The streak continues; make it four in row and counting. Hard Target had a lot of good things going for it, chief among them being helmed by John Woo in his western movie making debut. Woo, Hard Boiled and The Killer, is a Hon Kong action movie icon for his use of slow motion and combining gun fights with martial arts. He brings his fight choreography and unique visuals to the table when he teams up with Van Damme. This was a match made in heaven. Though Van Damme did not do a lot of the really hard stuff, which I am sure Woo was not accustomed to, because in Hong Kong the stars do basically everything, they still made it work. This movie is nothing but one really cool action sequence after another. This movie is also a who’s who of “that guy”. Arnold Volsoo, The Mummy and 24, Lance Henriksen, Alien, Yancy Bulter, Witchblade, even Wilford Brimley shows up to do a little sumtin sumtin. What more can you ask for.
The greatness of this movie lies in the fact that Woo thinks of the most ridiculous possible action sequence and them films something twice as ridiculous; kicking someone off a dirt bike while jumping off the back of a car, doing a flip and landing on your feet while stuff explodes behind you, no no surfing on a dirt bike while shooting a gun and leaping off that same dirt bike onto the top of an suv, than rolling off the suv onto the ground and then shooting the suv till it explodes, now that’s an action sequence. That is what you get when you team up Van Damme and Woo, the rest of the alphabet is just frontin.
I could break down every action sequence, but there is no need they are all great. Van Damme uses a lot of his typical cinema martial arts, jumping spinning, etc… but with Woo’s help he adds more gun play to his repertoire. Many of the actions sequences feature a combined use of hand to hand and weapons, most often simultaneously, so he would shoot a guy a couple of times and then finish him off with a round house; great stuff, just great. While Bloodsport and Double Impact out rank Hard Target on the list of great Van Damme flicks, it is not by much.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Nowhere to Run
After Double Impact and Universal Soldier it is hard to imagine that Van Damme could continue the streak, after all up until this point he has not been able to string together consecutive strong movies. Much to my disbelief Nowhere to Run, makes it three; we have a streak ladies and gentlemen. What is interesting about this film is that it also continues Van Damme’s run of original story ideas, well at least for him. He's been a genetic experiment, a set of twins, even a world renown fighter; this time he is an escaped convict trying to start over. And believe it or not he is actually guilty. Van Damme plays the role of Sam Gillen an imprisoned bank robber who is released early when his partner, who did not get caught, helps him escape during a prison transfer. His partner, Anthony Starke, is killed during the escape leaving Gillen with all the money they stole from the bank. Gillen ends up making his way onto the property of a widowed mother of two young children, Clydie Anderson, played by Rosanna Arquette. Gillen is quickly found on the property by Clydie’s son, Mookie, played by Kieran Culkin, yeah Macauly’s younger brother. Gillen is welcomed into the family shortly there after when he comes to their aide as a bunch of thugs attacked them. Clydie’s property is in the middle of a major land development that is under way and she does not want to sell. Van Damme ends up staying with the family and helping them hold onto their property.
Nowhere to Run is more about Gillen’s relationship to his newly adopted family and his attempt to put his past behind him than it is his ability to kick major booty. However there were a couple of pretty good action sequences including the final fight, which is one of the better fight scenes in his first seven movies. This is worth mentioning because again in stead of going out and getting a fighter to play the main baddie the movie enlisted the services of an actor, Ted Levine who played Mr. Dunston. In the past this has resulted in a very weak fight scene for a movie climax. However in this film, Director Robert Harmon was able to make the fight work. Again because Levine is not a professional fighter he does not utilize much kicking, but his punches were varied and he made use of environmental weapons such as a pick fork and a windows. The fight also consisted of a lot of rolling around and takeling. So instead of Van Damme uses his martial arts he just fought, which resulted in the final fight scene being just that a good old fashioned knock down drag out fight. In the end Van Damme wins, but still gets hauled off to prison. This type of ending was teased in Lionheart, but the directoe pulled back and went for the cheesy happy ending. I give Harmon credit for having the guts to actually have Van Damme the criminal, no matter how likable he is, get arrested. Good move.
