tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post6349949758879537956..comments2024-03-28T03:10:19.013-07:00Comments on Fraggmented: Why "Planet Terror" Doesn't WorkJohn Seaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07530526320973807452noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-81281558288304169722015-05-26T14:37:49.807-07:002015-05-26T14:37:49.807-07:00The problem with that read is that the text does m...The problem with that read is that the text does make it explicit that this is intended to be a feminist film: Over and over again, we're told that Cherry Darling is strong and heroic and tough and determined and doesn't take crap from anybody. It'd actually be a better movie if they made her El Wray's appendage, because at least it'd be honest--this movie wants to have its cake and eat it too, showing El Wray as a sensitive dude who respects his woman, while not bothering to put anything there to respect.John Seaveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07530526320973807452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-15057387402936848832015-03-22T09:22:45.856-07:002015-03-22T09:22:45.856-07:00I disagree totally. First, Planet Terror isn't...I disagree totally. First, Planet Terror isn't meant to be a feminist anything. It's an homage to bad zombie movies of the 70's. So, in order for it to support the point you want to make, your comments completely change the theme of the movie in order to claim it doesn't work. Since this movie is not attempting to be a pro feminist work, the fact that it fails to fulfill that requirement does not mean the movie doesn't work.<br /><br />Furthermore, your own conclusions are still faulty if we assume this is an attempt at feminism. What Cherry does is very impressive regardless of El Wray. She quits her job with nowhere to go and no prospects because she knows she can do better. In one night, she has her leg amputated and with El Wray's help and encouragement, she grows strong. She also goes out to retrieve the car against El Wray's wishes when the men wouldn't do it. When Taylor is humiliating her, she knocks him down and sticks her wooden leg through his eye.<br /><br />If you want to look at this movie through a feminist hero perspective, you're still seeing it wrong. This movie shows El Wray and Cherry separately have their flaws, but they complement each other and become stronger. Both of them do heroic things on their own, but they BOTH are most effective when they are together.<br /><br />El Wray is not the only person who does heroic things in this movie. Your assessment makes no sense.<br /><br />This movie has a girl who can shoot a machine gun on her leg without the use of a trigger. It has men melting and infected people similar to zombies. It is completely unrealistic, nonsensical and it is that deliberately. You cannot then judge the movie as not working when it doesn't attempt to be what you are criticizing it for.Jacob Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16588434157595522209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-61122089106466746422015-03-22T08:32:59.013-07:002015-03-22T08:32:59.013-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jacob Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16588434157595522209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-91173352516610035152015-03-22T08:21:18.395-07:002015-03-22T08:21:18.395-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jacob Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16588434157595522209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-91786874451894198002014-05-05T10:22:55.353-07:002014-05-05T10:22:55.353-07:00Id just like to say that no one actually gives a s...Id just like to say that no one actually gives a single fuck haha. They make those movies for shits and giggles, what you thought the man with the iron fists is bad too cuz the soundtrack wasnt authentic chinese music nor was everyone in the movie asian? Then you gotta wipe the shit from your eyes. Overall it was enjoyable definitely 4 tarintino's out of 5 for make up and performance and the ability so sum it all up in a short amount of timeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-14676252754247427042010-03-01T18:08:44.634-08:002010-03-01T18:08:44.634-08:00The whole project (Grindhouse) is a satire of a sp...The whole project (Grindhouse) is a satire of a specific era of film. It wouldn't as work as well if had the satirical tone you suggest because it would break the the pretense of it being something its not--a film from the grindhouse era.Treyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04647628467658839351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-72651444016064172962010-02-24T20:13:44.940-08:002010-02-24T20:13:44.940-08:00so does the movie have to be viewed as a feminist ...so does the movie have to be viewed as a feminist piece of art? If it doesn't work in that way, can it work in another way?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-61115465442521662392010-02-24T15:05:48.250-08:002010-02-24T15:05:48.250-08:00I agree; it needs to come at the beginning, and I ...I agree; it needs to come at the beginning, and I also think that the tone is important as well. A good mentor/hero relationship involves a hero who has the will but not necessarily the knowledge of how to defeat the villains, and a mentor who imparts that knowledge. It's more a matter of education than motivation. (Luke put up a token resistance to leaving Tatooine, but he didn't really take much persuading.)<br /><br />Whereas in "Planet Terror", El Wray is really doing all the work. Cherry's "heroic leadership" involves following his plan and doing what he tells her to when he tells her to do it. His dying words aren't imparting some sort of wisdom to her, they're a set of orders. :)John Seaveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07530526320973807452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-12959975790278011632010-02-24T12:04:18.418-08:002010-02-24T12:04:18.418-08:00Sounds like a classic case of what TV Tropes calls...Sounds like a classic case of what TV Tropes calls a Faux Action Girl. I do have one slight quibble, though--I'd say you <i>can</i> have a, "Become a hero!" "Yes sir!" scene without it undercutting the film. After all, that's practically what mentors are <i>for</i> in stories. The trick is, it needs to come at the <i>beginning</i> of the film, not the end, and it sounds like they really screwed that part up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-67442601860907345512010-02-23T14:54:29.584-08:002010-02-23T14:54:29.584-08:00I'd say no, because the tone's not satiric...I'd say no, because the tone's not satirical. In 'Big Trouble In Little China', for example, the disconnect between Jack Burton's estimation of his own abilities and his actual skills is played for comic effect (and done quite well in that regard...)<br /><br />Here, it's almost pathetically sincere in the way that Rodriguez thinks he's presenting the evolution of a feminist icon.John Seaveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07530526320973807452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15742539.post-37973215656404384632010-02-23T13:13:48.411-08:002010-02-23T13:13:48.411-08:00On the other hand, couldn't that faux-feminism...On the other hand, couldn't that faux-feminism be part of the call back to the exploitation genre? Does it work as deliberate satire?Grazztnoreply@blogger.com