by Anna Bulleri

Created on: April 15, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

I read that the idea for the double feature, Grindhouse, was born out of homage of the old, sleazy exploitation flicks of the 70's. Choppy edits, missing reels, silly close up "sexy" shots of dancing girls, even fake coming attractions, it's all here - Tarantino and Rodriguez style and no one could have done it better.

First up is Planet Terror where chemical warefare has gone really, really bad. A gas was released turning people in to flesh eating zombies and someone's got to do something! Meanwhile, teary eyed go-go dancer named Cherry, played to perfection by Rose McGowen, decides it time to hang up her heels and goes in search of a ride and an old flame, played by Freddy Rodriguez. Unfortunately, on the way Cherry is attacked and ends up in a hospital packed to gills with people with mysterious "bites" that won't heal and other assorted disgusting blisters or injuries from zombie attacks. Marley Shelton plays a bi-sexual nurse with a talent for needles and a plan to leave her doctor husband played by Josh Brolin to meet up with a lover. The troublesome zombies ruin everyone's plans and the survivors band together to kill or be killed. As far as I'm concerned, this was the far better movie of the two. The action never stops and characters are great. Bruce Willis plays an military man with a need for the poison gas, Stacy Fergeson (Fergie) pops in as the lover who doesn't make her rendezvous and Naveen Andrews is the unlikely scientist, partly responsible for the gas leak. It's Rose McGowen and Freddy Rodriguez who really shine the brightest, both are fantastic to watch and get the characters exactly right. I thought I recognized Rodriguez from HBO's 6 Feet Under but after seeing this movie, I know there are great things ahead for him.

And then there was Death Proof. Going in, I thought this flick would be far superior, Tarantino and all. Well, it's not. In fact, it was really, really bad. Kurt Russell plays Stunt Man Mike and drives a fast car with a scull on the front. Mike is a lonely soul with an eye for groups of sexy, young girls and once he sets his sights on you, he just doesn't give up. This movie does have some suspense, a few scary-freaky scenes and the ending is a standing up in the theater and cheering kind of ending but for all the action, you first have to sit through lines and lines and then some more lines of dialog far too heavy and pointless for the cast to pull off. It worked in Reservoir Dogs but there's not much you can't do with seasoned

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>