Nowhere to Run is more about Gillen’s relationship to his newly adopted family and his attempt to put his past behind him than it is his ability to kick major booty. However there were a couple of pretty good action sequences including the final fight, which is one of the better fight scenes in his first seven movies. This is worth mentioning because again in stead of going out and getting a fighter to play the main baddie the movie enlisted the services of an actor, Ted Levine who played Mr. Dunston. In the past this has resulted in a very weak fight scene for a movie climax. However in this film, Director Robert Harmon was able to make the fight work. Again because Levine is not a professional fighter he does not utilize much kicking, but his punches were varied and he made use of environmental weapons such as a pick fork and a windows. The fight also consisted of a lot of rolling around and takeling. So instead of Van Damme uses his martial arts he just fought, which resulted in the final fight scene being just that a good old fashioned knock down drag out fight. In the end Van Damme wins, but still gets hauled off to prison. This type of ending was teased in Lionheart, but the directoe pulled back and went for the cheesy happy ending. I give Harmon credit for having the guts to actually have Van Damme the criminal, no matter how likable he is, get arrested. Good move.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Universal Soldier
On the heels of Double Impact, Universal Soldier is released and it is another really good movie, uh oh, Mr. Van Damme is dangerously close to developing a trend. I sense a streak coming on. In much the same way Double Impact was aided by a the unique concept of having Van Damme playing duel roles and bringing Bolo Yeung back to play the lead henchmen, Universal Soldier is aided by an interesting story idea and co-star slash fellow comrade in the action movie buff category, Dolph Lundgren.
Universal Solider is about a top secret genetic engineering super soldier program. Military geneticists have found a way to regenerate dead human tissue and therefore are able to revive former soldiers killed in action. By regenerating dead tissue they are also able to increase the soldier’s strength, speed, endurance, and accuracy making them virtually unstoppable. Private Luke Deveraux, Van Damme and Sergeant Andrew Scott, Lundgren were Vietnam War Vets that killed each other when Deveraux tried to defend some innocent villagers from the homicidal blood lust of Scott. These two were among the firsts dead soldiers to take part in the program. After three successful covert missions the US Military is preparing to take the program public when Deveraux and Scott have mental relapses. Deveraux escapes their military instillation where they are kept in an attempt to return home while Scott takes it upon himself to lead the manhunt for Deveraux.
Given the fact that the movie is about super soldiers it is not hard to guess most of the action was gun fights, there were a couple of hand to hand scenes, one took place in a diner, with shades of the Kickboxer, type of fight choreography expect this one was a little more grueling, but also some what tongue and cheek. At one point Van Damme punches a guy and lands hard enough on pool table to sink three balls into the corner pockets. To further add to the scene instead of playing it drunk this time Van Damme is preoccupied with eating, as a super soldier the are fed intravenously, so every time he knocks a guy out he goes back to eating something. He is also emotionless in the scene because is a brainwashed super soldier. So he just goes about wiping the floor with a bunch on Midwestern tough guys and take breaks to finish eating his lunch. Good stuff.
The movie climaxes with the final scene, an extended fight between Scott, Lundgren and Deveraux, Van Damme. This is a great fight sequence. Mostly because he though he is a big guy, Lundgren can move around and is light on his feet. While he does not through too many kicks he does have a complete inventory of different punches and throws so his attacks were no redundant and boring like we have seen from previous Van Damme movie baddies. When the fight concludes Van Damme uses a lot of his patented kicks and jump kicks to defeat Lundgren by kicking on the spikes of an industrial sized rotor-tiller. It is worth noting that the final blow was not the jumping spinning round house he is famous for, but rather a straight heel kick to the face.
