Planet Terror (2007)

"GRINDHOUSE PRESENTS" YES!! YES!! This can actually claim that. Because unlike Death Proof (which i did enjoy quite a bit) Planet Terror actually went all the way with the grindhouse style, not only in terms of the picture qaulity but in terms of the narrative which felt a lot more like a throway grindhouse popcorn flick.

I watched this from an American DVD i borrowed from a friend. Me and my brother sat down to watch this with a few beers and a pizza, i'd say the best way to view this film. Unlike Death Proof, Planet Terror doesn't take itself seriously, its a bit of gruesome fun. Saying that i do feel some moments were a little off, such as one involving a kid. Dr. Dakota Block who has run away from the infected area where the zombie ("Sickos") are and gone to her dads house with her son. She leaves her son in the car and gives him a gun to protect himself from the zombies. while she is away the camera follows her and we hear a gun shot, the kid had shot himself accidently. Though this type of stuff is usually in grindhouse films, it can't help but come off a bit weird and unneeded. Especially as its not really mentioned again. Some of the characters i didn't feel quite worked, such as Dakota Block and Abby (Naveen Andrews "Lost"). However i did enjoy the subplot of Dakota and her cheating on her husband, and the way that was used within the film was interesting.

Quentin Tarantino makes a appearence in a pretty needless scene, but hey. Bruce willis does an almost cameo though quite funny role (that bin laden stuff was classic). Actually the Osama bin laden scene is evidence of the throwaway fun style that planet terror was trying to create, and it did. The music score was also great, and really enagaging i love that main theme. on a personal level there were some aspects i didn't like, just because it reminded me of that 2005 film "slither" which i didn't like , but thats just me :) Rose McGowan was great as Cherry Darling, as was Freddy Rodríguez as Eli Wray.

All in all, its hard to rank this film, as its so much fun, its not the best film in the world by a good few miles, but, hell its very fun and thats all it was meant to be, and for that it was a success. I guess the best way to end this would be as follows :

Planet Terror = A Better "Grindhouse" film
Death Proof = A Better Film

I had fun at both, but i had more fun watching Planet Terror, so go with a few mates, throw logic out the window and enjoy.