Planet Terror (Rodriguez, 2007)

[fizz]

I'm surprised by my reaction to Planet Terror. It is a totally trashy exploitation film that is repulsive, asinine and at times, dull and self aware to the extent that it reeks of back patting. Yet, despite all of this, it remains somewhat joyous to watch in a purely escapist sense. The film is made with an inbuilt audience in mind; those that know and understand what Robert Rodriguez and directing partner Quentin Tarantino are upto (making a "Grindhouse" film for this new century), the purpose of which seems as pointless and juvenile as the film itself. Does being able to direct in an obsolete style mean anything or prove any true artistic abilities? Both Rodriguez and Tarantino seem to think so, but if anything, the first of the two films (the second is Tarantino's Death Proof, as yet unseen by me) gives me no reason to think so. In all honesty, if anyone wanted to see a movie made in the past that looked like it was from the past, they'd rent it. The faux scratched film, consciously bad editing and even a missing reel that eats away the continuity from a small chunk of the film, feel forced and have 'look at me' written all over it. Adding to the sense of displayed anachronism is the use of cell phones, Humvees etc.

There is really no plot to write about, at least nothing that anyone would care to read. This is an ode, homage and spoof of B-zombie movies. The effects are cheap, the dialogues painful. While the former is intentional, the latter is growing proof of Rodriguez's attempt (and failure) to imitate his friend QT. In the final analysis, the film is so hell bent on being what it is, that it starts to grow on you somewhat. The characters are neither engaging or worth caring for - the glorification of low life's, nudity and violence is tiring, but the craftiness at keeping the action moving at a pulsating pace, will keep anyone watching, if not always entertained.

Rating: 3/5

[madali]

Planet Terror (Rodriguez, 2007)
IMDB Link

This is more like it! In “Death Proof”, I did not feel like Tarantino fully embrace the movies he was trying to recreate, as if he was not comfortable from not being Tarantino. Rodriguez, on the other hand, creates a more fun product. “Planet Terror” is pure entertainment, exactly what Grindhouse is supposed to be.

The town is overrun by zombies, so our characters join together to survive and kill some zombies. Like hundreds of zombie movies before it, but fine, that’s the point, Rodriguez was not looking for a unique plotline.

It is bloody, action-filled, Marley Shelton was gorgeous, and the gun-leg girl was as fun as the trailer promised! A few things to point out though. I’m still not very thrilled with the grindhouse gimmicks, such as scratches, missing reels, and so forth. We’ve had lots of zombie movies that are a throwback to the 70s and 80s zombie movies, and they did not try to recapture the look, so why does Rodriguez want to do that? Is it because he (like Tarantino) is uncomfortable with just making a zombie movie, and find it easier to defend making a novelty? To me, that is a bit annoying. Lots of horror directors nowadays try their best to create zombie movies, but are constrained by low budget, reputation, or experience, to be able to achieve what they truly want. Now suddenly we have someone like Rodriguez who has it all, but he purposely gives it an old, B-movie look. Why? Zombie fans, like myself, don’t like zombie movies because it has scratches, we like it because it has zombies and blood!

3/5