Universal Solider is about a top secret genetic engineering super soldier program. Military geneticists have found a way to regenerate dead human tissue and therefore are able to revive former soldiers killed in action. By regenerating dead tissue they are also able to increase the soldier’s strength, speed, endurance, and accuracy making them virtually unstoppable. Private Luke Deveraux, Van Damme and Sergeant Andrew Scott, Lundgren were Vietnam War Vets that killed each other when Deveraux tried to defend some innocent villagers from the homicidal blood lust of Scott. These two were among the firsts dead soldiers to take part in the program. After three successful covert missions the US Military is preparing to take the program public when Deveraux and Scott have mental relapses. Deveraux escapes their military instillation where they are kept in an attempt to return home while Scott takes it upon himself to lead the manhunt for Deveraux.
Given the fact that the movie is about super soldiers it is not hard to guess most of the action was gun fights, there were a couple of hand to hand scenes, one took place in a diner, with shades of the Kickboxer, type of fight choreography expect this one was a little more grueling, but also some what tongue and cheek. At one point Van Damme punches a guy and lands hard enough on pool table to sink three balls into the corner pockets. To further add to the scene instead of playing it drunk this time Van Damme is preoccupied with eating, as a super soldier the are fed intravenously, so every time he knocks a guy out he goes back to eating something. He is also emotionless in the scene because is a brainwashed super soldier. So he just goes about wiping the floor with a bunch on Midwestern tough guys and take breaks to finish eating his lunch. Good stuff.
The movie climaxes with the final scene, an extended fight between Scott, Lundgren and Deveraux, Van Damme. This is a great fight sequence. Mostly because he though he is a big guy, Lundgren can move around and is light on his feet. While he does not through too many kicks he does have a complete inventory of different punches and throws so his attacks were no redundant and boring like we have seen from previous Van Damme movie baddies. When the fight concludes Van Damme uses a lot of his patented kicks and jump kicks to defeat Lundgren by kicking on the spikes of an industrial sized rotor-tiller. It is worth noting that the final blow was not the jumping spinning round house he is famous for, but rather a straight heel kick to the face.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Double Impact
In Van Damme’s sixth installment he takes on a new challenge of playing two different roles in the same film. Van Damme plays twin brothers Chad and Alex Wagner who were separated when they were six months old following the assassination of their parents. Chad is taken by his late father’s personal body guard and close friend Frank Avery, Geoffrey Lewis, who raises Chad like his own son in Paris and then in LA. Alex was taken by his Chinese nanny and dropped off at an orphanage in Honk Kong. Given their dramatically different upbringings they grow to become very different adults. Chad is a privileged play boy who likes shopping and wearing black silk underwear, Alex is hard-nosed thug trying to make his way selling imported cars and other goods on the black market. The two brothers are re-united in Hong Kong when a private investor for Frank finds Alex. Frank hopes to re-unite the brothers and convince them to strike back at the two men responsible for their parent’s death.
In the past I have refrained from mentioning anything about Van Damme’s “acting ability” in the movies I have commented on mostly because these commentaries are intended to evaluate and compare the fighting and action sequences from movie to movie. I would be remise, however, if I didn’t show Mr. Van Damme a little love for pulling this off. He really did play two very different characters in this movie and quite successfully. He even went so far as to change the fighting styles between the two characters. Chad, having the more sophisticated background, utilized more formal fighting stances, most of his moves were the trade mark Van Damme stylized kicks, a lot of roundhouse and jumping roundhouse kicks, plenty of straight kicks as well, he also did not shoot that much. Alex’s fighting style on the other hand was more rough and violent. Alex used a lot of punches and throws, also many of his moves resulted in fatal blows, based on the idea that this is someone that has had to fight to save his own life. Alex was also the one that did most of the shooting in the movies again reflecting their environments. Chad did have to use or get comfortable with guns in his youth, unlike Alex who I am sure was packin at age 8.
While the final fights between the two head villains that were ultimately responsible for their parent’s deaths did not involve a knock down drag out grulling physical fights, they did offer up elaborate death sequences and it gave Van Damme a chance to kill two different bosses two different ways while playing both roles. This set-up actually made for great action movie climax as the two bad guys are fleeing the scene in opposite directions Alex says to Chad (in other words Van Damme is yelling to himself) “Chang is mine, you get Griffith", so the two bad guys split up and the twins split up, that’s called symmetry boy and gilrs, film making 102.
