Planet Terror (Extended and Unrated 2-Disc Special Edition) (DVD)

Gotta admit, watching this makes me feel a little dirty, especially listening to the commentaries and watching the special features considering I know that writer/director Robert Rodriguez left his wife and is now engaged to Rose McGowan as the two sparked a relationship during the filming of his half of the Grindhouse double-feature. I am sure they weren't flaunting it on set, and I can only hope that is the case as there is a special feature on this disc dedicated to the fact that Rodriguez cast his young son in the film. On top of all that, Planet Terror is only fun for so long and this new extended edition is just too long for its own good.

The film opens as a gaseous cloud is unleashed that infects its victims and turns them into flesh eating killers. What's going to stop them? El Wray played by Freddy Rodriguez and Cherry Darling played by previously mentioned home-wrecker Rose McGowan. One thing the film has going for it is the splatter effect Rodriguez employed with all the kills in the flick as those that get shot seem more like blood filled balloons than actual human beings; it makes for a pretty cool effect. Also, Cherry's machine gun leg is unique enough to make it a lot of fun the first time around, but beyond that it has more of a "seen it" quality. Rodriguez's Planet Terror is a film made for moods. If you are in the mood for a splatter house no brainer toss this in because it will be highly effective. However, it doesn't have that "play at any time" quality that Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof had, making this certainly the lesser quality film of the two.

Special features wise the disc comes relatively packed, but as Rodriguez tells us in his "10-Minute Film School" on disc two that there will be a special edition Grindhouse DVD that will include both films and a group of even more features including Rodriguez's signature "Cooking School" feature, which will tell yah how to make some high-quality Texas BBQ, or so he says.

Disc one comes equipped with a commentary track with Rodriguez going solo and then a second track featuring a random audience reaction recording as they watch the film (not all that interesting). Disc one also carries a look at poster art and the international trailer for the film, it's the international one because Death Proof and Planet Terror weren't released together overseas. Disc two comes with the previously mentioned "Film School" taking a look at several aspects of the making of the film and is actually pretty cool as are all of Rodriguez's film schools as they condense a lot of shit into one tight feature. Next you have a look at the guys and the girls of the film in two separate featurettes. The look at the "babes" is one more example of a feature that gives you the creeps as you feel like you are watching adultery in the making. There is also a feature on the stunts that is okay, but doesn't compare to the "Film School" and a look at all of Robert's friends that made it into the film, several of which have significant roles, which is quite cool of him.

Looking at this DVD without considering there will be a follow-up release I would actually recommend you pick it up. Even though I don't think it is all that great I picture this one growing on me as it is certainly a movie that will serve its purpose for late night brainless movie watching and it isn't trying to be more than anything other than pure entertainment. However, now that we know for sure that there will be a Grindhouse special edition DVD I would recommend you hold out for that since I suspect the extended version of Planet Terror won't be on that, and the shorter, theatrical cut is the better of the two.

My recommendation is to pick up the extended cut of Death Proof and then pick up the full on special edition of Grindhouse once it is released. Most likely that release will have commentary tracks on Death Proof and have the shorter version of Planet Terror. Basically I expect it to be one of the best DVDs of 2008, that is if Miramax doesn't get off their ass and release Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair already! That one will be a classic and a must own.