DVD
REVIEW: PLANET TERROR (Unrated)
10/13/07
“That boy’s got the devil
in him.” says Milton, borrowing from J.T. Hague, referring
to Robert Rodriguez’s amazing ability with the film camera.
I’ve always thought of Rodriguez as being overrated, but
ever since Sin City, Rodriguez has began to fill the pants
of what many already consider to be a master filmmaker. With
Plant Terror, Rodriguez‘s, has solidify his stature as a
director who takes risk with fantastic results.
In Planet Terror, Cherry Darling (Rose McGowan) is a go-go
dancer hell-bent and changing her life. The opportunity
presents itself when a bio-engineered virus developed by the
government begins spreading and turning anyone who comes in
contact with it into zombies. After leaving the go-go club
for good, Cherry accidentally meets up with El Wray (Freddy
Rodriguez), an ex-boyfriend who’s exceptional with the knife
and the gun. Cherry tells El Wray she wants to be a stand up
comedian and before parting way El Wray offers her a ride.
After an accident leaves El Wray’s truck upside-down,
Cherry‘s leg is eaten in a vicious zombie attack.
At the hospital Sheriff Hague takes El Wray in, suspecting
he has something to do with Cherry’s leg. Once at the police
station, El Wray helps the sheriff fend of a zombie attack
and they both head back to the hospital to rescue Cherry.
Afterwards they all meet up at the “The Bone Shack” which
serves “Texas’ Best Barbeque” operate by Sheriff Hague’s
brother J.T. Hague (Jeff Fahey). At “The Bone Shack” El Wray
tells Sheriff Hague who he really is, but the audience never
knows what was said because the reel is missing. After the
missing reel the movie picks up with the “The Bone Shack” on
fire and with Cherry ready to accept her destiny .
Exploitation film of the 70s weren’t usually very good, so
one would expect that the same would be true of Planet
Terror. However, nothing could be further from the true.
Planet Terror features a great cast and some terrific
performances. The plot, however preposterous, is stellar and
Rodriguez manages to keep the movie fun and exciting the
whole way through. The rivalry over the barbeque recipe
between the Hague brothers is legendary; their delivery of
the dialog and acting was superb. Freddy Rodriguez was
first-rate and proves that he can carry a movie. Rose
McGowan’s performance was outstanding and shows the range of
her ability by playing such a dynamic character.
Kudos to Roberto Rodriguez for having the guts to make such
a risky movie that could have gone tragically wrong, but
with Rodriguez at the helm orchestrating every note, this
movie is an elegant stylish masterpiece.
The missing reel bit was a stroke of genius; never has the
suppression of information been so elegantly done. It’s only
October but this movie has my votes for best movie of 2007.
Playing before the movie begins is the already legendary
fake trailer for a movie called Machete featuring Machete
(Danny Trejo) as an ex-Federale (Mexican federal police) and
his brother Padre Benicio Del Toro(Cheech Marin) taking
revenge against Machete’s former boss after he betrays him.
After the response the trailer gathered, the studio decided
to make Machete into a feature film with Roberto Rodriguez
directing.
VIDEO:
Widescreen
AUDIO:
Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround - English, Spanish
Subtitles - English Spanish - Optional
BONUS FEATURES:
DISK 1:
Feature Length Audio Commentary By
Writer/Director Robert Rodriguez
View Movie with Audience Screening Track
International Poster Gallery
International Trailer
DISK 2:
10 Minute Film School - Shows
how the special effects with Cherry’s leg were created on
the tight budget. A must see for an film aficionado . (12
minutes)
The Badass Babes Of Planet Terror
- Robert Rodriguez and
Quentin Tarantino discuss the women of Planet Terror. (12
minutes)
The Guys Of Planet
Terror - Robert Rodriguez discusses the casting of
the man of Planet Terror. (17 minutes)
Casting Robert
Rodriguez’s Son Rebel - Robert Rodriguez discuss the
casting of his son as Tony Block. Robert mentions that his
son still doesn’t know he dies in the movie. (6 minutes)
Sickos, Bullets And Explosions: The Stunts Of
Planet Terror - Jeff Dashnaw, the stunt coordinator,
discusses how the amazing stunts were created. (13 minutes)
The Friend, The
Doctor And The Real Estate Agent - Robert discusses
the casting of this friend Tommy Nix as a Paramedic which
lived out his dream of being eaten by a zombie. Also Robert
speaks about Dr. Felix played by his real life Doctor Felix
Sabates. Robert also cast his Real Estate Agent Skip Reissig
as Skip the owner of the sleazy Go-Go-Go Club (7 minutes)
RATING BREAK DOWN:
| FILM REVIEW |
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VIDEO |
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AUDIO |
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| BONUS
FEATURES |
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Review
By Milton Brayson
milton@smartcine.com
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