By way of a final word Double Impact also featured Bolo Yeung, incidentally he was 53 years old when he made this movie, who you may remember was Chong Li in Bloodsport, he was 50 when he made that movie. Naturally he and Van Damme face each other a couple of times in this movie including their final scene. One of the things that makes Double Impact such a better action movie than some of his previous films is that Van Damme can actually use martial arts when fighting the main villain. Bolo can take the hits and deliver them as well, versus someone like Patrick Kilpatrick, Sandman from Death Warrant, who is a decent actor, but not a fighter. It is about more than casting people that look the part. There is a significant difference in the quality of action film when there is someone who can actually go toe to toe in a combat sequence versus someone who can only throw right hooks.
In the past I have refrained from mentioning anything about Van Damme’s “acting ability” in the movies I have commented on mostly because these commentaries are intended to evaluate and compare the fighting and action sequences from movie to movie. I would be remise, however, if I didn’t show Mr. Van Damme a little love for pulling this off. He really did play two very different characters in this movie and quite successfully. He even went so far as to change the fighting styles between the two characters. Chad, having the more sophisticated background, utilized more formal fighting stances, most of his moves were the trade mark Van Damme stylized kicks, a lot of roundhouse and jumping roundhouse kicks, plenty of straight kicks as well, he also did not shoot that much. Alex’s fighting style on the other hand was more rough and violent. Alex used a lot of punches and throws, also many of his moves resulted in fatal blows, based on the idea that this is someone that has had to fight to save his own life. Alex was also the one that did most of the shooting in the movies again reflecting their environments. Chad did have to use or get comfortable with guns in his youth, unlike Alex who I am sure was packin at age 8.
While the final fights between the two head villains that were ultimately responsible for their parent’s deaths did not involve a knock down drag out grulling physical fights, they did offer up elaborate death sequences and it gave Van Damme a chance to kill two different bosses two different ways while playing both roles. This set-up actually made for great action movie climax as the two bad guys are fleeing the scene in opposite directions Alex says to Chad (in other words Van Damme is yelling to himself) “Chang is mine, you get Griffith", so the two bad guys split up and the twins split up, that’s called symmetry boy and gilrs, film making 102.
By way of a final word Double Impact also featured Bolo Yeung, incidentally he was 53 years old when he made this movie, who you may remember was Chong Li in Bloodsport, he was 50 when he made that movie. Naturally he and Van Damme face each other a couple of times in this movie including their final scene. One of the things that makes Double Impact such a better action movie than some of his previous films is that Van Damme can actually use martial arts when fighting the main villain. Bolo can take the hits and deliver them as well, versus someone like Patrick Kilpatrick, Sandman from Death Warrant, who is a decent actor, but not a fighter. It is about more than casting people that look the part. There is a significant difference in the quality of action film when there is someone who can actually go toe to toe in a combat sequence versus someone who can only throw right hooks.
2007 So Far
Since we are on the edge of the summer movie blitz, I figured now would be a good time to get my rankings out for the first Quarter of 2007 -
1. 300 (A)
2. Black Snake Moan (A)
3. Breach (A-)
4. Reign Over Me (B+)
5. Zodiac (B+)
6. The Grindhouse (B+)
7. Daddy’s Little Girls (C+)
8. Smokin’ Aces (C)
9. Ghost Rider (D)
10. Pathfinder (F)
1. 300 (A)
2. Black Snake Moan (A)
3. Breach (A-)
4. Reign Over Me (B+)
5. Zodiac (B+)
6. The Grindhouse (B+)
7. Daddy’s Little Girls (C+)
8. Smokin’ Aces (C)
9. Ghost Rider (D)
10. Pathfinder (F)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Pathfinder
When reviewing a movie the ideally wants to make some connection with the movie, either something they really enjoyed or something they really disliked, the hardest movies to review are those they leave you somewhere in the middle. It is in those moments the reviewer ends up fixating on some small details form which they are able to squeeze out a reasonable review. Pathfinder left me with a reaction, but not a reaction I am particularly comfortable with.
