Planet Terror needs a sequel

Rating: 8/10 (8 April 2007)

Well I must say that after all the hype I had a hard time going into this one... I was expecting something critically loved for all the wrong reasons and for most part I'm right about this. Tons of movies like the two featured in Grindhouse are hailed by critics as total garbage and a waste of everyone's time... But when you get big names like Quentin Tarantino behind the film all of the sudden it's perfectly alright to create total schlock or a tribute to said schlock.
Before I go into detail the only Tarantino or Rodriguez film I've ever really enjoyed was the last time the two collaborated on From Dusk Till Dawn.
For the most part Grindhouse delivers... Actually I take that back... Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror delivers on a level that I haven't seen in theaters for a very long time yet. It's a tip of the hat at all the old 80's sci-fi horror camp and it's done very bloody well. The level of gore is unmatched by most films I've seen in the theater recently, and the movie is very quickly paced and doesn't let up. There's really never a dull moment the entire film and honestly I've almost fully restored faith in Rodriguez. He's always been able to do a hell of an action scene, but a lot of the times his movies lacked something that really made them memorable.
Well now that Rodriguez has an element he doesn't need a real plot for, his talents really do shine. Just everything about Planet Terror stands out as good news in my book.
The characters are all fairly memorable but not legendary or anything. Sure you'll have a larf at the wooden legged stripper Cherry Darling or the almost ultimate badass but not quite Wrey. If you're a movie buff you'll see that it's good to have Reese from Terminator back or The Lawnmower Man cooking up barbecue but none of the characters, while enjoyable and original, will make a real permanent impression.
The story is goofy 80's horror/sci fi schlock. You've seen it before but it's done very well, tongue in cheek and pays tribute to the days of old when movies like this were actually taken seriously. Meaning that Planet Terror is MUST SEE in the book of TED.
My only complaint about Planet Terror is that it should have been the second film in Grindhouse. The movie is so quickly paced and done... So right... That it's really hard to come to a grinding halt for Deathproof which is a very different movie.
Taking a step back another generation and on delivery is Tarantino's " Deathproof ". Paying homage to 70's Z grade films you've never seen and never will, it's a difficult film to swallow for the most part. It's 90% typical overdone Quentin Tarantino dialog and 10% car chase scene. I realize what goals Tarantino had when making Deathproof and I won't say he didn't achieve them... But for the most part the movie is a total mess. The only problem with me saying that is that no doubt this was the intention with Deathproof.
I dug Kurt Russel as Stuntman Mike... But I wish he would have had some more time to shine in front of the camera. The movie mostly consists of a bunch of girls blabbing typical Tarantino with a bit of Russell thrown in here or there. The girls involved just really aren't enjoyable company but yet they all capture the feel the movie was going for. The story just seems to drag along and doesn't feature enough of the enigmatic Stuntman Mike. I know he's supposed to be mysterious and this movie is a tribute to movies that didn't have any plot or whatever but damnit ... He should have had more screen time.
Honestly I think I wanted Deathproof to be something more than it was... While capturing the exact thing I think it was going for, it just didn't keep me totally entertained after enjoying Planet Terror so much. You'll just have to see it and judge for yourself... But I think it could have been a bit more than it was. Still.. Kurt Russel saying " This car is 100% deathproof " coolest line ever.
As for the previews and such before and between the films ... They were enjoyable. I found Eli Roth's Thanksgiving trailer to be rather hilarious.
I give Grindhouse 4/5 Corpses... Had Deathproof been as enjoyable as Planet Terror in my mind who knows what sort of ridiculous score I would have given this movie.
Go to the theaters now. I don't think anyone is going to walk away disappointed if you know what you're in for.