not for kids
Extremely violent "grindhouse" actioner isn't for kids.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that although Machete is directed by Spy Kids' Robert Rodriguez, this movie -- which is based on a fake trailer that Rodriguez created for the 2007 film Grindhouse -- is definitely not for kids. Like some of his other adult-oriented movies, it's filled with crazy violence, gratuitous nudity and sexual innuendo, and strong language (including "f--k" and "s--t"), as well as drinking and smoking. Though it's well made and actually has a very strong message about racial tolerance, this kind of extreme filmmaking is absolutely adults-only fare.
- Families can talk about the movie's intentionally shocking material. Why would the extreme violence of this film be considered entertaining? Is it meant to be taken seriously? How can you tell?
- Do you think films like this only appeal to a certain audience? Who is that audience, and why are they drawn to material like this? Are the vintage '60s and '70s exploitation movies that this one was inspired by still relevant today?
- What's the significance of Machete being a Mexican-American action hero? Can you think of other non-white action heroes?
- Machete has sex with several different women. What are the real-life consequences of that type of behavior?
The good stuff
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Messages: Although there's an underlying message about racial tolerance, it's secondary to the constant violence (by both "good" and "bad" guys), sex, and language.
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Role models: Machete fights against corruption and prejudice, but he's also a loner and incredibly violent, with a penchant for making love to whatever beautiful girl happens to be around. He's unfazed by the violence on one side but also apparently unmoved by the prospect of doing good on the other side. One of the women in the movie has created an alter ego for herself, "She," a revolutionary leader and a champion for immigrant rights. She's a more likely role model for teens, but she also ends up employing both sex and violence to achieve her goals. The heroes employ just as much violence as the bad guys do.
What to watch for
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Violence: Tons of hyper-intense, hyper-stylized violence that pushs the envelope on splatter and gore. The hero kills many, many opponents, with few repercussions. Americans shoot Mexican innocents in cold blood at the border, including a pregnant girl. Viewers see severed heads, severed limbs, and punctured eyes. The hero uses a human intestine as a rope. A priest is crucified. Objects such as corkscrews, meat thermometers, weed whackers, broken glass, and high-heeled shoes are used as weapons, as well as lots and lots of big guns and knives. Cars are smashed up.
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Sex: The main character sleeps with -- or almost sleeps with -- at least four different women. Machete rescues a naked girl in the opening scene; her breasts and bottom are visible. She conceals a phone in her vagina (she retrieves it offscreen). Two sexy nurses care for Machete in a hospital. He kisses girls in bed on two separate occasions and makes out with two naked women at once in a swimming pool. Jessica Alba is seen naked in the shower (side view). Michelle Rodriguez wears a sexy outfit -- leather bra, bare midriff, and leather pants. One adult male confesses to "impure thoughts" about his pretty daughter. Also sexual innuendo and sexual suggestion.
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Language: Non-stop strong language, starting with multiple uses of "f--k" and "s--t" (in various forms). Also "son of a bitch," "c--ksucker," "pecker," "balls," "p---y," "whore," "nuts," "damn," "goddamn," "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation), "hell," and "a--hole," plus Spanish curses like "cabrón" and "pendejo."
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters smoke cigarettes and drink tequila. One character takes some kind of pills with booze. Lindsay Lohan plays a drug addict who also smokes cigarettes (she's discovered passed out at a "crack house," but viewers never see her taking any drugs).
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Five Word Review by dogmovieman
Action packed bloody fun vengence
5
Hollywod Premier by wenkster
I was lucky enough to find free tickets to the Hollywod premier on line about 4 hours before it started at the Orpheum in Los Angeles last week. Robert Rodriguez is really cool and unique in allowing the public to come to his premiers. I was lucky enough to be in Austin, Texas when the premier of Predators was taking place. I was just driving by and saw Adrian Brody being interviewed. When I got out and walked by to take a picture someone offered to sell me a ticket. Predators was good, but Machete is fantastic. There are so many great scenes where you just laugh out loud and cheer. If you are a fan of Robert Rodriguez movies, I promise you will not be disappointed. It is everything the Grindhouse preview promised times ten.
5
wow.... by gauges89
First off, i think its stupid how people are going into this movie for a serious plot, and are getting upset with the amount of gore and nudity, apparently they never saw the preview, or haven't seen other r.r's films, except maybe spy kids. it makes me laugh how instantly people forget how to have a good time at the theater and are always looking for some epic thought provoking, heart felt movie with meaning. not everything has to have a purpose, thats not what movies are about, movies are for the viewer to get away from their life for an hour and a half have a good time. thats what this movie is, a great flick that kills time and lets you rest your brain. i dont know about you, but for me, that cuts it. so stating this movie is the worst movie ever, or a waste of money because the plot is stupid, is ignorance, apparently they havent seen half the trash that has been put out recently. Anyway, this flick is an awesome way to get a way and have fun.
2
Not good - very odd mix of a movie by jknapp1005
Is perfecting the art of remaking bad movies art, or is it just pumping out lousy movies? This movie crosses the line to me. It also not also wastes the talents of great actors, but borders on jeapordizing their careers. There is almost nothing it couldn't do worse. It has a pretty good musical score, but other than that, it isn't worth seeing and was very disappointing. If you want to see a good Robert Rodriguez movie, you have many others to choose from that advance the art of movie making, are entertaining and don't have you leaving the theater with a bad taste in your mouth.
5
..perhaps Robert Rodriguez?s most creative work yet! by minpinman
Let's get a few IMPORTANT things straight.The title is ?Machete?. Not ?Love Story?, ?Lassie" or even another Rodriguez film, ?Spykids?. This is NOT FOR CHILDREN, it IS violent, bloody, w/nudity, language, and gore. If you walk into this movie having aversions to any or all of these issues, simply DO NOT GO! If you ignore this STRONG warning and go anyway, DO NOT write a review of this film! You are DQ'd from a fair and impartial opinion and suggests you to be a moron! That would be like hating the taste of liver, dining at a restaurant specializing in liver entrees, and then writing an impartial review of the chef! The chef here, Robert Rodriguez, has done movies like ?From Dusk till Dawn?and ?Desperado" with a certain style and used unique blends of comedy with horror, or romance with gore and yet
sexy! A scene with a guy's intestines had me instantly slapping my knee laughing! There is a large audience who will enjoy this film! Cast is deep & abundant with characters-a cult classic!
5
Machete Rocks! by Pompolino
Robert Rodriguez is back with his action packed, yet hilarious movies. This movie was awesome. Viva la Network!
1
Biggest piece of GARBAGE I have EVER SEEN! by Romangod7
I am a huge fan of Robert Rodriguez and I love the trilogy of El Mariachi, Desperado, and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
I thought Machete was hateful, idiotic, putrid, ridiculous, assinine, dumb, stupid, inane, insidious, horrible, unnecessary, waste of two hours of my life, waste of gas, waste of a free movie pass, waste of film, waste of projector xenon bulb usage, and the biggest waste of brain synaptic usage in the history of mankind. It is racist, biggoted and extremely hurtful.
5
Five Word Review by jagger75
wild fun crazy action flick
4
Insanely entertaining by nolongeractive
Yes " machete" is violent, illogical, gory action movie but it is insanely entertaining. I love its satiric quality, story telling, and the variety of its cast. Danny Trejo is a reason enough to go and see this movie.
3
Machete by FriskyLadouche
Man I wanted to like this movie
It has alot going for it
However the preachy aspect kept ruining it for me.
I just wanted to dig some campy B movie mayhem, but they couldn't let go of the border war idea long enough to really get into the movie.
Still a cool flick but coulda been alot better