Planet Terror

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Planet Terror ★★½ Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror; Grindhouse: Planet Terror 2007

For the first time in his career, Rodriguez trumps his pal Quentin Tarantino by directing the better half of the Weinstein Bros. B-movie double-feature “Grind-house.” Almost every schlock-film cliche makes an appearance, which is the point, really. After a rogue military team sets loose a nerve gas that turns people into surprisingly gross zombies, it's up to El Wray (Rodriguez), his gal Cherry Darling (McGowan), and a gaggle of terrified Texans to try to stop the gas from spreading. McGowan steals the show with her M16-prosthetic leg, but the flurry of cheap thrills starts to feel… well… “cheap” after an hour or so. 105m/C DVD . Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Jeff Fahey, Michael Biehn, Bruce Willis, Naveen Andrews, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson, Nicky Katt, Tom Savini, Carlos Gallardo, Michael Parks, Quentin Tarantino, Rebel Rodriguez; D: Robert Rodriguez; W: Robert Rodriguez; C: Robert Rodriguez; M: Graeme Revell.