mistoppi
Even though "comedy" isn't mentioned in the genres, Machete is definitely hilarious. It's partially ridiculously bad, but it's also incredible just because of that. If Machete had been made completely seriously, it would suck, but it's not. The characters are weird in a really charming way. Some of them are clichés that meet some really weird action video game - especially in how the characters dress. The actors and actresses are all well chosen for the roles. Well, that's mildly put when it comes to Danny Trejo. No one else could play Machete.The plot of this movie is very typical for a revenge type of action movie. It's obvious and predictable, but it isn't the plot that gives Machete its charm. It's the annoying one-liners which are so bad they are funny. It's the atmosphere and aesthetic, typical to Rodriguez and Tarantino. It's the variety of characters. It's a lot of things, but the plot isn't one of them. But we don't watch Machete for the plot, now do we? We watch it for it's value as a cult movie. Machete is absolute gold in its humour, atmosphere and violence. Along other works of Rodriguez, it's an instant cult classic. If a few severed heads and some guts don't turn you off, watch this movie!
Cardinal Biggles
When I saw it was that hair-dyed Karate guy - Segal - in this movie I almost turned the channel, but I'm so glad I did not.This movie is outrageously over the top. It's so bad that it's good. Better than good. The violence is cartoon-like in it's excess, and always done with a tongue in the cheek. No can of fake blood was spared in the making of this film, and the slayings were so thick and fast, so creative, that I expected Wile E Coyote to appear at any moment.Even the clichés were well handled, and the intentional humour content very well done. Especially the dark humour.This isn't Shakespeare. Nor Tarantino. But it's a lot of fun for when you get back from the pub after hours, half cut, and settle down in front of the fire with your Biryani.....Or Should that be Burrito....Whatever. I'll be looking for more in this series.
Prismark10
Spun off from a fake trailer in Grindhouse. Danny Trejo is Machete, a former law enforcement agent but now an illegal immigrant and a vagrant in Texas some years after a drug lord Torrez (Steven Seagal) killed his family.A businessman named Booth (Jeff Fahey) offers Machete a large sum of money to assassinate staunch Anti Immigration Senator John McLaughlin (Robert De Niro) but its all a set up.Don Johnson is a corrupt racist cop who kills illegal immigrants and Jessica Alba plays an Immigration agent who helps out Machete.Robert Rodriguez has made a glossy B movie satire with a few star names, some political digs on immigration issues and hypocritical anti migration politicians and police.Its still down and dirty like its fake trailer. Machete is lethal with the blade, there are some over the top gruesome and funny scenes and he even finds time to be a ladies man.An enjoyable if silly film, some of the actors like Johnson, Fahey and De Niro are having a hoot playing despicable villains. Steven Seagal is out of his element among such company as the main bad guy. He is just too fat and out of shape.
RbDeraj
While I enjoyed the fake trailer in Grindhouse and looked forward to the full length film, this turned out to be a real disappointment. It started out well, but after the title sequence quickly went downhill. The storyline wasn't very good and the liberal criticism of conservative views on immigration (while its purpose was humor) was just was too much. They were just beating the dead horse after a while. I didn't expect the acting to be top notch especially from some like Lindsay Lohan or Jessica Alba, but it was even worse than I imagined even from Robert De Niro. As highly esteemed as he is I can't see why he chose to be in a film like this. The effects weren't good even if you enjoy and wanted to see over-the-top gore and violence which is some of the draw towards this movie in a dark sinister type of way. The action just seemed stupid after a while and towards the end I was just waiting for the film to be over. Que horrible y decepcionante!
AD
