Plot: What’s it about?
I’ve always been a fan of Robert Rodriguez’s films. Dating way back to the days of El Mariachi and Desperado to From Dusk ‘Til Dawn and even Spy Kids had a few good moments. It’s no secret that he and Writer/Director/Friend Quentin Tarantino have been in cahoots for years and that’s certainly a good thing. Rodriguez has always seemed to do things his way and I think it’s worked for him. All the great directors seem to find a way to make their moves their own. A few years ago a little movie called Machete was released and I missed it. Why? Well, to be honest it just didn’t look that interesting to me. As a fan of Rodriguez I should have given it a chance, but sometimes it takes me a while to come around. Sporting an all-star cast, the movie was actually pretty well-received. Starring a then 65 year old Danny Trejo, a former boxer, as a leading man was certainly an interesting choice but hey – it worked. And as fans of Rodriguez’s films know, Trejo is a mainstay. So with the sequel now upon us we’ve got more blood, more gore and, of course, more women. Did we want or need more gratuitous violence? Does it matter? It’s fun to watch.
We meet our hero Machete (Danny Trejo) as he’s reeling from the death of his partner. No sooner does he avoid being killed by a strike force, than he’s whisked away to Washington D.C. to meet with the President (Charlie Sheen as “Carlos Estevez”). Machete is tasked to infiltrate Mexico and take out Marcos Mendez (Demián Bichir). He’s assisted by a beauty queen (Amber Heard) who gives him the know how to do the job. No sooner does he meet Mendez than he learns if Mendez dies, a missile launches and takes out Washington D.C. With Mendez now in tow, the two head back to the United States but not before being tailed by “The Chameleon” (Cuba Gooding Jr., Lady Gaga or Antionio Banderas depending on which part of the movie it is) and others. But he meets the real enemy, Luther Voz (Mel Gibson) who seems to be pulling all the strings and hopes for a new world. Can Machete save the day again or is he destined for failure?
Those that loved Machete will love Machete Kills. It’s a fact. While not as highly regarded as its predecessor, there appears to be a third one in the works (judging from the opening scene preview and the way that this one ends). I’m in favor of it. There are stars galore in this one and they all seem perform their roles with a wink and a smile. And that’s what’s great about these films – they don’t take themselves too seriously. Do you think a man could swing on a helicopter blade, behead 15 men, jump off and then run away? Right. But you take it with a grain of salt here. My wife was watching this with me and she was a bit confused. I told her that it was supposed to be bad and then she seemed to get a bit more enjoyment out of it. If anything, I’m looking forward to the third installment and can’t wait to see which stars they unearth for that one (proposed in the trailer are Justin Bieber and Leonardo DiCaprio…though they hinted that he might be subject to change). And that’s it in a nutshell – that’s what makes the movies so fun to watch. Sit back, check your mind at the door and enjoy the ride.
Video: How’s it look?
Those familiar with the work of Robert Rodriguez will know that he does most of the shooting and editing himself and, as such, his films tend to have a very unique look and feel to them. Some might call it “Tarantino-esque” and others might not. I could care less. All I know is that his films have always impressed me and with Machete Kills, the setting is once again Mexico and the Southwest US. Earthy tones tend to dominate this 1.78:1 AVC HD transfer and detail looks stunning. Then again when you compare the porcelain complexion of Amber Heard to that of Danny Trejo, well…let’s just say that it’s night and day. Then again she’s in her 20’s and he’s pushing 70. We see the CGI blood spatter in the utmost clarity, the cleavage which every actress seems to sport (and I’m not complaining) and the little intricacies of the gadgets that permeate the film. In short, it looks awesome!
Audio: How’s it sound?
You want to hear what it’s like when someone gets their head popped (or sliced) off? How about hearing someone turned inside out? Not enough? Bombs? Explosions? How about an old-fashioned gun shot to the head? Suffice it to say that each and every death in Machete Kills can be heard in the utmost clarity thanks to the DTS HD Master Audio track. Sporting 5.1 channels of oh so bloody goodness, the track compliments the film in ways that most can only imagine. Vocals are crisp and clear, with Danny Trejo’s raspy, rugged voice leading the way. Mel Gibson’s deep vocals sound great as well and we get to hear Antonio Banderas do his best American accent. To top it off, the surrounds are active, the LFE chime in at just the right time and the fronts handle the rest. No complaints here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Robert Rodriguez has done some wonderful features on some of his previous movies and I especially enjoyed some of his cooking tips in which he’d show us a dish used in the film and how to make it (check it out in Once Upon a Time in Mexico). I guess those days are long gone as the supplemental offerings are scant at best.
- Deleted/Extended Scenes – We get 8, count ’em, 8 deleted and extended scenes. There’s not a lot of substance here, mainly just more of the same. It’s nice to have them included, but it’s also clear as to why they were cut.
- The Making of Machete Kills – Again, there’s not a lot of substance here, namely just some interviews with the stars (and there were plenty) that appeared in the film. We do get some behind the scenes footage and the like.
- DVD/UltraViolet Copy
