| Grindhouse (2007) Planet Terror (2007) Cast: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Michael Biehn, Jeff Fahey, Marley Shelton, John Brolin, Michael Parks, Bruce Willis When a deadly chemical is unleashed in a Texas town, the chemical unleashes a group of zombies that terrorize the town and the few survivors take refuge at a restaurant (best ribs in Texas) and come up with a game plan to fight the zombies off, only to find out that it goes with the government. Planet Terror is the better film of the two because the action is non-stop, the script is funny (though the dialogue can get a little cheesy) and the familar faces such as Biehn, Fahey, Parks and Willis provide the most entertaining characters while the Return Of The Living Dead styled plot is done with much gore, much black humor and is frequently exciting throughout. I wouldn't say this is Rodriguez's best work but it's certainly full of energy and has a fast pace and his send up in the zombie genre is by far one of the best in the genre. The only flaw that irked me was the whole "Missing Reel" footage, sure that was acceptable in the theater but on DVD this is just stupid and irritating as we literally are in the dark about what happened. The movie though is stole completely by Rose McGowan. Rose McGowan is undeniably sexy and cuts a great action star with a grittiness that makes her believable, especially when compared to pretenders like Aeon Flux and Ultraviolet, and her streaptease in the beginning is reason enough to see this movie. Plus who doesn't love a good zombie movie? The trailer for Machete is also truly hilarious, authentic and sets the tone for Planet Terror. This feels like an authentic drive in movie unlike Death Proof. D. Robert Rodriguez***1/2 Death Proof (2007) Cast.Kurt Russell,Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Tracie Thoms, Sydney Poitier, Jordan Ladd, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Parks, Rose McGowan,Zoe Bell. Death Proof is the weaker film of the two because the movie gets far too talky and goes overboard with how much in love it is with itself. The movie is about a serial killer named Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) who uses his car to kill women who reject him and make him feel sexually inadequate. Death Proof is still fairly entertaining and the reason is because of Kurt Russell and his exellent performance which is sinister at first but then hilarious at the end, his charisma makes what could've been a disaster into a decent movie. If they had gone with someone other than Russell, the movie would've most likely would've collapsed into unwatchable tedium where people talk endlessly about meaningless stuff. Kurt Russell though is the best character and the most interesting and yet is sadly not used as well as he could've been. Also I would've personally liked to see Ferlito, Thoms, Ladd and Dawson as the main girls who get revenge because Poitier and especially Bell grated my nerves. Also Tarantino cannot act, and he's annoying on screen and while I love his directing talent, one just wishes someone would tell him to keep himself behind the camera. What makes Death Proof the weaker film as well is that it really develop the serial killer plot, indeed the movie is just girl talk punctiuated by some car wrecks and chases. Death Proof is the type of movie that needs a director who isn't so self mocking, who isn't so in love with his own hipness and who is willing to actually develop a coherent story involving Kurt Russell as a serial killer hunting them down. Indeed Russell and the girls at the end never talk to each other prior to the climax and a far better movie looks to develop that plot angle, instead of numerous gab sessions that really don't add much to the table. Like I said though, Russell's presence saves the movie. Ferlito, Ladd, Dawson and (especially)Thoms work really well in their roles and the action sequences are great. The car chase in particular is one of the best i've seen in years but yet with everything I liked about Death Proof, there were other things I didn't and it's apparent that Tarantino is his own worst enemy, as he creates all of his own flaws. (Especially casting himself in small roles.) Death Proof despite being Tarantino's worst movie is worth watching once for the genre fan. D. Quentin Tarantino*** |