This week brings us a fine selection of movies and television shows, many of which you are probably going to want to add to your own personal collection. Thankfully, I am here to help you navigate the treacherous waters of the new release stacks. I am here to help guide you towards those that are truly worthy and those that should be thrown back. Of course, I am not going to do your job for you. You are still going to be required to do a little work yourself. Meaning, the choice and subsequent list found below are just a portion of what will be available. I go through the new release list at Amazon.com and comment on my number one title of interest and select others that are of interest, for better or worse. Hopefully this list will help you find the right title for you.

The top title this week has to be Planet Terror, Robert Rodriguez' half of the Grindhouse double feature that hit theaters this past spring. Tarantino's half, Death Proof, came out a few weeks back. Now that both are here we begin to recreate the theatrical experience, although we still won't have all of the fake trailers to go in between, or the theatrical Grindhouse cuts of the films. I am going to assume that we are going to get a complete Grindhouse release down the road. That possibility should be part of your decision-making process; should you get this set, or wait for the box set, whenever (if ever) it does arrive? I know I will be getting it; I really enjoyed this film and look forward to the extended cut.

Planet Terror is a tale of a toxic gas which turns people into flesh-eating mutants. It is delivered in genuinely grimy fashion, with much in the way of dirt and marks digitally added in. It tells the story of a depressed go-go dancer, Cherry Darling (Rose McGowan) who meets up with an ex-boyfriend, Wray (Freddy Rodriguez) who is a mechanic and a gun runner, and together with a motley crew of townsfolk, band together to defend themselves against the encroaching horde of the pustule-covered, flesh-eating former humans who are intent on devouring flesh.

Planet Terror lurches forward on its own inventive energy. It may not be a good movie, but it is one that seeks to raise its low-ball ambition to the level of art. It moves along at a furious pace and is drenched in blood and guts, not to mention Rose McGowan at her sexiest — that will keep you distracted from the distinct lack of direction that the film has. The story has McGowan and Rodriguez leading the ragtag team which features the sheriff, a BBQ restaurateur, a doctor husband and wife intent on killing each other, and a few other random folk. The group of heroes must fight through the flesh-eating creatures to find a cure for the gas that has fallen upon the town. The story doesn't really amount to much, but it is fun.

The centerpiece of the story is the loss of Cherry Darling's leg, which, as we ramp up to the explosive climax, is replaced with a high-powered machine gun. It is put to great use, cutting down the creatures and anyone else getting in her way.