official and original trailers after the jump
Reviewed By: Emanuel Caros
From the second the film's grainy picture spliced to the next faux trailer, everyone knew someone had to make a full length Machete movie. Whether it was Danny Trejo playing a double-crossed Mexican, the gruesome decapitations, or Jessica Alba's hot self, something about that minute-long segment in between the Grindhouse films struck a chord. But, as Machete asks in film, "why start over when I'm already a myth?"
From the opening scene, audiences know they're in for a crazy genre film as Machete, our Mexican Federale hero slices his way through a mission. It isn't until about a minute later when Torrez shows up, played by Steven Seagal, that film-goers have any clue how outrageous the movie actually is. Chock-full of Mexican stereotypes, guns, knives, naked girls, and Spanish-language swear words, Machete cements its novelty with every major explosion. The hammy mega-cast (Jessica Alba, Robert DeNiro, Cheech Marin, Don Johnson, and a nude Lindsay Lohan) only adds to the ways the film's action/subtle-comedy somehow works. In fact, the ever-aggravating Michelle Rodriguez even shines here, and that's aside from how hot she looks.
Still though, the feature-length version of the heralded trailer doesn't come nearly close enough to its original incarnation to match its appeal. Gone is the rough, brown-stained camera lens and bellowing voice-over. In their place is mediocre cinematography and a generic rock soundtrack; making it look less like the gritty 70's exploitation film it originated as, and more like a response to the current Arizona Immigration law. (Take a look at the two trailers after the jump to see the difference.) And while the constant turn-over of recognizable faces makes for strings of enjoyable surprises, DeNiro sullies the performance by waffling between his character's Texas drawl and his natural Brooklyn tone. Without that 'grindhouse' feel, the movie falls flat and lacks the charm and uniqueness that led fanboys around the world to fall in love with the idea in the first place. It just doesn't hold up to the expectations set by the slow motion shot of a gatling-gun-equipped chopper flying through the air from the trailers.
And while hilarious one-liners, comical story lines, and over-the-top action scenes make the film a enjoyable watch, Director Robert Rodriguez unfortunately proves that often times the trailer is better than the movie itself.
6/10
From the second the film's grainy picture spliced to the next faux trailer, everyone knew someone had to make a full length Machete movie. Whether it was Danny Trejo playing a double-crossed Mexican, the gruesome decapitations, or Jessica Alba's hot self, something about that minute-long segment in between the Grindhouse films struck a chord. But, as Machete asks in film, "why start over when I'm already a myth?"
From the opening scene, audiences know they're in for a crazy genre film as Machete, our Mexican Federale hero slices his way through a mission. It isn't until about a minute later when Torrez shows up, played by Steven Seagal, that film-goers have any clue how outrageous the movie actually is. Chock-full of Mexican stereotypes, guns, knives, naked girls, and Spanish-language swear words, Machete cements its novelty with every major explosion. The hammy mega-cast (Jessica Alba, Robert DeNiro, Cheech Marin, Don Johnson, and a nude Lindsay Lohan) only adds to the ways the film's action/subtle-comedy somehow works. In fact, the ever-aggravating Michelle Rodriguez even shines here, and that's aside from how hot she looks.
Still though, the feature-length version of the heralded trailer doesn't come nearly close enough to its original incarnation to match its appeal. Gone is the rough, brown-stained camera lens and bellowing voice-over. In their place is mediocre cinematography and a generic rock soundtrack; making it look less like the gritty 70's exploitation film it originated as, and more like a response to the current Arizona Immigration law. (Take a look at the two trailers after the jump to see the difference.) And while the constant turn-over of recognizable faces makes for strings of enjoyable surprises, DeNiro sullies the performance by waffling between his character's Texas drawl and his natural Brooklyn tone. Without that 'grindhouse' feel, the movie falls flat and lacks the charm and uniqueness that led fanboys around the world to fall in love with the idea in the first place. It just doesn't hold up to the expectations set by the slow motion shot of a gatling-gun-equipped chopper flying through the air from the trailers.
And while hilarious one-liners, comical story lines, and over-the-top action scenes make the film a enjoyable watch, Director Robert Rodriguez unfortunately proves that often times the trailer is better than the movie itself.
6/10
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