'Planet Terror' spun off 'Grindhouse' feature
"Planet Terror: Extended and Unrated" -- I can't overstate how much fun I had watching "Grindhouse," this past spring's Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double-feature tribute to the trashy exploitation flicks of the 1970s. But "Grindhouse," which consisted of two 90-minute films and hilarious fake trailers for upcoming B-movies, never found the audience it deserved, and the two films have been released separately on DVD. (But wait! There is still hope for a proper "Grindhouse" release -- more on that later.)
"Planet Terror" is Rodriguez's contribution, a deliriously entertaining (and gory) horror flick about a poison gas that escapes into the atmosphere and turns people into vicious flesh-and-brain-eating zombies. A small group of people led by go-go dancer Cherry Darling (a sexy, tough Rose McGowan) and mysterious tough guy Wray (Freddy Rodriguez) is immune to the gas' effects, and they wage an all-out, butt-kicking battle against the infected monsters.
Director Rodriguez pulls out all the stops to make this a true B-movie experience, from scratching up the film to outfitting Cherry Darling, whose leg is chewed off in a zombie attack, with a machine-gun prosthetic. Despite the obvious silliness of the story, Rodriguez and his wonderful cast create real, human characters, people you actually find yourself caring for. This two-disc DVD set includes a commentary from Rodriguez and featurettes about the casting and effects. It also includes Rodriguez's usual "Ten-Minute Film School," feature, where he discusses in detail how he created certain scenes in the movie.
The DVD set does not include Rodriguez's popular "Ten-Minute Cooking School" feature, but he explains that it will be included on a future two-disc DVD release of … "Grindhouse"! That's right, it appears the theatrical version of "Grindhouse" might yet make it to DVD. In the meantime, this release of "Planet Terror," like last month's release of Tarantino's "Death Proof," is a more-than-worthy DVD treatment. (NR; Genius Products, $29.95)
"Transformers" -- I bet Michael Bay is a huge hair-metal fan. His movies are just like those spandex-clad rock bands from the '80s: big, loud, occasionally exhilarating and often mind-numbingly stupid. "Transformers" is no exception. In Bay's cinematic re-imagining of the revered 1980s pop-culture phenomenon, two groups of Transformers -- shape-shifting robot aliens who can turn from humanoid form into vehicles and back again -- have brought their long civil war to Earth.
The good Autobots and the evil Decepticons are seeking a mystic artifact that's in the possession of nerdy teenager Sam (Shia LaBeouf). As is typical of Bay, "Transformers" is a technical marvel. The computer-generated robots look stunning, and it was a stroke of genius to have Peter Cullen provide the voice for Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots (he voiced the character in the old animated cartoon). "Transformers" is undercut, though, by Bay's chaotic, attention-deficit visual style and a meandering, silly script.
None of which kept fans away, of course; the movie has grossed more than $650 million worldwide. The impressive two-disc DVD set includes a commentary from Bay and three in-depth documentaries that cover the conception, development and execution of this blockbuster film. (PG-13; Paramount, $36.99)
"Crazy Love" -- Crazy, indeed. This documentary tells the amazing story of Burt and Linda Pugach, a New York couple whose always obsessive and occasionally violent relationship was the tabloid story of the 1950s and '60s. Burt, a successful (if somewhat sleazy) young lawyer, falls madly in love with the beautiful Linda Riss when he spies her sitting on a bench in the Bronx in 1957.
They date for awhile, but then she finds out he's married, and dumps him. Burt, vowing that if he can't have Linda, no one will, hires thugs to throw acid in her face. The attack leaves Linda blind and sends Burt to prison for 14 years. From there, the story gets really strange. Director Dan Klores, using present-day interviews with Burt and Linda and photos from their past, makes this story dramatic without turning his principals into freaks, villains or punchlines. "Crazy Love" is a fascinating look at obsession and the fear of being alone. The DVD includes a commentary with Klores, Burt and Linda. (PG-13; Magnolia Home Entertainment, $26.98)