There are bad movies and then are movies like this despicable excuse for what passes a motion picture. The sad thing is I really thought this movie had something. Pathfinder is about a Viking child, Karl Urban, that is abandoned by his family after he failed to participate in the carnage they wreaked on an unsuspecting Native American village. The young warrior is orphaned and shortly thereafter is discovered and raised by one of the tribes that did not initially fall victim to the Vikings. I know, I know this has the makings of something kind of interesting, well believe me when I tell you there was nothing interesting happening here at all. This was one of the hollowest stories I have seen on screen in a while. I mean at least with a movie like Electra it was terrible, but terrible in the car accident sense where it was awful, but interesting. This movie was not even interesting, even now I am having a hard time recalling any details from the action sequences. All I remember are much of guys running around on horse-back with big fur coats with metal helmets and Karl Urban wearing next to nothing fighting them off. There was nothing memorable or worthwhile here. And it sux because I actually like Urban, but he is clearly not cut out to lead, he is a good number 3 or 4, but he should be no where near the headlining role. It was bound to happen eventually congrats Pathfinder you are officially the worst movie I have seen so far this year, and it is not even close.
GRADE – F
There are bad movies and then are movies like this despicable excuse for what passes a motion picture. The sad thing is I really thought this movie had something. Pathfinder is about a Viking child, Karl Urban, that is abandoned by his family after he failed to participate in the carnage they wreaked on an unsuspecting Native American village. The young warrior is orphaned and shortly thereafter is discovered and raised by one of the tribes that did not initially fall victim to the Vikings. I know, I know this has the makings of something kind of interesting, well believe me when I tell you there was nothing interesting happening here at all. This was one of the hollowest stories I have seen on screen in a while. I mean at least with a movie like Electra it was terrible, but terrible in the car accident sense where it was awful, but interesting. This movie was not even interesting, even now I am having a hard time recalling any details from the action sequences. All I remember are much of guys running around on horse-back with big fur coats with metal helmets and Karl Urban wearing next to nothing fighting them off. There was nothing memorable or worthwhile here. And it sux because I actually like Urban, but he is clearly not cut out to lead, he is a good number 3 or 4, but he should be no where near the headlining role. It was bound to happen eventually congrats Pathfinder you are officially the worst movie I have seen so far this year, and it is not even close.
GRADE – F
Death Warrant
Death Warrant
Van Damme’s fifth feature film, Death Warrant was more of an attempt by Van Damme to make a dective movie more than an action flick, which did not turn out well. Death Warrant is about an Detective Louis Burke, Van Damme, an undercover officer for the Royal Canadian Police who goes all the way to LA to track down the serial killer Sandman, Patrick Kilpatrick, who claimed the life of his partner. Apparently Burke kills the Sandman in LA and for his efforts is offered an uncover assignment inside an LA prison where a number of inmates are being killed. As the investigation unfolds Burke discovers some of the guards are conspiring with some of the inmates and the prison doctor to harvest healthy body parts to be sold on the black market. The movie climaxes with the Sandman showing up at the same prison to kill Burke for his interference. This time Burke gets the job done, well at least it looks that way…
At this stage in his career Van Damme is trying to rely less on his fighting ability and more on acting meaningful action scenes. He is no longer fighting for the sake of keeping the movie rolling he is relying on story and his ability to portray an effective character within the story. This is not a recommended course of action; even though by going this direction we got to see some Robert Guillame - shout outs to Beson. Death Warrant has really three to four action scenes in the entire movie. The opening sequence is the first encounter between Burke and the Sandman, in which the Burke shoots the Sandman several times. The scene does not last long and there is little to no fight choreography. The second fight scene is a brief brawl in the prison lunch room that is nothing more than Van Damme doing his patented jumping round house kick. The next sequence and the first real fight scene of the movie is a two on one fight in which Van Damme fights on two inmates. The scene makes us of the scenery weapons, ala a mop handle and chain. This is the first scene with real choreography. It is not overly elaborate Van Damme makes use of his kicks and does very little punching he blocks his opponents advances and ends up beating the two with little trouble. He even tries to inject some comedy into the scene by smashing one of the inmates faces into a drier and turning on. He walks away as we hear the drier banging the inmate’s face. The final real action sequence is the last scene of the movie which is a farely elaborate chance sequence and then a brief fight between Burke and the Sandman. Ultimately the fight is disappointing because Kilpatirck is not a martial artist. The fight ends up being nothing more than Kilpatrick throwing Burke around and Burke kicking him a bunch of times, once into a furnace, from which The Sandman jumps from and extinguishes his own flames and then again he kicks his head into a long screw that pierces his skull. It made for some interesting visuals, but ultimately a very ineffective final scene, very much like the ending of Cyborg.
