God bless Robert Rodriguez. There aren't many A-list directors that are as dedicate to pulp, schlock entertainment like he is. From Dusk Til Dawn, Machete, Desperado and Sin City...if there's over-the-top, logic suspending, Mexploitation action bullshit to be had, Rodriguez won't be far away. Planet Terror formed the first segment of the failed box office experiment Grindhouse, but it's much like the director's other efforts in many ways.
There's the large ensemble of talented character actors (or has beens) playing larger than life weirdos (Bruce Willis, Naveen Andrews, Michael Biehn, Jeff Fahey, Josh Brolin...oh and of course Quentin), there's your striking leading lady, Rose McGowen(sassy, old school Hollywood brawn and beauty), and your Latino anti-hero, Freddy Rodriguez. There's the convoluted plot woven around a straightforward premise, the self styled score, the mature (adults only) off-kilter dialogue. And the memorable moments that litter the movie that stay with you forever; the fate of Marley Shelton's son, exploding heads, Quentin's toxic dick, the missing reel, Naveen's eyeball collection and, the icing on the cake, Rose's machine gun leg. Pure genius.
Just like Machete this year, there isn't a big market for z-list, dumb action movies like this as the box office results will testify. But as long as Rodriguez can keep pumping them out on the necessary low budgets with the high volumes of unrestrained fun that Planet Terror has, then we're looking at A-list entertainment for many years to come. I just wish he'd stop making those bloody kids films...
