Best In Texas...

Quentin Tarantino is a genius. As is his bestest buddy Robert Rodriguez. So add them together, throw in some brilliant actors (Freddy Rodriguez, Bruce Willis), a couple of zombies, a few more actors, just for the 'it's them' factor (Stacey Ferguson, Naveen Andrews) and you have a recipe for an awesome film. And so without furthur ado, ladies and gentleman, I introduce one half of what I hope is a legendary double-feature (I haven't seen the second part yet...)

Planet Terror...

Grindhouse movies were two films shown back to back. They're generally low budget and have a reputation for being slightly more sexual or violent than other films (although this apparently is a bit of a misconception...) So Tarantino and Rodriguez took it upon themselves to recreate this genre. So they released Grindhouse. The second half was Tarantino's. Apparently it involves some bloke with a car. It's tricky to judge a film you haven't seen. But Rodriguez's Planet Terror, well, it's pure brilliance.

It's tricky to know what to expect from the film. But a trailer before-hand (which is actually a part of the film rather than a trailer) really sets the tone. This film is going to be cool. Violent. Sexy. And in places just a little bit silly. So Robert Rodriguez through and through...

Back in the day, Grindhouse productions would employ a famous actor, use them for a few frontal shots and then shoot the rest of the film using a stand-in, shooting them from behind. It meant that the film could be advertised as starring whichever big celebrity they used but they didn't have to pay them as much. In an ode to this, good old Bruce Willis makes an appearance at the beginning and the end and transforms into a very Resident Evil style villian. On top of that, we get Freddy Rodriguez jumping around with guns. Alot. I remember when he was in Six Feet Under. He was such a nice lad...

You'd think that any popstar appearing in a film would be, well, rubbish. And when Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas wanders on screen, well, it's tricky not to feel your stomach drop. Make your own decision though, but I thought she was alright. Even if her time in the limelight is short and sweet. That bloke from Lost though is as dodgy as ever. But maybe that's just my distain of Lost mutating my opinion.

And then there's Quentin. I'm always overjoyed (yes, overjoyed, it's that extreme) when Quentin turns up in a film. Admittedly they're normally his films. Or old Robbie's. But he's still great. I think. I really can't tell, because in contrast to Lost making me hate Andrews, I think I may just love Tarantino, because, well, he's Tarantino. His acting might be terrible, but I just don't care, because it's written and directed so bloody well that it can only be brilliant.

And so, with the overwhelming urge to watch Death Proof hanging over me, I must flee and secure myself a copy. I can only live in hope that along the way a zombie virus is released and myself and a small group of people (who just happen to be immune) have to fight off the enslaught and save the human race. Or maybe not. I might be frightened.