Machete Review

        Picking the last movie to talk about Robert Rodriguez was tough. I was leaning towards either doing this one or Alita: Battle Angel. Maybe someday I’ll take a look at Alita, for now I think it’s appropriate to discuss the film that perfectly personifies who Rodriguez is as a director. While we’ve seen his humble beginnings and his best hits, I think this one might be in the running. Anyways, let’s talk about Machete. 

1. Mex-Ploitation

        With anything, a little background info kinda helps where this film came from. If you remember from my Spy Kids review, there’s a character called Machete that provided the kids their gadgets. It would be years later where Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino released their double feature Grindhouse. A love letter to the type of underground films that were popular during the 70s. 

        When you watched the films back-to-back, they had fake trailers to really sell the level of over-the-top action and violence. Since it was the style for the grindhouse films of the past. One of them featured Danny Trejo as the unstoppable Machete. While it was made as a joke, only Rodriguez to turn it into a legitimate film. 

        While American exploitation films where a product of the times, Mexico produced a near similar slate of films. Dubbed Mex-ploitation, those films mostly featured masked luchadores and evolved into films dealing with the problems in Mexico that is still prevalent today. So, you get the gist of it. These films aren’t motion pictures as akin to something with legitimacy. Instead, they’re made with low budgets with a dose of amplified action, but have an endearing edge to them.

        Anyways, Machete is straightforward for what it is. We follow Danny Trejo’s character, a former federales gets assigned to assassinate a senator. Machete has been had, and the rest of the film is followed with bullets, sharpened weaponry, a ridiculous amount of blood and the obligatory but not exaggerated t and a. That’s not to say that the movie is complex or very spotty with its story. 

        The film is mostly a revenge story but has probably the best aspect of it. It doesn’t take itself seriously. The way the film mostly looks, it might be something you would see at a value rack in Dollar General or in Walmart. You know the ones, the very by the number action movies that don’t even come close to the supreme action films. With the subject matter that Machete talks about, it’s mostly shown as a fantasy that riles up a supposed underground network of hard-working Hispanics. 

        The whole movie is just silly and intentionally ridiculous considering the level of violence that is shown. And when I say that it’s not to say that the film has faults. It does, I think if there’s one thing to criticize is that the movie doesn’t look like a grindhouse movie at all. Now what do I mean by that? Well, you can go on YouTube and look at old trailers or snippets of any Grindhouse film and notice that the grain is very prominent.

        I’m complaining about grain of all things, in a movie that includes Steven Seagal in his last good movie before he defected and pretending he is a Russian. But I’ll give it a sort of pass and critique. The movie does have the standard Rodriguez touch to it, with its quick edits and his flair of making movies. In one way, he’s not making just a derivative piece of work that is by the numbers. The film is his and in his own way, a tribute to a style that he perfectly manages to make watchable again. 

2. Undisputed Violence

        So with all that being said, I could go on, but I feel that my voice would provide a somewhat concise commentary. Then again, who would want to hear sandpaper scraping vocals. The main highlight is the action that the movie showcases. It’s by no means John Wick level of action since that series wasn’t even existing. What I like is that the level of action is exaggerated to a degree of silly. 

        Like, there are moments where Machete will use any sort of blunt tool and use it as a weapon. Such as when he goes back to a mansion and busts out a weed wacker that is laced with knives. And it goes as you’d expect. The brilliant thing is that the film sort of tears down the stereotype of Hispanic life and makes it into a vigilante justice type. 

        Especially when we have moments whenever the news pops up, we see tiny glimpses of workers doing the jobs that is mostly associated with Mexicans. All culminating with the obligatory final battle between them and the main antagonist’s henchman. It’s ridiculous but when are you ever gonna see a lowrider just crush a poor white guy with a gun?

        One last thing to talk about is that the film really goes out of its way to pick the most unsuspecting actors/actresses to be in the movie. One would think, just pick the bottom of the barrel actors who may have a big film under their belt. The film has Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan, and freaking Robert De Niro to elevate the film to a degree of legitimacy that make people go “Hey, what’s he doing here?”.

3. Overall

        Machete is a great tribute to the Grindhouse films. A sequel was made, but it doesn’t come close to ever matching the level of violent and cheeky moments that the first film had. 

Sin City Review

        With Robert Rodriguez finishing out his Spy Kids and his Mexico trilogy, it only made sense for him to do something different. And to put it into perspective, comic book films were coming back to popularity. With the success of Spider-Man and the X-Men films, it only made sense for Rodriguez to find a unique series to adapt, and boy did he find one. This is those rare instances where the creator also has the co-director title. This was Frank Miller’s first directorial work, albeit with some help. 

