Machete Kills (2013) (Blu-ray/DVD Review)
Directed By: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega, Mel Gibson
Rated: R/Region A/1:85/1080p/Number of Discs 2
Available from Universal Studios
Danny Trejo returns as legendary ex-Federale Machete Cortez in this action-packed thrill ride from innovative director Robert Rodriguez. In his latest mission, Machete is recruited by the U.S. President (Carlos Estevez ) to stop a crazed global terrorist (Mel Gibson) from starting a nuclear war. With a bounty on his head, Machete breaks all the rules as he faces death at every turn from a star-studded cast of deadly assassins. Featuring Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Antonio Banderas, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Demian Bichir, Machete Kills is “a bombastic over the top combo of mayhem and fun!” (Shawn Edwards, Fox-TV), one of the wildest save-the-world adventures ever captured on film!
I can’t recall the last time I saw a movie that had me as torn on which way to really go about it as Machete Kills. If taken as is and perhaps viewed as some weird hybrid between parody and a jap-splatter film in the vein of Hell Driver, then you could perhaps enjoy a film like this the best way possible. If taken as anything else I fear it might be just be filled with too much shark jumping to really commit any serious interest in. I’m leaning towards the fist, but there are some problems with this film that I feel most won’t be as forgiving with. I do like all the gore and action, but there is times when you wish you had just something more with this than what we get overall at the end of the day.
For one I think the whole character of the Chameleon is useless and pointless. It is used to get people like Lady Gaga in the film, but why do we need her? If you leave the character out you lose nothing at all. I think a lot of the plot points in the film never do seem to add up and a few character come across as star stacking instead of adding anything to the film overall. If you must know, I think the only new character that really brings the good is Amber Heard. You can make up your own mind on which set of good, however, is the set that truly stands out more. At the end of the day, Machete Kills, gives you tons of gore and wacky scenes. It also gives you a headache in some cases as well. On the plus side, however, you have a near perfect looking Blu-ray transfer that just looks awesome with great detail and color.
– DELETED & EXTENDED SCENES
– Making of Machete Kills
