Planet Terror (along with its non-zombie counterpart Death Proof) is an homage to the old horror/Grindhouse movies of yesteryear.  You've got your gogo dancer (not a stripper, there's a difference) with a heart, your leading man with a mystery, your buxom blond with her broken down car, and numerous other stereotypical characters.  In fact, every character seems perfectly suited to some archetype or another from past films.

Except Planet Terror does not play out like an old horror remake.  It takes every stereotype and makes it its own.  While the entire movie is a gigantic nod to zombie/horror films, it has a very original spin and feel.  It often takes horror movie clichés and turns them on their head.  When you expect a scene to go one way, it blows you away by going the other.

If it sounds like I am being vague, there is a very good reason for that.  The greatness of this movie comes from the first viewing and really having no clue what to expect.  The unpredictability, the surprise; those are the moments that make this movie so entertaining.

I was lucky enough to see Planet Terror in theaters.  Due to, in my opinion, a poor marketing campaign, this movie just flat out missed everyone and was a box office flop.  Yet, if you ever, for any reason, get the chance to see this in the theaters, do it!  Or second best, watch this with a large audience, because that is what it was made for.

As stated above, this movie is pure entertainment.  It won't raise moral questions or give you a deeper understanding of life, which perhaps means this movie isn't for everyone.  What this movie will give you though, if you are in the right mindset, is the ride of your life.

Everything from the grainy picture to the great synthesizer makes it feel like you are watching an authentic horror flick.  Corny one liners, excessive amounts of blood and gore, and even a missing reel, makes it incredibly fun to watch.  And I'd skip the popcorn, because once this movie gets going, which is quite early, it is gross out after gross out, leaving you cringing and asking, "did that seriously just happen?"

I cannot say enough good things about this film.  If you have not seen Planet Terror and you are reading this review, shame on you.  Pick up a few friends and make sure to go out of your way to see it.  Get in the mood to enjoy lots of explosions, over the top violence, and lots of zombies, all wrapped together in a nice package.  Then, be entertained.