1. Sin City

        Before we talk about this film, it’s important to establish who Frank Miller is. Among comic book circles, he’s the writer and artist who’s responsible for reinventing Marvel’s Daredevil and DC Comics’ Batman. His influence is still felt with the character’s stories and in their various media adaptations. 

        This is also during the time where he started to experiment more on moviemaking, albeit in the screenwriting phase. His first rodeo was in the Robocop sequels, until having a hand with co-directing his creation. So, with all that out of the way, one would think that the film would be about following one protagonist in the city that is appropriately enough full of crime. 

        Well, it’s not quite like that, what we got is an anthology film. Now anthology films have been a thing. Specifically, they’re mostly used in horror movies such as in Creepshow and in thrillers like Pulp Fiction. Sometimes this type of film gets easily confused with hyperlink cinema. Or multiple stories that are told from a different angle of a central story such as in the Mexican film Midaq Alley.

        With everything cleared up, we have about four stories that takes place in Basin City. If you take away the two first letters, it’s very apropos. It’s kind of hard to talk about these small stories since I don’t want to give anything away as far as plot details. So, what I’ll try to do is condense it within the confines of characters and the way the film looks. 

        To begin with, the first story we kick off with a hitman killing a woman in a penthouse. We can assume that the woman was wanted and the hitman flirts with her. Right at the start that section has a very distinct look to it. The overall movie is imbued with it, but I’ll get into it a little later. 

        The following stories focus on three people who get involved or dealing with corruption that is plaguing the city. One, the only good cop called Hartigan, who’s assigned to rescue a young girl from a rapist. The second is about a former convict looking for revenge after being framed for a crime he didn’t commit. Lastly, a gang member’s boyfriend tries to settle a turf war between gangsters and mercenaries. 

        The key thing that the film has going for itself is its distinct look. I hate to tease but the visual effects of the movie look so good. Especially when it’s in higher quality when you can really appreciate the detail that went into it. Impressive even was that the whole film was shot with green screen. Now, I can tell from the start that there’s a great way to use it and the worse way to use it. Just look at the Star Wars prequel trilogy, it’s a prime example of using green screen at its worst. 

        With Sin City, the entire effect is used to its absolute fullest. Right down to simulating a car chase and have the violence be completely creative in terms of showing off the fights and gunfights. Having it be adapted in another way without its distinct style would be a massive disservice. Since it pays tribute to a pastiche of the classic film noir movies. 

        The dialogue as well feels like a product of that bygone era. To me, it has that distinct use of prose where most of the dialogue is spoken and whenever a character is in some sort of danger, has the thoughts be heard. Like it works for this movie since we’re following the main characters, since everything is exaggerated in the right degree where it doesn’t sound ridiculous. Now I can talk about it’s look. 

2. Black and White

        Watching it is like watching a comic book come to life. Well, the film manages to copy that style, but not include any sort of comic book panel. Instead, Rodriguez’s own filmmaking style helps with delivering the anthology feel to it. The use of black and white is creative enough, there are moments where the two colors are used in very contrasting ways. 

        I think the best moments of using the monochromatic look is whenever it’s raining. Just seeing the rain in one section looks like paint splatter. Even in the moment when one character is falling through a lake of tar. It looks great for a background cover on a computer. So when it comes to the fights, the color red is used sparingly. Refreshing is one way to describe it, whenever a character is shot or has something ripped off, the use of white shows that it looks like the part is erased. 

        Despite the film being black and white, there are moments when actual color is being used. Sometimes the use of color is used whenever we see a woman’s clothing or in their eyes. There were moments when the women’s eyes would transition from gray to either green or blue. I think that when it does that something would happen to them. Another one is when the characters arrive at a saloon where the whole place has a light brown to it. To me, I can interpret it as being clean, since I think the use of black and white can be that the whole town is dirty. 

3. Legacy: Style over Substance

        The film was a success and I believe that it’s one of Rodriguez’s best adapted works. Only someone as talented as him can take a very niche graphic novel and faithfully adapt it as only he could. Well, that is until he made a prequel that got absolutely destroyed by critics and audiences. I think his style brought upon what I call the stylized comic book film. The only comparison I can think of is when Zack Snyder adapted Frank Miller’s other work 300 and the other comic book series Watchmen. 

