REVIEW

Movie Review: Grindhouse

Written by Brandon Valentine
Published April 08, 2007

In the simplest of terms, Grindhouse is unadulterated homage to the exploitation flicks of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s.  The production packs campy gore, cheesy dialogue, boobs, and blood—into an inventive double feature from the minds of two fan-favorite directors.  In addition, Grindhouse contains streaks, specks, and intentional “missing reels” (equipped with apologizes for the inconvenience) to allow the experience to take on the exact articulation a genuine grindhouse “B” film.  Despite Grindhouse earning the adjectives over-the-top and corny, it also warrants the words ingenious and entertaining.

With Planet Terror, director Robert Rodriguez tells the story of a go-go dancer named Cherry Darling (Rose McGowan).  After Cherry quits her night job, she reunites with her old flame Wray (Freddy Rodriguez) only to realize that a mysterious green gas has engulfed a neighboring Army base—transforming all human-beings into zombies.  With a multitude of zombies roaming the streets and severing everything in sight, Cherry and Wray must stop at nothing to cease the swarm and save humanity.  Even when Cherry loses her right leg, she is not hindered; Wray manages to replace her appendage with an automatic weapon.

Planet Terror is high on camp and fun.  Appearances from near has-beens like Michael Biehn and Jeff Fahey fit the film’s throwback nature.  Likewise, Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson, Bruce Willis, and Marley Shelton all fare well in meeting “B-horror” acting expectations.  However, it is Josh Brolin (the one-time big brother of Mikey from The Goonies) who hits the nail on the head and steals every scene in which he is featured. 

From severed heads, to buckets of blood, and from oozing puss, to J.T.’s Bar-B-Q sauce, Planet Terror is corny, comedic, and saucy.  With decapitation and amputation throughout, Planet Terror truly has all the fixings one could ask for.  As long as you leave your thinking cap at the door, you are sure to revel in its absurdity and brilliancy.

On the other hand, Tarantino takes a more serious approach in Death Proof.  Kurt Russell stars as Stuntman Mike—a bar regular who devours Nachos Grande and consumes a menu of virgin drinks.  All-the-while, Stuntman Mike scopes the scene and stalks pretty young women.  He intimidates and more with his black ‘71/’72 Chevy Nova, but when he crosses paths with fellow stuntwomen Kim (Tracie Thoms) and Zoe (Zoe Bell), his true colors begin to shine.

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Brandon Valentine is a film critic from Hershey, PA. Aside from possessing the last name “Valentine” and living in “the Sweetest Place on Earth,” Brandon was also born on Valentine’s Day. That’s right, a Valentine born on Valentine’s Day. His “sweet” work can be viewed at Blogcritics, IMDb, and his own site, Valentine on Film.
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Movie Review: Grindhouse
Published: April 08, 2007
Type: Review
Section: Video
Filed Under: Video: Action, Video: Crime, Video: Horror, Video: SF, Video: Thriller
Writer: Brandon Valentine
Brandon Valentine's BC Writer page
Brandon Valentine's personal site
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