Terrorists and the military square off in a small town for a chemical that chemically alters humanity into... something awful. A chemical somehow connected to Osama bin Laden. Getting caught up in this are the local police, a wrecker, a go-go dancer turned comedienne and a local cook with a very special barbecue recipe. Oh my, what will become of them?
In the theater, this film was the first half of "Grindhouse", and by far the more action-packed one ("Death Proof" being the other half). And there's a drastic difference -- "Death Proof" has the dialogue and the superior music, but "Planet Terror" has the action, the blood, the humor and the pure campiness people were coming to see.
The cast makes this film. Freddy Rodríguez (who is like a handsome John Leguizamo) plays the lead -- El Wray, a man with a secret past (geniusly removed from the plot by a "missing reel"). His right-hand woman (or, more accurately, his right-legged woman) is Rose McGowan playing Cherry Darling. While McGowan was alright in "Death Proof", she shines here -- more action, a better, sexier appearance. She is awesome with her stunt leg (first a wooden peg and later a machine gun). I understand this was edited in later with computers, but it looks good and she was crucial to everything lining up right.
Marley Shelton is Dr. Dakota Block, who also appears in "Death Proof" (as do the Parks father-son team as the McGraw cops we've seen before in "From Dusk Till Dawn" and "Kill Bill"). Her husband is the deranged Dr. Willam Block (played by Josh Brolin, who has a very Kurt Russellesque look here). Doc Block was a great addition to the story - -a subplot that didn't need to even be here but added something important... I can't put my finger on it.
Naveen Andrews (probably best known from TV's "Lost") is Abby, and English terrorist obsessed with collecting enemies' testicles. This has to be one of the strangest parts of the film, but it's really funny and not at all nonsense like it would be in any other film. Horror veteran Tom Savini plays Deputy Tolo. He was great, of course.
Electra and Elise Avellan were the babysitter twins. When they first showed up, I thought they were stupid characters, but they provide more necessary comic relief and can be vicious if provoked. Speaking of vicious, Quentin Tarantino plays "The Rapist", but sadly isn't all that impressive. He isn't really given the chance to indulge in his style of rambling that makes him lovable. His scene -- unnecessary.
Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson is here. Horror icon Jeff Fahey is here (and soon to be joining Naveen Andrews on "Lost"). Did I mention Bruce Willis is here playing Lt. Muldoon? Because he is. And he has one of the best lines in the movie, simply on how he delivers it (with a pause that would make William Shatner jealous).
Watch "Death Proof" if you want strong dialog and a throwback to crappy car chase movies of the 1970s. If you want action, sexuality (McGowan's hottest role since "Doom Generation"?) and more blood than I've ever seen in one movie in my life -- trucks and even helicopters plowing through bodies like a hot knife through a foreskin during a bris. I sincerely believe this is the best film of 2007 and I stand firm on that. After watching over 300 films this year, I don't need November or December to know what I'm talking about. Catch this one like Ash on a Pokemon.
In the theater, this film was the first half of "Grindhouse", and by far the more action-packed one ("Death Proof" being the other half). And there's a drastic difference -- "Death Proof" has the dialogue and the superior music, but "Planet Terror" has the action, the blood, the humor and the pure campiness people were coming to see.
The cast makes this film. Freddy Rodríguez (who is like a handsome John Leguizamo) plays the lead -- El Wray, a man with a secret past (geniusly removed from the plot by a "missing reel"). His right-hand woman (or, more accurately, his right-legged woman) is Rose McGowan playing Cherry Darling. While McGowan was alright in "Death Proof", she shines here -- more action, a better, sexier appearance. She is awesome with her stunt leg (first a wooden peg and later a machine gun). I understand this was edited in later with computers, but it looks good and she was crucial to everything lining up right.
Marley Shelton is Dr. Dakota Block, who also appears in "Death Proof" (as do the Parks father-son team as the McGraw cops we've seen before in "From Dusk Till Dawn" and "Kill Bill"). Her husband is the deranged Dr. Willam Block (played by Josh Brolin, who has a very Kurt Russellesque look here). Doc Block was a great addition to the story - -a subplot that didn't need to even be here but added something important... I can't put my finger on it.
Naveen Andrews (probably best known from TV's "Lost") is Abby, and English terrorist obsessed with collecting enemies' testicles. This has to be one of the strangest parts of the film, but it's really funny and not at all nonsense like it would be in any other film. Horror veteran Tom Savini plays Deputy Tolo. He was great, of course.
Electra and Elise Avellan were the babysitter twins. When they first showed up, I thought they were stupid characters, but they provide more necessary comic relief and can be vicious if provoked. Speaking of vicious, Quentin Tarantino plays "The Rapist", but sadly isn't all that impressive. He isn't really given the chance to indulge in his style of rambling that makes him lovable. His scene -- unnecessary.
Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson is here. Horror icon Jeff Fahey is here (and soon to be joining Naveen Andrews on "Lost"). Did I mention Bruce Willis is here playing Lt. Muldoon? Because he is. And he has one of the best lines in the movie, simply on how he delivers it (with a pause that would make William Shatner jealous).
Watch "Death Proof" if you want strong dialog and a throwback to crappy car chase movies of the 1970s. If you want action, sexuality (McGowan's hottest role since "Doom Generation"?) and more blood than I've ever seen in one movie in my life -- trucks and even helicopters plowing through bodies like a hot knife through a foreskin during a bris. I sincerely believe this is the best film of 2007 and I stand firm on that. After watching over 300 films this year, I don't need November or December to know what I'm talking about. Catch this one like Ash on a Pokemon.