Planet Terror (2007)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Robert Rodriguez

Writer:

Robert Rodriguez (written by)

Release Date:

21 June 2007 (Israel)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Fully Loaded

Plot:

After an experimental bio-weapon is released, turning thousands into zombie-like creatures, it's up to a rag-tag group of survivors to stop the infected and those behind its release.

Plot Keywords:

Gas | Texas | Sheriff | Military Base | Hospital

Cast

Rose McGowan	...	Cherry Darling
Freddy Rodríguez	...	Wray (as Freddy Rodriguez)
Josh Brolin	...	Dr. William Block
Marley Shelton	...	Dr. Dakota Block
Jeff Fahey	...	J.T.
Michael Biehn	...	Sheriff Hague
Rebel Rodriguez	...	Tony Block
Bruce Willis	...	Lt. Muldoon
Naveen Andrews	...	Abby
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Romy
Stacy Ferguson	...	Tammy
Nicky Katt	...	Joe
Hung Nguyen	...	Dr. Crane
Cecilia Conti	...	Paramedic Cecil
Tommy Nix	...	Paramedic Nixer

Also Known As:

Grindhouse Presents: Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror (USA) (DVD title)
Project Terror (USA) (working title)
Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

105 min (international version) | 95 min (original release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Philippines:R-13 | UK:18 | Singapore:R21 | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Italy:VM14 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | USA:Not Rated | Ireland:16 | Brazil:18 | Japan:R-15 | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R16 | Germany:18 (cut) (DVD version) | Germany:18 (JK/SPIO) (special edition DVD) | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | France:-12 | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

In the scene in the hospital when Dakota is called on by her husband Dr. Bill Block to bring the needles there is a brief shot of her notepad which reads: "To do / Cereal for Tony / Crickets for Tony's pets / Kill Bill" - the latter of course a reference to Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" films.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The gun attached to Cherry's leg in the climax of the film alternates between firing bullets and explosives, never runs out of ammunition, and apparently, no trigger is being pulled whenever the gun is used (although these may be more of the "deliberate Grindhouse feel" intentional goofs.)

Quotes:

[first lines]
Skip: Real pretty tonight, Holly. Goddammit, girls - if you're gonna do that shit, do it onstage! Smokin' hot. Whew!

Movie Connections:

References Ying hung boon sik II (1987)

Soundtrack:

Useless Talent #38

Part One of "Grindhouse"

I reviewed this before as it was put together next to "Death Proof" (plus a number of inspired trailers for films that don't exist) for the grand experiment "Grindhouse",and I felt that while I still quite enjoyed the whole package, this probably should've been broken into halves to make this a little more viewer friendly (that is,assuming directors Quentin Tarrantino and Robert Rodriguez were EVER interested in trying to make a commercial hit out of their opus).

The pulpy,weighted on action tale of a bio-chemical leakage at a rural Texas military outpost that turns people in zombies brings together a variety of disparate locals,among them a hardened and bitingly sardonic stripper (Rose McGowan,who has to work hard to NOT drip sexuality) and her sometime boyfriend and bad-ass fighter (Freddy Rodriguez). Subplots involving a loveless and abusive marriage between wed doctors (MArley Shelton and Josh Brolin) and rival brothers--one a sheriff (Michael Biehn),the other a BBQ rib joint proprietor (Jeff Fahey,who was unrecognizable to me at first)--seem to be padding to build conflict toward a big,bloody,messy,fiery climax,and if there's anyone who understands those kinds of film finishes,it's director Robert Rodriguez,working the usual flourish and flair.

On it's own or added to Tarantino's road menace pic,this is still quite a bit of non-brain-taxing fun!