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Planet Terror [2007]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The lower-profile half of the Grindhouse double bill that flopped at the US box office in early 2007, Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror comes with lesser expectations. However, don’t let that fool you: this is a fun, pacey zombie film, that displays less self-indulgence than Tarantino’s Death Proof, and doesn’t skimp in the entertainment stakes either.

The plot is thin and quickly covered, but basically amounts to the release of a gas that creates lots of zombies. Stuck in the midst of the zombies is a small bunch of people who try and fight them off (among, er, other things). It doesn’t, fortunately, take long for Planet Terror to set all this up, and the stage is soon set for what we all paid our money for. Action. Violence. Characters of ill-repute. And, heck, a bit more action too.

Thus, Rodriguez delivers his tribute to the grindhouse movies he’s clearly inspired by, and Planet Terror proves to be a fine piece of work. With fast, exciting action sequences, leg-less Rose McGowan turning in sterling work in front of the camera, and stylish work behind it from Rodriguez, the film gels well.

Its director has perhaps bettered it himself with From Dusk Til Dawn, but that doesn’t mean that there’s not plenty to enjoy here. Taken either with its double-bill partner or as a standalone dish, Planet Terror is well worth your time. --Jon Foster

Editorial
Synopsis

Director Robert Rodriguez (SIN CITY) pays homage to his favourite B-movies with PLANET TERROR, an old-fashioned zombie film that's infused with enough gore and giggles to please even Peter Jackson (BAD TASTE). Rose McGowan (CHARMED) plays Cherry, a go-go dancer whose night is interrupted by a vicious zombie attack that leaves her missing a leg. Her ex-boyfriend, Wray (Freddy Rodriguez, SIX FEET UNDER), takes charge, fashioning her a new leg from a machine gun and killing zombies along the way. PLANET TERROR plays as a pleasing ode to the horror and exploitation films that once played in grimy grindhouses across the country. Rodriguez splashes plenty of blood, guts, and gore across the screen, while also taking the plot into some wonderfully bizarre territory. PLANET TERROR was originally released as part of the GRINDHOUSE double feature with Quentin Tarantino's DEATH PROOF.

Stupid in all the right ways
Review date: 2008-08-21 Rating: 10 out of 10

"Planet Terror" is a brilliant zombie movie; one part serious, two parts spoof. It's stupid in all the right ways. I was put off by the silly machine gun leg poster. Turns out she only gets the leg enhancement in the last ten minutes, and by that point it feels right at home with all the other action. A masterpiece of its genre. I loved it. Much better than the similarly jokey "Evil Dead II" in my opinion.

Rodriguez is a technically gifted filmmaker but I've not liked his previous movies as his scriptwriting abilities are very poor. Eventually he worked from someone else's source material and made a good film, "Sin City", so I'm surprised that his own screenplay for this film is so good.

"Death Proof" (4 stars) is a fascinating mix of the terrible and the brilliant. Not much cop as a slasher flick, but as its own thing it was good overall. Some of the endless dialogue was boring, while over times I lost track of time and didn't mind the talking. Terrible sudden ending though - the film is missing an important scene when the girls return the beat up car to its owner, and we get his reaction.

Both are worth seeing. I think they made a mistake with the original "Grindhouse" film order. Following the visceral, kinetic eye-candy of "Planet Terror" with the plodding, talk-heavy "Death Proof" makes no sense.

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Reviews


just plain stunning,and very atmospheric
Review date: 2008-07-22 Rating: 10 out of 10

one of the best zombie flicks that i have ever seen.
shamefully us here in the UK were deprived from seeing the whole GRINDHOUSE experience as Planet Terror(here)and Death Proof were split up into two different films...the up side is that we get more material to see and this one has a bonus missing reel scene.
theres lodsa blood,guts and gore galore but unlike the stupid gorno films of late this has a surprisingly talented list of stars in the main cast.

Rose Mcgowan-a hugely talented actress who isnt shy to the genre as she has been in the fantastic Wes Craven slasher with style film-Scream.
she is most famous for her role of Paige in the cult show Charmed and in this film she really flexes out her talent with a style that shows how funny she can be plus her one liners are already a hit and are vastly becoming infamous.
Cherry Darling is already a horror icon and the way Mcgowan portrays he is much in the same vein of Lucille Ball meets Ellen Ripley(Alien franchise)and Sarah-Conner(Terminator)and is a completely original character.
a fantastic actress that is already becoming a hit in the USofA and can be next seen in Black Oasis which is going to be released some point next year.

