ironhorse_iv The story of how 'Machete' got produce is a very interesting story & no, it didn't all started with the praise by audience after seeing the fake trailer that was included in director Robert Rodriguez's and Quentin Tarantino's 2007 co-produce film 'Grindhouse' double-feature. Instead, it all began with director Robert Rodriguez meeting star, Danny Trejo on the set of 1995's 'Desperado'. As you see, it's there, that the director first create the character of Machete, by believing that Danny Trejo could be the next big 'Mexican action star'. It just took, many years for that idea to take hold. Finally in 2010, this mexploitation film was indeed made with the blessing from 20th century Fox. Inspire by John Woo's 1992 film 'Hard Boiled' and his 1989 movie, 'The Killer', the film tells the story of ex-Mexican federal, Isador 'Machete' Cortez (Danny Trejo), being hired to assassinate the anti-illegal immigration politician John McLaughlin (Robert De Niro), only to betrayed by Michael Booth (Jeff Fahey), a local businessman that hired him. Without spoiling the movie, too much, while this movie seems like Danny Trejo's first movie as Machete Cortez; in truth, this was his fifth appearance. The first appearance was in 2001's 'Spy Kids', followed up with its sequels. While, it's nice to see him, back in the role. It's just a bit bizarre to see how his kid-friendly character of the same name has nothing in common with this adult-driven character. They even have different backstory and family connections. Are they twins? Are they clones? Did one of them, stole the other person identify!? Sadly, Rodriquez never truly explain why, he has Danny Trejo played two different characters with the same name. Despite that, I did think Trejo did a great job as the titular character. He was pretty quick at his age, during most of the ridiculous action scenes, even if it's fake looking, heavily choreograph & staged. I can't say the same with the villain of the picture, drug lord, Rogelio Torrez (Steven Seagal). Seagal can barely move, when fighting with Machete. It's clear to me, that he hasn't work out much, since, his last movie 2002's 'Half Past Dead'. He was so old. It was painful to watch. Even his fake Mexican accent was a turn off. He didn't even try. I would rather see, Von Jackson (Don Johnson) or Osiris Amanpour (Tom Savini) as the main villain. Two great performers that seems to misused in their roles. Another performer in this film that irritated me, was Lindsay Lohan as April; Booth's drug-fuel daughter. Not only, was her performance, underwhelming, but her annoying character sure, wasn't needed. Also, it's probably, not the best thing by the casting director, to have Lohan play a drug addict, seeing how she been put on probation. Her acting was dry and emotionless. Unlike her, surprising, most of the rest of female cast was alright. It really surprised me, because normally, I don't think, Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriquez as good actresses, but somehow, they prove me, wrong as Agent Sartana and Luz. Still, I just glad, Rodriquez cut the slutty identical twin sister, also played by Jessica Alba and Boots McCoy played by Rose McGowan. Three awful actresses would be too much for me, to handle. Nevertheless, if I had to choose one actor that really shine in this film; it would probably be Cheech Marin as Padre Benicio Del Toro. Yes, Marin has only a couple of minutes of screen time, but he manages to steal every scene. He had some of the best one-liners, besides Machete's 'don't text' quote. In the end, the movie had mostly a very impressive cast for an insanely over the top action film. However, they might had overdo it with flying gore, and graphic nudity. Don't get me wrong, I like sex & violence as any other man does, but it comes CGI. I kinda like it, to look kinda real. It was just awkward, that Alba had a shower scene where the crew just etched out, her underwear to make it seem like she was nude. Also, the CGI blood being splattered into the camera direction, got a bit annoying. Another, is the odd choice of sound effects. It doesn't match, what is happening on screen, at times. To be fair, the amateurish nature of virtually everything was deliberate to look, sound, and be funny. Still, there were a few things that they could had cut, because how pointless and unfunny, they were. Those are just examples. Its reasons, like these, is why the 2013's sequel, 'Machete Kills', underperform. Overall: While, 'Machete Kills' was a disappointment. In the end, 'Machete' is still one of the most quintessential exploitation action flick parody of the early '10s. It's hilarious entertaining to a point. A must watch for anybody that love cheesy action films.
