I look at ’Death Proof’ and realize I had too much time.

Taken at face value, Tarantino is expressing retrospective dissatisfaction with his own film Death Proof, implying that an excess of time (and perhaps freedom in the creative process) led to indulgence—overwriting, overlong scenes, or insufficient editorial restraint. The remark fits a broader artistic theme: constraints can sharpen craft, while too much latitude can encourage self-indulgence. It also reads as a candid self-critique from a director known for strong authorial control, suggesting an awareness that even distinctive style benefits from limits and tough cutting. As a database entry, the quote is best framed as an instance of auteur self-assessment rather than a general statement about mortality or “death-proof” bravado.