Freddy Rodriguez-portrays El Wray in a very comedic fashion that is almost the complete opposite to Cherry,he is funny when he doesn't intend to be and also comes up with fantastic one liners,as he rips off show off heroes of the genre.

Marley Shelton-as Dakota she portrays the (sort of)traditional stereotype for horror heroines(basically running,and learning to survive)but she plays it with originality and a very spunky fashion.

Josh Brolin-plays Block who is a stereotype villain of the villain and because of his talent he makes Block a deeply unsettling character...wish they made an action figure of him haha.

Michael Biehn-scene stealing as sheriff Hague.

Jeff Fahey-also steals scenes when trying to make the perfect BBQb sauce...its laugh out loud.

with cameos from Naveen Andrews and the one and only BRUCE WILLIS makes this film completely UNMISSABLE!!!

definately the best horror film of 2007.

Death Proof is by far an effective thriller that i recommend too.

buy Planet terror today and don't miss out on the hype!!!

QUITE GOOD FOR A GRINDHOUSE FILM...
Review date: 2008-07-14 Rating: 6 out of 10

... and a lot better than "Death Proof". If you take it as a brainless, but fun-to-watch bang 'em up, it's quite ok. But it just doesn't deserve the hype it got. So far the Tarantino/Rodriguez Grindhouse productions haven't fulfilled their promises at all. I'm disappointed. For Zombie-films please stick to DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) and don't expect too much of this one.
Let's hope the film Machete (PLANET TERROR features a "trailer" for this one) is better.

Dire!
Review date: 2008-07-13 Rating: 2 out of 10

Seen it all before, heard it all before.

Came out around the same time as resident evil and you know what the difference is between the two? Resident Evil doesn't pretend to be clever, it got slated in the press (rightly so) its just a popcorn movie with no plot or purpose. This film on the other hand will be guaranteed a certain sales and why? Because it has Rodriguez on the front cover who did Sin City and most boxes have Tarantino's name on it front and back(Just to boost those sales a little more)

Well I for one am sick of seeing his name on every 3rd rate "Sell to the University student crowd and the kids who want to look smart" films that have come out ever since his God awful Reservoir Dogs (A film that lets face it is famous only for the ear slicing off scene) I remember watching that when it first came out in some art house cinema and everyone walked out saying "What the hell was that cr**" fast forward a couple of weeks and suddenly its a "Cult film" (Aside from its endless ripping off of other films) Pulp Fiction was the only decent film he ever made. No matter how much he plugs Kill Bill if I wanted to watch a Japanese blood fest I would watch a Manga film or a John Woo film not some 3rd rate director rip off.

So whats this one about? Small Texas town, virus gets let loose turning the locals into zombies with a blood lust. Zombies go on rampage, small town cops, local thug, beautiful girl fight them off...er and so on.......

Stick in the obligatory Tarantino cameo (ala Desperado and numerous other of his tosh films and spin offs) have the usual characters, tough southerner, sleazy girl, useless cops, action actor (This time Bruce Willis rather that Travolta) and you have the plot. Seen it before with every 70s shock horror film. They may bill this as "paying homage" to the Genre but lets face it, its nothing of the sort its just another cash in.

Shoot out at the end of the film just makes this film frankly painful to watch. Most of the directors of those 60s and 70s horror classics must be cringing when they watch rubbish like this. 45 minutes into this film and you really do just loose interest. Good thing this did come out on DVD so quick as at least at home you can find something else to do.

Heard the film was a flop when it came out, wonder why?

Film even tries as using "old film" imagery even down to wobbly screen.

Awesome!
Review date: 2008-06-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

I'll be honest, I saw deathpoof before this and it had definately put me off watching this one, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway.I'm so happy I did. I totally loved this film!!It had everything you'd want, horror, humour, gore, guts and a great atmosphere!! I finished watching this with a huge grin on my face, I really cannot fault this film, as opposed to Deathproof, this was a clever and brilliantly done piece of film, I'd recommend everyone to see it, it ddn't even annoy me that there were hot girls in the film, and that normally drives me mad as they are used as a shunter for a rubbish storyline, however this was not the case here!!

Product Details/Specifications


Artist(s):
Robert Rodriguez

Actor(s):
Rose McGowan
Freddy Rodriguez
Michael Biehn

Creators:
Rose McGowan (Primary Contributor)
Freddy Rodriguez (Primary Contributor)
Robert Rodriguez (Cinematographer)
Robert Rodriguez (Composer)
Robert Rodriguez (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Momentum Pictures Home Ent
Manufacturer: Momentum Pictures Home Ent
EAN: 5060116722536
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-03-10
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 101 minutes

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