are no match for the depth and nuance of Volume 2.

04. Sin City (2005) - Some people give Rodriguez a hard time for his taking such total control of his films. I heard someone reference his editing and cinematography of Once Upon a Time in Mexico to a hack job. Whatever, man. This movie has seamless editing, cinematography and directing from Rodriguez. This is what you associate with Rodriguez: smart, stylish, sexy and sick. It's violent and funny... sometimes at the same time. This is the kind of visually stunning storytelling that filmmakers will strive to duplicate for years to come.

03. El Mariachi (1992) - Robert Rodriguez made this movie, his debut, for $7,000. And it's one of the most enjoyable action movies of the last few decades. Time and time again, Rodriguez proves that creativity and imagination beat million dollar budgets every time. He takes every resource he can and rebuilds the classic concept of mistaken identity. With the fast-framed photography and interesting choice of camera angles, he takes a straightforward story and builds a legend.

02. Reservoir Dogs (1992) - I don't even know where to start. It's Tarantino's first and his best. Even in his first film, this is a stylish film full of cool dialogue, cinematography, editing and music. The whole story comes together perfectly. The plot is excellently written and told. I seriously couldn't think of better casting in a movie ever. (Mr. Blonde is the most believable total psycho in recent film). All of his visceral film-making ingredients are here - suit and tie baddies argue regulary in expletive-laden conversations with sudden outbursts of violence in between. Even in the resulting bloody mess of gunshot wounds and mutilation, they still have to keep talking. It's pretty much - talk, shoot, talk, kill, talk, shoot. This kind of existence becomes an art form in Tarantino's hands.

01. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) - Quentin Tarantino writes the script (and acts but we just won't talk about that) and Robert Rodriguez directs the movie... sounds pretty perfect to me! Foul-mouthed, hot tempered criminals and sexy strippers in a phenomenally seedy and sleazy bar (called The Titty Twister, of course) full of vampires. The excesses of this movie are probably too much for conservative folk, this is action-packed and spectacularly gory the way you would expect a Tarantino or Rodriguez movie to be. It's like being in an intense and gruesome haunted house ride. What sets Rodriguez apart from every other filmmaker (Tarantino included) is that his films always look like he's having a great time. His lack of pretensions and his dedication to film seems to transmit the fun he has making movies to the audience. The other thing about Rodriguez is that he is always just plain cool. Everything he does is cool. He even makes the undead look cool. From Dusk Till Dawn is one big bloody action extravaganza.