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U.S.A.
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2007
Directed
by Robert Rodriguez
Starring
Rose McGowan
Freddy
Rodríguez
Josh Brolin
Color
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105 Minutes
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Not Rated
Format:
DVD (R1 - NTSC | 2-disc set)
Dimension/Genius Products
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10
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Guest
Review by Ryan
Brewer |
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Planet
Terror
is Robert Rodriguez's full-feature contribution to the double
bill Grindhouse film. While the
segment directed by Quentin Tarantino, Death
Proof, was very talky and slow (with some fantastic car
chases and stunts), I find that Planet
Terror is more in tune with my cult film sensibilities.
It's just plain fun. After all, the main character is a go-go
dancer who strives to be a standup comedian.
What's it about? In this film you have a
mysterious stranger known as El Wray (Freddy Rodríguez), who
can proficiently dispense mayhem with most any weapon — from
butterfly knives to high-powered automatic rifles — without
ever missing. His love interest and heroine of the story is
Cherry (Rose McGowan), the flick's famed cover art girl with
the machine gun leg. Bruce Willis plays Lt. Muldoon, the doomed
Marine officer who took out Osama Bin Laden (!) in command of
troops who've been exposed to the horrific nerve agent DC2.
There's Dr. William Block (Josh Brolin) and his spouse Dr. Dakota
Block (Marley Shelton), who are having a rough time struggling
with a failing marriage; hubby is on the edge of a breakdown
concerning his wife's extramarital shenanigans with Tammy ("Fergalicious"
pop singer Stacy Ferguson), while Dakota — who packs anesthetic-loaded
syringes in her garter belt — formulates her own plans. The
scenery chewing Texas Ranger Earl McGraw (Michael Parks), seen
in From Dusk Till Dawn, Kill
Bill, Vol. 1 and Death Proof,
returns in what is probably his most active role in any of the
Tarantino/Rodriguez films. There are additional colorful characters
(notably the "Crazy Babysitter Twins" and a number
of cult film veterans, such as Michael Biehn and Tom Savini),
but I'll try to stay focused... The best thing going here is
that this is a deliriously gory zombie movie; now that it's
available in unrated form it is even somewhat gooier. A deal
goes sour between Muldoon and bio-weapons engineer Abby (Naveen
Andrews) over a cache of DC2, which turns people into mutating,
slime-dripping, flesh-eating zombies. (Previously exposed, Muldoon
and his men must inhale small regular doses of DC2 to prevent
the change.) When canisters of the stuff are punctured, the
green gas is carried by the wind so that we get an entire town
full of zombies to battle the heroic human survivors. Big shootouts
ensue. This, like all 'besieging zombie' movies, is about survival.
Planet
Terror is an entertaining
zombie romp, but know that it's not like any of the serious
'Romero-esqe' genre efforts... The special effects are great
—
or certainly great for a
flick such as this, one intended to have a somewhat cheesy feel
to it. The acting is appropriate for what is needed. It was
strange how much of the film felt familiar (i.e., the zombie-creating
gas) yet maintained a freshness throughout with some genuinely
unexpected twists.
The film is designed
to look and feel like you're watching a worn-out copy that has
played at every fleapit in town. There are pops, jumps, grain,
magenta saturation, and "missing reels" digitally
added to give the effect of a vintage, beat-up print. It makes
for an interesting experience.
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The
current release is the two-disc "Extended & Unrated"
version, using the imprimatur "Grindhouse Presents"
(as did the Death Proof DVD). The
first disc contains the film, presented in anamorphic 1:85:1.
Picture looks great aside from all of the previous mentioned digitally-inserted
visual flaws. There is a high level of detail even with the imposed
grain. The 5.1 English and Spanish audio tracks rock; I actually
heard some creeping footsteps in my rear speakers. There's also
a 5.1 Surround "reaction" track, a recording of live-audience
eeewwws and aaahhs. (It's rather like watching a
horror movie on TV with a laugh track, except that the people
are screaming, cheering, etc. as well as laughing.) Special features
include an audio commentary by director Rodriguez, a poster gallery,
and the international trailer. The commentary makes for a very
informative listen as Rodriguez details what went in to making
the film and many behind-the-scenes stories. Rodriguez also points
out whenever there is anything new on screen that was not included
in the R-rated theatrical cut of the film. The best "special
feature" to me — and it isn't even considered a bonus, really
— is the inclusion of the mock trailer Machete, featuring
Danny Trejo as the imposing title character (the "wrong Mexican"
to "fuck with"). I was so pissed when I bought the Death
Proof DVD and the mock trailers weren't included, but at
least on this release this trailer precedes the main feature.
Disc 2 contains six
short featurettes concerning the creation of this wild action/horror/comedy
ride: 10-Minute Film School, The Badass Babes of Planet
Terror, The Tough Guys of Planet Terror, Sickos, Bullets
& Explosions: The Stunts of Planet Terror, Casting
Rebel and The Friend, the Doctor & the Real Estate
Agent. While I've found that many making-of documentaries
are truly boring, all of these featurettes should hold most folk's
attention. They're generally of the "puff piece" variety
but smartly made and fun. (The best of them is the 10-Minute
Film School with Robert Rodriguez.) In one of these segments
the director mentions that a newer addition of this film is in
the works for release on DVD in 2008. Perhaps with this future
edition fans will get the complete Grindhouse
experience, but until then we can watch this solid release.
12/17/07 |
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