        For Frank Miller, he went on to direct and write his adaptation of the golden-age hero The Spirit. He mostly implemented the style that worked with Sin City to his next film. It, was a complete piece of crap. Talk about taking one style and applying it to a hero where it’s a complete butchering. Right down to the dialogue being equally awful and just not interesting to look at. It’s the only complaint I can think of when discussing the stylized comic book films where you can’t have the style take center stage when it’s a mostly character film. 

4. Overall

        Sin City is an underrated comic book film that pays tribute to a bygone era of films. It’s a great adaptation and an enjoyable one. 

Spy Kids Review

        We continue with my look into Robert Rodriguez’s filmography. With the success of El Mariachi, Rodriguez started to become the next great action director. His films like Desperado and From Dusk Til Dawn helped him differentiate himself from other directors. In fact, when he got word that a child saw Desperado, he was taken aback that he decided that his next film will be mostly kid oriented. Spy Kids showed that Rodriguez had what it takes to make a family film. 

1. Family of Spies

        This was my first exposure to Robert Rodriguez. I remember my parents took me and my brother to see the movie and of course I enjoyed thoroughly. Occasionally, I would catch the movie and see the charm that it has imbued. The movie is mostly straightforward to follow. Since it does involve double crossing and elaborate stories, the overall plot doesn’t get too complicated. 

        Carmen and Juni live a somewhat normal life, their parents were former spies, but they hardly believe them. When Gregorio and Ingrid get word that they’re associates are missing, they get captured by a quirky children’s tv host. Meanwhile, both brother and sister come to grips about their family’s background and mount a rescue. Along the way, they meet double crossing agents and an unexpected family member.  

        What I like about the film is that there’s a certain level of believability when we see the family interact with each other. Like obviously, the young kids steal the show. We honestly believe that they are indeed brother and sister. They bicker and argue with each other and it’s necessary to have the chemistry basically work when we’re following them for a good hour and 20 minutes. Seeing their growth to being a great spy duo shines on when they attempt to rescue their parents. 

        For as much as they argue, there’s those tender moments where they do look out for each other. It shows us that while they can’t stand each other, they still bond. And that’s the thing where they basically team up and find a way to rescue their kidnapped parents. Each of them has a unique trait where they can basically be a superior spy. For instance, Juni while he’s portrayed as kind of slow, he does have a great intuition of any possible danger. 

        It’s those character traits that sell them high whenever they come across any threat. Some might complain that we don’t have those moments with the parents. Like it’s ironic that we see them try to escape but easily get captured or outmaneuvered. I believe that what they know is not applicable to a place where anything is but normal. What I also like is that the overall plot McGuffin has ties to the family itself. While too convenient, I’ll let it pass since the Dad has been secretive.

        The villains as well are anything but diabolical. For one thing, I think it was sort of ingenious to have a tv show host be the main villain. I mean after all, his kidnapped victims are used as characters in his show. What I found interesting that he was mostly a figurehead, since the actual villain was his minion who has connections with the kid’s father. Prompting him to make artificial kids to restart a research.

        With Floop, he has this child like insight where he doesn’t know between good or bad. So much so that he admits that his own TV show is missing an element despite it being about as weird as you can get. Other than that, when the kids meet their uncle, he doesn’t like his brother. And this interesting contrast since Carmen complains about Juni while their uncle has grievances with their father. Inevitably, they learn to put it aside and stick together. 

        Lastly, the movie isn’t overtly violent. For as much as the spy genre practically prides itself with shootouts or any that’s risqué. Spy Kids is mostly toned down for what it’s going for. The crazy gadgets are the stand ins for actual weapons and they’re creative for what they are. And I find it interesting where the stuff that they use is from their own uncle. Again, highlighting the family aspect that the movie is going for.  

2. Legacy

        The film was another great success for Robert Rodriguez. He ultimately created a franchise out of this one that has endured for three sequels and another franchise. The last movie I watched in theaters was the sequel. After that, the film’s slowly started to tank in quality. Inevitably I watched the third in 3-D. It was gimmicky and the special effects were quite awful. I think because Rodriguez liked making these kids movies that he decided to make another one, this by basing it off on superheroes with The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl. I’ve seen it and, well it’s bad. 

        If there’s one thing where I’ll give credit to is that the film does mostly contain an all-Hispanic cast. I wouldn’t say that it was groundbreaking, but it has that representation going for it. While not having the usual stereotypes of a Mexican family, I can at least interpret it that the parents are mostly keeping it about as basic as you can get. Thus, making the kids realization that they were spies more hilarious. 