Van Damme’s fifth feature film, Death Warrant was more of an attempt by Van Damme to make a dective movie more than an action flick, which did not turn out well. Death Warrant is about an Detective Louis Burke, Van Damme, an undercover officer for the Royal Canadian Police who goes all the way to LA to track down the serial killer Sandman, Patrick Kilpatrick, who claimed the life of his partner. Apparently Burke kills the Sandman in LA and for his efforts is offered an uncover assignment inside an LA prison where a number of inmates are being killed. As the investigation unfolds Burke discovers some of the guards are conspiring with some of the inmates and the prison doctor to harvest healthy body parts to be sold on the black market. The movie climaxes with the Sandman showing up at the same prison to kill Burke for his interference. This time Burke gets the job done, well at least it looks that way…
At this stage in his career Van Damme is trying to rely less on his fighting ability and more on acting meaningful action scenes. He is no longer fighting for the sake of keeping the movie rolling he is relying on story and his ability to portray an effective character within the story. This is not a recommended course of action; even though by going this direction we got to see some Robert Guillame - shout outs to Beson. Death Warrant has really three to four action scenes in the entire movie. The opening sequence is the first encounter between Burke and the Sandman, in which the Burke shoots the Sandman several times. The scene does not last long and there is little to no fight choreography. The second fight scene is a brief brawl in the prison lunch room that is nothing more than Van Damme doing his patented jumping round house kick. The next sequence and the first real fight scene of the movie is a two on one fight in which Van Damme fights on two inmates. The scene makes us of the scenery weapons, ala a mop handle and chain. This is the first scene with real choreography. It is not overly elaborate Van Damme makes use of his kicks and does very little punching he blocks his opponents advances and ends up beating the two with little trouble. He even tries to inject some comedy into the scene by smashing one of the inmates faces into a drier and turning on. He walks away as we hear the drier banging the inmate’s face. The final real action sequence is the last scene of the movie which is a farely elaborate chance sequence and then a brief fight between Burke and the Sandman. Ultimately the fight is disappointing because Kilpatirck is not a martial artist. The fight ends up being nothing more than Kilpatrick throwing Burke around and Burke kicking him a bunch of times, once into a furnace, from which The Sandman jumps from and extinguishes his own flames and then again he kicks his head into a long screw that pierces his skull. It made for some interesting visuals, but ultimately a very ineffective final scene, very much like the ending of Cyborg.
