Machete

Before you start reading this review, you have to first go through this link to understand the entire genesis of the Machete series.  This is a 10 minute video of forthcoming attractions that appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s controversial movie called Grindhouse in 2007 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luFC1jxmq9c.  Have a dekko.

The fact is that all of these movies – obviously – were intended to be fake movies and for purposes of humour only.  However, so popular was the trailer of Machete within Grindhouse that public demand forced Robert Rodriguez (Grindhouse : Planet Terror) to make a full length feature out of it.

Apparently, Rodriguez was mighty impressed with Danny Trejo (Machete) on the sets of Desperado (Antonio Banderas) that he said to himself, “This guy should be like the Mexican Jean Claude Van Damme or Charles Bronson”.  Couple that with the style and cultural lead from a 1989 Chinese movie called The Killer and you have – MACHETE.

Machete falls under a type of movie called Exploitation film or what we know better as B Movie.  There is no focus on quality cinema.  Just using a current trend to maximize revenues http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation_film.  Reminds you of what Chennai Express and the likes are doing these days.

The difference, they don’t make any bones about it outside this country.  They make a bad film and say, “You know what? It’s a bad movie.  Watch it if you want to”.  It is surprising to see the cult following that a little bit of honesty can get you.  More power to exploitation movies I say.

Machete is the story of a Mexican Federale who is called (no points for guessing) Machete (points for guessing) Cortez (Danny Trejo).  He is probably the only honest Federale to have existed since the beginning of time.  He is betrayed by his boss and American drug lord Rogelio Torrez (Steven Seagal) decides to kill him and his entire family.  Machete is left for dead.

Only, he is far from it. A few years later, Machete is spotted in bordering Texas.  He is picked up by Michael Booth (Jeff Fahey) who offers him $150000 to kill corrupt Senator John McLaughlin (Robert De Niro).  The senator gets shot by someone else.  But since Machete is seen at the scene, Agent Sartana Rivera (Jessica Alba), is now after him.  Machete seeks help from Luz aka Shé (Michelle Rodriguez).

The rest of the story is basically a mash-up of non-stop violence and lots of sex thrown in.  In fact, it is the same even before we get to this point in the movie.  In many ways, with no offence meant to The Thalaiva, Machete is the Rajnikanth of Hollywood.  He can never be killed and he kills with consummate ease.  He is also sought after by the women for his other relevant skill sets.

Watch Machete if you are a cinema student because it is a study of quality exploitation movies.  If there was an award ceremony for this category, Machete would be at the top of the list.  If you are an average ordinary everyday viewer like me, Machete offers you great mindless entertainment.  Make sure you leave your brains in the freezer back home.  5 on 10 it will be for the entertainer that it is.

Watch the trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Loq9OkHURw