        One last thing, Danny Trejo’s character is probably the last person to even be considered for his own movie. Now, I’ve watched Machete and we’ll dive into it. It’s such a, and no kidding, a different movie than this one. Not to get too ahead of myself but I’m pretty sure Rodriguez had a plan but wanted to make sure if Trejo was up to the task of playing a twist up version of his character. 

3. Overall

        Spy Kids is a product of the times, but it doesn’t feel dated at all. The effects have aged badly, but it doesn’t hurt the movie by being a great family film. 

El Mariachi Review

        It’s April again, which means that I take a special look at a director. Last year we looked at Denis Villeneuve and the films that helped define him. Now we look at another director, this time from Texas. Robert Rodriguez is what you call a renegade filmmaker, I’ll explain later as to how he got that nickname. To celebrate his work, let’s dive into his cinematic debut film El Mariachi. 

1. One Man Film Crew

        Just before we talk about the film, let’s set you up with the man himself. Robert Rodriguez was born in San Antonio and a had a panache of film when his parents bought a video camera. His first film was tasked with recording his school’s football team. Only to be let go when he made a simple highlight film too cinematic. 

        Reading about how he made his feature debut, you just have to admire at every length he made to make the movie. He didn’t have a dedicated crew as far as cameramen or the ones who handle the equipment. Rodriguez did everything. So much so that even the actors had a hand with handling the equipment. 

        His own style gave him the nickname The One Man Film Crew. It’s easily reflected in El Mariachi. Given how the film is really quick in terms of editing and the overall guerilla style that it has going for. Since it was filmed in the Mexican border town of Ciudad Acuna, which is close to Del Rio, Texas. One last thing, the whole film was shot around the price of $7,000. The Columbia Pictures logo costed more than the whole film itself. 

2. Mistaken Identity

        Before we see the opening title sequence, we see that criminals are broken free from the local jail. One of them, Azul, contacts the crime boss Moco and tells him that he will kill him for revenge. Meanwhile, an aspiring mariachi drifts into the town to look for work. In the case of mistaken identity, the young musician becomes embroiled in vigilantism.

        The film has a style that I most definitely enjoy. One thing that I love is that the quick editing style that Rodriguez uses in the film shows just the quick nature of how things turn south. In one way, the editing works since it has a hyperactive feel to it. Especially in the moments where the film speeds up for comedic purposes. Or when to give us a sort of P.O.V. moment of seeing what the character is seeing. 

        The action as well gets exciting. There isn’t a full-blown gun fight, I like that given the limitations that Rodriguez had, he made up for it by making his gun fights to the point and bloody. One thing I saw in the behind the scenes was that they had real guns, but the blanks would make the weapon jam. To make up for it, they would shoot the guns once. Only to shoot them again when the camera was positioned in a different way. 

        Just briefly, I love the character arc of the Mariachi. We see him as just a drifter looking for a job. As the story gets going, he gets confused with an actual killer. And from there we see how he slowly loses his innocence when he inadvertently kills. It wears thin on him, and I like the detail where he goes to the bar and asks for a soda, only to ask for a beer as the film continues. I think it’s supposed to represent his loss of innocence when he goes face to face with the crime boss Moco. 

        One thing that must be stressed was that this film is indeed an independent movie. It has that distinct indie look to it. And it’s honestly crazy that Columbia Pictures bought the movie and put in 200,000 of their own money to clean up the film and help with the postproduction. Even with that, the movie definitely retains that renegade look since nothing in the film looks like a set. It takes place in actual border town with no paid extras. 

3. Legacy

        The film was a monumental success. Well, any film that has a 7K budget and grossing a million dollars is a success story regardless. The movie alongside other indie directors ushered in a new phase of American filmmaking in the 90s that helped shaped the new slate of directors in Hollywood. It’s inspiring but really puts it into perspective of how much one inspiring director can put in and still come out with a hit. 

        It established who Robert Rodriguez is and his certain style of moviemaking. Just after his debut, he followed it up with a sequel that ultimately became a trilogy involving Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp respectively. Having watch some of his movies, I think he pays tribute to a style of film called Grindhouse movies. 

        In fact, he and Quentin Tarantino made a double feature that was called Grindhouse. Anyways, his movies usually have the emphasis on the action, but it doesn’t have that ‘cheap’ aspect to them and mostly keep itself grounded with what the film has got going for it. And his debut film shows that alongside his action films. 

4. Overall

        El Mariachi is a great film debut from Robert Rodriguez. It lays the groundwork of the type of film he makes and his attention to action.