The Grindhouse
The Grindhouse
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez team up for a seven-ties style double-feature. The Grindhouse is a double-feature; showing casing Rodriguez’s Planter Terror and Tarantino’s Deathproof. Both movies were made to imitate the stylized horror features of the seventies. While each film exists on its own, the duo of directors did collaborate to make the Grindhouse as authentic a double-feature experience as possible for those of us un-initiated. Not only did the Grindhouse feature two movies, but also three original trailers of ficitional films produced exclusively for these movies, and a number of original commercial also produced exclusively for the movies. All things considered the running time of Grindhouse was well over three hours; and though I have mixed emotions about the movies the films the over-all experience was worth the price of admission. As I stated earlier I did not have much familiarity with the double-feature experience prior to the Tarantino/Rodriguez collaboration, but for a first experience it was not a disappointment. From what I can gather the two directors stayed true to the nature and formula of Grindhouse Theater. Particularly with the inclusion of period-style commercials that appeared between the two features. Regarding the original trailers they were a nice component that rounded out the experience. Machete was the first of three trailers and clearly the best and most likely to be made into a movie, but that could just be my blatant bias to Danny Trejo and me wanting the movie to be made. The other three trailers, Thanksgiving, Don’t, and Werewolf Women of the SS, pretty much get lumped together because while they were funny and each had their high and low points, specifically the final shot of Thanksgiving (if you haven’t seen it I don’t want to ruin just look for the really interesting thanksgiving fowl), I really don’t any of them getting made into its own feature. As for the feature themselves, they were very different movies and while both were enjoyable, one clearly stood out. The are reviewed in the order they were shown
GRADE – B+
Planet Terror
Robert Rodriguez helmed this is horror-comedy flick about a poisonous vapor that is released into the air and ends up infecting the residents of “random rural town USA”. The movie is about an army battalion lead by Lt. Muldoon, Bruce Willis, that are infected with this new biological weapon, noxious gas that was manufactured in the Middle East. In an attempt to steal more of the weapon, which the members of the battalion rely on in order to stay alive and remain “normal”, from the weapons primary manufacturer – an Iranian chemical engineer Abby, played by Lost’s Naveen Andrews; the weapon is released into the air and began to infect the residents of a nearby town. The gas transforms all those that inhale it into ravenous zombies; one can also be transformed into a zombie if they come in contact with any of the zombies’ blood. To stop the spread of this horrible plague a pair of unlikely heroes come together, an exotic dancer (not to be confused with a stripper) Cherry Darling, Rose McGowen, and Wray, Freddie Rodriguez (Lady in the Water). Wray and Cherry are former lovers that reconnect during this time of crisis to try and save humanity.
In Planet Terror Rodriguez had made a tongue and cheek horror homage to seventy-style horror films. The movie is complete with gruesome death scenes, massive body count, graphically gross images and even a woman with an assault rifle for a leg. Even the dialogue is over the top. While this is not my style of movie I can appreciate the director having fun in the genre and wanting to have fun with the audience. The story and shallow and the movie leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but it is fun and disgusting and chalk full of “ewwww” moments when the audience has not choice but to cringe. I could do without zombie rape scene, well mostly I could not with the zombies’ testicles falling off, but I am weird like that. All in all fun movie, not Rodriguez’s finest, he has done much better, but I am not mad at the movie.
GRADE – C+
Deathproof
The second film in the double feature, clearly the better of the two, and its no coincidence that QT directed this one. Deathproof is the story of a sadistic stunt man, Stunt Man Mike played by Kurt Russell, that is gets off my killing women with his specially built stunt car that is virtually indestructible and death proof, at least for the person seated in the driver seat. Stunt Man Mike also seems to favor attacking groups of women; although he is not above killing them one at a time. This movie was really good because it is a QT movie. What I have come to appreciate about Tarantino is that when he makes a movie, it doesn’t matter what kind of movie it is, it is a Tarantino flick. Meaning that he is going to make it his way, with lots of cool dialogue, long single frame shots, and strong female characters. Deathproof is no exception, even though Russell runs away with movie doing what he does best, be Kurt Russell, all the female characters are sexy, strong, and commanding. Even though the death sequences are gruesome and violent, it doesn’t make the ladies look any weaker in fact I have more respect for any female that signs up to have a tire run over her face. And in the end Stunt Man Mike downfall comes at the hands of three women. This movie is good times to be had by all.
