Review : Machete (2010)

Image source

An ex federale agent gets hired by some people to kill the senator who is killing Mexicans trying to enter America illegally. But pretty soon he realizes that it was a setup. Now he is out to find the perpetrators and slaughter them.


Expectations shattered. Thats what comes to mind first when I think about this movie. It was supposed to be a Die hard kinda movie with lotsa actions and cool one liners and gore. And while it mostly delivers on those promises but it hasnt been paced properly. Some characters plop in and out randomly. Acting leaves a lot to be desired. And it doesnt end with a bang as action movies ought to. And repetitive scenes confirming Danny Trejo as the ultimate action hero just makes it longer not enjoyable. But there are some cool action scenes and innovative use of intestines,but not enough to make me scream in joy- Yippe ki yay motherf%$&.


Robert Rodriguez(Desperado, Sin City, Grindhouse). A name associated with good independent cinema. Who made low budget movies look incredibly delightful. He showed us that less money shouldn't deter you from making a nice looking movie. And he introduced us to gritty and dark action heroes. And this, he makes with Ethan Maniquis. This is Ethan's first movie as a director. He worked with Rodriguez in all his movies as an editor before this. So this movie is mostly his vision and I can see that the end product isnt as refined as it could have been. Writing was also below par. Not many good dialogues and random scenes and too many characters just make this seem much longer than it is. And the ending is not the boom boom bang bang stuff. But a rather tepid version of that. The only thing good about that it features Michelle Rodriguez wearing just a bra and showing off her cleavage and badassness to the people around. As does a couple of hot girls in nurse dresses showering everyone with bullets. And Robert doesn't disappoint when it comes to the amount of hotness onscreen. But with the main crux a little weak it falls below in the great valley of my ever increasing expectations. Too bad.

Image source

      

The acting department is filled with great names. And none greater than Robert De Niro(Senator). This movie has kind of a comic feel to it. And its deliberate. But its not a comedy so to overdo the spoof bit could have landed this in trouble. So each of the actor and actresses try to bring the right amount of charisma and seriousness to lend it a feel of a nice enjoyable "not too serious and not too funny" action movie. But it left a lot to be desired. Jessica Alba(Sartana) was maybe overdoing it. Steven Seagal(Torrez) was unconvincing as the villian. And Robert had simply not much to do. But what I enjoyed immensely is Danny Trejo(Machete) and Michelle Rodriguez(Luz). These two fine actors really show off their romantic and action skills and kick a lot of ass. And Danny doing it at 66. Although not the fittest but wow!! He gets to bed girls and mouth some deadpan lines and kill a lot of people. While Rodriguez supports him and even takes a bullet to the eye. Nice job. Other than these there's Jeff Fahey(Booth) and even FX artist Tom Savini(Osiris) in important roles. So a pretty vast and talented cast which tries but falls a little short of the target. And yes there's also Lindsay Lohan(April) playing herself. Well almost!!



HighTension Verdict: A talented cast performing a little below par. Long length. Too many characters. A heavy handed topic of illegal immigration which is too serious for such a movie. And a not so great ending. But you could give it a watch if you like Danny who kicks ass and makes love all in a moment. And there are some seriously hot bodies with guns out there. For a late night watch I wouldn't mind going through this again. And it also announces two sequels in the end credits,one of which comes out this year. So better see the first part.


HighTension Meter: 6/10.


 Best QUOTE: 

Senator McLaughlin: [after shooting a Mexican trying to cross the border] Welcome to America.

                                          

Review : Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

Via filmofilia.com

A group of marines are the last hope of Los Angeles against marauding Aliens who are hellbent on colonizing humans. Will they survive the heavy assault or will Los Angeles be lost forever?


This movie reeks of Independence Day references. Mother ship and all. And it has a documentary feel to it. And as we all have to come to realize how such movies end but still watch it cos of the intense onscreen histrionics. While this movie has destruction written all over it. The characterizations and dialogues disappoint. No empathy as the marines get ambushed and killed and try to survive the not so scary aliens. We know a city is at stake but we can't help but feel that these are not the right men. But action is top class. So you can give it a try.


Director Jonathan Liebesman(Darkness Falls, Texas Chainsaw Massacre-The Return, Wrath Of The Titans) is another horror school student. But this movie will fail to make you dread the Aliens. Simply because you cant see them properly as their aren't enough closeups of them. They are far away like stick figures with guns. So never feel they are dangerous. And their spaceship and fighter planes are not sketched out well. But if you like watching destruction and heavy destruction at that...... Then this is for you. He with screenwriter Christopher Bertolini create a heavy action movie with no empathetic characters so that the only one who enjoys burning cities and explosions can watch and enjoy this. And to forget filled with cliches. But it wouldn't have mattered if it was 10mins shorter. But it almost goes on for 2hrs. And with only action to look forward to, its a little long. But anyway as a popcorn entertainer it does its work and for that well done both.  

Via spinoff.comicbookresources.com

Aaron Eckhart is a wonderful actor. The Dark Knight is a testimony to that. But while such movies are more famous for their action than acting. A kick ass hero wouldn't hurt. But Eckhart is far from that. He gets referred to as John Wayne but you won't get the adrenaline pumping feeling partly cos of the writing and direction not creating characters we care about. But to be fair Eckhart isn't bad. But he has no scope when the only thing important is Alien size and explosion size. But he does well. And leads the sparsely talented cast nicely. The other big name is Michelle Rodriguez who has turned into an action queen. She's the only female who has something to do in this all male marine bang bang stuff. And as expected she delivers. She is a natural when it comes to action and oh boy!she kicks some ass. Others support well and keep it going. But in a movie with less characterizations and more action the actors are not that important. The more they get killed the more enjoyable the payback. But whatever scope they got they tried their best to look hassled and for that. Nice job guys!!


Cinematography and effects are mind blowing. Aliens and their mother ship are not good and unscary though. And for that reason they have not shown much of them. Editing is decent. Soundtrack is decent too. 


HighTension Verdict: From the start you realize what its gonna be. A team against aliens. And this time their ain't no President making speeches but just a bunch of marines trying to survive. But their back stories aren't explored enough so we cant care for them. This is especially true for Eckhart's character. His story gets brought up many times during the course of the movie but we never know clearly the graveness of his crime. But if you are an action junkie with a penchant for destruction. This movie is for you. LA has been destroyed like never before. Go for it action junkies.....


HighTension Meter: 6/10.


Best QUOTE:

Cpl. Kevin Harris: Santos, you okay?

TSgt. Elena Santos: Yeah. I got that nasty stuff all over my mouth, man.

Cpl. Kevin Harris: Ha ha ha ha.

TSgt. Elena Santos: It's not funny.

Cpl. Kevin Harris: Ha. You let him do you on the first date.