GRADE – A
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez team up for a seven-ties style double-feature. The Grindhouse is a double-feature; showing casing Rodriguez’s Planter Terror and Tarantino’s Deathproof. Both movies were made to imitate the stylized horror features of the seventies. While each film exists on its own, the duo of directors did collaborate to make the Grindhouse as authentic a double-feature experience as possible for those of us un-initiated. Not only did the Grindhouse feature two movies, but also three original trailers of ficitional films produced exclusively for these movies, and a number of original commercial also produced exclusively for the movies. All things considered the running time of Grindhouse was well over three hours; and though I have mixed emotions about the movies the films the over-all experience was worth the price of admission. As I stated earlier I did not have much familiarity with the double-feature experience prior to the Tarantino/Rodriguez collaboration, but for a first experience it was not a disappointment. From what I can gather the two directors stayed true to the nature and formula of Grindhouse Theater. Particularly with the inclusion of period-style commercials that appeared between the two features. Regarding the original trailers they were a nice component that rounded out the experience. Machete was the first of three trailers and clearly the best and most likely to be made into a movie, but that could just be my blatant bias to Danny Trejo and me wanting the movie to be made. The other three trailers, Thanksgiving, Don’t, and Werewolf Women of the SS, pretty much get lumped together because while they were funny and each had their high and low points, specifically the final shot of Thanksgiving (if you haven’t seen it I don’t want to ruin just look for the really interesting thanksgiving fowl), I really don’t any of them getting made into its own feature. As for the feature themselves, they were very different movies and while both were enjoyable, one clearly stood out. The are reviewed in the order they were shown
GRADE – B+
Planet Terror
Robert Rodriguez helmed this is horror-comedy flick about a poisonous vapor that is released into the air and ends up infecting the residents of “random rural town USA”. The movie is about an army battalion lead by Lt. Muldoon, Bruce Willis, that are infected with this new biological weapon, noxious gas that was manufactured in the Middle East. In an attempt to steal more of the weapon, which the members of the battalion rely on in order to stay alive and remain “normal”, from the weapons primary manufacturer – an Iranian chemical engineer Abby, played by Lost’s Naveen Andrews; the weapon is released into the air and began to infect the residents of a nearby town. The gas transforms all those that inhale it into ravenous zombies; one can also be transformed into a zombie if they come in contact with any of the zombies’ blood. To stop the spread of this horrible plague a pair of unlikely heroes come together, an exotic dancer (not to be confused with a stripper) Cherry Darling, Rose McGowen, and Wray, Freddie Rodriguez (Lady in the Water). Wray and Cherry are former lovers that reconnect during this time of crisis to try and save humanity.
In Planet Terror Rodriguez had made a tongue and cheek horror homage to seventy-style horror films. The movie is complete with gruesome death scenes, massive body count, graphically gross images and even a woman with an assault rifle for a leg. Even the dialogue is over the top. While this is not my style of movie I can appreciate the director having fun in the genre and wanting to have fun with the audience. The story and shallow and the movie leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but it is fun and disgusting and chalk full of “ewwww” moments when the audience has not choice but to cringe. I could do without zombie rape scene, well mostly I could not with the zombies’ testicles falling off, but I am weird like that. All in all fun movie, not Rodriguez’s finest, he has done much better, but I am not mad at the movie.
GRADE – C+
Deathproof
The second film in the double feature, clearly the better of the two, and its no coincidence that QT directed this one. Deathproof is the story of a sadistic stunt man, Stunt Man Mike played by Kurt Russell, that is gets off my killing women with his specially built stunt car that is virtually indestructible and death proof, at least for the person seated in the driver seat. Stunt Man Mike also seems to favor attacking groups of women; although he is not above killing them one at a time. This movie was really good because it is a QT movie. What I have come to appreciate about Tarantino is that when he makes a movie, it doesn’t matter what kind of movie it is, it is a Tarantino flick. Meaning that he is going to make it his way, with lots of cool dialogue, long single frame shots, and strong female characters. Deathproof is no exception, even though Russell runs away with movie doing what he does best, be Kurt Russell, all the female characters are sexy, strong, and commanding. Even though the death sequences are gruesome and violent, it doesn’t make the ladies look any weaker in fact I have more respect for any female that signs up to have a tire run over her face. And in the end Stunt Man Mike downfall comes at the hands of three women. This movie is good times to be had by all.
GRADE – A
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